Articles

Jesus ' words, "By this shall all men J know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" ( John 13:35 ), serve to remind us that love is the Master's criterion for discipleship. In his first Epistle to the churches, the beloved disciple John said these things of import about love ( I John 4:12-18 ): "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

"The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" ( Isa. 35:10 ).

Every Christian Scientist is eager to demonstrate, that is, to show forth in his daily life, the divine qualities which he has by reflection of God and which give him his true individuality. He has learned that as he looks within, defines the reflected qualities, and relates them to God, their eternal source, he finds that the errors of material sense are corrected and that their harmful effects in his thinking and living are gradually annulled.

One of the mental states an individual must guard against most is staleness —a lack of freshness in his point of view, a lack of interest in his work, in his activity, and, most especially, in developing his understanding of God. Staleness implies that there is a lack, something missing from one's attitude or something lacking in one's outlook.

The importance of progress is well recognized in the manufacturing field; without it products soon become outmoded, and retrogression sets in. Progress is even more necessary in the mental realm; without it activity and thought soon become limited, stilted, and barren of true accomplishment.

From time to time we may listen to the suggestion that we are missing something if we do not seek satisfaction in some particular form of sense gratification. The suggestion that such gratification will give one a taste of heaven on earth is, of course, false.

If it were true that God could be in some particular part of the world attending to the solution of a seemingly important problem and, by so doing, leave other communities unattended (and this would be the case if He were a type of superhuman entity, both wiser and more powerful than other ethereal beings), men would have little to rely upon for spiritual guidance and consolation in the face of what appears to be evil. Although many persons still believe in this kind of God, Christian Scientists can and should sing songs of praise and gratitude for the knowledge that God is ever present, All-in-all.

Many Old Testament seers prophesied the coming of a Messiah, or Saviour, who would govern the nations with wisdom and understanding. This prophecy was fulfilled in the birth and life of Christ Jesus.

After his resurrection Jesus told his disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" ( Mark 16:15 ). Everyone who tries to follow in the way that Jesus taught is a disciple or student of the Master, and therefore what he said to the disciples and followers of his day applies equally to Christians of today.

In her writings Mrs. Eddy has given certain directives which are to receive daily attention by her followers.