In effect, Christ Jesus spoke of love —love for God, who is good—as the best of all motives. (See Mark 12:28-34; Luke 18:18, 19.) Likewise, he spoke of obedience as the test of love. "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments" (John 14:15, modern translations). Now, Mrs. Eddy has given the further elucidation that genuine obedience is marked by willingness to obey. (See Message to The Mother Church, 1900, pp. 8, 9.) Perhaps this point can be emphasized by saying that doing right and getting the rewards thereof results mainly from desire and willingness to fulfill one's obligations. Our business is to fulfill our respective obligations. When we do this, the appropriate compensations will follow in accordance with divine law.
Obligations are human or divine as they are incident to human or divine relations. Every relationship, human or divine, has its obligations, which may include obedience. Every duty to obey always corresponds to the obligations of a relationship. Hence, an obedient person must be disposed and willing to fulfill his obligations, whether they are human or divine. Indeed, human obligations, regarded truly, are always sanctioned by divine law. In other words, the duty to do right in human situations is a moral and spiritual obligation; it is a duty owed to divine Principle, even though it may be owed also to human persons. As Mrs. Eddy has said (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 448), "It is Christian Science to do right, and nothing short of right-doing has any claim to the name."
Then, how can we know what our duties are, or what they require? Human obligations may be defined by human methods, and are likely to be. Obedience in human relationships may be directed by instructions, laws, or other human instruments. Human life, however, does not exist by itself; it is not independent of real being or divine Life. Even in human affairs and situations, our supreme obligation is to divine Principle. Therefore, in every relation, human or divine, and in every situation, obedience calls for acquaintance with divine law as the divine rule for all action. Divine law allows for and supports every just obligation. Therefore, obedience always can be guided and governed by impartations of the divine Mind.
Another pertinent question is, How can one get and recognize God's guidance? God is infinite Mind, infinite Spirit. Hence, divine guidance always can be sought and obtained as intelligence or wisdom. Furthermore, the ability to do this, to get and recognize genuine intelligence or wisdom, can be developed methodically; this ability can be developed by earnest striving and by use. Then, too, divine guidance may come as specific thought; and this possibility, also, can be developed; it can be developed by constantly seeking the guidance and government of spiritual sense. Mrs. Eddy has declared such possibilities many times. (For instance, see Science and Health 95:30-32; 214:14.)
The great Teacher's precept in Luke 11:28 could be called the Christian Science beatitude: "Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." The typical Christian Scientist does this continually and faithfully. He listens for the "word of God" as expressed directly to him or through an intermediary page or person. Then, if assured that he has heard the actual guidance of divine Mind, he keeps it with the utmost fidelity. When delivering an address on obedience (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 117), our dear Leader gave us the following precept, in full accord with the Master's teaching: "Be sure that God directs your way; then, hasten to follow under every circumstance."
In the same article, it is to be observed that Mrs. Eddy dealt with mental practice in terms of obedience. On the same page she said: "The student of Christian Science must first separate the tares from the wheat; discern between the thought, motive, and act superinduced by the wrong motive or the true—the God-given intent and volition—arrest the former, and obey the latter. This will place him on the safe side of practice." Than this, it would be difficult to find a more helpful precept for the constant practice of Christian Science. For one reason, it applies to every occasion for practice, from the least important to the ordinary and to the most vital. Even an abridgment of it—discern and obey "the God-given intent and volition"—is a priceless direction for the practice of Christian Science in daily life.
