For a Christian Scientist to fail to put God, Christ Jesus, Mary Baker Eddy, and Christian Science at the top of his list of those things for which he is most grateful is either a careless mistake or a serious shortcoming. If God is not always first in our thoughts, He will not be first in our lives, and we will fail to obtain the continuing blessings which can only come by putting Him first. If we haven't yet learned that lesson we haven't yet learned much about Christian Science or Christianity.
To reap God's blessings--health, security, protection, harmony, abundant supply--we must to a degree demonstrate an understanding of our oneness with Him, and that is an eternal activity, not a one-time sprint to the door of consciousness to answer Christ's knock. The gold in our character is only revealed as the dross is purged, but gold is not purified by gentle warmth, but by the furnace fire of testing.
We take a great risk if we give casual lip service to our gratitude and loyalty to God while our real thoughts are elsewhere. Woe to him who says "I'm doing the best I can" when what he really means is "I'm doing for God all my very busy schedule, pleasurable activities, and real desires will permit". Let him who thinks this is a justifiable excuse picture himself saying it tete-a-tete to Christ Jesus.
We should desire above all else to make ourselves vessels unto honor, as that chosen vessel Paul expressed it in II Timothy 2. Recall what Jesus told Peter: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat" (Luke 22: 31). If so loyal a Disciple as Peter could not escape such words, can we?
Obedience to God is not attained by enthusiastic or compulsive jabber or by a plethora of superficial busyness. When we do even a little of what Love is (See Mis 250: 14-29) we will reap a bountiful harvest of blessings for which we can be truly grateful.
Note: In reference to the previous entry, apparently Jesus' response to Peter's second answer was actually "Shepherd my sheep" instead of the "Feed my sheep" of the KJV. It is perhaps a meaningless difference, though some have seen a useful message in the correct translation.
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10 comments:
What an uplifting thing to read this Thanksgiving morning as I, too, thank God for all the wonderful things we have been given. Thanks so much, dear one!
Love what you've said here. Speaking for myself, my heart just overflows with gratitude to our heavenly Father for giving us His dear Son and for giving to Mary Baker Eddy the divine truths that were the basis of Jesus' glorious demonstrations of God's power.
Blessings to you.
(Florida)
Want to take a moment this day of giving thanks to thank you for the tremendous work you've been doing with your blog. Isaiah speaks of the Spirit of the Lord lifting up a standard against evil, and in my view, this is what you've been doing: exposing the evil influences at work against what the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, established for humanity's welfare. The quote from Is:59:l9
Time out from football watching, to check email and your blog which I read regularly. Thanks for "Giving Thanks for Spiritual Blessings." Quite well done! Then it always is.
Speaking of blessings, this blog you started has certainly enriched my life. Has caused me to think more deeply, which I think many Christian Scientists desperately need to do!
B.Johnson
Nashville
Just love your blog, dear faithful follower of Christ Jesus and the teachings of his divine Science.
Bravo for telling it like it is when it comes to the gold in us coming out through situations we'd just as soon be spared. As the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science puts it: "Those only who are tried in the furnace reflect the image of their Father." Miscellanous Writings, page 278
Do you know something else I enjoy about your blog? It's so cutting edge, so right up to speed. If you sent these pieces in to be officially published by Boston, it could take months to see them in print and by then, of little interest. Isn't the Internet great!
Just love your blog, and especially in this the thought of making ourselves vessels of honor. Noble goal for any sincere student of Christ's divine Science.
A lovely blog post. Deepest thanks to you for blessing us so!
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