Article April 28, 2014 Issue

Educated in grace

Aubrey McMullin

In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy says, “What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds” (p. 4). Through my study of this book and Mrs. Eddy’s other writings, I have learned so much about grace.

Until recently, I viewed grace simply as an expression of beauty—something calm and peaceful. But the 1828 Webster’s dictionary, to which Mrs. Eddy is likely to have turned in her studies, has given me a wider, deeper definition of grace. It describes grace as the “divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin.” After I’d read that definition, Mrs. Eddy’s reference to “growth in grace” began to take on new meaning for me.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.