Article February 17, 1912 Issue

WILLING AND OBEDIENT

H. VICTORIA CAMPBELL.

In the prophecy of Isaiah we read: "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." This promise, which has been handed down throughout all ages, still holds good for each one of us today. "The good of the land" is here and now, waiting for us to take it, and the conditions given are that we should be willing and obedient.

To be willing implies great humility; we must gladly give up all cherished plans, all preconceived ideas as to what constitutes "the good of the land;" all hard-earned knowledge gained from the material senses, and become as little children, waiting to be led, not anxious to lead. So often we are willing to be obedient in our own way, but how seldom are we willing to obey in God's way—willing to "tarry ... in the city of Jerusalem" when we are longing to strive for right in the great highway from sense to Soul. Sometimes, however, God has work for us to do in the byways, where there seems no great opportunities for us as Christian Scientists, where perhaps we feel alone and that our efforts are not understood or appreciated.

Then comes a sense of discouragement, which brings in its train those numerous questionings as to "Why am I here?" "Why am I not made ruler over many things?" Then, if we are honestly working in Science, we face these suggestions of evil with the question, "Am I willing and obedient?" and we then realize that God has given each one of us work that must be gratefully and lovingly done, and that until this work has been well done we are not ready to "go up higher"—nor are we ready to appreciate "the good of the land."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

BRINGING IN THE TITHES