Article May 14, 1921 Issue

Thou Wast a Bondman

MAUD W. MAKEMSON

Knowing the tendency of the human mind to forget all the disagreeable events that attended its journey through the wilderness the moment it finds itself safely ensconced in the prosperity of the promised land, Moses gave the children of Israel a command in Deuteronomy that is well worth the attention of those who to-day are finding a realization of harmony in Christian Science. It is, "And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee." Moses realized that to forget the mighty struggles of the past, its tenacious temptations and the struggle for conquest over them, would leave room for self-will, doubt, unfaithfulness, and materiality, if the void were not already filled with gratitude and spiritual exaltation.

Redemption in some degree from bondage to material so-called laws of limitation, fear, sickness, and sin attends the progress of every one who earnestly studies the Bible in the light of Christian Science and strives to apply its teachings to his daily experiences. This progress out of bondage to materiality is typified in the history of the Israelites who were roused from ease under the Egyption yoke and were subsequently led, not without backward yearnings, across the Red Sea, through the wilderness, and into the promised land. It was the ingratitude of the Israelites which made their sojourn in the wilderness doubly long and delayed them in the demonstration that an abundance of all good was their true birthright from their heavenly Father. It was this same lack of loving receptivity in the Israelites which led Moses in his wisdom to warn them against the day of prosperity, lest they again forget the gratitude they owed to God for the good attained. Later events proved that Moses' commandment against forgetting was needed, and that had it been heeded, the children of Israel might have spared themselves much suffering.

To-day students of Christian Science are proving gratitude to be one of the most powerful antidotes for human ills that can be found. Gratitude proves that the way for healing is open. It disperses the mists that would seem to shut out the vision of God as perfect Principle and man and the universe as His perfect idea. It brings with it inspiration, courage, peace, harmony, the kingdom of heaven. Gratitude turns thought completely away from self and lifts it to the contemplation of divine Love as the source of all supply, to infinite Mind as the creator of all activity. He who turns to God with a heart filled with gratitude for ever present good, experiences an expansion of thought, an elevation of ideals, and a sense of freedom from limitation that makes possible an immediate widening of the circle of his mental horizon. Thus gratitude makes him receptive to the good that supplies his need, whether that need be for physical healing, right activity, friends, or daily food. As Mrs. Eddy says, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 4), "What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"The microscope of Spirit"