Editorial October 27, 1923 Issue

Imbibing the Spirit

Ella W. Hoag

To the so-called carnal mind, which views everything from the standpoint of matter, the imbibing of the spirit is something which does not lend itself easily to explanation. Jesus said, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Religionists have always proclaimed the desirability of Christians possessing the spirit; and while they have vigorously advocated the seeking of it and have even declared what the spirit is, they have not seemed to understand how to tell those desiring it the way in which to imbibe it. Even though the dictionary defines "to imbibe" as "to absorb into the mind; to drink in; to assimilate," so mysterious was Spirit to most thinkers that few even glimpsed its nature sufficiently to know what it was they were thus to accept, or how they were to become at-one with it.

Spirit indeed has seemed so intangible to the material senses that the understanding of it has been largely relegated to a future heaven. Christian Science, however, in its revelation of what Spirit is, immediately solves the problem of the way to imbibe or assimilate it. Christian Science accepts without any reservation the definite teaching of Jesus that God is Spirit; and it also declares that God and Spirit are therefore synonymous terms. From this we see that all that God is, Spirit must be. Then to have Godlike qualities must be to express Spirit, or to be spiritual. From this it follows that to imbibe the spirit must mean to drink in and assimilate all that is in nature spiritual; namely, to express the qualities of Spirit. As we, therefore, contemplate these qualities, as we love them, use them, we inevitably find ourselves at-one with them, expressing them.

Since the nature of Spirit must include such qualities as gentleness, tenderness, loving-kindness, grace, goodness, strength, power, wisdom, and so on, to hold these qualities in consciousness, that is, to think them, reflect them, must be to be like Spirit. To allow any spiritual quality to unfold itself in one's thinking is to begin consciously to be at-one with Spirit, is to imbibe it. On page 495 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy asks the question, "How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?" And then she answers it by saying: "Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit. Adhere to the divine Principle of Christian Science and follow the behests of God, abiding steadfastly in wisdom, Truth, and Love."

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
From the Directors
October 27, 1923
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit