Joyous Service

Duncan Sinclair

Christian Science teaches, as does the Bible, that man is the image of God—the reflection of God. This means that the real man expresses good continually. It were well that we should be clear about this; well that we should be assured that man, God's image, can do naught but express good. Referring to man on pages 119 and 120 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy says that he "is but the humble servant of the restful Mind, though it seems otherwise to finite sense." It is the law of man's being that he shall reflect or express only good. And wonderful it is to know that in doing so he experiences the restfulness of perfect Mind.

The Christian Scientist, endowed with the knowledge of man's unchangeable relationship to God, as His reflection, is conscious of the divine fact that man expresses only good; and this understanding affects his entire manner of living. Thus, he is continually striving to realize the truth about his real selfhood, and to live accordingly. And, further, through his knowledge of the spiritual nature of man he is able to discern the unreal nature of so-called mortal man, and to rise above the frailties of materiality. What an asset is this understanding to him! With it he can joyously claim man's sonship with God, and deny and overcome the errors of material sense.

Furthermore, equipped as he is with the knowledge of man's unchangeable relationship to God, relationship which ensures that man will never cease to reflect good, the Christian Scientist is furnished with the means of bringing the best of all tidings to mankind. He knows the struggles which mortals have with materiality and evil; how they suffer because of false beliefs. He knows how real sin, disease, lack—inharmony of any kind—may appear to them. What joyous service is his to bring the truth to them, the truth that man is the reflection of God, and that because of this law of his being, man expresses only good! Let it not be doubted, the world is famishing for Truth. Unprejudiced seekers for it there are by the million today. These are eagerly desirous of it; and they will not fail to apprehend it when it is properly presented to them. We should not allow ourselves, therefore, to think that our efforts to bring the truth of Christian Science to mankind can meet with failure. Christian Science reveals the absolute truth; and this truth cannot possibly fail of apprehension by every earnest searcher for spiritual reality.

With the true sense of service before them, Christian Scientists readily see the advisability of their beginning each day by realizing the opportunities that lie before them for reflecting good. Every hour, indeed, will afford them these opportunities. And how helpful it is to know that in reality every moment contains only good for themselves and others! When this is apprehended evil cannot find a lodgment in their thought. Whenever it is scientifically discerned that good alone is real, the belief of evil is vanquished.

Joy will not fail to be ours if we realize that good alone is our portion, and endeavor to carry the truth to others. Should joy be absent, something in our thought needs correction. To discern what this something is, self-examination will be necessary. Is it a wrong sense of responsibility? If so, we must know that "the battle is the Lord's." We must remember that man "is but the humble servant of the restful Mind;" that he reflects good; and that it is the good he reflects, but does not originate, which does the work of overcoming error. Or is the something which needs correction a sense that the work in which we are engaged is too heavy, too strenuous? In this case we should realize that it is only as we express the qualities of divine Mind that we can accomplish anything of value, since divine power is inherent in these qualities. Our Leader writes on page 1 of her Message to The Mother Church for 1901, "Rest assured you can never lack God's outstretched arm so long as you are in His service."

"Serve the Lord with gladness," says the Psalmist: "come before his presence with singing." That is the spirit which the loyal Christian Scientist carries with him into his work. And how beautifully it harmonizes with the charity, humility, and patience which are so necessary in the practice of healing! Ours is a divinely gracious service. May we make it a joyous service also! Duncan Sinclair

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