Article October 21, 1939 Issue

Prevention and Cure

GRACE M. PUTNAM

Jesus brought out significantly the need of watching to prevent ills from overtaking us when he said, "If the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through." And again, "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."

Jesus warned against spiritual apathy, that lack of selfknowledge which ignores the danger and goes to sleep on the watch, when we should be awake and alert to the approach of the enemy—wrong thoughts, thoughts which if indulged would lead us into temptation. The spiritual interpretation of the words, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," in the Lord's Prayer, is given as follows by our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 17): "And God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death." From this we infer that it is not God who tempts us either to see evil or to do it, but the indulgence in wrong thoughts.

Intelligent watching will disclose the fact that the enemy often wears disguises. Self-consciousness comes posing as humility; self-righteousness as justice; self-pity as martyrdom; anger as righteous indignation; and domination slides in under the guise of helpfulness. Only a very careful watch at the door of thought will prevent the first of these from gaining admission, and so shut out a whole army of foes.

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
What Is Obedience?
October 21, 1939
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit