Article December 27, 1941 Issue

Right Expectancy

ROY WAYNE CRIPPS

IN the inspiring Scriptural incident recorded in the third chapter of Acts, a crippled beggar, seeing Peter and John about to enter the temple, asked an alms. When Peter said "Look on us," we are told that "he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them." Evidently he was expecting an alms; but Peter, knowing the man's real need, corrected this wrong anticipation, saying, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." And we read that "he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up." In this newly awakened mental state of spiritual receptivity the man immediately received his healing and began praising God.

Peter was spiritually prepared and expectant of being able to prove God's healing power through his understanding of the Christ. How full of meaning is this incident to students of Christian Science, for are not they, at times, likewise confronted with various appeals from those who are looking only for the appearing of material benefits? Should not we, then, establish in our consciousness that scientific expectancy of good so necessary to successful demonstration?

It is most important that our looking or expecting be directed to God, the one source and substance. The Psalmist indicates this in the words, "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him." Christian Science makes clear this primary rule of divine metaphysics, and teaches that God, good, is the undeviating divine Principle, the source and substance of all real being, the one and only Mind. When we actively wait only upon Him, through the affirmation of Truth and denial of error, putting aside all the suggestive doubts and fears of mortal mind, we can be sure of gaining right results. Through looking wholly to God, the divine presence and power, in whom we actually "live, and move, and have our being," we can know assuredly that, whatever our seeming problem, its solution has already begun, even though unseen to mortal sense.

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