Article July 11, 1953 Issue

"GROWTH IN GRACE"

DORIS M. SMITH

Grace, a word often used in the Bible, is an attribute of God, a vital spiritual force, which saves and heals. God is the source, the fountain, of grace, which signifies the loving-kindness, mercy, tenderness, flowing from divine Love. In its true sense, grace could be defined as the love of Love operating to bless. Since God, Love, is ever present, the grace of God, which evidences His mercy and care, is ever present also. When we realize that man is forever in God's care, encircled by His grace, how safe we feel! No matter what our human problem is, we have God's promise (II Cor. 12:9), "My grace is sufficient for thee." With His grace eternally sustaining and supporting us, we can joyfully and hopefully press on to solve the difficulty. Every healing in Christian Science evidences the grace of God.

Man has no grace of his own. Grace is the gift of God, which man, His idea, expresses. When we desire to express grace, we must earnestly pray for it, cultivate it, cherish it, and live it. It is useless just to talk about this attribute. Grace must be used, practiced, demonstrated. And this requires obedience to Principle, God, eagerness to do His will, and strict adherence to the rules of Christian Science.

Grace, being God-given and God-derived, is evidenced in Godlike qualities expressed by His reflection. The unselfed motive, the kind word, the loving deed, the instantaneous healing—these are effects of grace. A person endued with grace is never unkind, jealous, unjust; never irritated, agitated, fearful. He is always loving, forgiving, merciful, and just; always poised, fearless, and joyous. These are outward signs of grace within.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

PRESENT OR ABSENT TREATMENT