The meek but mighty Nazarene, Christ Jesus, did not attribute his works to mere personal genius. His healing accomplishments were in demonstration of the presence of God, who, the Psalmist says (Ps. 103:3), "healeth all thy diseases."

Jesus knew his true nature as God's Son. He knew his oneness or inseparable relationship with his Father-Mother God. He said (John 14:10), "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

The difference between the Master and his followers was this: he was always conscious of his unity with God, while others struggled somewhat with the general belief that God and His power were apart from them. Those of Jesus' followers who accomplished healing works were those who caught a clear glimpse of God's ever-presence.

Whatever has been accomplished through scientific Christly prayer is evidence that God is at hand to help and to heal. It is obvious that matter has no inherent power or intelligence and hence is not a scientific healing agency. And it is clear that neither human intellect nor the psychic power of mortals has any real force to remedy human ills. Matter and erring mortal forces are impotent before the infinite power of God, good.

Material means, by their very nature, require drugs and, perhaps, a physician. These are not always available at a time of need for those who depend upon them for assistance. But those who look to God for help find that He is always right at hand. God, divine Mind, is the great Physician, the only real medicine, the genuine remedy for every discord.

How do we know that God is here to do the works requisite for our experience? Spiritual sense— our capacity to understand good —tells us of His presence. His presence is evidenced in pure, healthy, holy thoughts. It is evidenced in loving and wise thoughts.

When a healthy thought—a thought which is assured of man's spiritual perfection as God's child —is held to and healing follows, one has definite proof not only of God's presence, but of His healing power. When one is conscious of infinite wisdom and takes some intelligent action consistent with it, he gains proof that God is present and controlling his life. When an awareness of spiritual love unfolds in his thoughts and hatred or fear vanishes, he has proof that God is working in his life.

The power of God operates on behalf of those who appeal to us as individual Christian Scientists for help. His power knows no distance, no material obstacles. Hence, when as the result of a practitioner's prayerful communion with God, a sick person is healed, this is evidence that the Father, who dwelleth with us all, is at work in our experience, performing His natural will. Each one can recognize the power of the Father working within him as the force operating in his behalf. To the degree that he does become conscious of or accepts God's primal authority he is blessed.

Jesus said (John 5:19), "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." It is the sweet humility based upon a spiritual comprehension of God's supremacy everywhere that gives a Christian Scientist the ability to demonstrate the eternal presence and reality of perfect God and perfect man. It is the looking away from matter to divine Mind as omnipotent and omnipresent that gives prayer its spiritual effectiveness in one's life.

Mary Baker Eddy gives us this important warning (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 456): "So long as matter is the basis of practice, illness cannot be efficaciously treated by the metaphysical process. Truth does the work, and you must both understand and abide by the divine Principle of your demonstration."

Yes, God, Truth, does the work. The Father, who pervades the infinite universe, is never absent; He "doeth the works." And who is the Father that "doeth the works"? Christian Science recognizes the Father as divine Principle, as the only Mind, as everlasting Life. Within the consciousness of every individual the Christ, the power and activity of Mind, Principle, Life, is operating. One need only call into expression in his individual thinking the qualities of God, which are actually omnipresent, in order to demonstrate the will and works of God. To do so, one must understand the true nature of God as infinite and eternal good.

Mrs. Eddy says (The People's Idea of God, p. 2), "As the finite sense of Deity, based on material conceptions of spiritual being, yields its grosser elements, we shall learn what God is and what God does." In the measure that this improved understanding is gained one's life will be blessed, and one will declare with meek assurance, "the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

John J. Selover