Article December 21, 1974 Issue

The Challenge of Following Christ Jesus

BARBARA-JEAN STINSON

As one advances in his demonstration of Truth and Love, he often finds he has to uphold spiritual ideals that are misunderstood and unappreciated by others. His growing awareness of what God really is requires this of him. He would be untrue to his highest sense of right if he did not obey his clearest spiritual viewpoint. But the temptation may come to such a one to indulge in a sense of self-pity, because he may feel he is standing alone in his demonstration.

If this is how it is with us, then we need to enter more fully into the spirit of Jesus' works. Do we realize what a privilege it is at least to be touched by some of the challenges Jesus faced each day? It means we have come to the place in our spiritual growth where we are able to accept our God-given responsibility to the world. Self-pity can be swept away in a flood of gratitude as we actually comprehend our opportunity to take up the joyous work of following Christ Jesus.

Jesus must have been challenged at times by the temptation to feel rejected and sorrowful. "We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin," Heb. 4:15; the Bible says. This is one of the reasons his example is so valuable to us. In following him we see how, through the Christ, the spirit of God, which was the very essence of his thought and life, he was able to master temptations. As we learn the lessons his example teaches us, we will then be able to follow his pathway with joy.

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