Article July 2, 1984 Issue

Why limit our progress?

ELDON APPLING

"I can't do that." "I am not ready." "It is too hard for me to do." "Let someone else be responsible." Sound familiar? If we permit it, we can become very adept at excusing ourselves. And there are usually a number of "very good" reasons of this kind to support our stand for not taking a stand for Truth!

What is more important? Absolving ourselves of responsibility and perhaps temporarily avoiding difficulty, or demonstrating, a little more each day, our understanding of and consecration to Christ? In either case it is our decision. And if we choose the latter, we have the assurance that we do not work alone. The Christ, the true idea of God, comes to heal and save all who obey God's commandments. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."^{John 10:10.} It is inconceivable that we can have this abundant life while in ignorance of its presence or while slothful in its demonstration.

Following Christ in word and especially in deed means imposing no mortal limits on our consecration to and endeavors for God, good. Discipleship means putting spiritual progress before our physical comfort or pleasure. This discipline leads to improved spiritual understanding, which is demonstrated in healing ourselves and others. Anything that stands between us and our freedom from sin, disease, and death must be overcome to prepare the way. We can't expect to invoke the power of the Christ if we do not heed God's commandments. Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, states in Science and Health, "To cure a bodily ailment, every broken moral law should be taken into account and the error be rebuked."^{Science and Health, p. 392.} This may appear to be arduous, but the good news is that "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."^{Phil. 2:13.} Doing what is right may require much of us; but doing things wrong requires the reformation of retracing our steps.