Article October 23, 1989 Issue

The way to holiness

Holiness is not for a select few. It is something we all can cultivate through prayer and spiritualization of thought and life.

Sue E. Shields

The Bible gives many accounts of God's speaking to the prophets and to holy men and women. The key word here is holy! According to one dictionary, the word holy comes from a root that is also the root of the words heal, health, and whole. Holiness conveys the sense of being whole, complete, or perfect in a moral sense. It is to be pure in heart; free from sin; just; conformed in a degree to the image of God; having one's life governed by divine law.

Through the cultivation and utilization of Godlike virtues, these men and women of the Bible attained such an uplifted state of consciousness that they heard communications from God and recognized them as such. And this ability to hear and obey the divine precepts brought a degree of freedom from the bondage materiality would have imposed upon them. Speaking of the ability to attain such spiritual-mindedness, Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, "We know that a desire for holiness is requisite in order to gain holiness; but if we desire holiness above all else, we shall sacrifice everything for it."^{Science and Health, p. 11.}

Because of his great desire always to know and do the will of the Father, Christ Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to refresh himself spiritually in prayer. He maintained such an exalted state of consciousness that he was able to bring healing, or the recognition of man's God-maintained wholeness, to those who came or were brought to him for healing. Many of these healings were instantaneous. Yet even the Master did not reach this state of consciousness overnight. From childhood, the Bible tells us, he grew in grace and was prepared for his mission through his communion with God.

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