'To Bless All Mankind' July 18, 2016 Issue

Always inseparably connected with God

Laura Clayton

Adapted from an article published in The Christian Science Monitor, May 13, 2016.

Volunteering at church or in a prison. Running a concert series. Organizing a community art show. Such are the unselfish activities of retirees I know. It’s a promising trend. One study, highlighted in the editorial on the facing page, cites a high percentage of baby boomers who rate volunteering and “helping people in need” a top priority in retirement.

But this should not be surprising. The desire to connect with others, to bless through selfless giving—at any stage of life—springs fundamentally from our eternal relationship to God, who is the source of goodness and impels compassion. The Scriptures make plain our identity as God’s, divine Love’s, image. God’s wholly good nature is expressed in the manifold spiritual qualities we include as His reflection. The understanding of this divine reality impels genuine acts of unselfishness and service to others.

Inspiration, vitality, spontaneity, kindness—these and other such qualities are derived from God, and it’s natural for each of us to express them. No matter where our activities take us, our true individuality and purpose is to be living witnesses to God, good. Isaiah declares, “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God” (Isaiah 43:12). Scenes may shift and responsibilities change, but opportunities to manifest His goodness and love are always at hand.

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Editorial
Divine Love’s infinitude—a blessed basis for rebuking sin
July 18, 2016
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