Article December 9, 1944 Issue

Taking Orders

GODFREY SPERLING, JR.

Certainly , whether we are soldiers or in civilian life, we must learn to "take orders" always from God. Obedience to God's orders enables one intelligently to obey orders from those in temporal authority.

A soldier within the continental limits became ill. All the symptoms of a leg infection, of which he had been a sufferer for several weeks at an earlier period in his life, were apparent. He had visions of being sent to the hospital as a result of this infection, for, although he was a Christian Scientist, he knew it was his duty to report to sick call the following morning if the ailment still persisted. He was on detached service away from his home field with an important task to perform, a task which had to be carried out without delay if it were to be well done. The future looked dark, and, as he brooded, became increasingly darker.

It was at this point that the soldier realized he was not using Christian Science, and with humility and reverence he turned to God to help him in this extremity. Immediately an arousing question came to him: "From whom are you taking orders?" This awakened him to see that in this particular crisis he was doing something which could never bring success at home or at the front —he was taking orders from the enemy. Mortal mind, the enemy, was telling him: "You are sick. Just give yourself up to a period of pain and convalescence. There is no other way." And he had been taking these false orders! With this unfoldment, he turned away from the evidence of the material senses, away from error's mesmerism, and reverently prayed to God, "I'm taking orders from You." This prayer of affirmation brought immediate relief from panic and a quick healing. The soldier was able to carry on his duties with unimpaired activity the next day.

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