Health, activity, and Spirit
Physical, mental, and moral health -- few things are more valued. But for some they are elusive. Indolence or confinement hide vigor and liveliness. How can normal activity be obtained? The Apostle Paul answers, "Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." n1
n1 Philippians 3:13, 14;
Christ Jesus is the perfect example of purposeful, active living. Through meekness and power, he brought health and holiness to others. A woman 18 years infirm, a man 38 years immobile, were among the many instantly restored to active lives.
How did Jesus do it? He said simply, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." n2 To Jesus, God was Spirit, the source of all action. The spiritual power of Christian living includes healthy mental, physical, and moral action.
n2 John 6:63;
Today the Science of Christianity illumines Jesus' life and shows how to follow it. Spirit is omniactive and ever available. Man naturally expresses its power. Because Spirit completes to perfection its action in man, man is healthy and active.
The activity is Spirit, divine Love, heals and redeems mankind. Holiness is the continual emanation of Love.As our lives reflect Love's activity, we experience constant renewal and regeneration. We discover innate abilities. Human activity is purposeful and healthy when it reflects divinity.
Sin and disease are not genuine activity; they are in fact spiritual inactivity -- something impossible in Science, for God is all action. Evil has no power source. The activity of goodness puts a stop to evil's supposed operations. Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered and founded Christian Science, explains: "Harmonious action proceeds from Spirit, God. Inharmony has no Principle; its action is erroneous and presupposes man to be in matter." n3
n3 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,m p. 480.
The action of anger, fear, sensuality, is always inharmonious -- a perpetration of the carnal, or mortal, mind. The belief that man is material is the suppositional source of sluggishness, inertia, immobility. Mortal mind, if we accept its lies, causes all physical and mental inactivity -- all individual and social malfunction and dysfunction. Spirit, operating independently of matter, frees mind and body to function harmoniously.
The activity of spirit (glimpsed in prayer, fulfilled in living) invigorates and harmonizes human movement. It may be seen in children's play, the poetry of work, the beauty of language, the moral power of government. The qualities of Spirit operating within us -- the naturally reflected qualities of grace, purity , joy, love -- transform us within and without. This is the healing action of the Christ.
The Christ is the power of God's law in operation. It is the activity of Spirit working in us. This animating force of irresistible goodness heals mind and body. It removes mental darkness, renews the heart, frees abused organs, restores health. It makes whole. DAILY BIBLE VERSE By my God have I leaped over a wall. II Samuel 22:30
