Tiptoe expectancy

What are we expecting? A future of doubts and risks? Or a future of good? It depends largely on what we think good is. If we think it's physical pleasures and material possessions, we're on the wrong track.

Christ Jesus said, "A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." n1 Good is not material but is God Himself. Mary Baker Eddy n2 defines "good" as "God; Spirit; omnipotence; omniscience; omnipresence; omni-action." n3

n1 Luke 12:15.

n2 Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.

n3 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,m p. 587.

Man has all goodness from God, for he is God's very expression, inseparable from Him. To glimpse the significance of this opens the door to human good.It means we can look forward to the constant unfolding of good in our lives.

Anyone who commits himself to seeking a better understanding of God and His spiritual creation will find that, even during apparently severe testing times, he can expect proof of the ever-presence and omniaction of good. This expectancy is an important ingredient in Christian healing. It has helped me a number of times to go forward when the physical evidence has argued strongly for incapacity.

Once I badly cut the back of my ankle on metal stripping.At first the cut appeared to be healing quickly. Then one night the foot became inflamed and very painful. In the morning it seemed impossible for me to get out of bed and put my foot on the ground. But uppermost in my thought was the expectancy of complete healing as evidence of the perfection of man in the likeness of God.

I decided to get up, taking one step at a time. The pain lessened as I did so, and I was able to get to work on time. The foot was completely healed during that day.

Paul puts the promise of freedom from discord of all kinds this way: "The creature . . . shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." n4 And earlier he says, "The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." n 5

n4 Romans 8:21.

n5 v. 19.

A modern version of the New Testament gives this paraphrase of Paul's words: "The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own." n6

J. B. Phillips, The New Testament in Modern English,m revised edition.

Every instance of spiritual healing helps bring into view this "wonderful sight." Healing is confirmation of the fact that in reality goodness is natural, uninterrupted, and supreme because it emanates from God.

We have the right to approach each day, each experience, each challenge, standing "on tiptoe" -- with confidence that nothing can interfere with God's continuous expression of good in His children. DAILY BIBLE VERSE Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Psalms 86:5