Andrew
1128 posts Location: n.a. |
05/27/2014 08:06Despise not the chastening of the LORDI never saw this quite like this - being afraid of sticking your neck out has behind it a fear of being corrected - but here we have "despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."RR
Correction is not something we should avoid, but embrace!! Without it we are unloved, floating along with the currents of mortal mind to its predictable, inevitable self-destruction.
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MaryBeth
795 posts Location: n.a. Editor
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05/29/2014 07:18Re: Despise not the chastening of the LORD“but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” (B2) This one has always amused me because it sounds so childish, like a child crying “I hate you!’ when corrected by his parents. And yet how often do we “hate” to be corrected in any way? Pride rebels etc. Mrs. Eddy’s statement on page 80 of Retro/Intro has been very helpful to me in this regard, “If the Christian Scientist recognize the mingled sternness and gentleness which permeate justice and Love, he will not scorn the timely reproof, but will so absorb it that this warning will be within him a spring, welling up into unceasing spiritual rise and progress.” Being able to take a rebuke in good grace and to learn from it is essential to progress!
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JPalmer
134 posts Location: Plainfield United States |
05/29/2014 09:34Re: Despise not the chastening of the LORDAs read in last night’s meeting, from Message for 1900 by Mary Baker Eddy:
The secret of Christian Science in right thinking and acting is open to mankind, but few, comparatively, see it; or, seeing it, shut their eyes and wait for a more convenient season; or as of old cry out: “Why art thou come hither to torment me before the time?”
Strong desires bias human judgment and misguide action, else they uplift them. But the reformer continues his lightning, thunder, and sunshine till the mental atmosphere is clear. The reformer must be a hero at all points, and he must have conquered himself before he can conquer others. Sincerity is more successful than genius or talent.
Also, from Mary Baker Eddy’s Lessons of the Seventh Day, page 148-9:
At any time, if we make a mistake and do not detect it as a mistake, and we are shown it is a mistake and are rebuked for it, this is taking sides with error. But if, when error is uncovered to us, we see our mistake, accept the rebuke, and condemn the error in ourselves or to someone else, then we are governed by the Truth, and rise and overcome error, and become more spiritually-minded. We have gained a step in Christian Science.
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Being weary of correction is like a child that closes their eyes and blocks their ears as a parent talks to them. “Waiting for a convenient season” is no way to ever be useful, as Mrs. Eddy defined in the reading last night, “Usefulness is doing rightly by yourself and others.” So if there needs to be “lightning, thunder, and sunshine” for me to again be useful, I pray I always take it well because being of use is all I feel I have to offer God.
I am so thankful for this lesson, and how last night’s readings tie into it so well. I am sure it was difficult for the man whom Jesus healed to be told to go home—he was definitely not weary of correction!—but how wonderful that he went and not only told his friends, but “began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him.” What gratitude!
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