Good thoughts: not magnetised
[Ref. ss #10]
All through the Bible we are told about how children ‘grew in the grace of the Lord’; there’s Isaac, Moses, Samson and Samuel mentioned; so there must have been others too, not recorded, because there seems to be a general awareness about how children come under this Divine influence. Indeed we can all feel this wonderful natural grace that children have. See Luke chapter 2.
“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them........but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
This searching for God, that Jesus wanted to do, is so typical of children throughout all time. We all have a great mission; it might not be as ground breaking as Jesus’s was but we all know we have to follow our own path in a similar manner. Mrs Eddy spoke of this.
“There is but one real attraction, that of Spirit. The pointing of the needle to the pole symbolizes this all-embracing power or the attraction of God, divine Mind.”
Jesus felt this pull and was obedient.
Sometimes there are temptations that pull us away from being obedient and this is symbolised by the magnet you can see in the picture.
This picture illustrates how pins [made from a base metal] can be magnetised.
But we as children of God are more like the pure gold and silver rings seen here which can never ever be magnetised.
Because we are pure we can only respond to God’s thoughts. Jesus told us to “Watch” our thoughts; so we have to keep checking up on what comes into our thoughts. Here’s a testing question that will help.
Does this idea influence me to help others [is it in line with the Commandments] or is this just about doing what I want?
Jesus was asking those around him, even his human mother, in the passage above, to follow God and build our life’s business on Principle [one of the seven synonyms for God].
Then the good news is that then this business is protected by these good thoughts...as these are His angels.
Our Leader Mary Baker Eddy has some helpful advice here
“...keep your minds so filled with Truth and Love, that sin, disease, and death cannot enter them. It is plain that nothing can be added to the mind already full. There is no door through which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness. Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefited.
The self-seeking pride of the evil thinker injures him when he would harm others. Goodness involuntarily resists evil. The evil thinker is the proud talker and doer. The right thinker abides under the shadow of the Almighty. His thoughts can only reflect peace, good will towards men, health, and holiness.”
There is a brilliant article LESSONS FROM A MAGNET, PINS, AND A GOLD RING by Fenella Bennetts in the October 27, 2008 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel. Look it up! She says:
“It’s really not difficult to be like the gold ring, because that’s how God made us. Pure, attracted and responsive to good alone.”