Series 1 - Lesson 5 - Annotation 17
What have one's ideals and standards to do with his spiritual growth?
17. Human ideals and standards are limited, but one cannot at once conceive God's plan as stated by Jesus Christ, "Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." -- Matthew 5:48. So man must make a mental concept of what this perfection is, of what it consists. His ideal and standard must be higher than his present development indicates, so that he may be ever aspiring toward them and putting forth conscious effort to attain them.
Growth is a matter of vision. Biblical admonitions are to "seek" to "look up," to "behold." Substantial and earnest plodding with the mental law has its virtues, but until the plodder lifts his eyes and beholds the rich ideals of Spirit, until he seeks with great ardor to shake worldly mindedness from his life and glorify his thought with the Christ vision, he is still in the treadmill of the world. To accept the Christ as the pattern, the standard of living, means to subject the whole being to the presence and power that is greater than all human beliefs and standards, unlimited in its ability to accomplish the good.
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Preceding Entry: What is the difference between an overcomer and one who merely does the best he can?
Following Entry: Why is it important that an overcomer identify himself only with the highest?
