A saint is not to take the initiative toward self-realization, but
toward knowing Jesus Christ. A spiritually vigorous saint never believes
that his circumstances simply happen at random, nor does he ever think
of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees
every situation in which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a
greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of
unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him. The Holy Spirit is
determined that we will have the realization of Jesus Christ in every
area of our lives, and He will bring us back to the same point over and
over again until we do. Self-realization only leads to the glorification
of good works, whereas a saint of God glorifies Jesus Christ through
his good works. Whatever we may be doing— even eating, drinking, or
washing disciples’ feet— we have to take the initiative of realizing and
recognizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our life has its
counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to
the Father even in the most menial task. “Jesus, knowing . . . that He
had come from God and was going to God, . . . took a towel . . . and
began to wash the disciples’ feet . . .” (John 13:3-5).
The aim of a spiritually vigorous saint is “that I may know Him . .
.” Do I know Him where I am today? If not, I am failing Him. I am not
here for self-realization, but to know Jesus Christ. In Christian work
our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of
realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet that
is never the attitude of a spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to
achieve the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.
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