In training His disciples, Jesus chose to withdraw from the confusion of the city to the quiet of the fields and hills, as more in harmony with the lessons of self-abnegation He desired to teach them. And during His ministry He loved to gather the people about Him under the blue heavens, on some grassy hillside, or on the beach beside the lake. Here, surrounded by the works of His own creation, He could turn the thoughts of His hearers from the artificial to the natural. In the growth and development of nature were revealed the principles of His kingdom. As men should lift up their eyes to the hills of God, and behold the wonderful works of His hands, they could learn precious lessons of divine truth. Christ's teaching would be repeated to them in the things of nature. So it is with all who go into the fields with Christ in their hearts. They will feel themselves surrounded with a holy influence. The things of nature take up the parables of our Lord, and repeat His counsels. By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest.

Når Jesus oplærte sine disciple, trak han sig helst tilbage fra byens larm til markernes og højenes stilhed, fordi dette stemte bedre overens med den lære om selvfornægtelse, han ønskede at indprente dem. Og når han prædikede, elskede han at samle folket omkring sig under den blå himmel på en eller anden græsbevokset bjergskråning eller ved søens bred. Her, hvor han var omgivet af sit eget skaberværk, kunne han vende sine tilhøreres tanker fra det kunstlede til det naturlige. Gennem naturens vækst og udvikling åbenbaredes hans riges grundsætninger. Når mennesker ville løfte blikket til Guds bjerge og betragte hans hænders underfulde værk, kunne de lære værdifulde sandheder af guddommelig oprindelse. Kristi lære ville gentage sig for dem i naturen. Sådan vil det gå alle dem, der vandrer ud i marken med Kristus i deres hjerte. De vil føle sig omgivet af en hellig påvirkning. Naturens foreteelser gentager vor Herres lignelser og hans råd. Ved samfund med Gud i naturen bliver sindet opløftet, og hjertet finder hvile.