The armor of consecration

Wednesday Bible Readings

June 11th, 2025

From The Bible

Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? ...
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; ...
(I Chronicles 22:18 (to 2nd ?), 19 (to ;))

If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; ...
... then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: ...
And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; ...
(Job 11:13, 15 then, 18, 19 (to ;))

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
(Psalms 55:22)

Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, ...
(Matthew 23:1, 2 (to ,))

¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28–30)

¶ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
(Luke 10:38–42)

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. ...
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again. ...
... and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. ...
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. ...
Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. ...
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. ...
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. ...
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. ...
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
(John 11:1, 3–7, 11 and, 12, 14, 17, 20–29, 32–35, 38, 39 (to 1st .), 41–44)

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ...
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
(II Corinthians 4:6, 14–18)

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
(Hebrews 4:9)

SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES by MARY BAKER EDDY

God never punishes man for doing right, for honest labor, or for deeds of kindness, though they expose him to fatigue, cold, heat, contagion. If man seems to incur the penalty through matter, this is but a belief of mortal mind, not an enactment of wisdom, and man has only to enter his protest against this belief in order to annul it. Through this action of thought and its results upon the body, the student will prove to himself, by small beginnings, the grand verities of Christian Science.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 384:6)

By adhering to the realities of eternal existence, — instead of reading disquisitions on the inconsistent supposition that death comes in obedience to the law of life, and that God punishes man for doing good, — one cannot suffer as the result of any labor of love, but grows stronger because of it.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 387:19–24)

In patient obedience to a patient God, let us labor to dissolve with the universal solvent of Love the adamant of error, — self-will, self-justification, and self-love, — which wars against spirituality and is the law of sin and death.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 242:15–20 In)

When the final physical and moral effects of Christian Science are fully apprehended, the conflict between truth and error, understanding and belief, Science and material sense, foreshadowed by the prophets and inaugurated by Jesus, will cease, and spiritual harmony reign. The lightnings and thunderbolts of error may burst and flash till the cloud is cleared and the tumult dies away in the distance. Then the raindrops of divinity refresh the earth. As St. Paul says: “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God” (of Spirit).
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 288:10)

Material belief is slow to acknowledge what the spiritual fact implies. The truth is the centre of all religion. It commands sure entrance into the realm of Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 20:24–27)

If it is true that man lives, this fact can never change in Science to the opposite belief that man dies. Life is the law of Soul, even the law of the spirit of Truth, and Soul is never without its representative. Man’s individual being can no more die nor disappear in unconsciousness than can Soul, for both are immortal.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 427:1–7)

Jesus said of Lazarus: “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” Jesus restored Lazarus by the understanding that Lazarus had never died, not by an admission that his body had died and then lived again. Had Jesus believed that Lazarus had lived or died in his body, the Master would have stood on the same plane of belief as those who buried the body, and he could not have resuscitated it.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 75:12)

If Jesus awakened Lazarus from the dream, illusion, of death, this proved that the Christ could improve on a false sense. Who dares to doubt this consummate test of the power and willingness of divine Mind to hold man forever intact in his perfect state, and to govern man’s entire action? Jesus said: “Destroy this temple [body], and in three days I [Mind] will raise it up;” and he did this for tired humanity’s reassurance.

Is it not a species of infidelity to believe that so great a work as the Messiah’s was done for himself or for God, who needed no help from Jesus’ example to preserve the eternal harmony? But mortals did need this help, and Jesus pointed the way for them. Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need. It is not well to imagine that Jesus demonstrated the divine power to heal only for a select number or for a limited period of time, since to all mankind and in every hour, divine Love supplies all good.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 493:28–14)

Denial of the possibility of Christian healing robs Christianity of the very element, which gave it divine force and its astonishing and unequalled success in the first century.

The true Logos is demonstrably Christian Science, the natural law of harmony which overcomes discord, — not because this Science is supernatural or preternatural, nor because it is an infraction of divine law, but because it is the immutable law of God, good. Jesus said: “I knew that Thou hearest me always;” and he raised Lazarus from the dead, stilled the tempest, healed the sick, walked on the water. There is divine authority for believing in the superiority of spiritual power over material resistance.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 134:17–30)

The crude creations of mortal thought must finally give place to the glorious forms which we sometimes behold in the camera of divine Mind, when the mental picture is spiritual and eternal. Mortals must look beyond fading, finite forms, if they would gain the true sense of things. Where shall the gaze rest but in the unsearchable realm of Mind?
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 264:3–10)

Jesus cast out evil spirits, or false beliefs. ... by the one Spirit. He said: “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” He never described disease, so far as can be learned from the Gospels, but he healed disease.

The unscientific practitioner says: “You are ill. Your brain is overtaxed, and you must rest. Your body is weak, and it must be strengthened. You have nervous prostration, and must be treated for it.” Science objects to all this, contending for the rights of intelligence and asserting that Mind controls body and brain.

Mind-science teaches that mortals need “not be weary in well doing.” It dissipates fatigue in doing good. Giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker, neither does withholding enrich us. We have strength in proportion to our apprehension of the truth, and our strength is not lessened by giving utterance to truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 79:17 (only), 19–3 by)

When we reach our limits of mental endurance, we conclude that intellectual labor has been carried sufficiently far; but when we realize that immortal Mind is ever active, and that spiritual energies can neither wear out nor can so-called material law trespass upon God-given powers and resources, we are able to rest in Truth, refreshed by the assurances of immortality, opposed to mortality.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 387:5)

In Christian Science there is never a retrograde step, never a return to positions outgrown.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 74:29–30)

Christian Science hynals

God is our refuge and defense,
In trouble our unfailing aid;
Secure in His omnipotence,
What foe can make our heart afraid?

There is a river pure and bright,
Whose streams make glad the heavenly plains;
Where, in eternity of light,
The city of our God remains.

Built by the word of His command,
With His unclouded presence blest,
Firm as His throne the bulwarks stand;
There is our home, our hope, our rest.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 80)

O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour,
Thou Love that guards the nestling’s faltering flight!
Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight.

Love is our refuge; only with mine eye
Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall:
His habitation high is here, and nigh,
His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.

O make me glad for every scalding tear,
For hope deferred, ingratitude, disdain!
Wait, and love more for every hate, and fear
No ill,—since God is good, and loss is gain.

Beneath the shadow of His mighty wing;
In that sweet secret of the narrow way,
Seeking and finding, with the angels sing:
“Lo, I am with you alway,”—watch and pray.

No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain;
No night drops down upon the troubled breast,
When heaven’s aftersmile earth’s tear-drops gain,
And mother finds her home and heav’nly rest.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 208)

How gentle God’s commands,
How kind His precepts are;
Come, cast your burdens on the Lord,
And trust His constant care.

Beneath His watchful eye
His saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears creation up
Shall guard His children well.

His goodness stands approved,
Unchanged from day to day:
I drop my burden at His feet,
And bear a song away.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 124)

Our Refuge and Defense

Wednesday Bible Readings

June 4th, 2025

From The Bible

Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? ...
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; ...
(I Chronicles 22:18 (to 2nd ?), 19 (to ;))

If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; ...
... then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: ...
And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; ...
(Job 11:13, 15 then, 18, 19 (to ;))

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
(Psalms 55:22)

Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, ...
(Matthew 23:1, 2 (to ,))

¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28–30)

¶ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
(Luke 10:38–42)

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. ...
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again. ...
... and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. ...
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. ...
Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. ...
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. ...
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. ...
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. ...
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
(John 11:1, 3–7, 11 and, 12, 14, 17, 20–29, 32–35, 38, 39 (to 1st .), 41–44)

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ...
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
(II Corinthians 4:6, 14–18)

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
(Hebrews 4:9)

SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES by MARY BAKER EDDY

God never punishes man for doing right, for honest labor, or for deeds of kindness, though they expose him to fatigue, cold, heat, contagion. If man seems to incur the penalty through matter, this is but a belief of mortal mind, not an enactment of wisdom, and man has only to enter his protest against this belief in order to annul it. Through this action of thought and its results upon the body, the student will prove to himself, by small beginnings, the grand verities of Christian Science.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 384:6)

By adhering to the realities of eternal existence, — instead of reading disquisitions on the inconsistent supposition that death comes in obedience to the law of life, and that God punishes man for doing good, — one cannot suffer as the result of any labor of love, but grows stronger because of it.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 387:19–24)

In patient obedience to a patient God, let us labor to dissolve with the universal solvent of Love the adamant of error, — self-will, self-justification, and self-love, — which wars against spirituality and is the law of sin and death.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 242:15–20 In)

When the final physical and moral effects of Christian Science are fully apprehended, the conflict between truth and error, understanding and belief, Science and material sense, foreshadowed by the prophets and inaugurated by Jesus, will cease, and spiritual harmony reign. The lightnings and thunderbolts of error may burst and flash till the cloud is cleared and the tumult dies away in the distance. Then the raindrops of divinity refresh the earth. As St. Paul says: “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God” (of Spirit).
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 288:10)

Material belief is slow to acknowledge what the spiritual fact implies. The truth is the centre of all religion. It commands sure entrance into the realm of Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 20:24–27)

If it is true that man lives, this fact can never change in Science to the opposite belief that man dies. Life is the law of Soul, even the law of the spirit of Truth, and Soul is never without its representative. Man’s individual being can no more die nor disappear in unconsciousness than can Soul, for both are immortal.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 427:1–7)

Jesus said of Lazarus: “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” Jesus restored Lazarus by the understanding that Lazarus had never died, not by an admission that his body had died and then lived again. Had Jesus believed that Lazarus had lived or died in his body, the Master would have stood on the same plane of belief as those who buried the body, and he could not have resuscitated it.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 75:12)

If Jesus awakened Lazarus from the dream, illusion, of death, this proved that the Christ could improve on a false sense. Who dares to doubt this consummate test of the power and willingness of divine Mind to hold man forever intact in his perfect state, and to govern man’s entire action? Jesus said: “Destroy this temple [body], and in three days I [Mind] will raise it up;” and he did this for tired humanity’s reassurance.

Is it not a species of infidelity to believe that so great a work as the Messiah’s was done for himself or for God, who needed no help from Jesus’ example to preserve the eternal harmony? But mortals did need this help, and Jesus pointed the way for them. Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need. It is not well to imagine that Jesus demonstrated the divine power to heal only for a select number or for a limited period of time, since to all mankind and in every hour, divine Love supplies all good.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 493:28–14)

Denial of the possibility of Christian healing robs Christianity of the very element, which gave it divine force and its astonishing and unequalled success in the first century.

The true Logos is demonstrably Christian Science, the natural law of harmony which overcomes discord, — not because this Science is supernatural or preternatural, nor because it is an infraction of divine law, but because it is the immutable law of God, good. Jesus said: “I knew that Thou hearest me always;” and he raised Lazarus from the dead, stilled the tempest, healed the sick, walked on the water. There is divine authority for believing in the superiority of spiritual power over material resistance.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 134:17–30)

The crude creations of mortal thought must finally give place to the glorious forms which we sometimes behold in the camera of divine Mind, when the mental picture is spiritual and eternal. Mortals must look beyond fading, finite forms, if they would gain the true sense of things. Where shall the gaze rest but in the unsearchable realm of Mind?
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 264:3–10)

Jesus cast out evil spirits, or false beliefs. ... by the one Spirit. He said: “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” He never described disease, so far as can be learned from the Gospels, but he healed disease.

The unscientific practitioner says: “You are ill. Your brain is overtaxed, and you must rest. Your body is weak, and it must be strengthened. You have nervous prostration, and must be treated for it.” Science objects to all this, contending for the rights of intelligence and asserting that Mind controls body and brain.

Mind-science teaches that mortals need “not be weary in well doing.” It dissipates fatigue in doing good. Giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker, neither does withholding enrich us. We have strength in proportion to our apprehension of the truth, and our strength is not lessened by giving utterance to truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 79:17 (only), 19–3 by)

When we reach our limits of mental endurance, we conclude that intellectual labor has been carried sufficiently far; but when we realize that immortal Mind is ever active, and that spiritual energies can neither wear out nor can so-called material law trespass upon God-given powers and resources, we are able to rest in Truth, refreshed by the assurances of immortality, opposed to mortality.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 387:5)

In Christian Science there is never a retrograde step, never a return to positions outgrown.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 74:29–30)

Christian Science hynals

God is our refuge and defense,
In trouble our unfailing aid;
Secure in His omnipotence,
What foe can make our heart afraid?

There is a river pure and bright,
Whose streams make glad the heavenly plains;
Where, in eternity of light,
The city of our God remains.

Built by the word of His command,
With His unclouded presence blest,
Firm as His throne the bulwarks stand;
There is our home, our hope, our rest.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 80)

O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour,
Thou Love that guards the nestling’s faltering flight!
Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight.

Love is our refuge; only with mine eye
Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall:
His habitation high is here, and nigh,
His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.

O make me glad for every scalding tear,
For hope deferred, ingratitude, disdain!
Wait, and love more for every hate, and fear
No ill,—since God is good, and loss is gain.

Beneath the shadow of His mighty wing;
In that sweet secret of the narrow way,
Seeking and finding, with the angels sing:
“Lo, I am with you alway,”—watch and pray.

No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain;
No night drops down upon the troubled breast,
When heaven’s aftersmile earth’s tear-drops gain,
And mother finds her home and heav’nly rest.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 208)

How gentle God’s commands,
How kind His precepts are;
Come, cast your burdens on the Lord,
And trust His constant care.

Beneath His watchful eye
His saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears creation up
Shall guard His children well.

His goodness stands approved,
Unchanged from day to day:
I drop my burden at His feet,
And bear a song away.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 124)

The Power of Knowing

Wednesday Bible Readings

may 28th, 2025

From The Bible

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
... whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
(I John 2:3, 5 whoso)

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
(II Peter 1:1)

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. ...
(II Peter 3:17, 18 (to 1st .))

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: ...
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ...
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
(II Peter 1:2, 3, 5–8, 12, 13)

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? ...
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; ...
And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
(I Corinthians 3:16, 21, 23)

¶ Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. ...
Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. ...
And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?
(John 7:14–17, 28, 29, 31)

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. ...
I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
(Mark 2:1–5, 11, 12)

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. ...
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; ...
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
(Acts 12:1–3 (to 1st .), 4–9 (to 1st ;), 10, 11)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. ...
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
(Proverbs 22:17, 21)

SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES by MARY BAKER EDDY

In the year 1866, I discovered the Christ Science or divine laws of Life, Truth, and Love, and named my discovery Christian Science. ...
... Through Christian Science, religion and medicine are inspired with a diviner nature and essence; fresh pinions are given to faith and understanding, and thoughts acquaint themselves intelligently with God. ...
Whence came to me this heavenly conviction, — a conviction antagonistic to the testimony of the physical senses? ...
My conclusions were reached by allowing the evidence of this revelation to multiply with mathematical certainty and the lesser demonstration to prove the greater, as the product of three multiplied by three, equalling nine, proves conclusively that three times three duodecillions must be nine duodecillions, — not a fraction more, not a unit less.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 107:1–3, 10; 108:1–2, 12)

The evidence of divine Mind’s healing power and absolute control is to me as certain as the evidence of my own existence.

Mortal mind and body are one. Neither exists without the other, and both must be destroyed by immortal Mind. Matter, or body, is but a false concept of mortal mind. This so-called mind builds its own superstructure, of which the material body is the grosser portion; but from first to last, the body is a sensuous, human concept.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 177:5–14)

To mortal sense Christian Science seems abstract, but the process is simple and the results are sure if the Science is understood. ... Guided by divine Truth and not guesswork, the theologus (that is, the student — the Christian and scientific expounder — of the divine law) treats disease with more certain results than any other healer on the globe. The Christian Scientist should understand and adhere strictly to the rules of divine metaphysics as laid down in this work, and rest his demonstration on this sure basis.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 459:24–26, 27)

We all must learn that Life is God. Ask yourself: Am I living the life that approaches the supreme good? Am I demonstrating the healing power of Truth and Love? If so, then the way will grow brighter “unto the perfect day.” Your fruits will prove what the understanding of God brings to man. Hold perpetually this thought, — that it is the spiritual idea, the Holy Ghost and Christ, which enables you to demonstrate, with scientific certainty, the rule of healing, based upon its divine Principle, Love, underlying, overlying, and encompassing all true being.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 496:9)

... the conquest over sickness, as well as over sin, depends on mentally destroying all belief in material pleasure or pain.

Stick to the truth of being in contradistinction to the error that life, substance, or intelligence can be in matter. Plead with an honest conviction of truth and a clear perception of the unchanging, unerring, and certain effect of divine Science. Then, if your fidelity is half equal to the truth of your plea, you will heal the sick.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 418:2–11 the)

Let us rid ourselves of the belief that man is separated from God, and obey only the divine Principle, Life and Love. Here is the great point of departure for all true spiritual growth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 91:5)

Suffer no claim of sin or of sickness to grow upon the thought. Dismiss it with an abiding conviction that it is illegitimate, because you know that God is no more the author of sickness than He is of sin. You have no law of His to support the necessity either of sin or sickness, but you have divine authority for denying that necessity and healing the sick.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 390:20)

Is God’s image or likeness matter, or a mortal, sin, sickness, and death? Can matter recognize Mind? Can infinite Mind recognize matter? Can the infinite dwell in the finite or know aught unlike the infinite? Can Deity be known through the material senses? Can the material senses, which receive no direct evidence of Spirit, give correct testimony as to spiritual life, truth, and love?

The answer to all these questions must forever be in the negative.

The physical senses can obtain no proof of God. ...

According to Christian Science, the only real senses of man are spiritual, emanating from divine Mind.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 284:11–21, 28–29)

He that touches the hem of Christ’s robe and masters his mortal beliefs, animality, and hate, rejoices in the proof of healing, — in a sweet and certain sense that God is Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 569:11–14)

The Hebrew verb to believe means also to be firm or to be constant. This certainly applies to Truth and Love understood and practised. Firmness in error will never save from sin, disease, and death.

Acquaintance with the original texts, ... open the way for Christian Science to be understood, and make the Bible the chart of life, ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 23:32–4 (to ,); 24:7–8 open (to 2nd ,))

Truth never destroys God’s idea. Truth is spiritual, eternal substance, which cannot destroy the right reflection. Corporeal sense, or error, may seem to hide Truth, health, harmony, and Science, as the mist obscures the sun or the mountain; but Science, the sunshine of Truth, will melt away the shadow and reveal the celestial peaks.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 299:24)

VALVULAR HEART DISEASE HEALED

Fourteen years ago my heart awoke to gratitude to God and the dear Leader at the same time. After a patient and persistent effort of three months’ duration, to procure a copy of Science and Health ... the return mail brought me the book, Science and Health, and in it I at once found sure promise of deliverance from valvular heart disease, with all the accompaniments, such as extreme nervousness, weakness, dyspepsia, and insomnia. I had suffered from these all my life, finding no permanent relief, even, in material remedies, and no hope of cure at any time. ...

Half a day’s reading convinced me that I had found the way to holiness and health. I read on, thinking only of the spiritual enlightenment, content to wait until I should be led to some person who would heal me; but old things had passed away, and all things had become new. I was completely healed before I had met a Scientist, or one who knew anything about Christian Science, and before I had read a line of any other Christian Science literature except one leaf of a tract; so it is absolutely certain that the healing was entirely impersonal, as was also the teaching, which enabled me to begin at once demonstrating the power of Truth to destroy all forms of error. — E. J. W., North Yakima, Wash.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 608:9–13 (to Health), 21–27 the; 609:1)

You should practise well what you know, and you will then advance in proportion to your honesty and fidelity, — qualities which insure success in this Science; ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 449:13–16 (to ;))

Christian Science hynals

Abide with me; fast breaks the morning light;
Our daystar rises, banishing all night;
Thou art our strength, O Truth that maketh free,
We would unfailingly abide in Thee.

I know no fear, with Thee at hand to bless,
Sin hath no power and life no wretchedness;
Health, hope and love in all around I see
For those who trustingly abide in Thee.

I know Thy presence every passing hour,
I know Thy peace, for Thou alone art power;
O Love divine, abiding constantly,
I need not plead, Thou dost abide with me.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 7)

O’er waiting harpstrings of the mind
There sweeps a strain,
Low, sad, and sweet, whose measures bind
The power of pain,

And wake a white-winged angel throng
Of thoughts, illumed
By faith, and breathed in raptured song,
With love perfumed.

Then His unveiled, sweet mercies show
Life’s burdens light.
I kiss the cross, and wake to know
A world more bright.

And o’er earth’s troubled, angry sea
I see Christ walk,
And come to me, and tenderly,
Divinely talk.

Thus Truth engrounds me on the rock,
Upon Life’s shore,
’Gainst which the winds and waves can shock,
Oh, nevermore!

From tired joy and grief afar,
And nearer Thee,—
Father, where Thine own children are,
I love to be.

My prayer, some daily good to do
To Thine, for Thee;
An offering pure of Love, whereto
God leadeth me.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 256)

Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
He whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode:
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
By salvation’s walls surrounded
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

Round each habitation hovering,
See the cloud and fire appear
For a glory and a covering,
Showing that the Lord is near.
Thus deriving from their banner,
Light by night, and shade by day,
Safe they feed upon the manna,
Which He gives them when they pray.

See, the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal Love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove.
Who can faint, while such a river
Ever shall their thirst assuage,—
Grace, which like the Lord, the giver,
Never fails from age to age?
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 71)

...Despite Persecution

Wednesday Bible Readings

May 22ND, 2025

From The Bible

... I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
(Psalms 31:14 I, 15)

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungered, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? ...
But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: ¶ And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
¶ Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; ...
¶ Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
(Matthew 12:1–4, 6–15, 22–24)

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. ...
But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. ...
¶ Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. ...
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
(Matthew 13:3–6, 8, 18–21, 23)

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. ...
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, ...
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. ...
¶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
(Matthew 10:1, 5 (to 3rd ,), 8, 16)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: ...
(II Timothy 1:1, 2 (to :))

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ...
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ...
But they shall proceed no further: ...
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, ...
what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. ...
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; ...
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
(II Timothy 3:1, 2, 4, 9 (to :), 10, 11 what, 12, 14, 17)

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
(Ephesians 6:11–13)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ...
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:35, 37–39)

SCIENCE AND HEALTH

Neither the origin, the character, nor the work of Jesus was generally understood. Not a single component part of his nature did the material world measure aright. Even his righteousness and purity did not hinder men from saying: He is a glutton and a friend of the impure, and Beelzebub is his patron.
Remember, thou Christian martyr, it is enough if thou art found worthy to unloose the sandals of thy Master’s feet! To suppose that persecution for righteousness’ sake belongs to the past, and that Christianity to-day is at peace with the world because it is honored by sects and societies, is to mistake the very nature of religion. Error repeats itself. The trials encountered by prophet, disciple, and apostle, “of whom the world was not worthy,” await, in some form, every pioneer of truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 28:15–31)

To obey the Scriptural command, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate,” is to incur society’s frown; but this frown, more than flatteries, enables one to be Christian. ...
To fall away from Truth in times of persecution, shows that we never understood Truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 238:6–9, 12–13)

Christian experience teaches faith in the right and disbelief in the wrong. It bids us work the more earnestly in times of persecution, because then our labor is more needed.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 29:7–10)

Jesus established his church and maintained his mission on a spiritual foundation of Christ-healing. He taught his followers that his religion had a divine Principle, which would cast out error and heal both the sick and the sinning. He claimed no intelligence, action, nor life separate from God. Despite the persecution this brought upon him, he used his divine power to save men both bodily and spiritually.
The question then as now was, How did Jesus heal the sick? His answer to this question the world rejected. He appealed to his students: “Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?” That is: Who or what is it that is thus identified with casting out evils and healing the sick? They replied, “Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 136:1–16)

Yearning to be understood, the Master repeated, “But whom say ye that I am?” This renewed inquiry meant: Who or what is it that is able to do the work, so mysterious to the popular mind? ...
With his usual impetuosity, Simon replied for his brethren, and his reply set forth a great fact: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!” That is: The Messiah is what thou hast declared, — Christ, the spirit of God, of Truth, Life, and Love, which heals mentally.
This assertion elicited from Jesus the benediction, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven;” that is, Love hath shown thee the way of Life!
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 137:8–11, 16)

It was now evident to Peter that divine Life, Truth, and Love, and not a human personality, was the healer of the sick and a rock, a firm foundation in the realm of harmony. On this spiritually scientific basis Jesus explained his cures, which appeared miraculous to outsiders. He showed that diseases were cast out neither by corporeality, by materia medica, nor by hygiene, but by the divine Spirit, casting out the errors of mortal mind.
The supremacy of Spirit was the foundation on which Jesus built. His sublime summary points to the religion of Love.
Jesus established in the Christian era the precedent for all Christianity, theology, and healing. Christians are under as direct orders now, as they were then, to be Christlike, to possess the Christ-spirit, to follow the Christ-example, and to heal the sick as well as the sinning. ...
The Christian can prove this to-day as readily as it was proved centuries ago.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 138:6–22, 25)

Christianity is again demonstrating the Life that is Truth, and the Truth that is Life, by the apostolic work of casting out error and healing the sick. Earth has no repayment for the persecutions which attend a new step in Christianity; but the spiritual recompense of the persecuted is assured in the elevation of existence above mortal discord and in the gift of divine Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 97:29)

Jesus foresaw the reception Christian Science would have before it was understood, but this foreknowledge hindered him not. He fulfilled his God-mission, and then sat down at the right hand of the Father.
Persecuted from city to city, his apostles still went about doing good deeds, for which they were maligned and stoned. The truth taught by Jesus, the elders scoffed at. Why? Because it demanded more than they were willing to practise. It was enough for them to believe in a national Deity; but that belief, from their time to ours, has never made a disciple who could cast out evils and heal the sick.
Jesus’ life proved, divinely and scientifically, that God is Love, ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 41:22–2 (to ,))

The poor suffering heart needs its rightful nutriment, such as peace, patience in tribulation, and a priceless sense of the dear Father’s loving-kindness.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 365:31)

At all times and under all circumstances, overcome evil with good. Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil. Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you. The cement of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinity.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 571:15)

Atheism, pantheism, theosophy, and agnosticism are opposed to Christian Science, as they are to ordinary religion; but it does not follow that the profane or atheistic invalid cannot be healed by Christian Science. The moral condition of such a man demands the remedy of Truth more than it is needed in most cases; and Science is more than usually effectual in the treatment of moral ailments.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 139:28)

In the Science of Mind-healing, it is imperative to be honest, for victory rests on the side of immutable right. To understand God strengthens hope, enthrones faith in Truth, and verifies Jesus’ word: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 446:18 In)

HYMNS

I know no life divided,
O Lord of life, from Thee;
In Thee is life provided
For all mankind and me:
I know no death, O Father,
Because I live in Thee;
Thy life it is that frees us
From death eternally.

I fear no tribulation,
Since, whatsoe’er it be,
It makes no separation
Between my Lord and me:
Since Thou, my God and Father,
Dost claim me as Thine own,
I richly shall inherit
All good, from Thee alone.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 135)

It matters not what be thy lot,
So Love doth guide;
For storm or shine, pure peace is thine,
Whate’er betide.

And of these stones, or tyrants’ thrones,
God able is
To raise up seed—in thought and deed—
To faithful His.

Aye, darkling sense, arise, go hence!
Our God is good.
False fears are foes—truth tatters those,
When understood.

Love looseth thee, and lifteth me,
Ayont hate’s thrall:
There Life is light, and wisdom might,
And God is All.

The centuries break, the earth-bound wake,
God’s glorified!
Who doth His will—His likeness still—
Is satisfied.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 513)

Through the love of God our Saviour
All will be well;
Free and changeless is His favor;
All must be well;
Precious is the Love that healed us,
Perfect is the grace that sealed us,
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us;
All, all is well.

Though we pass through tribulation,
All will be well;
Ours is such a full salvation,
All must be well;
Happy still, in God confiding,
Fruitful, when in Christ abiding,
Holy, through the Spirit’s guiding;
All, all is well.

We expect a bright tomorrow,
All will be well;
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
All must be well;
While His truth we are applying,
And upon His love relying,
God is every need supplying,
All, all is well.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 350)

Heart to Heart

Wednesday Bible Readings

May 15th, 2025

From The Bible

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, ... without money and without price.
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?
(Isaiah 55:1 (to 5th ,), 1 without, 2 (to 2nd ?))

... the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? ...
And I said, I see a seething pot; ...
Then the LORD said unto me, ...
What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
(Jeremiah 1:11 the (to ?), 13 2nd And (to ;), 14 (to ,); 2:5 What, 11, 13)

Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; ...
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.
... if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;
If ye oppress not the stranger, ... neither walk after other gods …
Then will I cause you to dwell ... in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.
(Jeremiah 3:14 (to ;), 15; 7:3 Amend, 5 2nd if, 6 (to 1st ,), 6 neither (to gods), 7 (to dwell), 7 2nd in)

And Abram went up out of Egypt, ... and Lot with him, into the south.
And Abram was very rich in cattle, ... and in gold.
And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, ...
And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, ...
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
... separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; ... and they separated ...
(Genesis 13:1 (to 1st ,), 1 4th and, 2 (to 1st ,), 2 2nd and, 5 (to 4th ,), 6 (to 2nd ,), 8, 9 separate, 11 (to ;), 11 2nd and (to separated))

And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:
... And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, ...
and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:
(I Kings 8:22, 23, 50 (to 1st ,), 50 3rd and)

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
(Psalms 133:1)

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
... And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
... Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
(Matthew 4:23; 5:2, 8, 9)

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
... And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
(Luke 12:13, 15)

... your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
... Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, ...
where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
(Matthew 6:8 your, 19, 20 (to 1st ,), 20 2nd where, 21, 33 seek (to ;))

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, ... what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him, ...
Thou knowest the commandments, ...
Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing:
sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
(Luke 18:18 (to 2nd ,), 18 what, 19 (to 1st ,), 20 (to 1st ,), 22)

And ... he spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, ...
some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
And other fell on good ground, ... and bare fruit an hundredfold.
... And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
… Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
... And that which fell among thorns are they, which, ...
go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
(Luke 8:4 (to 1st And), 4 he, 5 (to 1st ,), 7 some, 8 (to 1st ,), 8 3rd and (to 1st .), 9, 11, 14 (to 2nd ,), 14 go, 15)

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:
and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
(Matthew 12:35)

And one of the scribes came, and ...
asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, ...
The Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
There is none other commandment greater than these.
(Mark 12:28 (to 2nd and), 28 asked, 29 (to 3rd ,), 29–31 3rd The)

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face;
my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
(Psalms 27:7, 8)

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed:
(Psalms 57:7 (to :))

Dost thou “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”? This command includes much, even the surrender of all merely material sensation, affection, and worship. ... It involves the Science of Life, and recognizes only the divine control of Spirit, in which Soul is our master, and material sense and human will have no place.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 9:17–21 (to 1st .), 22)

Knowing that Soul and its attributes were forever manifested through man, the Master healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, feet to the lame, thus bringing to light the scientific action of the divine Mind on human minds and bodies and giving a better understanding of Soul and salvation.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 210:11–16)

The divine Spirit, which identified Jesus thus centuries ago, has spoken through the inspired Word and will speak through it in every age and clime. It is revealed to the receptive heart, and is again seen casting out evil and healing the sick.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 46:7)

Through the magnitude of his human life, he demonstrated the divine Life. Out of the amplitude of his pure affection, he defined Love. With the affluence of Truth, he vanquished error. ... In witness of his divine commission, he presented the proof that Life, Truth, and Love heal the sick and the sinning, and triumph over death through Mind, not matter.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 54:1–5, 13–16)

Christians are under as direct orders now, as they were then, to be Christlike, to possess the Christ-spirit, to follow the Christ-example, and to heal the sick as well as the sinning.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 138:18–22)

Waking to Christ’s demand, mortals experience suffering. This causes them, even as drowning men, to make vigorous efforts to save themselves; and through Christ’s precious love these efforts are crowned with success.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 22:6)

If we follow the command of our Master, “Take no thought for your life,” we shall never depend on bodily conditions, structure, or economy, but we shall be masters of the body, dictate its terms, and form and control it with Truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 228:20)

We should examine ourselves and learn what is the affection and purpose of the heart, for in this way only can we learn what we honestly are.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 8:28–30)

One’s aim, a point beyond faith, should be to find the footsteps of Truth, the way to health and holiness. We should strive to reach the Horeb height where God is revealed; and the corner-stone of all spiritual building is purity. The baptism of Spirit, washing the body of all the impurities of flesh, signifies that the pure in heart see God and are approaching spiritual Life and its demonstration.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 241:23)

We worship spiritually, only as we cease to worship materially. Spiritual devoutness is the soul of Christianity. ... “The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 140:16–18, 20)

The spiritual sense of truth must be gained before Truth can be understood. This sense is assimilated only as we are honest, unselfish, loving, and meek. In the soil of an “honest and good heart” the seed must be sown; else it beareth not much fruit, for the swinish element in human nature uproots it. … Jesus’ parable of “the sower” shows the care our Master took not to impart to dull ears and gross hearts the spiritual teachings which dulness and grossness could not accept. ...It is the spiritualization of thought and Christianization of daily life, in contrast with the results of the ghastly farce of material existence; it is chastity and purity, in contrast with the downward tendencies and earthward gravitation of sensualism and impurity, which really attest the divine origin and operation of Christian Science.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 272:3–8, 13–16, 19–25)

Sensual treasures are laid up “where moth and rust doth corrupt.” Mortality is their doom. ... The sensualist’s affections are as imaginary, whimsical, and unreal as his pleasures. Falsehood, envy, hypocrisy, malice, hate, revenge, and so forth, steal away the treasures of Truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 241:5–6 (to 2nd .), 8–11)

The benign thought of Jesus, finding utterance in such words as “Take no thought for your life,” would heal the sick, and so enable them to rise above the supposed necessity for physical thought-taking and doctoring; but if the unselfish affections be lacking, and common sense and common humanity are disregarded, what mental quality remains, with which to evoke healing from the outstretched arm of righteousness?
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 365:7)

Starting from a higher standpoint, one rises spontaneously, even as light emits light without effort; for “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” ...Divine Mind is the only cause or Principle of existence. Cause does not exist in matter, in mortal mind, or in physical forms.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 262:24, 30)

Mankind will improve through Science and Christianity. The necessity for uplifting the race is father to the fact that Mind can do it; for Mind can impart purity instead of impurity, strength instead of weakness, and health instead of disease.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 371:26–30)

God fashions all things, after His own likeness. Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence. ... The grass beneath our feet silently exclaims, “The meek shall inherit the earth.” ... Man, made in His likeness, possesses and reflects God’s dominion over all the earth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 516:9–12, 13–15, 19–21)

God gives the lesser idea of Himself for a link to the greater, and in return, the higher always protects the lower. The rich in spirit help the poor in one grand brotherhood, all having the same Principle, or Father; and blessed is that man who seeth his brother’s need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another’s good.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 518:13–19)

With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 469:30–5)

In divine Science, where prayers are mental, all may avail themselves of God as “a very present help in trouble.” Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals. It is the open fount which cries, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 12:31)

The First Commandment is my favorite text. ... it signifies that man shall have no other spirit or mind but God, eternal good, and that all men shall have one Mind. The divine Principle of the First Commandment bases the Science of being, by which man demonstrates health, holiness, and life eternal. One infinite God, good, ... fulfils the Scripture, “Love thy neighbor as thyself;”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 340:16 (only), 18–23 it (to 2nd ,), 24–25 fulfils (to ;))

Give me, O Lord, an understanding heart,
That I may learn to know myself in Thee,
To spurn the wrong and choose the better part
And thus from sinful bondage be set free.

Give me, O Lord, a meek and contrite heart,
That I may learn to quell all selfish pride,
Bowing before Thee, see Thee as Thou art
And ’neath Thy sheltering presence safely hide.

Give me, O Lord, a gentle, loving heart,
That I may learn to be more tender, kind,
And with Thy healing touch, each wound and smart
With Christly bands of Love and Truth to bind.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 423)

Lean on the sustaining infinite
And blessings will be yours.
Lean not on person, place, or thing,
Or economic laws;
But lean upon all-blessing God
Who will all needs supply
And give to all abundant good
That money cannot buy.

Let the healing reign of Truth and Life,
The reign of Love divine,
Be now established within me
To show Soul’s clear design
Of Oneness, indivisible—
Of God and me as one—
As water is to ocean wave,
As sunbeam is to sun.

Love with a heart of tenderness
Your enemies and friends;
However hard this may appear,
This quality just mends.
For Love is God in action true,
A presence that is felt;
A healing and a saving power
That will all discord melt.

So lean, and let, and love;
This is the balanced Way.
It’s free from self-will, pressure, stress;
It welcomes in God’s day.
The leaning is so gentle;
The letting is so free.
And loving is the only way
To think, and speak, and be.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 519)

Brood o’er us with Thy shelt’ring wing,
’Neath which our spirits blend
Like brother birds, that soar and sing,
And on the same branch bend.
The arrow that doth wound the dove
Darts not from those who watch and love.

If thou the bending reed wouldst break
By thought or word unkind,
Pray that his spirit you partake,
Who loved and healed mankind:
Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain,
That make men one in love remain.

Learn, too, that wisdom’s rod is given
For faith to kiss, and know;
That greetings glorious from high heaven,
Whence joys supernal flow,
Come from that Love, divinely near,
Which chastens pride and earth-born fear,

Through God, who gave that word of might
Which swelled creation’s lay:
“Let there be light, and there was light.”
What chased the clouds away?
’Twas Love whose finger traced aloud
A bow of promise on the cloud.

Thou to whose power our hope we give,
Free us from human strife.
Fed by Thy love divine we live,
For Love alone is Life;
And life most sweet, as heart to heart
Speaks kindly when we meet and part.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 32)

A Church of Works

Wednesday Bible Readings

May 7th, 2025

From The Bible

..other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(I Corinthians 3:11 other)

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
(Matthew 21:12–14)

And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
(Luke 19:47, 48)

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
(I Corinthians 4:1)

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: ...
...ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
(I Peter 2:5, 6 (to :), 9 ye)

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
...ye are Christ’s;
(I Corinthians 3:16–18, 23 ye (to ;))

...our sufficiency is of God;
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
(II Corinthians 3:5 our, 6)

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
(I Peter 2:25)

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
(II Corinthians 11:15)

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
...And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
...He that heareth you heareth me;
(Luke 10:1–3, 8–11, 16 (to 1st ;))

¶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
¶ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
(Matthew 28:16–20 (to 1st .))

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
...Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
(Luke 10:30–34, 36, 37)

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
...watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
(II Timothy 4:1, 2, 5 watch)

When will Jesus’ professed followers learn to emulate him in all his ways and to imitate his mighty works? Those who procured the martyrdom of that righteous man would gladly have turned his sacred career into a mutilated doctrinal platform. May the Christians of to-day take up the more practical import of that career! ... Christians claim to be his followers, but do they follow him in the way that he commanded?
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 37:16–22, 25–27)

An apostle says that the Son of God [Christ] came to “destroy the works of the devil.” We should follow our divine Exemplar, and seek the destruction of all evil works, error and disease included.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 5:29–32)

Faith, if it be mere belief, is as a pendulum swinging between nothing and something, having no fixity. Faith, advanced to spiritual understanding, is the evidence gained from Spirit, which rebukes sin of every kind and establishes the claims of God.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 23:16)

He was here to enable them to test his still uncomprehended saying, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also.” They must understand more fully his Life-principle by casting out error, healing the sick, and raising the dead, even as they did understand it after his bodily departure.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 42:29)

Jesus’ students, not sufficiently advanced fully to understand their Master’s triumph, did not perform many wonderful works, until they saw him after his crucifixion and learned that he had not died.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 45:32–3)

Where were the seventy whom Jesus sent forth? Were all conspirators save eleven? Had they forgotten the great exponent of God? Had they so soon lost sight of his mighty works, his toils, privations, sacrifices, his divine patience, sublime courage, and unrequited affection? ... The meek demonstrator of good, the highest instructor and friend of man, met his earthly fate alone with God.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 49:7–12, 14–16)

His consummate example was for the salvation of us all, but only through doing the works which he did and taught others to do. His purpose in healing was not alone to restore health, but to demonstrate his divine Principle.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 51:19–23)

His words and works were unknown to the world because above and contrary to the world’s religious sense.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 53:11–13)

If we wish to follow Christ, Truth, it must be in the way of God’s appointing. Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also.”
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 326:3–5)

Why are the words of Jesus more frequently cited for our instruction than are his remarkable works? Is it not because there are few who have gained a true knowledge of the great import to Christianity of those works?
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 358:19)

And Christian Science does honor God as no other theory honors Him, and it does this in the way of His appointing, by doing many wonderful works through the divine name and nature.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 483:27–30)

Our church is built on the divine Principle, Love. We can unite with this church only as we are new-born of Spirit, as we reach the Life which is Truth and the Truth which is Life by bringing forth the fruits of Love, — casting out error and healing the sick. Our Eucharist is spiritual communion with the one God. Our bread, “which cometh down from heaven,” is Truth. Our cup is the cross. Our wine the inspiration of Love, the draught our Master drank and commended to his followers.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 35:19 2nd Our)

Jesus established his church and maintained his mission on a spiritual foundation of Christ-healing.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 136:1–2)

The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 583:14)

When will Jesus’ professed followers learn to emulate him in all his ways and to imitate his mighty works?
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 37:16–17)

Unless the works are comprehended which his words explained, the words are blind. ... The author became a member of the orthodox Congregational Church in early years. Later she learned that her own prayers failed to heal her as did the prayers of her devout parents and the church; but when the spiritual sense of the creed was discerned in the Science of Christianity, this spiritual sense was a present help. It was the living, palpitating presence of Christ, Truth, which healed the sick. We cannot bring out the practical proof of Christianity, which Jesus required, while error seems as potent and real to us as Truth, and while we make a personal devil and an anthropomorphic God our starting-points, — especially if we consider Satan as a being coequal in power with Deity, if not superior to Him.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 350:13; 351:8–21)

Our Master taught no mere theory, doctrine, or belief. It was the divine Principle of all real being which he taught and practised. His proof of Christianity was no form or system of religion and worship, but Christian Science, working out the harmony of Life and Love.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 26:28–32)

There adhered to him only a few unpretentious friends, whose religion was something more than a name.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 54:22–24)

Through Christian Science, religion and medicine are inspired with a diviner nature and essence; fresh pinions are given to faith and understanding, and thoughts acquaint themselves intelligently with God.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 107:10)

The adoption of scientific religion and of divine healing will ameliorate sin, sickness, and death.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 141:27–28)

Human reason and religion come slowly to the recognition of spiritual facts, and so continue to call upon matter to remove the error which the human mind alone has created.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 173:26)

Students are advised by the author to be charitable and kind, not only towards differing forms of religion and medicine, but to those who hold these differing opinions. Let us be faithful in pointing the way through Christ, as we understand it, but let us also be careful always to “judge righteous judgment,” and never to condemn rashly. ... If ecclesiastical sects or medical schools turn a deaf ear to the teachings of Christian Science, then part from these opponents as did Abraham when he parted from Lot, and say in thy heart: “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.”
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 444:13–19, 22–27)

The ancient Christians were healers. Why has this element of Christianity been lost? Because our systems of religion are governed more or less by our systems of medicine. ... Such systems are barren of the vitality of spiritual power, by which material sense is made the servant of Science and religion becomes Christlike.
(Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 146:2–5, 9)

The Science of Hope: “Christ hath rolled away the stone from the door of human hope and faith…”

Wednesday Bible Readings

May 7th, 2025

From The Bible

CITATIONS:

Ps. 43:5 (to 2nd ?)

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? …

Ps. 130:7

Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. 

Ps. 37:1 (to ,), 5 (to 1st ;), 7 and (to :), 10 (to :), 11 (to ;)

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, ...

Commit thy way unto the Lord; ...

... and wait patiently for him: ...

For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: ...

But the meek shall inherit the earth; ...

Luke 2:25 there (to :), 27 (to 1st ,), 28–30

... there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: ...

And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, ...

Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now 

 thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 

Matt. 2:3 (to 2nd ,), 13 (to 1st And), 13 behold (to 7th ,), 13 for, 16 (to 1st ,), 16 2nd was (to 3rd ,), 16 2nd and (to 5th ,), 19, 20 (to :), 21 (to 1st ,), 23 (to :)

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, ...

And ... behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, ... for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. ...

... ¶ Then Herod, ... was exceeding wroth, ... and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, ...

... ¶ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: ...

And he arose, ...

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: ...

Luke 2:40

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 

Matt. 4:23

¶ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 

Matt. 9:20–22

¶ And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 

John 5:2 (to 1st ,), 2 having, 3 (to 1st ,), 5–7 (to :), 8, 9 (to :), 16

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, ... having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, ...

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: ...

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: ...

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 

Luke 6:9

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? 

Matt. 17:14, 15 (to 2nd :), 16, 17 (to 2nd ,), 17 2nd how, 18 (to ;), 18–20 3rd and

¶ And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: ...

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, ... how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; ... and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 

Heb. 11:1, 3

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ...

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 

Rom. 8:24, 25

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 

Heb. 6:11, 19

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: ...

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 

II Thess. 2:16, 17

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. 

SH 45:17

Christ hath rolled away the stone from the door of human hope and faith, and through the revelation and demonstration of life in God, hath elevated them to possible at-one-ment with the spiritual idea of man and his divine Principle, Love. 

SH 171:14

Jesus illustrated the divine Principle and the power of immortal Mind by healing sickness and sin and destroying the foundations of death. 

SH 107:1

IN the year 1866, I discovered the Christ Science or divine laws of Life, Truth, and Love, and named my discovery Christian Science. God had been graciously preparing me during many years for the reception of this final revelation of the absolute divine Principle of scientific mental healing. 

SH 109:11–13 (to ,), 16–22

For three years after my discovery, I sought the solution of this problem of Mind-healing, searched the Scriptures and read little else, ... I knew the Principle of all harmonious Mind-action to be God, and that cures were produced in primitive Christian healing by holy, uplifting faith; but I must know the Science of this healing, and I won my way to absolute conclusions through divine revelation, reason, and demonstration. 

SH 123:16, 30

The term Christian Science was introduced by the author to designate the scientific system of divine healing. ...

Christian Science differs from material science, but not on that account is it less scientific. On the contrary, Christian Science is pre-eminently scientific, being based on Truth, the Principle of all science. 

SH 487:19–20 (to 2nd ,), 25–26, 30 (only)

Christian evidence is founded on Science or demonstrable Truth, flowing from immortal Mind, ...

The Apostle James said, “Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” ...

This faith relies upon an understood Principle. 

SH 145:31–2 (to 2nd .)

The theology of Christian Science includes healing the sick. Our Master’s first article of faith propounded to his students was healing, and he proved his faith by his works. The ancient Christians were healers. 

SH 14:18–20 (to 3rd .)

Hence the hope of the promise Jesus bestows: “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; . . . ...

SH 361:25–28

A germ of infinite Truth, though least in the kingdom of heaven, is the higher hope on earth, but it will be rejected and reviled until God prepares the soil for the seed. 

SH 41:22–24

Jesus foresaw the reception Christian Science would have before it was understood, but this foreknowledge hindered him not. 

SH 52:17

To-day, as of old, error and evil again make common cause against the exponents of truth. 

SH 565:9–11 (to ,), 12–13 might

Led on by the grossest element of mortal mind, Herod decreed the death of every male child in order that the man Jesus, ... might never hold sway and deprive Herod of his crown. 

SH 225:25

The despotic tendencies, inherent in mortal mind and always germinating in new forms of tyranny, must be rooted out through the action of the divine Mind. 

SH 262:27–28 (to 1st .), 30

The foundation of mortal discord is a false sense of man’s origin. ... Divine Mind is the only cause or Principle of existence. Cause does not exist in matter, in mortal mind, or in physical forms. 

SH 516:28–29 God

... God made man in His own image, to reflect the divine Spirit. 

SH 252:15–20, 23–24 How, 31–4; 253:7 2nd I

The false evidence of material sense contrasts strikingly with the testimony of Spirit. Material sense lifts its voice with the arrogance of reality and says: 

I am wholly dishonest, and no man knoweth it. I can cheat, lie, commit adultery, rob, murder, and I elude detection by smooth-tongued villainy. ... How sin succeeds, where the good purpose waits! ...

Spirit, bearing opposite testimony, saith: 

I am Spirit. Man, whose senses are spiritual, is my likeness. He reflects the infinite understanding, for I am Infinity. The beauty of holiness, the perfection of being, imperishable glory, — all are Mine, for I am God. ... I am the substance of all, because I am that I am. 

SH 142:18–20

As in Jesus’ time, so to-day, tyranny and pride need to be whipped out of the temple, and humility and divine Science to be welcomed in. 

SH 252:7

When false human beliefs learn even a little of their own falsity, they begin to disappear. A knowledge of error and of its operations must precede that understanding of Truth which destroys error, until the entire mortal, material error finally disappears, and the eternal verity, man created by and of Spirit, is understood and recognized as the true likeness of his Maker. 

SH 40:8–9, 31–2 (to ;); 41:6

Divine Science adjusts the balance as Jesus adjusted it. ...

The nature of Christianity is peaceful and blessed, but in order to enter into the kingdom, the anchor of hope must be cast beyond the veil of matter into the Shekinah into which Jesus has passed before us; ... Like our Master, we must depart from material sense into the spiritual sense of being. 

SH 8:28–30

We should examine ourselves and learn what is the affection and purpose of the heart, for in this way only can we learn what we honestly are. 

SH 301:6–12

To himself, mortal and material man seems to be substance, but his sense of substance involves error and therefore is material, temporal. 

On the other hand, the immortal, spiritual man is really substantial, and reflects the eternal substance, or Spirit, which mortals hope for. 

SH 468:17–22 Substance

... Substance is that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay. Truth, Life, and Love are substance, as the Scriptures use this word in Hebrews: “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Spirit, the synonym of Mind, Soul, or God, is the only real substance. 

SH 12:1–2 (to ?), 10–11 (to ,)

“The prayer of faith shall save the sick,” says the Scripture. What is this healing prayer? ... It is neither Science nor Truth which acts through blind belief, ...

SH 16:2–5

The highest prayer is not one of faith merely; it is demonstration. Such prayer heals sickness, and must destroy sin and death. 

SH 149:28–29; 150:4–5 (to 2nd ,), 10 but

Whatever guides thought spiritually benefits mind and body. ...

To-day the healing power of Truth is widely demonstrated as an immanent, eternal Science, ... but the mission of Christian Science now, as in the time of its earlier demonstration, is not primarily one of physical healing. Now, as then, signs and wonders are wrought in the metaphysical healing of physical disease; but these signs are only to demonstrate its divine origin, — to attest the reality of the higher mission of the Christ-power to take away the sins of the world. 

SH 253:9–11 (to no), 13–14 able

I hope, dear reader, I am leading you into the understanding of your divine rights, your heaven-bestowed harmony, — that, as you read, you see there is no ... able to make you sick or sinful; and I hope that you are conquering this false sense. 

SH 152:5–7 (to 2nd ,)

The author has endeavored to make this book the Æsculapius of mind as well as of body, that it may give hope to the sick and heal them, ...

SH xii:23–24 (to 1st all), 26 she

In the spirit of Christ’s charity, — as one who “hopeth all ... she commits these pages to honest seekers for Truth. 

Hymn. 437

All my hope on God is founded; / Day by day my trust is new. / Through the trials of life He guides me, / Only good and only true. / God alone, dearly known, / Calls my heart to be His own. 

Earthly treasures, pride and glory, / Human power and worldly trust, / Though with care and toil are builded, / In the end will fall to dust. / But God’s power, hour by hour, / Is my temple and my tower. 

Daily does th’almighty Giver / Bounteous gifts on us bestow. / Love’s desire our soul delighteth, / Joy attends us where we go. / Blessings stand at God’s hand, / Healing flows at Love’s command. 

Now from man to God eternal / Endless thanks and praise be sung. / Hearts made new are anthems raising / Through the love of Christ, His Son. / Hear God’s call, one and all, / We who follow shall not fall. 

Words: Joachim Neander; tr. Robert Bridges; adapt. Fenella Bennetts, alt.

Music: Herbert Howells

Hymn. 221

O Jesus, our dear Master, / Thy works, now understood, / Reveal their full effulgence / Through love and brotherhood. / Today Christ’s precious Science / Thy healing power makes plain: / With joy may all obey thee / And cast out sin and pain. 

The Christ, eternal manhood, / As God’s own Son beloved, / A tender ever-presence / Within each heart is proved. / O God, our Father-Mother, / Thy name we see expressed / By man, who in Thy Science / Is perfect, holy, blessed. 

O Science, God-sent message / To tired humanity, / Thou art Love’s revelation / Of Truth that makes us free. / Thy kingdom, God, within us / Shows forth Love’s sweet control. / God’s idea, man, rejoices; / He knows the reign of Soul. 

Words: Margaret Glenn Matters

Music: Justin H. Knecht

Hymn. 539

O gentle presence, peace and joy and power; / O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour, / Thou Love that guards the nestling’s faltering flight! / Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight. 

Love is our refuge; only with mine eye / Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall: / His habitation high is here, and nigh, / His arm encircles me, and mine, and all. 

O make me glad for every scalding tear, / For hope deferred, ingratitude, disdain! / Wait, and love more for every hate, and fear / No ill,—since God is good, and loss is gain. 

Beneath the shadow of His mighty wing; / In that sweet secret of the narrow way, / Seeking and finding, with the angels sing: / “Lo, I am with you alway,”—watch and pray. 

No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain; / No night drops down upon the troubled breast, / When heaven’s aftersmile earth’s tear-drops gain, / And mother finds her home and heav’nly rest. 

Words: Mary Baker Eddy

Music: Lisa Redfern; arr. CSPS

Always Mighty, Never Faint

Wednesday Bible Readings

Arpril 9th, 2025

From The Bible

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
(Psalms 55:22)

And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. ...

And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. And the LORD said unto Moses, ...

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?
(Exodus 17:1, 2 (to .), 3–5 (to 1st ,), 6, 7)

¶ Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
(Exodus 17:8–12)

O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
(Psalms 98:1)

For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: And he maketh my way perfect. ...

For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
(II Samuel 22:32, 33, 40)

¶ Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:28–31 (to .))

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. ...
(Mark 6:2–6 (to 1st .))

¶ And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither. And as he was yet a-coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. ¶ And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: ...
(Luke 9:37–44 (to :))

¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28–30)

And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
(Galatians 6:9)

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ...

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; ...

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
(II Corinthians 4:6, 8, 9, 17, 18)

The Scriptures say, “They that wait upon the Lord . . . shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” The meaning of that passage is not perverted by applying it literally to moments of fatigue, for the moral and physical are as one in their results. When we wake to the truth of being, all disease, pain, weakness, weariness, sorrow, sin, death, will be unknown, and the mortal dream will forever cease. My method of treating fatigue applies to all bodily ailments, since Mind should be, and is, supreme, absolute, and final.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 218:27)

Mind-science teaches that mortals need “not be weary in well doing.” It dissipates fatigue in doing good. Giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker, neither does withholding enrich us. We have strength in proportion to our apprehension of the truth, and our strength is not lessened by giving utterance to truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 79:29–3)

When mentality gives rest to the body, the next toil will fatigue you less, for you are working out the problem of being in divine metaphysics; and in proportion as you understand the control which Mind has over so-called matter, you will be able to demonstrate this control. The scientific and permanent remedy for fatigue is to learn the power of Mind over the body or any illusion of physical weariness, and so destroy this illusion, for matter cannot be weary and heavy-laden.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 217:19)

To say that strength is in matter, is like saying that the power is in the lever. The notion of any life or intelligence in matter is without foundation in fact, and you can have no faith in falsehood when you have learned falsehood’s true nature.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 485:30)

We should relieve our minds from the depressing thought that we have transgressed a material law and must of necessity pay the penalty. Let us reassure ourselves with the law of Love. God never punishes man for doing right, for honest labor, or for deeds of kindness, though they expose him to fatigue, cold, heat, contagion. If man seems to incur the penalty through matter, this is but a belief of mortal mind, not an enactment of wisdom, and man has only to enter his protest against this belief in order to annul it. Through this action of thought and its results upon the body, the student will prove to himself, by small beginnings, the grand verities of Christian Science.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 384:3)

“Work out your own salvation,” is the demand of Life and Love, for to this end God worketh with you. “Occupy till I come!” Wait for your reward, and “be not weary in well doing.” If your endeavors are beset by fearful odds, and you receive no present reward, go not back to error, nor become a sluggard in the race.

When the smoke of battle clears away, you will discern the good you have done, and receive according to your deserving. Love is not hasty to deliver us from temptation, for Love means that we shall be tried and purified.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 22:11–22)

The sharp experiences of belief in the supposititious life of matter, as well as our disappointments and ceaseless woes, turn us like tired children to the arms of divine Love. Then we begin to learn Life in divine Science. Without this process of weaning, “Canst thou by searching find out God?” It is easier to desire Truth than to rid one’s self of error. Mortals may seek the understanding of Christian Science, but they will not be able to glean from Christian Science the facts of being without striving for them. This strife consists in the endeavor to forsake error of every kind and to possess no other consciousness but good.

Through the wholesome chastisements of Love, we are helped onward in the march towards righteousness, peace, and purity, which are the landmarks of Science. Beholding the infinite tasks of truth, we pause, — wait on God. Then we push onward, until boundless thought walks enraptured, and conception unconfined is winged to reach the divine glory.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 322:26–12)

Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy. Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine “powers that be.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 249:6–9)

Some time ago my little girl, then three years old, dislocated her shoulder. I was alone in the house at the time. The pain was so intense that she became faint. I treated her the best I knew how, but kept holding the thought that just as soon as some one came I would run for help. She seemed to grow worse and cried very much. I undressed her and tried to twist the arm into place, but it caused such suffering that I began to get afraid. Then like a flash came the thought, What would you do if you were out of the reach of a practitioner? Now is your time to prove God’s power and presence. With these thoughts came such a sense of calm and trustfulness that I lost all fear. I then asked the child if I should read to her; she said “Yes, mamma, read the truth-book.” I began reading aloud to her from Science and Health. In about half an hour I noticed she tried to lift the arm but screamed and became very pale. I continued to read aloud and again she made an effort to put some candy into her mouth. This time I noticed with joy that she almost reached her mouth before she felt the pain. I kept reading aloud to her until my sister and two boys came in, when she jumped off her bed, so delighted to see her brothers that she forgot her arm. She then began to tell her aunt that she had broken her arm and mamma treated it with the truth-book. When this happened, it was about 10.30 A. M. and by 3 P. M. she was playing out doors as though nothing had ever happened. — Mrs. M. G., Winnipeg, Man.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 636:17)

Glorious things of thee are spoken, / Zion, city of our God; / He whose word cannot be broken, / Formed thee for His own abode: / On the Rock of Ages founded, / What can shake thy sure repose? / By salvation’s walls surrounded / Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

Round each habitation hovering, / See the cloud and fire appear / For a glory and a covering, / Showing that the Lord is near. / Thus deriving from their banner, / Light by night, and shade by day, / Safe they feed upon the manna, / Which He gives them when they pray.

See, the streams of living waters, / Springing from eternal Love, / Well supply thy sons and daughters, / And all fear of want remove. / Who can faint, while such a river / Ever shall their thirst assuage,— / Grace, which like the Lord, the giver, / Never fails from age to age?
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 71)

O’er waiting harpstrings of the mind / There sweeps a strain, / Low, sad, and sweet, whose measures bind / The power of pain,

And wake a white-winged angel throng / Of thoughts, illumed / By faith, and breathed in raptured song, / With love perfumed.

Then His unveiled, sweet mercies show / Life’s burdens light. / I kiss the cross, and wake to know / A world more bright.

And o’er earth’s troubled, angry sea / I see Christ walk, / And come to me, and tenderly, / Divinely talk.

Thus Truth engrounds me on the rock, / Upon Life’s shore, / ’Gainst which the winds and waves can shock, / Oh, nevermore!

From tired joy and grief afar, / And nearer Thee,— / Father, where Thine own children are, / I love to be.

My prayer, some daily good to do / To Thine, for Thee; / An offering pure of Love, whereto / God leadeth me.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 256)

O walk with God along the road, / Your strength He will renew; / Wait on the everlasting God, / And He will walk with you.

Ye shall not to your daily task / Without your God repair, / But on your work His blessing ask / And prove His glory there.

Ye shall not faint, ye shall not fail; / In Spirit ye are strong; / Each task divine ye still shall hail, / And blend it with a song.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 247)

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Dominion Over All

Wednesday Bible Readings

Arpril 2nd, 2025

From The Bible

Job 33:4

The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 

Gen. 1:26 (to dominion), 26 4th over (to 6th ,)

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion ... over all the earth, …

Prov. 8:22, 23 (to 2nd ,), 26 (to 1st nor), 27 (to 1st :), 30 (to :), 30 rejoicing

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, ...While as yet he had not made the earth, nor ...When he prepared the heavens, I was there: ...Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: ... rejoicing always before him; 

Isa. 35:4 (to :); 52:12 2nd for

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: ... for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward. 

Matt. 4:23, 24 2nd and

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. ... and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 

Matt. 9:18 behold (to 3rd ,), 18 saying, 23 (to 1st ,), 24 (to And), 25 he

... behold, there came a certain ruler, ... saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. ...And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, ...He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And ...... he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 

John 11:1 (to 3rd ,), 4 (to 4th ,), 7 (to ,), 11 Our, 12, 14, 15 nevertheless, 17, 30 (to ,), 34, 38 It, 39 (to 1st .), 41 And, 43, 44 (to :), 44 Jesus, 47

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, ...When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, ...Then after that saith he to his disciples, ... Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. ...Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. ... nevertheless let us go unto him. ...Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. ...Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, ...And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. ...... It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. ...... And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. ...And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: ... Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. ....  Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 

John 8:12, 51 (to 2nd ,), 51 If, 52 (to 1st ,), 52 Abraham (to 2nd ,), 52 2nd and, 53 (to 1st ?), 53 whom, 54 (to 1st ,), 56–58; 10:30

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ...Verily, verily, ... If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, ... Abraham is dead, ... and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? ... whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, ...Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. ...I and my Father are one. 

Rom. 8:16, 17 (to 2nd ;), 35, 37

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; ...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Acts 17:28 (to ;)

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; …

Ps. 118:17

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. 

Eph. 5:14 Awake

... Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light

SH 70:1 (only), 2–5

MORTAL existence is an enigma. ... The testimony of the corporeal senses cannot inform us what is real and what is delusive, but the revelations of Christian Science unlock the treasures of Truth. 

SH 475:7–9, 23–24 (to dominion), 26 2nd over

The Scriptures inform us that man is made in the image and likeness of God. ...
And God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion ... over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” 

SH 497:3 As

... As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life. 

SH 557:18

Divine Science rolls back the clouds of error with the light of Truth, and lifts the curtain on man as never born and as never dying, but as coexistent with his creator. 

SH 333:26–30 (to ;), 32–2 By (to ;); 334:4–6 but (to ;)

The divine image, idea, or Christ was, is, and ever will be inseparable from the divine Principle, God. Jesus referred to this unity of his spiritual identity thus: “Before Abraham was, I am;” “I and my Father are one;” ...... By these sayings Jesus meant, not that the human Jesus was or is eternal, but that the divine idea or Christ was and is so and therefore antedated Abraham; ... but that the spiritual idea, Christ, dwells forever in the bosom of the Father, God, from which it illumines heaven and earth; ...

SH 429:31–3

Jesus said (John viii. 51), “If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” That statement is not confined to spiritual life, but includes all the phenomena of existence. Jesus demonstrated this, healing the dying and raising the dead. 

SH 14:25–28

Entirely separate from the belief and dream of material living, is the Life divine, revealing spiritual understanding and the consciousness of man’s dominion over the whole earth. 

SH 42:19–23, 25–28

The belief that man has existence or mind separate from God is a dying error. This error Jesus met with divine Science and proved its nothingness. Because of the wondrous glory which God bestowed on His anointed, temptation, sin, sickness, and death had no terror for Jesus. ... This demonstrates that in Christian Science the true man is governed by God — by good, not evil — and is therefore not a mortal but an immortal. 

SH 75:12; 76:18

Jesus said of Lazarus: “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” Jesus restored Lazarus by the understanding that Lazarus had never died, not by an admission that his body had died and then lived again. Had Jesus believed that Lazarus had lived or died in his body, the Master would have stood on the same plane of belief as those who buried the body, and he could not have resuscitated it. ... Suffering, sinning, dying beliefs are unreal. When divine Science is universally understood, they will have no power over man, for man is immortal and lives by divine authority. 

SH 303:28–30; 304:5–9

Spiritual man is the image or idea of God, an idea which cannot be lost nor separated from its divine Principle. .... Understanding this, Paul said: “Neither death, nor life, . . . nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God.” 

SH 304:9–11 (to ;), 12–14 that

This is the doctrine of Christian Science: that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object; ... that good can never produce evil; that matter can never produce mind nor life result in death. 

SH 406:20–25 We

We can, and ultimately shall, so rise as to avail ourselves in every direction of the supremacy of Truth over error, Life over death, and good over evil, and this growth will go on until we arrive at the fulness of God’s idea, and no more fear that we shall be sick and die. 

SH 428:23–26, 30–32; 429:2–6 Life

We must hold forever the consciousness of existence, and sooner or later, through Christ and Christian Science, we must master sin and death. ... The author has healed hopeless organic disease, and raised the dying to life and health through the understanding of God as the only Life. ... Life must be brought to light by the understanding that there is no death, as well as by other graces of Spirit. We must begin, however, with the more simple demonstrations of control, and the sooner we begin the better. 

SH 368:14

When we come to have more faith in the truth of being than we have in error, more faith in Spirit than in matter, more faith in living than in dying, more faith in God than in man, then no material suppositions can prevent us from healing the sick and destroying error. 

SH 200:9

Life is, always has been, and ever will be independent of matter; for Life is God, and man is the idea of God, not formed materially but spiritually, and not subject to decay and dust. The Psalmist said: “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands. Thou hast put all things under his feet.” 

SH 430:7–9

When man gives up his belief in death, he will advance more rapidly towards God, Life, and Love. 

SH 517:30–2; 518:3–4 himself (to 1st .)

Divine Love blesses its own ideas, and causes them to multiply, — to manifest His power. Man is not made to till the soil. His birthright is dominion, not subjection. ... himself subordinate alone to his Maker. 

SH 69:13

Spiritually to understand that there is but one creator, God, unfolds all creation, confirms the Scriptures, brings the sweet assurance of no parting, no pain, and of man deathless and perfect and eternal. 

SH 516:19–21

Man, made in His likeness, possesses and reflects God’s dominion over all the earth. 

Hymn. 382

What is thy birthright, man, / Child of the perfect One; / What is thy Father’s plan / For His beloved son? 

Thou art Truth’s honest child, / Of pure and sinless heart; / Thou treadest undefiled / In Christly paths apart. 

Vain dreams shall disappear / As Truth dawns on the sight; / The phantoms of thy fear / Shall flee before the light. 

Take then the sacred rod; / Thou art not error’s thrall; / Thou hast the gift of God— / Dominion over all. 

Words: Emily F. Seal

Music: Leighton G. Hayne

Hymn. 542

O Life that maketh all things new, / The blooming earth, the thoughts of men; / Our pilgrim feet, wet with Your dew, / In gladness hither turn again. 

From hand to hand the greeting flows, / From eye to eye the signals run, / From heart to heart the bright hope glows, / The seekers of the Light are one: 

One in the freedom of the truth, / One in the joy of paths untrod, / One in the heart’s perennial youth, / One in the larger thought of God;— 

The freer step, the fuller breath, / The wide horizon’s grander view; / The sense of Life that knows no death,— / The Life that maketh all things new. 

Words: Samuel Longfellow, alt.

Music: Andrew D. Brewis, alt.

Hymn. 524

REFRAIN / Like a river that runs to the ocean, / Like a ray reaching out from the sun, / Like a branch and the tree, a drop and the sea, / I and my Father are one. 

And may each of us claim it as truly / As Jesus, who came as God’s son, / And may each of us know in the depths of our soul, / I and my Father are one. 

One in beauty, one in truth, / One in the asking, one in the proof, / One in time and one in space, / One in the goodness that flows from God’s grace. / / REFRAIN / Though our fears may estrange and divide us, / May we seek to dissolve them through love. / We are sister and brother, each bound to the other, / One with our Father above. 

One in purpose, one in power, / One in the Spirit, blessing each hour, / One in kindness, one in peace, / One in the Mind that makes all trouble cease. / / REFRAIN 

Words: Mindy Jostyn, alt.

Music: Mindy Jostyn; arr. CSPS

We are children of the day, the “light of the world”

Wednesday Bible Readings

March 12th, 2025

From The Bible

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings….For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

(Psalms 36:7, 9)

God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: ...
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
(Exodus 13:18 God (to :), 21)

And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, ...Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, ...Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
(Nehemiah 9:15 (to 2nd ,), 20 (to 1st ,), 21)

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. ...For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: ...
(Isaiah 9:2, 6 (to 2nd :))

In the beginning was the Word, ... and the Word was God. ...In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. ...That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
(John 1:1 (to 1st ,), 1 2nd and, 4, 5, 9)

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
(John 8:12)

And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, ... and from beyond Jordan.
(Matthew 4:24, 25 (to 2nd ,), 25 5th and)

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. ...While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. ...Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; ...
(John 6:28, 29; 12:36 (to 1st .); 14:12 (to 2nd ;))

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
(John 10:6)

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, ... before him shall be gathered all nations: … And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: ... I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? … And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, ...For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: ... sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, ... or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
(Matthew 25:31 (to 1st ,), 32 before (to 1st :), 33–35, 36–38 I (to 1st ?), 40, 41 (to 4th ,), 42, 43 (to 1st :), 43 sick, 44 (to 5th ,), 44 4th or, 45)

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. ... The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. ...He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, ... If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
(I John 2:1 (to .), 7 2nd The, 9, 10 (to ,), 24 If, 25)

My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, ...For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
(Proverbs 6:20, 21 (to ,), 23)

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
(I Thessalonians 5:5)

Then said Jesus unto them again, ...
(John 10:7 (to 1st ,))

Ye are the salt of the earth: … Ye are the light of the world. … Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:13 (to :), 14 (to 1st .), 16)

DAY. The irradiance of Life; light, the spiritual idea of Truth and Love. ... The objects of time and sense disappear in the illumination of spiritual understanding, and Mind measures time according to the good that is unfolded. This unfolding is God’s day, and “there shall be no night there.”

(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 584:1, 4)

The Bible declares: “All things were made by Him [the divine Word]; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” This is the eternal verity of divine Science. ... Man is tributary to God, Spirit, and to nothing else. ...Material sense never helps mortals to understand Spirit, God. Through spiritual sense only, man comprehends and loves Deity.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 480:26–29; 481:2–3, 7–9)

Light is a symbol of Mind, of Life, Truth, and Love, and not a vitalizing property of matter. Science reveals only one Mind, and this one shining by its own light and governing the universe, including man, in perfect harmony.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 510:27–1)

As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.
For with Thee is the fountain of life;
In Thy light shall we see light.

The brain can give no idea of God’s man. It can take no cognizance of Mind. Matter is not the organ of infinite Mind. As mortals give up the delusion that there is more than one Mind, more than one God, man in God’s likeness will appear, and this eternal man will include in that likeness no material element. As a material, theoretical life-basis is found to be a misapprehension of existence, the spiritual and divine Principle of man dawns upon human thought, ... to the spiritual sense of being and of what Life includes. Thus the whole earth will be transformed by Truth on its pinions of light, chasing away the darkness of error.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 190:28–10 (to ,); 191:12 2nd to)

Only by losing the false sense of Soul can we gain the eternal unfolding of Life as immortality brought to light.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 335:22)

In the illusion of life that is here to-day and gone to-morrow, man would be wholly mortal, were it not that Love, the divine Principle that obtains in divine Science, destroys all error and brings immortality to light.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 305:22–27)

Man, being immortal, has a perfect indestructible life. … Mind, supreme over all its formations and governing them all, is the central sun of its own systems of ideas, the life and light of all its own vast creation; and man is tributary to divine Mind.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 209:1–2, 5–8)

This spiritualization of thought lets in the light, and brings the divine Mind, Life not death, into your consciousness.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 407:26)

The Revelator symbolizes Spirit by the sun. ... The light portrayed is really neither solar nor lunar, but spiritual Life, which is “the light of men.” ... of the Fourth Gospel it is written, “There was a man sent from God . . . to bear witness of that Light.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 561:25–26, 27–29, 30 of)

JESUS. The highest human corporeal concept of the divine idea, rebuking and destroying error and bringing to light man’s immortality.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 589:16)

The Christ was the Spirit which Jesus implied in his own statements: “I am the way, the truth, and the life;” “I and my Father are one.” This Christ, or divinity of the man Jesus, was his divine nature, the godliness which animated him. Divine Truth, Life, and Love gave Jesus authority over sin, sickness, and death. His mission was to reveal the Science of celestial being, to prove what God is and what He does for man.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 26:10)

He knew that matter had no life and that real Life is God; therefore he could no more be separated from his spiritual Life than God could be extinguished. His consummate example was for the salvation of us all, but only through doing the works which he did and taught others to do. His purpose in healing was not alone to restore health, but to demonstrate his divine Principle.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 51:15–23)

From the infinite One in Christian Science comes one Principle and its infinite idea, and with this infinitude come spiritual rules, laws, and their demonstration, which, like the great Giver, are “the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever;” ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 112:16–20 (to ;))

The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus’ time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation. Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural. They are the sign of Immanuel, or “God with us,” — a divine influence ever present in human consciousness and repeating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime,
To preach deliverance to the captives [of sense],
And recovering of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty them that are bruised.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. xi:9)

If we would open their prison doors for the sick, we must first learn to bind up the broken-hearted.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 366:30–31)

If we turn away from the poor, we are not ready to receive the reward of Him who blesses the poor. … We should examine ourselves and learn what is the affection and purpose of the heart, ... If selfishness has given place to kindness, we shall regard our neighbor unselfishly, and bless them that curse us; but we shall never meet this great duty simply by asking that it may be done. There is a cross to be taken up before we can enjoy the fruition of our hope and faith.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 8:22–24, 28–29 (to ,); 9:11)

Step by step will those who trust Him find that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 444:10)

The harmony and immortality of man are intact. We should look away from the opposite supposition that man is created materially, and turn our gaze to the spiritual record of creation, ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 521:12–15 (to ,))

When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought. Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious — as Life eternally is — can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not. Let Christian Science, instead of corporeal sense, support your understanding of being, and this understanding will supplant error with Truth, replace mortality with immortality, and silence discord with harmony.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 495:14)

Truth and Love enlighten the understanding, in whose “light shall we see light;” and this illumination is reflected spiritually by all who walk in the light and turn away from a false material sense.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 510:9)

Whatever is governed by God, is never for an instant deprived of the light and might of intelligence and Life.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 215:12)

A Christian Scientist occupies the place at this period of which Jesus spoke to his disciples, when he said: “Ye are the salt of the earth.” “Ye are the light of the world. ... Let us watch, work, and pray that this salt lose not its saltness, and that this light be not hid, but radiate and glow into noontide glory.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 367:17–20, 21)

Who was that man in Galilee, / Healing and teaching beside the sea? / What was the power that made him strong? / How can we learn to sing his song?
He told us, / I am the light of the world, / I am the light of the world, / So follow me and shine out / For I am the light of the world!
Why are we here, and who are we? / What is his purpose for you and me? / Our little light seems small and dim / Next to the blaze that comes from him!
He told us, / You are the salt of the earth, / You are the light of the world. / So follow me and shine out / For you are the light of the world!
Christ is the light with which we shine, / Lit from within by this love divine. / Step out with courage, dare to go, / Give from the heart the love you know.
He told us, / We are the salt of the earth, / We are the light of the world. / We follow him and shine out / For Christ is the light of the world!
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 600)

Love divine, Your healing presence / Lifts us to the holy place, / Where we see Your whole creation / Filled with light and crowned with grace. / We Your children know Your glory, / See Your power from above / Sweep away the shade of darkness / With the healing tide of love.
Humble hearts accept Your blessing, / Turn from sorrow, want, and sin, / Turn the page, rewrite that story, / As the Christ is welcomed in. / Now we know our true relation, / Perfect God and perfect child, / We can live in joy and freedom, / Loved, and pure, and undefiled.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 529)

Brood o’er us with Thy shelt’ring wing, / ’Neath which our spirits blend / Like brother birds, that soar and sing, / And on the same branch bend. / The arrow that doth wound the dove / Darts not from those who watch and love.
If thou the bending reed wouldst break / By thought or word unkind, / Pray that his spirit you partake, / Who loved and healed mankind: / Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain, / That make men one in love remain.
Learn, too, that wisdom’s rod is given / For faith to kiss, and know; / That greetings glorious from high heaven, / Whence joys supernal flow, / Come from that Love, divinely near, / Which chastens pride and earth-born fear,
Through God, who gave that word of might / Which swelled creation’s lay: / “Let there be light, and there was light.” / What chased the clouds away? / ’Twas Love whose finger traced aloud / A bow of promise on the cloud.
Thou to whose power our hope we give, / Free us from human strife. / Fed by Thy love divine we live, / For Love alone is Life; / And life most sweet, as heart to heart / Speaks kindly when we meet and part.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 453)

The Leaven of Truth is Ever at Work

Wednesday Bible Readings

March 5th, 2025

From The Bible

¶ Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? ...

It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
(Luke 13:18, 21)

¶ When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. ...

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
(John 6:5–12, 14)

Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
(John 6:26–33)

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: ...

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; ...

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. ...

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: ...
(John 6:35 (to :), 37 (to ;), 38, 40 (to :))

... Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
(I Corinthians 5:6–8 Know)

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
(Acts 3:1–10)

¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. ¶ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
(Acts 4:5–14)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(II Corinthians 5:17)

A little leaven leavens the whole lump. A little understanding of Christian Science proves the truth of all that I say of it. Because you cannot walk on the water and raise the dead, you have no right to question the great might of divine Science in these directions. Be thankful that Jesus, who was the true demonstrator of Science, did these things, and left his example for us. In Science we can use only what we understand. We must prove our faith by demonstration.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 329:5)

God is Spirit; therefore the language of Spirit must be, and is, spiritual. Christian Science attaches no physical nature and significance to the Supreme Being or His manifestation; mortals alone do this. ...

Ear hath not heard, nor hath lip spoken, the pure language of Spirit. Our Master taught spirituality by similitudes and parables. As a divine student he unfolded God to man, illustrating and demonstrating Life and Truth in himself and by his power over the sick and sinning. Human theories are inadequate to interpret the divine Principle involved in the miracles (marvels) wrought by Jesus and especially in his mighty, crowning, unparalleled, and triumphant exit from the flesh.

Evidence drawn from the five physical senses relates solely to human reason; and because of opacity to the true light, human reason dimly reflects and feebly transmits Jesus’ works and words. Truth is a revelation.

Jesus bade his disciples beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, which he defined as human doctrines. His parable of the “leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened,” impels the inference that the spiritual leaven signifies the Science of Christ and its spiritual interpretation, — an inference far above the merely ecclesiastical and formal applications of the illustration.

Did not this parable point a moral with a prophecy, foretelling the second appearing in the flesh of the Christ, Truth, hidden in sacred secrecy from the visible world?

Ages pass, but this leaven of Truth is ever at work. It must destroy the entire mass of error, and so be eternally glorified in man’s spiritual freedom.

In their spiritual significance, Science, Theology, and Medicine are means of divine thought, which include spiritual laws emanating from the invisible and infinite power and grace. The parable may import that these spiritual laws, perverted by a perverse material sense of law, are metaphysically presented as three measures of meal, — that is, three modes of mortal thought. In all mortal forms of thought, dust is dignified as the natural status of men and things, and modes of material motion are honored with the name of laws. This continues until the leaven of Spirit changes the whole of mortal thought, as yeast changes the chemical properties of meal.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 117:6–10, 14–25 (np))

How are veritable ideas to be distinguished from illusions? By learning the origin of each. Ideas are emanations from the divine Mind. Thoughts, proceeding from the brain or from matter, are offshoots of mortal mind; they are mortal material beliefs. Ideas are spiritual, harmonious, and eternal. Beliefs proceed from the so-called material senses, ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 88:9–15 (to ,))

The human mind has no power to kill or to cure, and it has no control over God’s man. The divine Mind that made man maintains His own image and likeness. ...

That mortal mind claims to govern every organ of the mortal body, we have overwhelming proof. But this so-called mind is a myth, and must by its own consent yield to Truth. It would wield the sceptre of a monarch, but it is powerless. The immortal divine Mind takes away all its supposed sovereignty, and saves mortal mind from itself. The author has endeavored to make this book the Æsculapius of mind as well as of body, that it may give hope to the sick and heal them, although they know not how the work is done. Truth has a healing effect, even when not fully understood.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 151:21–24, 31)

A little leaven causes the whole mass to ferment. A grain of Christian Science does wonders for mortals, so omnipotent is Truth, but more of Christian Science must be gained in order to continue in well doing.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 449:2)

The broadcast powers of evil so conspicuous to-day show themselves in the materialism and sensualism of the age, struggling against the advancing spiritual era. Beholding the world’s lack of Christianity and the powerlessness of vows to make home happy, the human mind will at length demand a higher affection.

There will ensue a fermentation over this as over many other reforms, until we get at last the clear straining of truth, and impurity and error are left among the lees.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 65:13–23)

Marvels, calamities, and sin will much more abound as truth urges upon mortals its resisted claims; but the awful daring of sin destroys sin, and foreshadows the triumph of truth. God will overturn, until “He come whose right it is.” Longevity is increasing and the power of sin diminishing, for the world feels the alterative effect of truth through every pore.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 223:28)

Christian Science brings to the body the sunlight of Truth, which invigorates and purifies. Christian Science acts as an alterative, neutralizing error with Truth. It changes the secretions, expels humors, dissolves tumors, relaxes rigid muscles, restores carious bones to soundness. The effect of this Science is to stir the human mind to a change of base, on which it may yield to the harmony of the divine Mind.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 162:4)

Through divine Science, Spirit, God, unites understanding to eternal harmony. The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 506:10)

The necessity for uplifting the race is father to the fact that Mind can do it; for Mind can impart purity instead of impurity, strength instead of weakness, and health instead of disease. Truth is an alterative in the entire system, and can make it “every whit whole.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 371:27)



Come, Thou all-transforming Spirit, / Bless the sower and the seed; / Let each heart Thy grace inherit; / Raise the weak, the hungry feed; / From the Gospel, from the Gospel / Now supply Thy people’s need.

O, may all enjoy the blessing / Which Thy holy word doth give; / Let us all, Thy love possessing, / Joyfully Thy truth receive; / And forever, and forever / To Thy praise and glory live.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 42:1, 2)

O Jesus, our dear Master, / Thy works, now understood, / Reveal their full effulgence / Through love and brotherhood. / Today Christ’s precious Science / Thy healing power makes plain: / With joy may all obey thee / And cast out sin and pain.

The Christ, eternal manhood, / As God’s own Son beloved, / A tender ever-presence / Within each heart is proved. / O God, our Father-Mother, / Thy name we see expressed / By man, who in Thy Science / Is perfect, holy, blessed.

O Science, God-sent message / To tired humanity, / Thou art Love’s revelation / Of Truth that makes us free. / Thy kingdom, God, within us / Shows forth Love’s sweet control. / God’s idea, man, rejoices; / He knows the reign of Soul.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 221:1–3)

O God, our help in ages past, / Our hope for time to come, / Our shelter from the stormy blast, / And our eternal home.

Before the hills in order stood, / Or earth received her frame, / From everlasting Thou art God, / To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight / Are like an evening gone, / Short as the watch that ends the night / Before the rising sun.

O God, our help in ages past, / Our hope for time to come, / Thou art our guard while ages last, / And our eternal home.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 213:1–4)

Fear Not …

Wednesday Bible Readings

February 26th, 2025

From The Bible

TIn the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. ...And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. ...... ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion ... over all the earth, ...And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. ...Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
(Genesis 1:1, 2 (to 1st .), 3, 26 (to dominion), 26 4th over (to 6th ,), 31 (to 1st .); 2:1)

But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. ...And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? ...
(Genesis 2:6; 3:9–11 (to 1st ?))

And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. ...For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
(Job 3:2–4, 25)

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. ...Where is the way where light dwelleth? ...Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? ...Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, ...I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
(Job 38:1–4, 19 (to ?), 36; 42:1, 2 (to ,), 5)

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. ...
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
(Psalms 119:130, 133, 134)

Thus saith the LORD that made thee, ...Fear ye not, neither be afraid: ... ¶ I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: ... Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. … I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: … Look unto me, and be ye saved, ... for I am God, and there is none else.
(Isaiah 44:2 (to 1st ,), 8 (to :); 45:5 (to 1st :), 11 Ask, 13 (to :), 22 (to 2nd ,), 22 for)

And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, ...
(Mark 11:11 (to 1st ,))

¶Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. ... ¶ And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, … And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, ...When he saw Jesus, he cried out, ... What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. ...And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: … And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: ...Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, … and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: ...
(Luke 8:22, 26 (to ,), 27 (to 3rd ,), 28 (to 2nd ,), 28 What, 29 (to 1st .), 30 (to :), 32 (to :), 33, 34 (to 2nd ,), 35 and (to :))

¶ If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; ...
(Ecclesiastes 5:8 (to ;))

In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. ...The LORD is on my side; ...
(Psalms 56:11; 118:6 (to ;))

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. … These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, ...... ¶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; ...Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
(Matthew 10:1, 5 (to 3rd ,), 16, 17, 34)

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; ... Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: … And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
(Luke 21:9 (to ;), 10 Nation, 17, 18)

... I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, … Even the Spirit of truth; … Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
(John 14:16 I (to 2nd ,), 17 (to 1st ;), 27)

... God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. …

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: ...
(I John 4:16 2nd God, 18 (to :))

“Let there be light,” is the perpetual demand of Truth and Love, changing chaos into order and discord into the music of the spheres.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 255:3–6)

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” (Genesis i. 1, 2.) In the vast forever, in the Science and truth of being, the only facts are Spirit and its innumerable creations. Darkness and chaos are the imaginary opposites of light, understanding, and eternal harmony, and they are the elements of nothingness. ... Paul says: “For the invisible things of Him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.” (Romans i. 20.) When the substance of Spirit appears in Christian Science, the nothingness of matter is recognized. Where the spirit of God is, and there is no place where God is not, evil becomes nothing, — the opposite of the something of Spirit.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 479:18, 29–5)

Truth has no beginning. The divine Mind is the Soul of man, and gives man dominion over all things. Man was not created from a material basis, nor bidden to obey material laws which Spirit never made; his province is in spiritual statutes, in the higher law of Mind. Above error’s awful din, blackness, and chaos, the voice of Truth still calls: “Adam, where art thou? Consciousness, where art thou? Art thou dwelling in the belief that mind is in matter, and that evil is mind, or art thou in the living faith that there is and can be but one God, and keeping His commandment?”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 307:25–4)

The parent of all human discord was the Adam-dream, the deep sleep, in which originated the delusion that life and intelligence proceeded from and passed into matter. This pantheistic error, or so-called serpent, insists still upon the opposite of Truth, saying, “Ye shall be as gods;” that is, I will make error as real and eternal as Truth. Evil still affirms itself to be mind, and declares that there is more than one intelligence or God. It says: “There shall be lords and gods many. ... makes evil minds and evil spirits, and that I aid Him. ...This error has proved itself to be error. Its life is found to be not Life, but only a transient, false sense of an existence which ends in death.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 306:32–9; 307:10 makes (only), 14–16)

The true theory of the universe, including man, is not in material history but in spiritual development. … It is this spiritual perception of Scripture, which lifts humanity out of disease and death and inspires faith. ... Christian Science separates error from truth, and breathes through the sacred pages the spiritual sense of life, substance, and intelligence. In this Science, we discover man in the image and likeness of God. We see that man has never lost his spiritual estate and his eternal harmony.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 547:25–27, 31–32; 548:2)

Genesis i. 31. And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. … The divine Principle, or Spirit, comprehends and expresses all, and all must therefore be as perfect as the divine Principle is perfect. ... Human capacity is slow to discern and to grasp God’s creation and the divine power and presence which go with it, demonstrating its spiritual origin.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 518:24–25, 27–29 (to 1st .); 519:11–14)

The relations of God and man, divine Principle and idea, are indestructible in Science; and Science knows no lapse from nor return to harmony, but holds the divine order or spiritual law, in which God and all that He creates are perfect and eternal, to have remained unchanged in its eternal history.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 470:32)

Christian scientific practice begins with Christ’s keynote of harmony, “Be not afraid!” Said Job: “The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 410:29)

FEAR. ... inflammation; anxiety; ignorance; error; ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 586:11 (only, to .), 11 inflammation (only, to 4th ;))

Fear, which is an element of all disease, must be cast out to readjust the balance for God. Casting out evil and fear enables truth to outweigh error. The only course is to take antagonistic grounds against all that is opposed to the health, holiness, and harmony of man, God’s image.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 392:5)

Every trial of our faith in God makes us stronger. The more difficult seems the material condition to be overcome by Spirit, the stronger should be our faith and the purer our love. The Apostle John says: “There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love casteth out fear. . . . He that feareth is not made perfect in Love.” Here is a definite and inspired proclamation of Christian Science.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 410:14)

No hypothesis as to the existence of another power should interpose a doubt or fear to hinder the demonstration of Christian Science.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 445:5–8)

Job said: “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.” Mortals will echo Job’s thought, when the supposed pain and pleasure of matter cease to predominate. ... Starting from a higher standpoint, one rises spontaneously, even as light emits light without effort; ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 262:17–20, 24–25 (to ;))

The procuring cause and foundation of all sickness is fear, ignorance, or sin. ...
Always begin your treatment by allaying the fear of patients. ... The great fact that God lovingly governs all, never punishing aught but sin, is your standpoint, from which to advance and destroy the human fear of sickness. ... The power of Christian Science and divine Love is omnipotent. It is indeed adequate to unclasp the hold and to destroy disease, sin, and death.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 411:20–21, 27–28; 412:1–4, 13)

It is recorded that once Jesus asked the name of a disease, — a disease which moderns would call dementia. The demon, or evil, replied that his name was Legion. Thereupon Jesus cast out the evil, and the insane man was changed and straightway became whole. The Scripture seems to import that Jesus caused the evil to be self-seen and so destroyed.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 411:13)

The history of our country, like all history, illustrates the might of Mind, and shows human power to be proportionate to its embodiment of right thinking. ... The despotic tendencies, inherent in mortal mind and always germinating in new forms of tyranny, must be rooted out through the action of the divine Mind.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 225:14–16, 25)

Discerning the rights of man, we cannot fail to foresee the doom of all oppression. ... “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Love and Truth make free, but evil and error lead into captivity. Christian Science raises the standard of liberty and cries: “Follow me! Escape from the bondage of sickness, sin, and death!” ... The illusion of material sense, not divine law, has bound you, entangled your free limbs, crippled your capacities, enfeebled your body, and defaced the tablet of your being.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 227:14–15, 18–23, 26)

The enslavement of man is not legitimate. It will cease when man enters into his heritage of freedom, his God-given dominion over the material senses. ... Dropping their present beliefs, they will recognize harmony as the spiritual reality and discord as the material unreality.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 228:11–13, 17)

As light destroys darkness and in the place of darkness all is light, so (in absolute Science) Soul, or God, is the only truth-giver to man. ...God, good, being ever present, it follows in divine logic that evil, the suppositional opposite of good, is never present. ... Not personal intercommunion but divine law is the communicator of truth, health, and harmony to earth and humanity.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 72:9–12 As, 21–23, 30–32)

Divine Science, the Word of God, saith to the darkness upon the face of error, “God is All-in-all,” and the light of ever-present Love illumines the universe. ... This also shows that there is no place where God’s light is not seen, since Truth, Life, and Love fill immensity and are ever-present.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 503:12–15; 504:11–14)

To hold yourself superior to sin, because God made you superior to it and governs man, is true wisdom. To fear sin is to misunderstand the power of Love and the divine Science of being in man’s relation to God, — to doubt His government and distrust His omnipotent care. To hold yourself superior to sickness and death is equally wise, and is in accordance with divine Science. To fear them is impossible, when you fully apprehend God and know that they are no part of His creation. Man, governed by his Maker, having no other Mind, — planted on the Evangelist’s statement that “all things were made by Him [the Word of God]; and without Him was not anything made that was made,” — can triumph over sin, sickness, and death.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 231:20–2)

Thou whose almighty Word / Chaos and darkness heard, / And took their flight; / Hear us, we humbly pray, / And where the Gospel-day / Sheds not its glorious ray, / Let there be light.

Christ, thou dost come to bring / On thy redeeming wing / Healing and sight, / Health to the sick in mind, / Sight to the inly blind; / Ah, now to all mankind / Let there be light.

Spirit of truth and love, / Life-giving, holy dove, / Speed forth thy flight; / Move on the waters’ face, / Bearing the lamp of grace, / And in earth’s darkest place / Let there be light.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 401)

Abide with me; fast breaks the morning light; / Our daystar rises, banishing all night; / Thou art our strength, O Truth that maketh free, / We would unfailingly abide in Thee.

I know no fear, with Thee at hand to bless, / Sin hath no power and life no wretchedness; / Health, hope and love in all around I see / For those who trustingly abide in Thee.

I know Thy presence every passing hour, / I know Thy peace, for Thou alone art power; / O Love divine, abiding constantly, / I need not plead, Thou dost abide with me.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 7)

A glorious day is dawning, / And o’er the waking earth / The heralds of the morning / Are springing into birth. / In dark and hidden places / There shines the blessed light; / The beam of Truth displaces / The darkness of the night.

The advocates of error / Foresee the glorious morn, / And hear in shrinking terror, / The watchword of reform: / It rings from hill and valley, / It breaks oppression’s chain. / A thousand freemen rally, / And swell the mighty strain.

The watchword has been spoken, / The light has broken forth, / Far shines the blessed token / Upon the startled earth. / To hearts and homes benighted / The blessed Truth is given, / And peace and love, united, / Point upward unto heaven.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 2)

Be … Loved

Wednesday Bible Readings

February 12th, 2025

From The Bible

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
(Jeremiah 31:3)

For thus saith the LORD, ...As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; ...
(Isaiah 66:12 (to 1st ,), 13 (to ;))

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: ... I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
(Isaiah 45:2 (to 1st :), 5 2nd I)

... the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? … Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: ...When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. ...Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: ...
(Psalms 27:1 2nd the, 3 (to :), 10, 14 (to 2nd :))

And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: … And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ... turn not aside from following the LORD, … Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.
(I Samuel 12:19 (to :), 20 (to 1st :), 20 turn (to 2nd ,), 24)

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; ...
(Deuteronomy 33:27 (to ;))

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. ...Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, ... askest drink of me, ... for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. ... whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. … The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
(John 4:7, 9 (to 2nd ,), 9 askest (to 4th ,), 9 for, 10, 14 whosoever, 28, 29)

And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
(John 4:27)

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, … I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, ...And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
(John 10:7 (to 4th ,), 14 (to 2nd ,), 16)

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, ...
(Isaiah 55:1 (to 3rd ,))

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. ...Then saith he unto his disciples, ...
(Matthew 9:35, 37 (to 1st ,))

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. … Give to him that asketh thee, and … do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
(Matthew 5:6, 42 (to and), 44 do, 45)

Ye are the light of the world. … Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:14 (to 1st .), 16)

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; ...I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: ...I pray for them: ... for they are thine. And all mine are thine, ...
... Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. … Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; ... that they also may be one in us: ... and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
(John 17:1 (to ;), 6 (to :), 9 (to :), 9 4th for, 10 (to ,), 11 Holy, 20, 21 2nd that (to :), 23 2nd and)

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: … Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. .... God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
(I John 3:1 (to :); 4:11, 16 2nd God)

“God is Love.” More than this we cannot ask, higher we cannot look, farther we cannot go.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 6:17–18)

Asking God to be God is a vain repetition. God is “the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever;” ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 2:31–32 (to ;))

... the all-knowing, ... all-loving, ... Principle; Mind; ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 587:5 2nd the (only, to 1st ,), 6 all-loving (only, to ,), 6–7 Principle (to 1st ;))

The creative Principle — Life, Truth, and Love ... There is but one creator and one creation. This creation consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their identities, which are embraced in the infinite Mind and forever reflected.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 502:27–28 (to Love), 29–3)

God fashions all things, after His own likeness.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 516:9 (only))

Man is not the offspring of flesh, but of Spirit, — of Life, not of matter.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 289:31–32)

Man is idea, the image, of Love; ...He is ... the conscious identity of being as found in Science, in which man is the reflection of God, or Mind, and therefore is eternal; that which has no separate mind from God; that which has not a single quality underived from Deity; that which ... reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker. ...

Man is incapable of sin, sickness, and death.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 475:13–14 (to ;), 14 (only, to is), 16–20 the (to which), 22 reflects, 28 (only))

Man is the family name for all ideas, — the sons and daughters of God.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 515:21–22 Man)

All nature teaches God’s love to man, but man cannot love God supremely and set his whole affections on spiritual things, while loving the material or trusting in it more than in the spiritual.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 326:8)

The supremacy of Spirit was the foundation on which Jesus built. His sublime summary points to the religion of Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 138:14)

Out of the amplitude of his pure affection, he defined Love. With the affluence of Truth, he vanquished error.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 54:3–5)

Jesus aided in reconciling man to God by giving man a truer sense of Love, the divine Principle of Jesus’ teachings, and this truer sense of Love redeems man from the law of matter, sin, and death by the law of Spirit, — the law of divine Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 19:6)

Experience teaches us that we do not always receive the blessings we ask for in prayer. ... That which we desire and for which we ask, it is not always best for us to receive. In this case infinite Love will not grant the request.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 10:22–23, 28–31)

The sharp experiences of belief in the supposititious life of matter, as well as our disappointments and ceaseless woes, turn us like tired children to the arms of divine Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 322:26–29)

Divine Love corrects and governs man.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 6:3 (only))

Waking to Christ’s demand, mortals experience suffering. This causes them, even as drowning men, to make vigorous efforts to save themselves; and through Christ’s precious love these efforts are crowned with success.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 22:6)

Through the wholesome chastisements of Love, we are helped onward in the march towards righteousness, peace, and purity, which are the landmarks of Science.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 323:6–9)

In divine Science, God and the real man are inseparable as divine Principle and idea.

... God is the Principle of man, and man is the idea of God. Hence man is not mortal nor material. ...

Learn this, O mortal, and earnestly seek the spiritual status of man, which is outside of all material selfhood.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 476:4, 9–11, 21–22)

Let us rid ourselves of the belief that man is separated from God, and obey only the divine Principle, Life and Love. ...

Absorbed in material selfhood we discern and reflect but faintly the substance of Life or Mind. The denial of material selfhood aids the discernment of man’s spiritual and eternal individuality, and destroys the erroneous knowledge gained from matter or through what are termed the material senses.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 91:5–7, 16)

Understanding this, Paul said: “Neither death, nor life, . . . nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God.” This is the doctrine of Christian Science: that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object; that joy cannot be turned into sorrow, for sorrow is not the master of joy; that good can never produce evil; that matter can never produce mind nor life result in death.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 304:5–14)

To be “with the Lord” is to be in obedience to the law of God, to be absolutely governed by divine Love, — by Spirit, not by matter.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 14:9)

In divine Science, where prayers are mental, all may avail themselves of God as “a very present help in trouble.” Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals. It is the open fount which cries, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 12:31)

Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need. ... to all mankind and in every hour, divine Love supplies all good.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 494:10–11, 13 to)

Universal Love is the divine way in Christian Science.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 266:18 Universal)

Brood o’er us with Thy shelt’ring wing, / ’Neath which our spirits blend / Like brother birds, that soar and sing, / And on the same branch bend. / The arrow that doth wound the dove / Darts not from those who watch and love.

If thou the bending reed wouldst break / By thought or word unkind, / Pray that his spirit you partake, / Who loved and healed mankind: / Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain, / That make men one in love remain.

Learn, too, that wisdom’s rod is given / For faith to kiss, and know; / That greetings glorious from high heaven, / Whence joys supernal flow, / Come from that Love, divinely near, / Which chastens pride and earth-born fear,

Through God, who gave that word of might / Which swelled creation’s lay: / “Let there be light, and there was light.” / What chased the clouds away? / ’Twas Love whose finger traced aloud / A bow of promise on the cloud.

Thou to whose power our hope we give, / Free us from human strife. / Fed by Thy love divine we live, / For Love alone is Life; / And life most sweet, as heart to heart / Speaks kindly when we meet and part.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 30)

Love one another,—word of revelation; / Love frees from error’s thrall,—Love is liberation. / Love’s way the Master trod; / He that loves shall walk with God. / Love is the royal way.

Love knows no evil, neither shade of sadness; / Love casts out every fear, lifts the heart to gladness. / Love heals our every ill, / All the law does love fulfill. / Love is our answered prayer.

Love now is dawning over every nation; / Showing true brotherhood, publishing salvation, / Love bids all discord cease. / Conquering hate, enthroning peace, / Love, Love alone is power.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 179)

Let there be peace on earth, / and let it begin with me. / Let there be peace on earth, / the peace that was meant to be. / With God our creator, we are family. / Let us walk with each other / in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me; let this / be the moment now. / With every step I take, let this / be my solemn vow: / To take each moment and live each / moment in peace eternally! / Let there be peace on earth, / and let it begin with me.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 521)

Wilderness experiences

Wednesday Bible Readings

February 5th, 2025

From The Bible

Hi Skye and Julia

Hope all is well with you both.  

Here are readings from last night.

thx

John

Topic:  Wilderness experiences

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. ...

To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
(Psalms 136:1, 2, 16)

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer–sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. ¶ But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: ...
(I Kings 19:1–4 (to :))

And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. ¶ And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
(I Kings 19:5–12)

... And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, ... I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: ...

Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. ¶ So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. ...

... Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
(I Kings 19:13 4th And, 14 (to 1st ,), 14 2nd I, 15 (to 1st :), 18, 19, 21 Then)

The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. ...

The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; ...
(Psalms 29:4,8 (to ;))

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
(Matthew 4:1–11)

And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. ...

And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. ...

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
(Mark 6:45–51, 53, 56)

... walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
(Ezekiel 20:19 walk, 20)

... it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
(Luke 12:32 it)

I was suddenly left alone, with many troubles and trials, and I took up the study of the Bible. ... I had attended all sorts of churches from my childhood up, but never could find any that met my need. As time passed on, my condition became very alarming. ...

About this time I made some inquiries of my sister in reference to Christian Science, as she had already turned to that faith, and I soon found that it was just what I had been looking for. I saw at once that it declared the truth and nothing but the truth. I commenced reading Science and Health, also the New Testament. I wanted to find out what Jesus said, as I did not expect then to live long. I did not go to the meetings, nor did I read Science and Health to be cured, — not thinking of that, — but to be saved from an everlasting hell hereafter. My sister urged me to have a practitioner, but I kept on reading, and praying to God in silence, and what happened? Where had the diseases gone? I persisted in reading Science and Health, together with the Bible, with the knowledge that God as revealed by Christ Jesus can do everything, that He made everything that was made, that He can and does heal the afflicted. He has healed me, thanks to His most holy name. — G. J. H., Charleston, Ill.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 615:22–23, 25–28; 616:9)

WILDERNESS. Loneliness; doubt; darkness. Spontaneity of thought and idea; the vestibule in which a material sense of things disappears, and spiritual sense unfolds the great facts of existence.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 597:16 Wilderness)

If we pray to God as a corporeal person, this will prevent us from relinquishing the human doubts and fears which attend such a belief, and so we cannot grasp the wonders wrought by infinite, incorporeal Love, to whom all things are possible. ...

Entirely separate from the belief and dream of material living, is the Life divine, revealing spiritual understanding and the consciousness of man’s dominion over the whole earth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 13:20–24; 14:25–28)

As a material, theoretical life-basis is found to be a misapprehension of existence, the spiritual and divine Principle of man dawns upon human thought, and leads it to “where the young child was,” — even to the birth of a new-old idea, to the spiritual sense of being and of what Life includes. Thus the whole earth will be transformed by Truth on its pinions of light, chasing away the darkness of error.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 191:8)

We are sometimes led to believe that darkness is as real as light; but Science affirms darkness to be only a mortal sense of the absence of light, at the coming of which darkness loses the appearance of reality. So sin and sorrow, disease and death, are the suppositional absence of Life, God, and flee as phantoms of error before truth and love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 215:15)

We cannot fathom the nature and quality of God’s creation by diving into the shallows of mortal belief. We must reverse our feeble flutterings — our efforts to find life and truth in matter — and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God. These clearer, higher views inspire the Godlike man to reach the absolute centre and circumference of his being.

... They will then drop the false estimate of life and happiness, of joy and sorrow, and attain the bliss of loving unselfishly, working patiently, and conquering all that is unlike God. Starting from a higher standpoint, one rises spontaneously, even as light emits light without effort; for “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 262:9,20)

Now is the time for so-called material pains and material pleasures to pass away, for both are unreal, because impossible in Science. To break this earthly spell, mortals must get the true idea and divine Principle of all that really exists and governs the universe harmoniously. This thought is apprehended slowly, and the interval before its attainment is attended with doubts and defeats as well as triumphs.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 39:22)

Every trial of our faith in God makes us stronger. The more difficult seems the material condition to be overcome by Spirit, the stronger should be our faith and the purer our love. The Apostle John says: “There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love casteth out fear. . . . He that feareth is not made perfect in Love.” Here is a definite and inspired proclamation of Christian Science.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 410:14)

When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought. Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious — as Life eternally is — can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not. Let Christian Science, instead of corporeal sense, support your understanding of being, and this understanding will supplant error with Truth, replace mortality with immortality, and silence discord with harmony.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 495:14)

The “still, small voice” of scientific thought reaches over continent and ocean to the globe’s remotest bound. The inaudible voice of Truth is, to the human mind, “as when a lion roareth.” It is heard in the desert and in dark places of fear.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 559:8–12)

As the children of Israel were guided triumphantly through the Red Sea, the dark ebbing and flowing tides of human fear, — as they were led through the wilderness, walking wearily through the great desert of human hopes, and anticipating the promised joy, — so shall the spiritual idea guide all right desires in their passage from sense to Soul, from a material sense of existence to the spiritual, up to the glory prepared for them who love God.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 566:1–9)

There is to-day danger of repeating the offence of the Jews by limiting the Holy One of Israel and asking: “Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?” What cannot God do?
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 135:17)

When God is seen with men to dwell, / And all creation makes anew, / What tongue can half the wonders tell, / What eye the dazzling glories view?

Celestial streams shall gently flow, / The wilderness shall joyful be; / On parched ground shall lilies grow / And gladness spring on every tree;

The weak be strong, the fearful bold, / The deaf shall hear, the dumb shall sing, / The lame shall walk, the blind behold, / And joy through all the earth shall ring.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 384)

Shepherd, show me how to go / O’er the hillside steep, / How to gather, how to sow,— / How to feed Thy sheep; / I will listen for Thy voice, / Lest my footsteps stray; / I will follow and rejoice / All the rugged way.

Thou wilt bind the stubborn will, / Wound the callous breast, / Make self-righteousness be still, / Break earth’s stupid rest. / Strangers on a barren shore, / Lab’ring long and lone, / We would enter by the door, / And Thou know’st Thine own;

So, when day grows dark and cold, / Tear or triumph harms, / Lead Thy lambkins to the fold, / Take them in Thine arms; / Feed the hungry, heal the heart, / Till the morning’s beam; / White as wool, ere they depart, / Shepherd, wash them clean.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 574, Words by Mary Baker Eddy)

Breaking through the clouds of darkness, / Black with error, doubt, and fear; / Lighting up each somber shadow, / With a radiance soft and clear; / Filling every heart with gladness, / That its holy power feels, / Comes the Christian Science gospel, / Sin it kills and grief it heals.

Christlike in its benedictions, / Godlike in its strength sublime; / Conquering every subtle error, / With a meekness all divine, / It has gone across the ocean, / It is known in every land, / And our sisters and our brothers / Are united in one band.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 29)

Unwavering Faith

Wednesday Bible Readings

January 22nd, 2025

From The Bible

O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
(Psalms 7:1)

... in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
(Psalms 5:3 in)

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
(Psalms 9:10)

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
(Psalms 13:5)

Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. ...

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
(Psalms 16:1, 11)

For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
(Psalms 18:28)

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
(Isaiah 30:20, 21)

And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.
(Genesis 21:34)

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. ¶ And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
(Genesis 22:1–13)

And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. ...

... ¶ Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. ¶ And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, ...
(II Kings 6:1, 2, 8–18 (to 2nd ,))

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. ...

... he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; ...

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. ...

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. ...

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ...

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. ...

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
(Hebrews 11:3, 6 he, 7 (to ;), 8, 10, 17, 20, 21, 23)

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
(Hebrews 12:1)

... The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. ...

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.
(Hebrews 13:6 The, 8)

... let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, ...

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
(James 1:4–6 let (to ,), 17)

¶ Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
(Matthew 15:21–28)

... If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
(Matthew 17:20 If)

Trials teach mortals not to lean on a material staff, — a broken reed, which pierces the heart. ... Trials are proofs of God’s care.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 66:6–7, 10–11)

The trials encountered by prophet, disciple, and apostle, “of whom the world was not worthy,” await, in some form, every pioneer of truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 28:29)

If they keep the faith, they will have the crown of rejoicing.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 29:5)

The truths of immortal Mind sustain man, and they annihilate the fables of mortal mind, ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 103:25–26 (to ,))

No hypothesis as to the existence of another power should interpose a doubt or fear to hinder the demonstration of Christian Science. ... You render the divine law of healing obscure and void, when you weigh the human in the scale with the divine, or limit in any direction of thought the omnipresence and omnipotence of God.

Christian Science silences human will, quiets fear with Truth and Love, ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 445:5–8, 15–20 (to ,))

A grain of Christian Science does wonders for mortals, so omnipotent is Truth, ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 449:3–5 (to ,))

Who, that has felt the perilous beliefs in life, substance, and intelligence separated from God, can say that there is no error of belief?
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 450:27–29)

Man-made doctrines are waning. They have not waxed strong in times of trouble. Devoid of the Christ-power, how can they illustrate the doctrines of Christ or the miracles of grace?
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 134:14–17)

Maintain the facts of Christian Science, ... that all causation is Mind, acting through spiritual law. Then hold your ground with the unshaken understanding of Truth and Love, and you will win.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 417:10–11 (to 1st ,), 13–16 that)

Science relates to Mind, not matter. It rests on fixed Principle and not upon the judgment of false sensation.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 128:27–28)

ABRAHAM. Fidelity; faith in the divine Life and in the eternal Principle of being.

This patriarch illustrated the purpose of Love to create trust in good, and showed the life-preserving power of spiritual understanding.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 579:10–14)

The understanding of Truth gives full faith in Truth, and spiritual understanding is better than all burnt offerings.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 286:6)

Faith, if it be mere belief, is as a pendulum swinging between nothing and something, having no fixity. Faith, advanced to spiritual understanding, is the evidence gained from Spirit, which rebukes sin of every kind and establishes the claims of God.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 23:16)

Faith is higher and more spiritual than belief. It is a chrysalis state of human thought, in which spiritual evidence, contradicting the testimony of material sense, begins to appear, and Truth, the ever-present, is becoming understood.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 297:20–24)

Having faith in the divine Principle of health and spiritually understanding God, sustains man under all circumstances; ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 319:7–9 (to ;))

All that really exists is the divine Mind and its idea, and in this Mind the entire being is found harmonious and eternal. The straight and narrow way is to see and acknowledge this fact, yield to this power, and follow the leadings of truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 151:26)

To admit that sickness is a condition over which God has no control, is to presuppose that omnipotent power is powerless on some occasions. The law of Christ, or Truth, makes all things possible to Spirit; but the so-called laws of matter would render Spirit of no avail, and demand obedience to materialistic codes, thus departing from the basis of one God, one lawmaker.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 182:30–4)

Truth never destroys God’s idea. ... Corporeal sense, or error, may seem to hide Truth, health, harmony, and Science, as the mist obscures the sun or the mountain; but Science, the sunshine of Truth, will melt away the shadow and reveal the celestial peaks.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 299:24 (only), 26)

When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought. Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious — as Life eternally is — can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not. Let Christian Science, instead of corporeal sense, support your understanding of being, and this understanding will supplant error with Truth, replace mortality with immortality, and silence discord with harmony.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 495:14)

Then hold your ground with the unshaken understanding of Truth and Love, and you will win.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 417:14–16)

Truth is always the victor. Sickness and sin fall by their own weight. Truth is the rock of ages, the headstone of the corner, “but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 380:4)