Readings for February 23th, 2022
From The Bible
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(Psalms 23:1)
... he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
(I John 2:17 he)
¶ And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, ...
... James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. ...
And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judæa, and from beyond Jordan.
(Matthew 4:18 (to 3rd ,), 21 James, 22, 25)
And it came to pass, that, ... one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, ...
And he said unto them, ... Our Father which art in heaven, ... Thy will be done, ...
(Luke 11:1 (to 2nd ,), 1 one (to 7th ,), 2 (to 1st ,), 2 Our (to 4th ,), 2 3rd Thy (to 5th ,))
And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
(Matthew 15:30, 31)
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, ... The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: ...
... because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
(John 5:19 (to 3rd ,), 19 The (to :), 30 because)
¶ And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. ...
... But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
(Luke 9:57, 59–62 But)
¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(Matthew 7:21)
¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
(Matthew 13:45, 46)
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
(Luke 14:33)
¶ While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, ...
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
(Matthew 12:46 (to 3rd ,), 49, 50)
After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; ...
... ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. ...
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, ... thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ...
... And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; ...
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
(John 21:1 (to ;), 15, 17 (to 6th ,), 17 4th thou, 19 And, 20 (to ;), 21, 22)
Jesus saith unto him, ...
... ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.
(John 14:9 (to 1st ,), 15)
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: ...
(Matthew 10:8 (to :))
¶ And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Æneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto him, Æneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
(Acts 9:32–35)
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, ...
(I Peter 3:8 (to 4th ,))
... follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. ...
... for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
(I Thessalonians 5:15 follow, 18 for)
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
(Philippians 2:13)
... Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. ...
(Hebrews 10:9 Lo (to 1st .))
Selections from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God's will must be universally done.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 202:3)
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Enable us to know, — as in heaven, so on earth, — God is omnipotent, supreme.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 17:1)
The Lord's Prayer is the prayer of Soul, not of material sense. ...
... The Father in secret is unseen to the physical senses, ... To enter into the heart of prayer, the door of the erring senses must be closed. Lips must be mute and materialism silent, that man may have audience with Spirit, the divine Principle, Love, which destroys all error.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 14:22; 15:7 (only, to ,), 9)
Our Father which art in heaven,
Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious,
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 16:26)
Jesus said: “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 267:15)
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
And God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 17:8)
Only as we rise above all material sensuousness and sin, can we reach the heaven-born aspiration and spiritual consciousness, which is indicated in the Lord's Prayer and which instantaneously heals the sick.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 16:20)
In the quiet sanctuary of earnest longings, we must deny sin and plead God's allness. We must resolve to take up the cross, and go forth with honest hearts to work and watch for wisdom, Truth, and Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 15:16–20)
Prayer cannot change the unalterable Truth, nor can prayer alone give us an understanding of Truth; but prayer, coupled with a fervent habitual desire to know and do the will of God, will bring us into all Truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 11:27–31)
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)
First in the list of Christian duties, he taught his followers the healing power of Truth and Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 31:12–13)
Our Master said to every follower: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature! . . . Heal the sick! . . . Love thy neighbor as thyself!” It was this theology of Jesus which healed the sick and the sinning. It is his theology in this book and the spiritual meaning of this theology, which heals the sick and causes the wicked to “forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 138:27–2)
We should follow our divine Exemplar, and seek the destruction of all evil works, error and disease included.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 5:30–32)
Those, who are willing to leave their nets or to cast them on the right side for Truth, have the opportunity now, as aforetime, to learn and to practise Christian healing.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 271:26–29 (to 1st .))
Are you willing to leave all for Christ, for Truth, ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 9:25 (only, to 2nd ,))
We cannot choose for ourselves, but must work out our salvation in the way Jesus taught. In meekness and might, he was found preaching the gospel to the poor.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 30:30–1)
“Then answered Jesus and said unto them: Verily, verily I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 305:15)
To understand all our Master's sayings as recorded in the New Testament, sayings infinitely important, his followers must grow into that stature of manhood in Christ Jesus which enables them to interpret his spiritual meaning. Then they know how Truth casts out error and heals the sick. His words were the offspring of his deeds, both of which must be understood.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 350:6–13)
The Science Jesus taught and lived must triumph over all material beliefs about life, substance, and intelligence, and the multitudinous errors growing from such beliefs.
Love must triumph over hate. Truth and Life must seal the victory over error and death, ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 43:28–1 (to ,))
Whoever reaches the understanding of Christian Science in its proper signification will perform the sudden cures of which it is capable; but this can be done only by taking up the cross and following Christ in the daily life.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 178:32)
Every day makes its demands upon us for higher proofs rather than professions of Christian power. These proofs consist solely in the destruction of sin, sickness, and death by the power of Spirit, as Jesus destroyed them. This is an element of progress, and progress is the law of God, whose law demands of us only what we can certainly fulfil.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 233:1)
The Christianly scientific man reflects the divine law, thus becoming a law unto himself. ... The Christian Scientist wisely shapes his course, and is honest and consistent in following the leadings of divine Mind. He must prove, through living as well as healing and teaching, that Christ's way is the only one by which mortals are radically saved from sin and sickness.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 458:23–24, 25 The)
We are Christian Scientists, only as we quit our reliance upon that which is false and grasp the true. We are not Christian Scientists until we leave all for Christ.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 192:4–6)
The Scriptures say, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,” showing that Truth is the actual life of man; ...
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.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 410:9–12 (to ;), 14–17)
“This is life eternal,” says Jesus, — is, not shall be; and then he defines everlasting life as a present knowledge of his Father and of himself, — the knowledge of Love, Truth, and Life.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 410:4–7)
We walk in the footsteps of Truth and Love by following the example of our Master in the understanding of divine metaphysics. Christianity is the basis of true healing. Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 192:27)
[DIVINE LOVE] is my shepherd; I shall not want. ...
... and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [LOVE] for ever.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 578:5, 17 and)
The way through which immortality and life are learned is not ecclesiastical but Christian, not human but divine, not physical but metaphysical, not material but scientifically spiritual. ... “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” says the apostle, and he straightway adds: “for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians ii. 12, 13).
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 98:31–2; 99:5–9)
Hymnals
Hymn No. 49
Dear Lord and Father of us all, / Forgive our foolish ways; / Reclothe us in our rightful mind; / In purer lives Thy service find, / In deeper reverence, praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard, / Beside the Syrian sea, / The gracious calling of the Lord, / Let us, like them, without a word / Rise up and follow thee.
Breathe through the pulses of desire / Thy coolness and Thy balm; / Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; / Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire, / O still small voice of calm.
Drop Thy still dews of quietness, / Till all our strivings cease; / Take from us now the strain and stress, / And let our ordered lives confess / The beauty of Thy peace.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 49)
Hymn No. 190
My God, my Father, make me strong, / When tasks of life seem hard and long, / To greet them with this triumph song, / Thy will be done.
With confident and humble mind, / My joy in service I would find, / My prayer through every task assigned, / Thy will be done.
Things deemed impossible I dare, / Thine is the call and Thine the care, / Thy wisdom shall the way prepare; / Thy will be done.
Heaven's music chimes the glad days in, / Hope soars beyond death, pain and sin, / Faith sings in triumph, Love doth win; / Thy will is done.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 190)
Hymn No. 46
Day by day the manna fell: / O, to learn this lesson well. / Still by constant mercy fed, / Give me, Lord, my daily bread.
Day by day the promise reads, / Daily strength for daily needs: / Cast foreboding fears away; / Take the manna of today.
Lord, my times are in Thy hand: / All my sanguine hopes have planned, / To Thy wisdom I resign, / And would mold my will to Thine.
Thou my daily task shalt give; / Day by day to Thee I live; / So shall added years fulfill / Not my own, my Father's will.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 46)
