Wednesday Readings for April 6th, 2022

From The Bible

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; ...

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
(I John 1:1, 3)

¶ When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? ...

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(Matthew 16:13, 16–18)

¶ And one of the scribes came, and ... asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

... Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, ...

... 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: ...

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ...
(Mark 12:28 (to 2nd and), 28 asked, 29 Jesus (to 2nd ,), 30 thou (to :), 31 (to 1st .))

But he, ... said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

... 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. ...

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, ... and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ...

... ¶ And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
(Luke 10:29 (to 1st ,), 29 said, 30 Jesus, 33, 34 (to 2nd ,), 34 5th and; 15:3)

¶ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, ...

And before him shall be gathered all nations: ...

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: Naked, and ye clothed me: 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? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 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.
(Matthew 25:31 (to 1st ,), 32 (to 1st :), 34–40)

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, ...

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. ...

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. ...

So after he had washed their feet, ... he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? ...

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
(John 13:1 (to 2nd ,), 4, 5, 8, 12 (to 1st ,), 12 2nd he, 15)

¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
(Acts 10:34, 35)

¶ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, ...
(Acts 2:41, 42 (to 1st ,))

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ...

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, ...

... as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; ...

... laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, ...

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, ... chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, ...

... as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. ...
(I Peter 1:3, 13 (to 1st ,), 15 as; 2:1 laying, 3, 4 (to 2nd ,), 4 chosen, 5 (to 4th ,), 16 2nd as, 17 (to 2nd .))

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ...

For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
(Philippians 1:3, 5, 6)

Selections from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy

... That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. — John, First Epistle.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 268:-5 That)

CHURCH. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle.

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 with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 583:12–19)

... As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 497:3 As)

Divine Science derives its sanction from the Bible, and the divine origin of Science is demonstrated through the holy influence of Truth in healing sickness and sin.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 146:23–26)

... The first demand of this Science is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” This me is Spirit. Therefore the command means this: Thou shalt have no intelligence, no life, no substance, no truth, no love, but that which is spiritual. The second is like unto it, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 467:3–8 The)

... We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God's image and likeness.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 497:5 We)

In divine Science, man is the true image of God. The divine nature was best expressed in Christ Jesus, who threw upon mortals the truer reflection of God and lifted their lives higher than their poor thought-models would allow, — thoughts which presented man as fallen, sick, sinning, and dying. The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea, — perfect God and perfect man, — as the basis of thought and demonstration.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 259:6)

... We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 497:9 We)

... and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 497:15 and)

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.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 35:19–25 2nd Our)

The central fact of the Bible is the superiority of spiritual over physical power.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 131:10)

Our Master said to every follower: ... Heal the sick! . . . Love thy neighbor as thyself!”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 138:27 (only, to :), 29–30 Heal)

To love one's neighbor as one's self, is a divine idea; but this idea can never be seen, felt, nor understood through the physical senses.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 88:18–20)

The erroneous belief that life, substance, and intelligence can be material ruptures the life and brotherhood of man at the very outset.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 541:16)

Belief in a material basis, from which may be deduced all rationality, is slowly yielding to the idea of a metaphysical basis, looking away from matter to Mind as the cause of every effect.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 268:6–9)

Remove error from thought, and it will not appear in effect. ...

Divine Science adjusts the balance as Jesus adjusted it. Science removes the penalty only by first removing the sin which incurs the penalty. ...

... If a career so great and good as that of Jesus could not avert a felon's fate, lesser apostles of Truth may endure human brutality without murmuring, rejoicing to enter into fellowship with him through ... Truth and Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 40:1–2, 8–10, 19–23 (to through), 24 Truth)

We cannot choose for ourselves, but must work out our salvation in the way Jesus taught. ...

First in the list of Christian duties, he taught his followers the healing power of Truth and Love. ... It is the living Christ, the practical Truth, which makes Jesus “the resurrection and the life” to all who follow him in deed.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 30:30–32; 31:12–13, 14–17)

Jesus patiently persisted in teaching and demonstrating the truth of being. His students saw this power of Truth heal the sick, cast out evil, raise the dead; but the ultimate of this wonderful work was not spiritually discerned, even by them, until after the crucifixion, ...

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. ...

... 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.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 136:32–5 (to ,); 137:8–11, 16–21; 138:9)

... We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 497:20 We)

The cross is the central emblem of history. It is the lodestar in the demonstration of Christian healing, — the demonstration by which sin and sickness are destroyed.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 238:31–1)

More than profession is requisite for Christian demonstration.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 141:3–4)

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. ...

... In Science, you can have no power opposed to God, and the physical senses must give up their false testimony. ...

We walk in the footsteps of Truth and Love by following the example of our Master in the understanding of divine metaphysics. ... 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. 192:4–6, 19–21, 27–29, 30)

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)

... And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 497:24 And)

It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 467:9–13)

You will learn that in Christian Science the first duty is to obey God, to have one Mind, and to love another as yourself.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 496:5)

It is possible, — yea, it is the duty and privilege of every child, man, and woman, — to follow in some degree the example of the Master by the demonstration of Truth and Life, of health and holiness. ... Hear these imperative commands: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect!” ... “Heal the sick!”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 37:22–25, 27–29, 30)

When the divine precepts are understood, they unfold the foundation of fellowship, in which one mind is not at war with another, but all have one Spirit, God, one intelligent source, in accordance with the Scriptural command: “Let this Mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 276:4–9)

Hymnals

Hymn No. 593

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing, / To sing of God's goodness as year turns to year. / We gather professing Your grace and Your blessing, / With thanks for the gospel that gathers us here.

Your Spirit consoles us. We're safe in Your keeping. / When roads are uncharted, Your love shows the way. / Where new hope is springing You fill us with singing; / Your presence delights us with each dawning day.

What, then, can we give You in praise for our journey, / When all the earth's treasures were Yours from the start? / We offer our labor, our love for our neighbors, / Our gifts and the worship of each hand and heart.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 593)

Hymn No. 176
Long hast thou stood, O church of God, / Long mid the tempest's assailing, / Founded secure on timeless rock / Rises thy light, never failing; / Shining that all may understand / What has been wrought by God's command, / O'er night and chaos prevailing.

Let there be light, and light was there, / Clear as the Word that declared it; / Healing and peace to all it gave, / Who in humility shared it. / Ah, they were faithful, they who heard, / Steadfast their trust in God's great Word, / Steadfast the Love that prepared it.

Let there be light, the Word shines forth, / Lo, where the new morning whitens; / O church of God, with Book unsealed, / How its page beacons and brightens. / Living stones we, each in his place, / May we be worthy such a grace, / While Truth the wide earth enlightens.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 176)

Hymn No. 83
God made all His creatures free; / Life itself is liberty; / God ordained no other bands / Than united hearts and hands.

One in fellowship of Mind, / We our bliss and glory find / In that endless happy whole, / Where our God is Life and Soul.

So shall all our slavery cease, / All God's children dwell in peace, / And the newborn earth record / Love, and Love alone, is Lord.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 83)