Wednesday Readings for March 9th, 2022

From The Bible

In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: ...
(Psalms 71:1 (to :))

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
(II Corinthians 3:4, 5)

... behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, ...

And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. ...

... ¶ And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. ...

... And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. ¶ And Saul armed David with his armour, ...

... And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, ...

And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, ...

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. ...

And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands. And ... David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

... and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, ... and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, ... but there was no sword in the hand of David.
(I Samuel 17:23 behold (to 6th ,), 24, 32, 37 2nd And, 38 (to ,), 39 3rd And, 40 (to 3rd ,), 42 (to 3rd ,), 45, 47, 48 (to 1st And), 48 2nd David, 49 2nd and (to 4th ,), 49 5th and, 50 (to 1st ,), 50 but)

And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, ...

... The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

... in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; ...
(II Samuel 22:1 (to ,), 2 The, 3 in (to 2nd ;))

Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
(Isaiah 59:1)

¶ Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, ...

... and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. ...

... ¶ And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, ...

... and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
(Matthew 26:36 (to 1st ,), 42 and, 47 (to 6th ,), 50–54 2nd and)

¶ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: ...

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, ... To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. ...

... ¶ When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he ...

... saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: ...
(John 18:28 (to :), 37 (to 2nd ,), 37 To (to 2nd .); 19:8 (to he), 9–11 saith (to :))

... be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ...

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:2 be, 21)

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, ...
(I Peter 5:6–9 (to ,))

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ...

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
(Ephesians 6:11, 14–17)

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(I Corinthians 15:53)

... put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
(Ephesians 4:24 put)

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

Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 571:18–19)

Mortals try in vain to slay Truth with the steel or the stake, but error falls only before the sword of Spirit.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 37:6–8)

Judas had the world's weapons. Jesus had not one of them, and chose not the world's means of defence. “He opened not his mouth.” The great demonstrator of Truth and Love was silent before envy and hate. Peter would have smitten the enemies of his Master, but Jesus forbade him, thus rebuking resentment or animal courage. He said: “Put up thy sword.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 48:17)

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. Materialistic hypotheses challenge metaphysics to meet in final combat. In this revolutionary period, like the shepherd-boy with his sling, woman goes forth to battle with Goliath.

In this final struggle for supremacy, semi-metaphysical systems afford no substantial aid to scientific metaphysics, for their arguments are based on the false testimony of the material senses as well as on the facts of Mind.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 268:6–18)

A logical and scientific conclusion is reached only through the knowledge that there are not two bases of being, matter and mind, but one alone, — Mind.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 279:26)

Human philosophy has made God manlike. Christian Science makes man Godlike. The first is error; the latter is truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 269:9–11)

... Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters.” ...

... Truth makes a new creature, in whom old things pass away and “all things are become new.” Passions, selfishness, false appetites, hatred, fear, all sensuality, yield to spirituality, and the superabundance of being is on the side of God, good.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 201:5 Jesus, 7 Truth)

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.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 571:15–18)

As a cloud hides the sun it cannot extinguish, so false belief silences for a while the voice of immutable harmony, but false belief cannot destroy Science armed with faith, hope, and fruition.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 298:4)

Christian Science commands man to master the propensities, — to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness, to conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with honesty.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 405:5–9)

God requires perfection, but not until the battle between Spirit and flesh is fought and the victory won. ... When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, He directs our path. ...

... But the human self must be evangelized. This task God demands us to accept lovingly to-day, and to abandon so fast as practical the material, and to work out the spiritual which determines the outward and actual.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 254:6–8, 10–12, 19)

“Work out your own salvation,” is the demand of Life and Love, for to this end God worketh with you. ... “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.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 22:11–12, 14 be)

Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts. ...

... Good demands of man every hour, in which to work out the problem of being.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 261:4, 32–1)

The Divine Being must be reflected by man, — else man is not the image and likeness of the patient, tender, and true, the One “altogether lovely;” but to understand God is the work of eternity, and demands absolute consecration of thought, energy, and desire.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 3:12)

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)

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)

SALVATION. Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all; sin, sickness, and death destroyed.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 593:20)

“The prayer of faith shall save the sick,” says the Scripture.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 12:1–2 (to .))

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. 23:17)

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. This Principle makes whole the diseased, and brings out the enduring and harmonious phases of things.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 487:25–26, 30–1)

In the Science of Christianity, Mind — omnipotence — has all-power, assigns sure rewards to righteousness, and shows that matter can neither heal nor make sick, create nor destroy.

If God were understood instead of being merely believed, this understanding would establish health.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 203:3–8)

The “man of sorrows” best understood the nothingness of material life and intelligence and the mighty actuality of all-inclusive God, good. These were the two cardinal points of Mind-healing, or Christian Science, which armed him with Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 52:19–23)

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)

If sin makes sinners, Truth and Love alone can unmake them.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 270:26–27)

Such is the sword of Science, with which Truth decapitates error, materiality giving place to man's higher individuality and destiny.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 266:2)

... “acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace.” Be watchful, sober, and vigilant. The way is straight and narrow, which leads to the understanding that God is the only Life. It is a warfare with the flesh, in which we must conquer sin, sickness, and death, either here or hereafter, — certainly before we can reach the goal of Spirit, or life in God.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 324:12 acquaint)

St. Paul wrote, “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;” that is, let us put aside material self and sense, and seek the divine Principle and Science of all healing.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 20:27)

To-day the healing power of Truth is widely demonstrated as an immanent, eternal Science, instead of a phenomenal exhibition. Its appearing is the coming anew of the gospel of “on earth peace, good-will toward men.” This coming, as was promised by the Master, is for its establishment as a permanent dispensation among men; 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.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 150:4)

If you launch your bark upon the ever-agitated but healthful waters of truth, you will encounter storms. Your good will be evil spoken of. This is the cross. Take it up and bear it, for through it you win and wear the crown.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 254:27–31)

Hymnals

Hymn No. 292

Put on the whole armor of pure consecration, / The breastplate of righteousness valiantly gird, / With shield of true faith, and the helmet of salvation— / The sword of the Spirit is God's mighty Word!

For His is the greatness, the power and the glory, / The victory His, when for succor we call; / His majesty shines in creation's wondrous story, / And He is exalted as head over all!
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 292)

Hymn No. 5
A voice from heaven we have heard, / The call to rise from earth; / Put armor on, the sword now gird, / And for the fight go forth. / The foe in ambush claims our prize, / Then heed high heaven's call. / Obey the voice of Truth, arise, / And let not fear enthrall.

The cause requires unswerving might: / With God alone agree. / Then have no other aim than right; / End bondage, O be free. / Depart from sin, awake to love: / Your mission is to heal. / Then all of Truth you must approve, / And only know the real.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 5)

Hymn No. 521
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)