Readings for January 26th, 2021

From The Bible

The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. ...

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
(Psalms 126:3, 5, 6)

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

... and God saw that it was good.
(Genesis 1:11, 12 4th and)

... this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; ... saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

... for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
(Jeremiah 31:33 this (to 1st ;), 33 saith, 34 2nd for)

¶ And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: ...

And he taught in their synagogues, ...

... ¶ And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: ...

And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, ... Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, ...

Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

... (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) ... Arise, ... and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before them, ... and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
(Luke 4:14 (to :), 15 (to ,); 5:18 (to :), 19–21 (to 2nd ,), 21 2nd Who, 22 (to 2nd ,), 23, 24 he (to 2nd ,), 24 Arise (to 4th ,), 24 2nd and, 25 (to 1st ,), 25 3rd and)

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. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: ...

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; ...

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
(John 5:19, 20 (to :), 26, 30)

Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; ...

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
(Matthew 13:36–41, 43)

... he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, ...
(Matthew 13:23 he (to 2nd ,))

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ...

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: ...

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
(John 15:1, 5 (to 2nd :), 8)

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; ...

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, ... but exhorting one another: ...

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
(Hebrews 10:23 (to 1st ;), 24, 25 (to 1st ,), 25 but (to :), 36)

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
(I John 1:4)

... He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ...

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: ...

Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) ...

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
(II Corinthians 9:6 He, 8, 10, 15)

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

GOD. The great I AM; the all-knowing, ... all-acting, ... Mind; ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 587:5 (only, to 1st ,), 6 all-acting (only, to 1st ,), 7 Mind (only, to 1st ;))

... Father-Mother is the name for Deity, which indicates His tender relationship to His spiritual creation.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 332:4–5 Father-Mother)

He is divine Principle, Love, the universal cause, the only creator, and there is no other self-existence. He is all-inclusive, and is reflected by all that is real and eternal and by nothing else.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 331:18–22 He)

God expresses in man the infinite idea forever developing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from a boundless basis.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 258:13–15)

Genesis i. 11. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

The universe of Spirit reflects the creative power of the divine Principle, or Life, ... The scientific divine creation declares immortal Mind and the universe created by God.

... Creation is ever appearing, and must ever continue to appear from the nature of its inexhaustible source. ... the seed is in itself, only as the divine Mind is All and reproduces all — as Mind is the multiplier, and Mind's infinite idea, man and the universe, is the product. ... Mind is Life, Truth, and Love which governs all.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 507:11–16 (to 2nd ,), 22, 28–29; 508:2–5 the, 7)

Question. — What is man?

Answer. — Man is not matter; ... Man is spiritual and perfect; and because he is spiritual and perfect, he must be so understood in Christian Science. ... He is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas; ... that which has no separate mind from God; that which has not a single quality underived from Deity; ... but reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 475:5–6 (to ;), 11–13, 14–15 (to ;), 19–20 that (to ;), 22 but)

The seed within itself is the pure thought emanating from divine Mind. ...

... Science reveals only one Mind, and this one shining by its own light and governing the universe, including man, in perfect harmony. This Mind forms ideas, its own images, subdivides and radiates their borrowed light, intelligence, and so explains the Scripture phrase, “whose seed is in itself.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 508:14–16; 510:28–4)

The divine Mind includes all action and volition, and man in Science is governed by this Mind.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 187:22–24 The)

The “divine ear” is not an auditory nerve. It is the all-hearing and all-knowing Mind, to whom each need of man is always known and by whom it will be supplied.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 7:23 The)

... in Science one must understand the resuscitating law of Life. This is the seed within itself bearing fruit after its kind, spoken of in Genesis.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 180:8 in)

The verity that God's image is not a creator, though he reflects the creation of Mind, God, constitutes the underlying reality of reflection. “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. 305:13)

To understand all our Master's sayings as recorded in the New Testament, ... his followers must grow into that stature of manhood in Christ Jesus which enables them to interpret his spiritual meaning.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 350:6–7 (to 1st ,), 8–10 his)

The life of Christ Jesus was not miraculous, but it was indigenous to his spirituality, — the good soil wherein the seed of Truth springs up and bears much fruit. Christ's Christianity is the chain of scientific being reappearing in all ages, maintaining its obvious correspondence with the Scriptures and uniting all periods in the design of God.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 270:31–5)

Though demonstrating his control over sin and disease, the great Teacher by no means relieved others from giving the requisite proofs of their own piety. He worked for their guidance, that they might demonstrate this power as he did and understand its divine Principle. ... We must go and do likewise, ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 25:22–26, 28–29 (to ,))

Who would be the first to disown the Christliness of good works, when our Master says, “By their fruits ye shall know them”?
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 342:26)

Do you say the time has not yet come in which to recognize Soul as substantial and able to control the body? Remember Jesus, who nearly nineteen centuries ago demonstrated the power of Spirit and said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also,” ... “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,” said Paul.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 92:32–5 (to 1st ,); 93:7)

The history of Christianity furnishes sublime proofs of the supporting influence and protecting power bestowed on man by his heavenly Father, omnipotent Mind, who gives man faith and understanding whereby to defend himself, not only from temptation, but from bodily suffering.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 387:27)

But the same “Mind . . . which was also in Christ Jesus” must always accompany the letter of Science in order to confirm and repeat the ancient demonstrations of prophets and apostles. That those wonders are not more commonly repeated to-day, arises not so much from lack of desire as from lack of spiritual growth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 243:9)

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)

Neither evil, disease, nor death can be spiritual, and the material belief in them disappears in the ratio of one's spiritual growth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 368:22–24)

Denial of the claims of matter is a great step towards the joys of Spirit, towards human freedom and the final triumph over the body.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 242:6)

Spirit acts through the Science of Mind, never causing man to till the ground, but making him superior to the soil. Knowledge of this lifts man above the sod, above earth and its environments, to conscious spiritual harmony and eternal being.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 520:30)

Emerge gently from matter into Spirit. Think not to thwart the spiritual ultimate of all things, but come naturally into Spirit through better health and morals and as the result of spiritual growth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 485:14–17)

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, ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 272:3–7 (to ,))

Spiritual development germinates not from seed sown in the soil of material hopes, but when these decay, Love propagates anew the higher joys of Spirit, which have no taint of earth. Each successive stage of experience unfolds new views of divine goodness and love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 66:11)

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)

If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striving to enter in. He constantly turns away from material sense, and looks towards the imperishable things of Spirit. If honest, he will be in earnest from the start, and gain a little each day in the right direction, till at last he finishes his course with joy.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 21:9)

Hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal

Hymn No. 97
He that goeth forth with weeping, / Bearing still the precious seed, / Never tiring, never sleeping, / Soon shall see his toil succeed; / Showers of rain will fall from heaven, / Then the cheering sun will shine; / So shall plenteous fruit be given, / Through an influence all divine.

Sow thy seed, be never weary, / Let not fear thy thoughts employ; / Though the prospect seem most dreary, / Thou shalt reap the fruits of joy: / Lo, the scene of verdure brightening, / See the rising grain appear; / Look again, the fields are whitening, / Harvest time is surely here.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 97)

Hymn No. 42
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)

Hymn No. 160
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. 160)