Taking on the yoke of Christ

Wednesday Readings for August 31st, 2022

From The Bible

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: ...
(Psalms 55:22 (to :))

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
(Psalms 61:1, 2)

¶ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
(Proverbs 3:5, 6)

Thus saith the LORD, ...

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? ...

... ¶ Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: ...
(Isaiah 56:1 (to 1st ,); 58:6, 8 (to :))

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.
(Matthew 9:35)

¶ 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)

¶ And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; ...

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.
(Matthew 9:27–30 (to ;), 35)

¶ 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, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, ...

... go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, ... and come and follow me.
(Matthew 19:16, 17 (to 1st ,), 21 go (to 4th ,), 21 4th and)

¶ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
(Luke 17:20, 21)

¶ At that time Jesus answered and said, ...

... ¶ 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; ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:25 (to 1st ,), 28, 29 (to ;), 29 3rd and, 30 )

SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES by MBE

To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. vii:1–2)

Prayer, watching, and working, combined with self-immolation, are God's gracious means for accomplishing whatever has been successfully done for the Christianization and health of mankind.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 1:6)

Having one God, one Mind, unfolds the power that heals the sick, and fulfils these sayings of Scripture, “I am the Lord that healeth thee,” and “I have found a ransom.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 276:1–4)

To ignore God as of little use in sickness is a mistake. Instead of thrusting Him aside in times of bodily trouble, and waiting for the hour of strength in which to acknowledge Him, we should learn that He can do all things for us in sickness as in health.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 166:16 To)

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.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 136:1–5)

The theology of Christian Science includes healing the sick.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 145:31–32)

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.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 30:30–32; 31:12–13)

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.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 37:22–25)

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)

When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, He directs our path.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 254:10–12)

The Scriptures say, “They that wait upon the Lord . . . shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” ... 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.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 218:27–29, 32–2)

Mind-science teaches that mortals need “not be weary in well doing.” It dissipates fatigue in doing good.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 79:29–31)

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.

You say, “Toil fatigues me.” But what is this me? Is it muscle or mind? Which is tired and so speaks? Without mind, could the muscles be tired? Do the muscles talk, or do you talk for them? Matter is non-intelligent. Mortal mind does the false talking, and that which affirms weariness, made that weariness.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 217:24–2)

The body seems to be self-acting, only because mortal mind is ignorant of itself, of its own actions, and of their results, — ignorant that the predisposing, remote, and exciting cause of all bad effects is a law of so-called mortal mind, not of matter. ...

Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God's government. Have no fear that matter can ache, swell, and be inflamed as the result of a law of any kind, when it is self-evident that matter can have no pain nor inflammation.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 393:4–8, 16–21)

The supposed laws which result in weariness and disease are not His laws, for the legitimate and only possible action of Truth is the production of harmony. Laws of nature are laws of Spirit; but mortals commonly recognize as law that which hides the power of Spirit.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 183:16–21)

Keep distinctly in thought that man is the offspring of God, not of man; that man is spiritual, not material; that Soul is Spirit, outside of matter, never in it, never giving the body life and sensation. It breaks the dream of disease to understand that sickness is formed by the human mind, not by matter nor by the divine Mind.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 396:26)

We cannot serve two masters nor perceive divine Science with the material senses. ... To have one God and avail yourself of the power of Spirit, you must love God supremely.

... The flesh and Spirit can no more unite in action, than good can coincide with evil. It is not wise to take a halting and half-way position or to expect to work equally with Spirit and matter, Truth and error. There is but one way — namely, God and His idea — which leads to spiritual being. The scientific government of the body must be attained through the divine Mind. ... On this fundamental point, timid conservatism is absolutely inadmissible. Only through radical reliance on Truth can scientific healing power be realized.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 167:11–12, 17, 20–27 3rd The, 29)

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. 459:31)

The law of the divine Mind must end human bondage, ...

... “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” ...

Christian Science raises the standard of liberty and cries: “Follow me! Escape from the bondage of sickness, sin, and death!”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 227:7–8 (to ,), 18–19, 21–23)

We must learn how mankind govern the body, — whether through faith in hygiene, in drugs, or in will-power. ... through a belief in the necessity of sickness and death, sin and pardon, or govern it from the higher understanding that the divine Mind makes perfect, acts upon the so-called human mind through truth, leads the human mind to relinquish all error, to find the divine Mind to be the only Mind, and the healer of sin, disease, death.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 251:15–17, 18–24 through)

The calm, strong currents of true spirituality, the manifestations of which are health, purity, and self-immolation, must deepen human experience, until the beliefs of material existence are seen to be a bald imposition, and sin, disease, and death give everlasting place to the scientific demonstration of divine Spirit and to God's spiritual, perfect man.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 99:23)

It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. ... Having no other gods, turning to no other but the one perfect Mind to guide him, man is the likeness of God, pure and eternal, having that Mind which was also in Christ.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 467:9–10, 13)

... remember Jesus' words, “The kingdom of God is within you.” This spiritual consciousness is therefore a present possibility.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 573:32 remember)

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. 288:18)

HYMNALS

(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 43)

Come unto me, ye weary, / And I will give you rest. / O tender words of Jesus, / Which come to hearts oppressed. / They tell of benediction, / Of pardon, grace, and peace, / Of joy that hath no ending, / Of love which cannot cease.

Come unto me, ye wanderers, / And I will give you light. / O loving words of Jesus, / Which come to cheer the night. / Come, all ye heavy laden, / And I will give you life. / O peaceful words of Jesus, / Which come to end all strife.

(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 58)
Father, we Thy loving children / Lift our hearts in joy today, / Knowing well that Thou wilt keep us / Ever in Thy blessed way. / Thou art Love and Thou art wisdom, / Thou art Life and Thou art All; / In Thy Spirit living, moving, / We shall neither faint nor fall.

Come we daily then, dear Father, / Open hearts and willing hands, / Eager ears, expectant, joyful, / Ready for Thy right commands. / We would hear no other voices, / We would heed no other call; / Thou alone art good and gracious, / Thou our Mind and Thou our All.

In Thy house securely dwelling, / Where Thy children live to bless, / Seeing only Thy creation, / We can share Thy happiness, / Share Thy joy and spend it freely. / Loyal hearts can feel no fear; / We Thy children know Thee, Father, / Love and Life forever near.

(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 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.

Joy

Wednesday Readings for August 17th, 2022

From The Bible

ISAIAH.

But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. (Isaiah 65:18, 19)

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1–3)

Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward. (Isaiah 52:9, 12)

For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. (Isaiah 51:3)

Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? (Isaiah 51:11–13)

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:1, 2, 8–10)

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. (Isaiah 12:3–5)

ROMANS. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17)

MATTHEW. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matthew 13:44)

LUKE. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (Luke 10:17–24)

PHILIPPIANS. Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:1–4, 6, 7, 13, 19)

PSALMS. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard: Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Psalms 66:1, 2, 4 (to 1st .), 8–10)

PSALMS. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; (Psalms 30:11)

ISAIAH. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

(Isaiah 55:12)

SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES by MBE

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 inevitably lifts one's being higher in the scale of harmony and happiness.

Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear, — this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony.)

Man is not a pendulum, swinging between evil and good, joy and sorrow, sickness and health, life and death.

Death is not a stepping-stone to Life, immortality, and bliss.

Science reveals Life as not being at the mercy of death, nor will Science admit that happiness is ever the sport of circumstance.

They, who know not purity and affection by experience, can never find bliss in the blessed company of Truth and Love simply through translation into another sphere.

The pains of sense quickly inform us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is spiritual.

Earth has little light or joy for mortals before Life is spiritually learned.

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.

Sorrow is turned into joy when the body is controlled by spiritual Life, Truth, and Love. 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. This understanding casts out error and heals the sick, and with it you can speak “as one having authority.”

The sinless joy, — the perfect harmony and immortality of Life, possessing unlimited divine beauty and goodness without a single bodily pleasure or pain, — constitutes the only veritable, indestructible man, whose being is spiritual.

As human thought changes from one stage to another of conscious pain and painlessness, sorrow and joy, — from fear to hope and from faith to understanding, — the visible manifestation will at last be man governed by Soul, not by material sense.

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. 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.

Passions and appetites must end in pain. They are “of few days, and full of trouble.” Their supposed joys are cheats. Their narrow limits belittle their gratifications, and hedge about their achievements with thorns. Mortal mind accepts the erroneous, material conception of life and joy, but the true idea is gained from the immortal side.

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. Animal in propensity, deceitful in sentiment, fraudulent in purpose, I mean to make my short span of life one gala day. What a nice thing is sin! How sin succeeds, where the good purpose waits! The world is my kingdom. I am enthroned in the gorgeousness of matter. But a touch, an accident, the law of God, may at any moment annihilate my peace, for all my fancied joys are fatal. Like bursting lava, I expand but to my own despair, and shine with the resplendency of consuming fire.

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 give immortality to man, for I am Truth. I include and impart all bliss, for I am Love.

It is essential to understand, instead of believe, what relates most nearly to the happiness of being.

In this divinely united spiritual consciousness, there is no impediment to eternal bliss, — to the perfectibility of God's creation.

God's being is infinity, freedom, harmony, and boundless bliss.

Freely Given, Freely Give

Wednesday Readings for August 10th, 2022

From The Bible

Matt. 3:13–17; 4:17 

¶ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 

13 

But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest 14 

thou to me? 

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it 15 

becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, 

16 

lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am 17 

well pleased. 

¶ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of 17 

heaven is at hand. 

Matt. 5:1, 2, 14–16 

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, 

1 

his disciples came unto him: 

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 

2 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 14 

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; 15 

and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and 16 

glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

Matt. 9:35 Jesus; 10:1, 5 (to 3rd ,), 7, 8 

... Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, 35 

and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power 1

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, ... 5 

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

7 

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have 8 

received, freely give. 

Acts 9:36–41 

¶ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by 

36 

interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when 37 

they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that 

38 

Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him 39 

into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to 40 

the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints 

41 

and widows, presented her alive. 

Acts 20:7–12 

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break 7 

bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 

And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered 

8 

together. 

And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen 9

into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 

And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not 10 

yourselves; for his life is in him. 

When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and 11 

talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. 

And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. 12 

Acts 15:1, 2, 6–9, 11 

And certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, and said, 1 

Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation 2 

with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. ¶ And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 6 

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, 

7 

Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy 

8 

Ghost, even as he did unto us; 

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 9 

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be 

11 

saved, even as they. 

I Cor. 2:9–12 as 

... as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into 

9 

the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all 10 

things, yea, the deep things of God. 

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in 11 

him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of 12

God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 

I Pet. 4:10, 11 

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, 

as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 

10 

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let 11 

him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

Mal. 3:10 

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine 

10 

house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 

SELECTIONS FROM SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES BY MARY BAKER EDDY

SH xii:23 

In the spirit of Christ's charity, — as one who “hopeth 

all things, endureth all things,” and is joyful to bear 

24 

consolation to the sorrowing and healing to the sick, — she commits these pages to honest seekers for Truth. 

SH 570:14–18, 23–24 

Millions of unprejudiced minds — simple seekers for 

Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert — are wait 15 

ing and watching for rest and drink. Give 

them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, 

and never fear the consequences. 

18 

Those ready for the blessing 

you impart will give thanks. 

24 

SH viii:12–15 

The question, What is Truth, is answered by 12

demonstration, — by healing both disease and sin; and this demonstration shows that Christian healing con fers the most health and makes the best men. 

SH xi:9 

15 

The physical healing of Christian Science results 9 

now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their real ity in human consciousness and disappear as naturally 12 

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 

15 

the sign of Immanuel, or “God with us,” — a divine influence ever present in human consciousness and re peating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime, 18 

To preach deliverance to the captives [of sense], And recovering of sight to the blind, 

To set at liberty them that are bruised. 

21 

SH 37:22–25, 27–18 

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 demon 

24 

stration of Truth and Life, of health and holiness. 

Hear these imperative com 

27 

mands: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect!” “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature!” “Heal the 30 

sick!” 

Why has this Christian demand so little inspiration to stir mankind to Christian effort? Because men are 1 

assured that this command was intended only for a par ticular period and for a select number of fol 

3

lowers. This teaching is even more pernicious 

than the old doctrine of foreordination, — the election of a 

few to be saved, while the rest are damned; and so it will 6 

be considered, when the lethargy of mortals, produced by man-made doctrines, is broken by the demands of divine Science. 

9 

Jesus said: “These signs shall follow them that be lieve; . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall

recover.” Who believes him? He was addressing 

12 

his disciples, yet he did not say, “These signs shall follow you,” but them — “them that believe” in all time to come. Here the word hands is used metaphorically, as in the text, 15 

“The right hand of the Lord is exalted.” It expresses spiritual power; otherwise the healing could not have been done spiritually. 

18 

SH 138:27–2 

Our Master said to every follower: “Go ye into all the 

27 

world, and preach the gospel to every creature! . . . Heal the sick! . . . Love thy neighbor as 

thyself!” It was this theology of Jesus which 

30 

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, 1 

and the unrighteous man his thoughts.” 

SH 450:15 

Some people yield slowly to the touch of Truth. Few 15 

yield without a struggle, and many are reluctant to ac knowledge that they have yielded; but un 

less this admission is made, evil will boast 

18 

itself above good. The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness 21

of God, or good. Sickness to him is no less a temptation than is sin, and he heals them both by understanding 

God's power over them. The Christian Scientist knows 24 

that they are errors of belief, which Truth can and will destroy. 

SH 108:1–18, 30–10 

Whence came to me this heavenly conviction, — a con 

1 

viction antagonistic to the testimony of the physical senses? According to St. Paul, it was “the gift of the grace of 3 

God given unto me by the effectual working of His power.” It was the divine law of Life and Love, unfolding to me the demonstrable fact that matter possesses neither sen 

6 

sation nor life; that human experiences show the falsity of all material things; and that immortal cravings, “the price of learning love,” establish the truism that the 

9 

only sufferer is mortal mind, for the divine Mind cannot suffer. 

My conclusions were reached by allowing the evidence 12 

of this revelation to multiply with mathematical certainty and the lesser demonstration to prove the 

greater, as the product of three multiplied by 

15 

three, equalling nine, proves conclusively that three times three duodecillions must be nine duodecillions, — not a fraction more, not a unit less. 

18 

My discovery, that erring, mortal, misnamed 

30 

mind produces all the organism and action of 

the mortal body, set my thoughts to work in new channels, and led up to my demonstration of the proposition that 

1 

Mind is All and matter is naught as the leading factor in Mind-science. 

3 

Christian Science reveals incontrovertibly that Mind is All-in-all, that the only realities are the divine Mind and idea. This great fact is not, however, seen 

6

to be supported by sensible evidence, until its 

divine Principle is demonstrated by healing the sick and thus proved absolute and divine. This proof once seen, 

9 

no other conclusion can be reached. 

SH 46:7 

The divine 

Spirit, which identified Jesus thus centuries 

ago, has spoken through the inspired Word and will speak 9 

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. 

12 

SH 98:15 

Beyond the frail premises of human beliefs, above the 15 

loosening grasp of creeds, the demonstration of Christian Mind-healing stands a revealed and practical 

Science. It is imperious throughout all ages 

18 

as Christ's revelation of Truth, of Life, and of Love, which remains inviolate for every man to understand and to practise. 

21 

SH 57:18 18 

Happiness is spiritual, 

born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it. 

21 

SH 436:11–12 

Giving a cup of cold water in Christ's name, is a Christian 

service. 12

The Lame Shall Walk

Wednesday Readings for August 3rd, 2022

From The Bible

Isa. 35:3, 4, 6 

¶ Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 3 

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God 4 

will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. 

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for 

6 

in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 

Isa. 40:29–31 

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth 29 

strength. 

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 30 

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount 

31 

up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

Mark 2:3–12 

And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of 3 

four. 

And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the 

4 

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 5 

forgiven thee. 

But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 

6 

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God 7 

only? 

And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned 8

within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 

Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or 9 

to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, 10 

(he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 

I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 11 

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; 12 

insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. 

Matt. 11:2–6, 28–30 

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his 

2 

disciples, 

And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 3 

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things 

4 

which ye do hear and see: 

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and 

5 

the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 

6 

¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you 28 

rest. 

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: 29 

and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

30 

Acts 3:1–9 

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, 1 

being the ninth hour. 

And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid 2 

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. 3 

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 

4 

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 5

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In 6 

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 7 

and ankle bones received strength. 

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, 8 

walking, and leaping, and praising God. 

And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 

9 

Acts 14:8–10 

¶ And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple 8 

from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 

The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that 9 

he had faith to be healed, 

Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 10 

Acts 8:5–13 

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 5 

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip 

6 

spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were 

7 

possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 

And there was great joy in that city. 

8 

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city 9 

used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is 10 

the great power of God. 

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them 11 

with sorceries. 

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of 12 

God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued 

13

with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 

Heb. 12:1, 2, 12, 13 

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of 1 

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, 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that 2 

was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 

12 

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of 13 

the way; but let it rather be healed. 

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

SH 210:11 

Knowing that Soul and its attributes were forever 

manifested through man, the Master healed the sick, 12 

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 

15 

a better understanding of Soul and salvation. Jesus healed sickness and sin by one and the same metaphysical process. 

18 

SH 294:6–18 

If man is both mind and matter, the loss of one finger 6 

would take away some quality and quantity of the man, for matter and man would be one. 

The belief that matter thinks, sees, or feels is not more 9 

real than the belief that matter enjoys and suffers. This mortal belief, misnamed man, is error, saying: 

“Matter has intelligence and sensation. Nerves 

12 

feel. Brain thinks and sins. The stomach can make a man cross. Injury can cripple and matter can kill man.” This verdict of the so-called material senses victimizes 

15

mortals, taught, as they are by physiology and pathology, to revere false testimony, even the errors that are destroyed 

18 by Truth through spiritual sense and Science. SH 260:31–30 

If we look to the body for pleasure, we find pain; for Life, we find death; for Truth, we find error; for Spirit, 

we find its opposite, matter. Now reverse this action. 

1 

Look away from the body into Truth and Love, 

the Principle of all happiness, harmony, and 

3 

immortality. Hold thought steadfastly to the endur ing, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy 

6 

of your thoughts. 

The effect of mortal mind on health and happiness is seen in this: If one turns away from the body with such 

9 

absorbed interest as to forget it, the body 

experiences no pain. Under the strong im 

pulse of a desire to perform his part, a noted actor was 12 

accustomed night after night to go upon the stage and sustain his appointed task, walking about as actively as the youngest member of the company. This old man 15 

was so lame that he hobbled every day to the theatre, and sat aching in his chair till his cue was spoken, — a signal which made him as oblivious of physical infirmity as if 

18 

he had inhaled chloroform, though he was in the full pos session of his so-called senses. 

Detach sense from the body, or matter, which is only 

21 

a form of human belief, and you may learn the meaning of God, or good, and the nature of the immu 

table and immortal. Breaking away from the 

24 

mutations of time and sense, you will neither 

lose the solid objects and ends of life nor your own iden tity. Fixing your gaze on the realities supernal, you will

27

rise to the spiritual consciousness of being, even as the bird which has burst from the egg and preens its wings for a 

30

skyward flight.

SH 227:21 

Christian Science raises the standard of liberty and 

21 

cries: “Follow me! Escape from the bondage of sick ness, sin, and death!” Jesus marked out the 

way. Citizens of the world, accept the “glori 24 

ous liberty of the children of God,” and be free! This is your divine right. The illusion of material sense, not divine law, has bound you, entangled your free limbs, 27 

crippled your capacities, enfeebled your body, and de faced the tablet of your being. 

SH 228:11–24 

The enslavement of man is not legitimate. It will 

cease when man enters into his heritage of freedom, his 

12 

God-given dominion over the material senses. 

Mortals will some day assert their freedom in 

the name of Almighty God. Then they will control their 15 

own bodies through the understanding of divine Science. Dropping their present beliefs, they will recognize har mony as the spiritual reality and discord as the material 18 

unreality. 

If we follow the command of our Master, “Take no thought for your life,” we shall never depend on bodily 

21 

conditions, structure, or economy, but we shall be masters of the body, dictate its terms, and form and control it with Truth. 

24 

SH 600:12–23 (np) 

I was a great sufferer from a serious form of rheumatic 12 

trouble, my hands being affected to such an extent that it was impossible for me even to dress without assistance. The trouble finally reached the knees, and I became very 15

lame and had to be assisted in and out of bed. I went to the different health resorts for the benefit I hoped to derive from the baths and waters that were prescribed by 18 

physicians, but found no permanent relief. I was placed 

1 

under an X-ray examination, and was told that the joints were becoming ossified. I then consulted a celebrated 3 

specialist, who after a thorough examination said my condition would continue to grow worse and that I would become completely helpless. 

6 

At that time a copy of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mrs. Eddy was loaned me. I read it more from curiosity than with the thought of any physical 

9 

benefit. As the truth was unfolded to me, I realized that the mental condition was what needed correcting, and that the Spirit of truth which inspired this book was my 12 

physician. My healing is complete, and the liberation in thought is manifest in a life of active usefulness rather than the bondage of helpless invalidism and suffering. I 15 

owe to our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, gratitude which words cannot express. Her revelation of the practical rather than the merely theoretical application of Jesus' 

18 

words, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” proved to be my redeemer. I did not even have to apply to a practitioner, but am most grate 

21 

ful for the helpful words of loving friends. — E. B. B., Pasadena, Cal. 

SH 248:12–32 

The sculptor turns from the marble to his model in 12 

order to perfect his conception. We are all sculptors, working at various forms, moulding and chisel ing thought. What is the model before mortal 15

mind? Is it imperfection, joy, sorrow, sin, suffering? Have you accepted the mortal model? Are you repro 

ducing it? Then you are haunted in your work by vicious 18 

sculptors and hideous forms. Do you not hear from all mankind of the imperfect model? The world is holding it before your gaze continually. The result is that you 

21 

are liable to follow those lower patterns, limit your life work, and adopt into your experience the angular outline and deformity of matter models. 

24 

To remedy this, we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way. We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, 27 

or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives. Let unselfishness, goodness, mercy, justice, health, holiness, love — the kingdom of heaven — reign 30

within us, and sin, disease, and death will diminish until they finally disappear.