Bringing your Gift to the Altar

Wednesday Bible Readings

November 27th, 2024

From The Bible

Ps. 68:4 (to :), 19 who (to 2nd ,)

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: ...who daily loadeth us with benefits, ...

James 1:17, 18

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Ps. 34:3

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Ps. 103:2 and, 3, 4 2nd who

... and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; ... who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Acts 10:38 God; 20:35 remember

... God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. ... remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Matt. 10:1, 5 and (to 3rd ,), 8

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. ... and commanded them, saying, ...Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Luke 6:38 (to 5th ,), 38 For

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, ... For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Matt. 18:21, 22

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Luke 4:4 (to 2nd ,)

And Jesus answered him, saying, ...

Matt. 18:23 the, 24, 26–28 (to :), 29, 30 (to ,), 32 (to 1st ,), 32 said (to 4th ,), 33, 34 (to 2nd ,), 35

... the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. ...The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him an hundred pence: ... And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, ... Then his lord, ... said unto him, O thou wicked servant, ... Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, ... So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Matt. 5:22 (to 1st :), 23, 24

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: ... Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

II Cor. 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Matt. 5:1 (to 1st he), 2 taught, 7; 6:9 (to ,), 10 2nd Thy, 12; 7:12

And seeing the multitudes, he ... taught them, saying, ... Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ... After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, ... Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. ...
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. ... Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Col. 3:12 (to 6th ,), 13 (to 2nd ,), 13 even, 15 (to ,), 15 2nd and

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, ... Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, ... even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. ...And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, ... and be ye thankful.

Eph. 2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

SH 17:6 forgive

... forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. /And Love is reflected in love; ...

SH 11:1 Jesus’, 8–10

Jesus’ prayer, “Forgive us our debts,” specified also the terms of forgiveness. When forgiving the adulterous woman he said, “Go, and sin no more.” ...
... The moral law, which has the right to acquit or condemn, always demands restitution before mortals can “go up higher.”

SH 22:3

Vibrating like a pendulum between sin and the hope of forgiveness, — selfishness and sensuality causing constant retrogression, — our moral progress will be slow. Waking to Christ’s demand, mortals experience suffering. This causes them, even as drowning men, to make vigorous efforts to save themselves; and through Christ’s precious love these efforts are crowned with success.

SH 262:10

We must reverse our feeble flutterings — our efforts to find life and truth in matter — and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God. These clearer, higher views inspire the Godlike man to reach the absolute centre and circumference of his being.

SH 276:19

When we learn in Science how to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect, thought is turned into new and healthy channels, — towards the contemplation of things immortal and away from materiality to the Principle of the universe, including harmonious man.

SH 518:13–20 (to 3rd ,)

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. Love giveth to the least spiritual idea might, immortality, and goodness, ...

SH 469:30–5

With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science.

SH 276:1

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.” 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.” Man and his Maker are correlated in divine Science, and real consciousness is cognizant only of the things of God.

SH 112:16–20 (to ;), 32–2 As (to be); 113:2–3 rules, 5–6

From the infinite One in Christian Science comes one Principle and its infinite idea, and with this infinitude come spiritual rules, laws, and their demonstration, which, like the great Giver, are “the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever;” ... As there is but one God, there can be but one divine Principle of all Science; and there must be ... rules for the demonstration of this divine Principle. ... The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love.

SH 260:7

The conceptions of mortal, erring thought must give way to the ideal of all that is perfect and eternal. Through many generations human beliefs will be attaining diviner conceptions, and the immortal and perfect model of God’s creation will finally be seen as the only true conception of being.

SH 387:27

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.

SH 19:6

Jesus aided in reconciling man to God by giving man a truer sense of Love, the divine Principle of Jesus’ teachings, and this truer sense of Love redeems man from the law of matter, sin, and death by the law of Spirit, — the law of divine Love.

SH 192:27

We walk in the footsteps of Truth and Love by following the example of our Master in the understanding of divine metaphysics. Christianity is the basis of true healing. Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power.

SH 454:17–18, 19–21

Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching. ... Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action.

SH 138:17–18, 27–2

Jesus established in the Christian era the precedent for all Christianity, theology, and healing. ...Our Master said to every follower: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature! . . . Heal the sick! . . . Love thy neighbor as thyself!” It was this theology of Jesus which healed the sick and the sinning. It is his theology in this book and the spiritual meaning of this theology, which heals the sick and causes the wicked to “forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.”

SH vii:27–2 (to ;)

Since the author’s discovery of the might of Truth in the treatment of disease as well as of sin, her system has been fully tested and has not been found wanting; ...

SH x:15–17

By thousands of well-authenticated cases of healing, she and her students have proved the worth of her teachings.

SH 55:15–16, 22

Truth’s immortal idea is sweeping down the centuries, gathering beneath its wings the sick and sinning. ... The time for the reappearing of the divine healing is throughout all time; and whosoever layeth his earthly all on the altar of divine Science, drinketh of Christ’s cup now, and is endued with the spirit and power of Christian healing.

SH 600:6–7 (to republished)

For the assurance and encouragement of the reader, a few of these letters are here republished ...

SH 621:9–11, 20–23 (to ,), 29–30 after; 622:12–16, 17

For fifteen years I was a great sufferer physically and mentally. Eminent physicians treated me for hereditary consumption, torpid liver, and many other diseases. ...  Sick, weary, doubting, and despairing, I accidentally went into a Christian Science church in New York City, on a Wednesday evening, ... after investigation I procured a copy of Science and Health, promising I would read it carefully. ... Many things were made plain to me. I saw that there is one Fatherhood of God and one brotherhood of man; that though “once I was blind, now I see;” that there was no more pain, nor aches, no fear, nor indigestion. ... There are now no traces whatever of my former complaint and I feel like a new being. — L. P., New York, N. Y.

SH 691:18–19; 692:5–10, 11, 19–21, 24–26; 693:9 A

Words cannot express my gratitude to God for Christian Science. ... When I read, “Give us this day our daily bread,” and its spiritual interpretation, my tears began to flow; all the years of bitterness, hate, and fear melted away. I knew then, as I know now, that nothing satisfies but Love. That day began the outward and inward conscious healing, — mental and physical. ... I absolutely knew that Christian Science was and is the truth. Money, friends, materiality, are nothing beside the conscious knowledge of God, man, and the universe.
... For ten years I have not had to lie down in the daytime from any sickness. I am now, and have been all these years, the picture of perfect health. ... This physical health is not to be compared to my happiness, — my harmony that nothing can take away, — because it is the gift of God. ... A. C. L., Kansas City, Kans.

SH 684:18–19 (to ,); 686:4

I became interested in Christian Science some five years ago, ... I have since seen the power of Truth overcome error of many forms, including croup, whooping-cough, tonsilitis, etc. I am thankful for all these proofs, but far more grateful am I for the spiritual teaching to love, to forgive, to curb my tongue, and cease my criticism. — M. A. H., Brockton, Mass.

Hymn. 585

This is the day the Lord has made; / Be glad, give thanks, rejoice; / Stand in God’s presence, unafraid, / In praise lift up your voice. / All perfect gifts are from above, / And all our blessings show / The amplitude of God’s dear love / Which every heart may know.

The Lord will hear before we call, / And every need supply; / Good things are freely given to all / Who on God’s word rely. / We come today to bring Love praise / Not for such gifts alone, / But for the higher, deeper ways / In which God’s love is shown.

For sin destroyed, for sorrow healed, / For health and peace restored; / For Life and Love by Truth revealed, / We thank and bless the Lord. / This is the day the Lord has made, / In praise lift up your voice. / In shining robes of joy arrayed, / Be glad, give thanks, rejoice.

Words: Laura Lee Randall, alt.

Music: Jonathan Roberts

Hymn. 163

Jesus, what precept is like thine: / Forgive, as ye would be forgiven; / If heeded, O what power divine / Would then transform our earth to heaven.

So from our hearts must ever flow / A love that will all wrong outweigh; / Our lips must only blessings know, / And wrath and sin shall die away.

For it is Mind’s most holy plan / To bring the wanderer back by love; / Then let us win our brother man, / And glorify our God above.

Words: Mary A. Livermore, adapted

Music: Ralph Harrison

Hymn. 310

Sing, ye joyous children, sing, / Glorious is the Christ, our king, / Truth has come again to earth, / Through the lowly Saviour’s birth. / Men and angels, anthems raise; / Hymns of joy and shouts of praise. / Hear th’ angelic song again: / Peace on earth, good will to men. / Sing, ye joyous children, sing, / Glorious is the Christ, our king.

When the stars together sang, / Then the Truth triumphant rang: / Be there light; And there was light. / Gone are chaos, fear and night; / Truth hath rolled the mists away; / Dawns on earth harmonious day. / Hear th’ angelic song again: / Peace on earth, good will to men. / Sing, ye joyous children, sing, / Glorious is the Christ, our king.

Words: John Randall Dunn

Music: Mendelssohn—Cummings

Anchored in hope

Wednesday Bible Readings

November 13th, 2024

From The Bible

Rom. 15:4 whatsoever

... whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

Ps. 43:5

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. 

Ps. 130:7

Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. 

Ps. 61:1, 2, 8 (to ,); 62:1, 2 (to 2nd ;), 11

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. ...So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, … Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; ...God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. 

Matt. 4:23 (to 1st ,), 24 2nd and

¶ And Jesus went about all Galilee, ... and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 

Matt. 9:20–22

¶ And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 

Heb. 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

Matt. 17:14 (to 1st And), 14 there, 15, 18–20

¶ And ... there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. … And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 

Gal. 5:5

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 

Rom. 5:5

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

Acts 3:1 (to ,), 2, 3, 5–7 expecting (to :), 8, 11–13 (to 1st ,), 13 2nd the (to ;), 16 (to 1st ,), 16 yea

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, … And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid 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. ... expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: … And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. … And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. ¶ And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, ... the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; … And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, ... yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 

Ps. 62:5

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. 

John 13:36 (to ;); 14:1 (to :), 15, 16

¶ Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; … Let not your heart be troubled: ... ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 

Lam. 3:26

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. 

Heb. 6:10 God (to 1st ,), 11, 19

... God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, … And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: … Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 

Rom. 15:13

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

SH 361:25–27 (to ,)

A germ of infinite Truth, though least in the kingdom of heaven, is the higher hope on earth, ...

SH 588:7 (only, to ;)

Holy Ghost. Divine Science; ...

SH 107:1–3, 7–10; 108:3, 19–24 (to ;), 30

IN the year 1866, I discovered the Christ Science or divine laws of Life, Truth, and Love, and named my discovery Christian Science. ...
This apodictical Principle points to the revelation of Immanuel, “God with us,” — the sovereign ever-presence, delivering the children of men from every ill “that flesh is heir to.” ... According to St. Paul, it was “the gift of the grace of 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 sensation 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 only sufferer is mortal mind, for the divine Mind cannot suffer. … When apparently near the confines of mortal existence, standing already within the shadow of the death-valley, I learned these truths in divine Science: that all real being is in God, the divine Mind, and that Life, Truth, and Love are all-powerful and ever-present; … My discovery, that erring, mortal, misnamed 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 Mind is All and matter is naught as the leading factor in Mind-science. 

SH 109:11–13 (to ,), 15–16 (to ,), 16–24, 28–29, 31 John

For three years after my discovery, I sought the solution of this problem of Mind-healing, searched the Scriptures and read little else, ... The search was sweet, calm, and buoyant with hope, ...I knew the Principle of all harmonious Mind-action to be God, and that cures were produced in primitive Christian healing by holy, uplifting faith; but I must know the Science of this healing, and I won my way to absolute conclusions through divine revelation, reason, and demonstration. The revelation of Truth in the understanding came to me gradually and apparently through divine power. …  Jesus once said of his lessons: “My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. ... (John vii. 16, 17.) 

SH xi:1–7 (to 1st ,), 9–14

Many imagine that the phenomena of physical healing in Christian Science present only a phase of the action of the human mind, which action in some unexplained way results in the cure of disease. On the contrary, Christian Science rationally explains that all other pathological methods are the fruits of human faith in matter, … The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus’ time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation. 

SH 332:19 Jesus

... Jesus demonstrated Christ; he proved that Christ is the divine idea of God — the Holy Ghost, or Comforter, revealing the divine Principle, Love, and leading into all truth. 

SH 171:14

Jesus illustrated the divine Principle and the power of immortal Mind by healing sickness and sin and destroying the foundations of death. 

SH x:22–23

The divine Principle of healing is proved in the personal experience of any sincere seeker of Truth. 

SH 152:5

The author has endeavored to make this book the Æsculapius of mind as well as of body, that it may give hope to the sick and heal them, although they know not how the work is done. Truth has a healing effect, even when not fully understood. 

SH 40:25–28, 31

Our heavenly Father, divine Love, demands that all men should follow the example of our Master and his apostles and not merely worship his personality. … The nature of Christianity is peaceful and blessed, but in order to enter into the kingdom, the anchor of hope must be cast beyond the veil of matter into the Shekinah into which Jesus has passed before us; and this advance beyond matter must come through the joys and triumphs of the righteous as well as through their sorrows and afflictions. Like our Master, we must depart from material sense into the spiritual sense of being. 

SH 298:4–7 (to Science), 13–17 (to 2nd ,), 17–18 never, 20–21 (to 1st ,), 21–23 start (to 2nd ,)

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 ...Spiritual sense, contradicting the material senses, involves intuition, hope, faith, understanding, fruition, reality. Material sense expresses the belief that mind is in matter. This human belief, alternating between a sense of pleasure and pain, hope and fear, ... never reaches beyond the boundary of the mortal or the unreal. ... Spiritual ideas, ... start from Principle, and admit no materialistic beliefs. Spiritual ideas lead up to their divine origin, God, ...

SH 12:1–9 (to ,), 10–11 (to ,)

“The prayer of faith shall save the sick,” says the Scripture. What is this healing prayer? A mere request that God will heal the sick has no power to gain more of the divine presence than is always at hand. The beneficial effect of such prayer for the sick is on the human mind, making it act more powerfully on the body through a blind faith in God. This, however, is one belief casting out another, ... It is neither Science nor Truth which acts through blind belief, ...

SH 167:3–7

If we rise no higher than blind faith, the Science of healing is not attained, and Soul-existence, in the place of sense-existence, is not comprehended. We apprehend Life in divine Science only as we live above corporeal sense and correct it. 

SH 368:10

Against the fatal beliefs that error is as real as Truth, that evil is equal in power to good if not superior, and that discord is as normal as harmony, even the hope of freedom from the bondage of sickness and sin has little inspiration to nerve endeavor. When we come to have more faith in the truth of being than we have in error, more faith in Spirit than in matter, more faith in living than in dying, more faith in God than in man, then no material suppositions can prevent us from healing the sick and destroying error. 

SH 1:-10

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 

SH 297:20–24

Faith is higher and more spiritual than belief. It is a chrysalis state of human thought, in which spiritual evidence, contradicting the testimony of material sense, begins to appear, and Truth, the ever-present, is becoming understood. 

SH 279:3

A New Testament writer plainly describes faith, a quality of mind, as “the substance of things hoped for.” 

SH 278:32–3

Which ought to be substance to us, — the erring, changing, and dying, the mutable and mortal, or the unerring, immutable, and immortal? 

SH 468:17–22 Substance

... Substance is that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay. Truth, Life, and Love are substance, as the Scriptures use this word in Hebrews: “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Spirit, the synonym of Mind, Soul, or God, is the only real substance. 

SH 301:6–13

To himself, mortal and material man seems to be substance, but his sense of substance involves error and therefore is material, temporal. 
On the other hand, the immortal, spiritual man is really substantial, and reflects the eternal substance, or Spirit, which mortals hope for. He reflects the divine, which constitutes the only real and eternal entity. 

SH 496:15

Hold perpetually this thought, — that it is the spiritual idea, the Holy Ghost and Christ, which enables you to demonstrate, with scientific certainty, the rule of healing, based upon its divine Principle, Love, underlying, overlying, and encompassing all true being. 

SH 393:32

It is well to be calm in sickness; to be hopeful is still better; but to understand that sickness is not real and that Truth can destroy its seeming reality, is best of all, for this understanding is the universal and perfect remedy. 

SH 253:9–14

I hope, dear reader, I am leading you into the understanding of your divine rights, your heaven-bestowed harmony, — that, as you read, you see there is no cause (outside of erring, mortal, material sense which is not power) able to make you sick or sinful; and I hope that you are conquering this false sense. 

SH 125:12–16

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. 

SH 45:17

Christ hath rolled away the stone from the door of human hope and faith, and through the revelation and demonstration of life in God, hath elevated them to possible at-one-ment with the spiritual idea of man and his divine Principle, Love. 

Hymn. 437

All my hope on God is founded; / Day by day my trust is new. / Through the trials of life He guides me, / Only good and only true. / God alone, dearly known, / Calls my heart to be His own. 

Earthly treasures, pride and glory, / Human power and worldly trust, / Though with care and toil are builded, / In the end will fall to dust. / But God’s power, hour by hour, / Is my temple and my tower. 

Daily does th’almighty Giver / Bounteous gifts on us bestow. / Love’s desire our soul delighteth, / Joy attends us where we go. / Blessings stand at God’s hand, / Healing flows at Love’s command. 

Now from man to God eternal / Endless thanks and praise be sung. / Hearts made new are anthems raising / Through the love of Christ, His Son. / Hear God’s call, one and all, / We who follow shall not fall. 

Words: Joachim Neander; tr. Robert Bridges; adapt. Fenella Bennetts, alt.

Music: Herbert Howells

Hymn. 518

Know, O child, your full salvation; / Rise o’er sin and fear and care; / Joy to find, in every station, / Something still to do, or bear. 

Think what spirit dwells within you; / Think what Father’s smiles are yours; / Think what Jesus did to show you: / Spirit’s promise lifts, restores. 

Hasten on from grace to glory, / Armed with faith and winged with prayer; / Heaven’s eternal day before you / God’s own hand shall guide you there. 

So fulfill your holy mission, / Safely pass through pilgrim-days, / Hope shall grow to full fruition, / Faith to sight and prayer to praise. 

Words: Henry Francis Lyte, adapt. alt.

Music: Nicholas P. Schliapin

Hymn. 508

I’ve got peace like a river, / I’ve got peace like a river, / I’ve got peace like a river in my soul. 

I’ve got joy like a fountain, / I’ve got joy like a fountain, / I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul. 

I’ve got love like an ocean, / I’ve got love like an ocean, / I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul. 

I’ve got faith like an anchor, / I’ve got faith like an anchor, / I’ve got faith like an anchor in my soul. 

Words: African American spiritual

Music: African American spiritual; harm. CSPS

Topic is Right is Radical

Wednesday Bible Readings

november 6th, 2024

From The Bible

And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: ...

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; ...
(Exodus 20:1–5 (to :), 7 (to ;))

These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel ...
(Deuteronomy 1:1 (to Israel))

Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
(Deuteronomy 4:5–8)

¶ And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. ...

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
(Matthew 8:5–10, 13)

... Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judæa, and from beyond Jordan.
(Matthew 4:23–25 Jesus)

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
(Matthew 5:1, 2)

¶ Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. ...

... ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
(Matthew 5:33–35, 38–48)

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
(Matthew 22:35–40)

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. ...

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

... now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
(Romans 13:8, 10, 11 2nd now, 12)

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. It is impossible to gain control over the body in any other way. 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. 167:22)

The conservative theory, long believed, is that there are two factors, matter and mind, uniting on some impossible basis. This theory would keep truth and error always at war. Victory would perch on neither banner. On the other hand, Christian Science speedily shows Truth to be triumphant. To corporeal sense, the sun appears to rise and set, and the earth to stand still; but astronomical science contradicts this, and explains the solar system as working on a different plan. All the evidence of physical sense and all the knowledge obtained from physical sense must yield to Science, to the immortal truth of all things.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 492:29)

Right is radical. ... We soil our garments with conservatism, and afterwards we must wash them clean. When the spiritual sense of Truth unfolds its harmonies, you take no risks in the policy of error.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 452:18 (only), 20–23)

The belief of sin, which has grown terrible in strength and influence, is an unconscious error in the beginning, — an embryonic thought without motive; but afterwards it governs the so-called man. Passion, depraved appetites, dishonesty, envy, hatred, revenge ripen into action, only to pass from shame and woe to their final punishment.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 188:4)

To break this earthly spell, mortals must get the true idea and divine Principle of all that really exists and governs the universe harmoniously. This thought is apprehended slowly, and the interval before its attainment is attended with doubts and defeats as well as triumphs.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 39:25)

The world could not interpret aright the discomfort which Jesus inspired and the spiritual blessings which might flow from such discomfort. Science shows the cause of the shock so often produced by the truth, — namely, that this shock arises from the great distance between the individual and Truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 53:16–21)

Who is ready to follow his teaching and example? All must sooner or later plant themselves in Christ, the true idea of God. That he might liberally pour his dear-bought treasures into empty or sin-filled human storehouses, was the inspiration of Jesus’ intense human sacrifice. In witness of his divine commission, he presented the proof that Life, Truth, and Love heal the sick and the sinning, and triumph over death through Mind, not matter. This was the highest proof he could have offered of divine Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 54:8–17)

He to whom “the arm of the Lord” is revealed will believe our report, and rise into newness of life with regeneration. This is having part in the atonement; this is the understanding, in which Jesus suffered and triumphed. The time is not distant when the ordinary theological views of atonement will undergo a great change, — a change as radical as that which has come over popular opinions in regard to predestination and future punishment.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 24:11)

The history of our country, like all history, illustrates the might of Mind, and shows human power to be proportionate to its embodiment of right thinking. A few immortal sentences, breathing the omnipotence of divine justice, have been potent to break despotic fetters and abolish the whipping-post and slave market; but oppression neither went down in blood, nor did the breath of freedom come from the cannon’s mouth. Love is the liberator.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 225:14)

God has built a higher platform of human rights, and He has built it on diviner claims. These claims are not made through code or creed, but in demonstration of “on earth peace, good-will toward men.” Human codes, scholastic theology, material medicine and hygiene, fetter faith and spiritual understanding. Divine Science rends asunder these fetters, and man’s birthright of sole allegiance to his Maker asserts itself.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 226:14)

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus xx. 3.) The First Commandment is my favorite text. It demonstrates Christian Science. It inculcates the tri-unity of God, Spirit, Mind; it signifies that man shall have no other spirit or mind but God, eternal good, and that all men shall have one Mind. The divine Principle of the First Commandment bases the Science of being, by which man demonstrates health, holiness, and life eternal. One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, “Love thy neighbor as thyself;” annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 340:15)

The Christian Scientist wisely shapes his course, and is honest and consistent in following the leadings of divine Mind. He must prove, through living as well as healing and teaching, that Christ’s way is the only one by which mortals are radically saved from sin and sickness.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 458:25 The)

Thousands of letters could be presented in testimony of the healing efficacy of Christian Science and particularly concerning the vast number of people who have been reformed and healed through the perusal or study of this book.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 600:1)

I was a great sufferer from a serious form of rheumatic trouble, my hands being affected to such an extent that it was impossible for me even to dress without assistance. ... I became very lame and had to be assisted in and out of bed. ... I then consulted a celebrated specialist, who after a thorough examination said my condition would continue to grow worse and that I would become completely helpless.

At that time a copy of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mrs. Eddy was loaned me. ... 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 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. ... E. B. B., Pasadena, Cal.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 600:12–14, 15–16 I; 601:3–8, 10–15, 22 E)

O, sometimes gleams upon our sight, / Through present wrong, th’ eternal right; / And step by step, since time began, / We see the steady gain of man.

For all of good the past hath had / Remains to make our own time glad, / Our common, daily life divine, / And every land a Palestine.

Through the harsh noises of our day, / A low sweet prelude finds its way; / Through clouds of doubt and creeds of fear / A light is breaking, calm and clear.

Henceforth my heart shall sigh no more / For olden time and holier shore: / God’s love and blessing, then and there, / Are now and here and everywhere.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 239)

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.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 539)

Rock of Ages, Truth divine, / Be Thy strength forever mine; / Let me rest secure on Thee, / Safe above life’s raging sea. / Rock of Ages, Truth divine, / Be Thy strength forever mine.

Rock of Truth, our fortress strong, / Thou our refuge from all wrong, / When from mortal sense I flee, / Let me hide myself in Thee. / Rock of Ages, Truth divine, / Be Thy strength forever mine.

Christ, the Truth, foundation sure, / On this rock we are secure; / Peace is there our life to fill, / Cure is there for every ill. / Rock of Ages, Truth divine, / Be Thy strength forever mine.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 293)