mybiblelesson mar. 17–23€¦ · 23/03/2014 · 12 art thou not from everlasting, o lord my god,...

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE QUARTERLY MYBIBLELESSON © 2014 THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCIETY Matter Vi s i t myBibleLesson.com Mar. 17–23, 2014

. . . I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Golden Text Psalms 62:6 I shall, 7

The Lord is exalted; 6 . . . wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 13 Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him? 25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 12 Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine

Holy One? 13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: 18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? 19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. 20 But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

Responsive Reading Isaiah 33:5 (to ;), 6 wisdom (to :); 40:8, 13, 25, 29; Habakkuk 1:12 (to ?), 13 (to :); 2:18–20

2 0 1 4

®®

Christian Science Quarterly™ Mar. 17–23

myBibleLesson

SECTION TWO: False material foundations crumble . . . Page 3

SECTION THREE: . . . but Truth is rock-solid, unshakable. Page 4

SECTION FOUR: Spiritual power undermines material “laws.” Page 5

SECTION FIVE: A change of base heals. Page 6

SECTION SIX: Mind’s founda-tion supports life and health, not accidents. Page 7

SECTION SEVEN: Spirit is your foundation! Page 8

SECTION ONE: Spirit, not matter, is the only true foundation. Page 2


2

1 | Genesis 1:1–4 (to :), 26 (to :)

n the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:

2 | Job 38:1 the, 4, 6

the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

3 | Deuteronomy 32:3 ascribe, 4

ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

4 | I Chronicles 16:25 great, 26, 30 the world

great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. 30 the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

1 | 593:18 (only, to 2nd .)

18 ROCK. Spiritual foundation; Truth.

2 | 502:27

27 The creative Principle — Life,

Ideas and identities

Truth, and Love — is God. The universe reflects God. There is but one creator and one creation. This crea- 1 tion consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their identities, which are embraced in the infinite Mind and 3 forever reflected. These ideas range from the infinitesimal to infinity, and the highest ideas are the sons and daughters of God.

3 | 504:27–29

27 Did infinite Mind create matter, and call it light? Spirit is light, and the contradiction of Spirit is matter, darkness, and darkness obscures light.

4 | 277:26

Matter is an error of state- 27 ment. This error in the premise leads to errors

Material error

in the conclusion in every statement into which it enters. Nothing we can say or believe regarding matter is immor- 30 tal, for matter is temporal and is therefore a mortal phe- nomenon, a human concept, sometimes beautiful, always erroneous.

5 | 535:10–14

Divine Science deals its chief blow at the supposed material foundations of life and intelligence. It dooms idol- 12 atry. A belief in other gods, other creators, and other creations must go down before Chris-

Judgment on error

tian Science.

1 THE BIBLE Section SCIENCE and HEALTH with Key to the Scriptures | Mary Baker Eddy

ALLA

N R

OW

E

infinitesimal: extremely small; microscopic; tiny obscures: hides; concealspremise: proposition; assumption; hypothesisphenomenon: occurrence; happening; something perceived or experiencederroneous: false; incorrect; untrue

I

. . . Oh, praise the greatness

of our God! He is the Rock, his works are per-

fect, and all his ways are just. . . .

—Deuteronomy 32:3, 4 —New

International Version

If this is a test,

can you make it multiple

choice?

Mary Baker Eddy found out a lot about matter and Mind during

her “hour of great need.” Check it out in Miscel-laneous Writings, pp. 23:30–24:24.


3

5 | I John 5:21 (to 1st .)

Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

6 | Deuteronomy 32:9 the, 18

the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

7 | Job 33:4

The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

8 | Job 23:13 he

he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

9 | Ecclesiastes 7:29

Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

10 | Genesis 11:1, 3, 4 (to ;), 5–9 (to ;)

nd the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us

make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel;


idols: false godsbegat: createdart unmindful: have no thought for

embryonic: developing stages of an organism before birthencompass: surroundmisapprehension: misunderstanding; mistaken conceptmultifarious: various; diverse

6 | 581:17–22

BABEL. Self-destroying error; a kingdom divided 18 against itself, which cannot stand; material knowledge. The higher false knowledge builds on the basis of evidence obtained from the five corporeal senses, the more 21 confusion ensues, and the more certain is the downfall of its structure.

7 | 548:27–29

27 Modern discoveries have brought to light important facts in regard to so-called embryonic life.

Methods of reproduction

8 | 551:17–26

Naturalists ask: “What can there be, of a material 18 nature, transmitted through these bodies called eggs, — themselves composed of the simplest material elements, — by which all peculiarities of an-

Transmitted peculiarities

21 cestry, belonging to either sex, are brought down from generation to generation?” The question of the natu- ralist amounts to this: How can matter originate or trans- 24 mit mind? We answer that it cannot. Darkness and doubt encompass thought, so long as it bases creation on materiality.

9 | 191:8–13

As a material, theoretical life-basis is found to be a 9 misapprehension of existence, the spiritual and divine Principle of man dawns upon human thought, and leads it to “where the young child was,”

The immortal birth

12 — even to the birth of a new-old idea, to the spiritual sense of being and of what Life includes.

10 | 477:20–24 Identity

Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the re- 21 flection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love. Soul is the substance, Life, and intelligence of man, which is individualized, but not

Reflection of Spirit

24 in matter.

Tim-m-m-m-ber-r-r-r!!!

the belief that life

is matter-based

embryology

MATERIAL KNOWLEDGE COLLAPSING

genetics

Good thing man’s real foundation is spiritual understanding!

A

along with Proverbs and Job, is an example of wisdom literature.

These books include reflections on the nature of the world, God, and mankind. “Inventions” refers to human reasoning, which tempts people to rely on things other than God.

ECCLESIASTES, Books

Bibleof the

Artist’s rendering of the Tower of Babel.

The tower was built in the land of Shinar,

which is another name for Babylonia

(the central and eastern regions of

modern Iraq).

©PH

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/PHO

TOS.CO

M/TH

INKSTO

CK, MO

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4

11 | Matthew 4:17 Jesus

esus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

12 | Matthew 5:27, 28, 48

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

13 | Matthew 7:24–27 whosoever

whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

14 | II Timothy 2:19 the, 22 follow

the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 22 follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

11 | 222:31–3

We must

Life only in Spirit

destroy the false belief that life and intelligence are in 1 matter, and plant ourselves upon what is pure and perfect. Paul said, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not 3 fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

12 | 56:18–3

18 The commandment, “Thou shalt not com-

Fidelity required

mit adultery,” is no less imperative than the one, “Thou shalt not kill.” 1 Chastity is the cement of civilization and progress. Without it there is no stability in society, and without it 3 one cannot attain the Science of Life.

13 | 448:5

Evil which obtains in the bodily senses, 6 but which the heart condemns, has no foundation; but if evil is uncondemned, it is undenied and nurtured. Under such circumstances, to say that there is no evil, is an evil 9 in itself. When needed tell the truth concerning the lie. Evasion of Truth cripples integrity, and casts thee down from the pinnacle.

14 | 5:23–25 Sin

Sin is forgiven 24 only as it is destroyed by Christ, — Truth and Life.

Cancellation of human sin

15 | 272:19–25

It is the spiritualization of thought and Christianization of daily life, in contrast with the results of the ghastly farce 21 of material existence; it is chastity and purity, in contrast with the downward tendencies

Unspiritual contrasts

and earthward gravitation of sensualism and impurity, 24 which really attest the divine origin and operation of Chris- tian Science.

16 | 324:5–12

“Blessed are the 6 pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Unless the harmony and immortality of man are be- coming more apparent, we are not gaining the true idea 9 of God; and the body will reflect what governs it, whether it be Truth or error,

Narrow pathway

understanding or belief, Spirit or matter. Therefore 12 “acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace.”


repent: think again; think differently; turn from past mistakesadultery: infidelity; immoral, impure thought or actionchastity: innocence; purity; sinlessnesspinnacle: highest point; summitghastly farce: horrible mockery

J

ROCK-SOLID FOUNDATION OF

CHRIST, TRUTH

chastity purity

SHAKY MATERIAL FOUNDATION

adultery

sensualism

of verses concludes the Sermon on the Mount, which is a collection of Jesus’s teachings in

chapters 5–7 of the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus is telling his listeners that it is not enough to hear his words—they must go out and live them.

THIS GROUP


5

17 | 138:14–15

The supremacy of Spirit was the foundation on which 15 Jesus built.

18 | 273:10–12, 24

Divine Science reverses the false testimony of the material senses, and thus tears away the foun- 12 dations of error.

Science versus sense

24 Jesus walked on the

Spiritual law the only law

waves, fed the multitude, healed the sick, and raised the dead in direct opposition to material laws. His acts were 27 the demonstration of Science, overcoming the false claims of material sense or law.

19 | 83:13

The scientific mani- festation of power is from the divine nature 15 and is not supernatural, since Science is an

Natural wonders

explication of nature. The belief that the universe, including man, is governed in general by material laws, but 18 that occasionally Spirit sets aside these laws, — this belief belittles omnipotent wisdom, and gives to matter the precedence over Spirit.

20 | 124:26

We tread on forces. Withdraw them, and 27 creation must collapse. Human knowledge calls them forces of matter; but divine Science declares that they belong wholly to divine Mind, are inherent in this 30 Mind, and so restores them to their rightful home and classification.

15 | Psalms 119:151, 165

Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth. 165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

16 | Luke 4:14 (to :)

nd Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into

Galilee:

17 | Mark 6:45–51

And straightway he con- strained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

18 | I Corinthians 3:11

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.


but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him

and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Mark 6:49, 50—New International Version

toiling in: working hard atsupernatural: unnatural; abnormal; mysteriousexplication: explanation

belittles: lessens the authority, dignity, or reputation of; treats something as having little value or importanceprecedence: superiority; supremacy; priorityinherent in: characteristic of; basic to

The Sea of Galilee viewed from

Bethsaida

HEA

THER B

OU

LDIN

G

A

“Jesus taught us to walk over, not into or with, the currents of matter,” wrote Mary Baker Eddy in her book Unity of Good (see p. 11 :3–19). Take a look.

material sense

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah . . .

SUPREMACY OF SPIRIT

These currents are too strong!!! I’m hissstory!


6


19 | Acts 3:1–8

ow Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 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; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 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. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

20 | Psalms 62:5, 6 (to :)

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation:

21 | 162:5–7, 9, 16–22

Christian Science 6 acts as an alterative, neutralizing error with Truth.

Truth an alterative

9 The effect of this Science is to stir the human mind to a change of base, on which it may yield to the harmony of the divine Mind.

Working out the rules of Science in practice, the author has re- 18 stored health in cases of both acute and chronic disease in their severest forms. Secretions have been changed, the structure has been renewed, shortened limbs have been 21 elongated, ankylosed joints have been made supple, and carious bones have been restored to healthy conditions.

22 | 422:22–32 (to 2nd .)

Let us suppose two parallel cases of bone-disease, both similarly produced and attended by the same symptoms. 24 A surgeon is employed in one case, and a Christian Scientist in the other. The sur-

Bone-healing by surgery

geon, holding that matter forms its own conditions and 27 renders them fatal at certain points, entertains fears and doubts as to the ultimate outcome of the injury. Not holding the reins of government in his own hands, he 30 believes that something stronger than Mind — namely, matter — governs the case. His treatment is therefore tentative. This mental state invites defeat.

23 | 423:8–10, 15–24

The Christian Scientist, understanding scientifically 9 that all is Mind, commences with mental causation, the truth of being, to destroy the error.

15 The matter-physician deals with matter as both his foe and his remedy. He regards the ailment as weakened or strengthened according to the evidence which 18 matter presents. The metaphysician, making

Coping with difficulties

Mind his basis of operation irrespective of matter and regarding the truth and harmony of being as superior to 21 error and discord, has rendered himself strong, instead of weak, to cope with the case; and he proportionately strengthens his patient with the stimulus of courage and 24 conscious power.

24 | 417:10–16

Maintain the facts of Christian Science, — that Spirit is God, and 12 therefore cannot be sick; that what is termed matter cannot be sick; that all causation is Mind, acting through spiritual law. Then hold your ground with 15 the unshaken understanding of Truth and Love, and you will win.

NQUICK FACT

The hours of the day were counted from sunrise, so the ninth hour is about three o’clock in the afternoon.

QUICKFACT

Change of Base Moving Co.

BASIS OF

MATTER

SWAMP

Sinking

foundation

I’m tired of the view. It’s time for a new foundation.

I’m off to higher ground!

lame . . . womb: who’d been crippled all his lifealterative: treatment that restores health

neutralizing: counter-balancing; offsetting; negatingankylosed: stiff; inflexiblesupple: flexiblefatal: deadly; destructivetentative: uncertain; doubtful; hesitant; timid; unsureirrespective: regardless; independent


7

21 | Acts 20:7–12

nd upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to

break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen 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. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embrac-ing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. 12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

22 | Psalms 27:1 (to 2nd ;), 5 2nd he shall

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; 5 he shall set me up upon a rock.


Eutychus was from

Troas, in what is now Turkey.

Mediterranean Sea

GREECE

EGYPT

TURKEY

SYRIA

Black Sea

Nile River

ISRAEL

Troas

not a little: more than just a little; very muchunerring: faultless; unfailing; perfectcorporeal: material; bodily; physicalsupplant: replace; overthrowapprehended: understoodindestructible: incapable of being destroyed

Troas, Turkey, by the Mediterranean Sea

PAT

ART

HU

R

A 25 | 539:3

3 Error begins by reckoning life as separate from Spirit, thus sapping the foundations of immortality, as if life and immortality 6 were something which matter can both give and take away.

26 | 424:5

Accidents are unknown to God, or immortal Mind, 6 and we must leave the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind, in order to change the notion of chance to the proper sense

Accidents unknown

to God 9 of God’s unerring direction and thus bring out harmony.

27 | 495:16

Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and

Steadfast and calm trust

18 calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious — as Life eternally is — can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not. Let Christian Science, 21 instead of corporeal sense, support your understanding of being, and this understanding will supplant error with Truth, replace mortality with immortality, and silence dis- 24 cord with harmony.

28 | 402:8–13

The time approaches when mortal mind will forsake 9 its corporeal, structural, and material basis, when immortal Mind and its formations will be appre- hended in Science, and material beliefs will

Indestructible life of man

12 not interfere with spiritual facts. Man is indestructible and eternal.

Before you get out of bed, get on your bike, or turn the key in your car, think about some ideas from this section. Where does your safety come from?


8

29 | 288:20

The chief stones in the temple of Christian Science are 21 to be found in the following postulates: that Life is God, good, and not evil; that Soul is sinless, not to be found in the body; that Spirit is not, and 24 cannot be, materialized; that Life is not subject

The chief stones in

the temple to death; that the spiritual real man has no birth, no material life, and no death.

30 | 269:11–14, 21–25 (to 2nd .)

Metaphysics is above physics, and 12 matter does not enter into metaphysical prem-

Divine metaphysics

ises or conclusions. The categories of metaphysics rest on one basis, the divine Mind.

21 The testimony of the material senses is neither abso- lute nor divine. I therefore plant myself unreservedly on the teachings of Jesus, of his apostles, of 24 the prophets, and on the testimony of the

Biblical foundations

Science of Mind. Other foundations there are none.

23 | I John 5:6 it

t is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

24 | Ephesians 2:19–22 ye

ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow- citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.


PHOTOS BY JULIE SCHOENING, MOD.

saints: believers; members of the congregationpostulates: axioms; truths; fundamental principlesmaterialized: made material or physical

divine: Godlike in natureunreservedly: completely; totally; without any doubts

i

To go deeper into the meaning of “rock of Christ,” the “chief corner-stone,” look at p. 10:16–18, in Pulpit and Press by Mary Baker Eddy.

Whoa . . . the real man has no birth, material life, or death??

Awesome!

9

Y SOPHOMORE YEAR IN COLLEGE, a bag of trail mix with a combination of nuts and M&M’s was passed around the classroom while I was finishing an ecology test. Thinking

nothing of it, I took a handful and began to eat. While working on my next question, I found it hard to concentrate on my test, as my tongue began to swell. I could only remember experiencing some-thing like this once before, when I was in second grade. At that time, I was quickly OK and hadn’t experienced any reactions of that kind since.

Almost done with my test, I tried to push through. However, as fear of the swelling flooded my thoughts, I knew I needed to confront it through prayer. I set down my pencil and closed my eyes. When I was younger, my Sunday school teacher taught our class that when praying, we could “A.R.K.” the situation: allay the fear, reverse the claim of something being in control besides God, good, and know the Truth. And in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, Ark is described as “. . . the understanding of Spirit, destroying belief in matter” (p. 581). By follow-ing inspiration, I knew I could gain a clearer understanding of God, Spirit.

As I sat at my desk, what came to mind was a line from Hymn 148 in The Christian Science Hymnal: “In heavenly Love abiding, / No change my heart shall fear” (Anna L. Waring). I thought of how I didn’t need

to be afraid, because I am surrounded by Love, God, and I cannot be dismayed or troubled by anything. I felt better, the swelling of my tongue mostly subsided, and I was able to finish my test. I decided I was well enough to go to my job on campus.

While at work, however, I felt my thoughts slip back into fear. I could still feel some swelling, and I was worried it would keep me from par-ticipating in basketball practice that day, which happened to be the

last one of the season. I left work early and went back to my dorm room. Soon, I also began to experi-ence a rash.

Having grown up in Christian Sci-ence, I had learned to put my trust in God for healing. A number of other healings had solidified my belief that prayer was effective.

I decided to call my coach and left a message informing her that I might not be able to practice. I then called my mom and a Christian Science practitioner whom I knew well. But when neither answered, I was actu-ally not discouraged. I could have called someone else. I go to Principia, a college for Christian Scientists, so

I knew one of the Christian Science nurses on campus would help me if there was a need, but it felt right to sit down and open my Sci-ence and Health. I opened randomly to the chapter “Christian Science Teaching.” BA

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Reverse the claim of something being

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“A.R.K.” the situation

Allay the fear. Know the Truth.

By Jocelyn


for food fear

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Continued on next page


The pages I read talked about how healing happens when fear is re-moved, which fit in perfectly with what I was praying about. I prayed to address the claim that I could be affected in any way by food. In the first chapter of Genesis, it states that man is made in God’s image and likeness. And man is God’s reflection. So I knew that my true reflection is the expression of God. I wrote out a list of some of the qualities that my true reflection encompassed—including unlimited freedom, infinite beauty, and endless perfection. And I realized I was not limited in my ability to play basketball because I had unlimited God-given freedom, and I could not be affected by swelling or irritation of any kind because I expressed infinite beauty, Soul. I then fell asleep while listening to Hymn 148 on my iPod.

I woke up to the phone ringing. It was my coach calling me back to follow up. As I stood talking to her, telling her what had been go-ing on, I realized that my face was hardly swollen and the rash was gone; but I felt hot and I was still dealing with some other swelling. I sat down on the floor and continued to talk to my coach, who was helping me by sharing spiritual ideas. One I remember that we talked about was the unreality of matter and how Spirit is what is substantial and real. She reminded me of Hymn 139, which begins, “I walk with Love along the way” (Minny M. H. Ayers). I really like this hymn, espe-cially the line that states, “The joy that none can take away / Is mine; I walk with Love today.” I don’t have to be afraid, because God, Love, is with me and won’t let me be taken over by anything that could compromise my joy.

After hanging up the phone, I went down the hall to the bathroom. My dorm was relatively empty; my resident counselor was still in a meeting and most other students were in class. On my way back to my room, I got lightheaded and ended up sitting on a step in the stairwell. As I sat there, the line from Science and Health, “Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good” (p. 393) started to run through my mind. I sat there whispering the line to myself, know-ing and understanding that God was my true strength. Not even a minute later someone walked by and asked if I was OK. I found myself saying that I was “perfect.” And as I said it out loud, I realized that I really meant it. It wasn’t a fake “I’m fine.” I just had this overwhelming feeling that I was going to have this healing! Instantly, I felt strong and able to stand up and go back to my room. As I sat back on my bed, I remembered something we’d talked about in Sunday school that week. It was a passage in Mary Baker Eddy’s Miscellaneous Writings : “Obeying the divine Principle which you

profess to understand and love, demonstrates Truth. Never absent from your post, never off guard, never ill-humored, never unready to work for God, — is obedience; being ‘faithful over a few things’ ”

(p. 116). My teacher had turned those “nevers” into positives. For example, be-cause we reflect God, we are naturally “good-humored, ready to work for God,” etc. The only one I could remember at the time was to be in “good humor” (in-stead of ill-humored). Soon I was laugh-ing at the ridiculousness of everything mortal mind was trying to say about me—that I was afraid and vulnerable

to reaction. It just wasn’t true! I was a perfect reflection of Spirit, un-disturbed and unjarred. As I was laughing, a sense of calm swept over me, and I could feel God’s presence. The fear was gone. I was no longer giving power to “error,” or mistaken thinking, and this eliminated any hold it claimed to have on me. As I lounged on my bed, I knew I was fine. So I closed my eyes and took a nap.

I woke up to my alarm alerting me that it was time to go to basket-ball practice. I hopped out of bed and grabbed my bag. Smiling and full of joy, I walked off to practice. I was well. All the symptoms were completely gone and haven’t been back since. I’ve continued to eat similar trail mix and nuts without any fear since that time. I’m so glad I was able to know that my joy and health can’t be shaken. Strength and joy come from God and are unfailing and unceasing. God nour-ishes and loves me. The food fear didn’t have a lasting hold. And it crumbled.

10

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A sense of calm swept over me, and I could feel God's presence.

This article was originally published in the April 23, 2012 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.

You can find this piece (and thousands more!) at jsh.christianscience.com.

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BIBLE INFO:TRANSLATIONS: All Scriptural quotations used in the text of myBibleLesson are taken from the King James Version of The Holy Bible, unless otherwise indicated.

The following are verbally equivalent translations used for In Other Words. These translations tend to use the oldest available and most recently discovered manuscripts to translate the literal meaning of the text word-for-word.Amplified Bible: Scriptural quotations marked Amplified Bible are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Contemporary English Version: Scriptural quotations marked Contemporary English Version are taken from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

New International Version: Scriptural quotations marked New International Version are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

New Revised Standard Version: Scriptural quotations marked New Revised Standard Version are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Revised English Bible: Scriptural quotations marked Revised English Bible are taken from the Revised English Bible © Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press 1989.

Revised Standard Version: Scriptural quotations marked Revised Standard Version are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The following dynamically equivalent translations are used for In Other Words. These translations attempt to convey the thoughts expressed in the text in common, everyday English.Good News Translation: Scriptural quotations marked Good News Translation are taken from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

New English Bible: Scriptural quotations marked New English Bible are taken from the New English Bible © Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press 1961, 1970.

New International Reader’s Version: Scriptural quotations marked New International Reader’s Version are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®. Copyright 1996, 1998 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

New Living Translation: Scriptural quotations marked New Living Translation are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The following paraphrases are used for In Other Words. These are not literal translations, rather they attempt to present to modern readers the text’s tone, rhythm, and ideas as its earliest audiences might have experienced it.The Living Bible: Scriptural quotations marked The Living Bible are taken from The Living Bible, copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message: Scriptural quotations marked The Message are taken from The Message, copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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