Sunday, October 20th, 2024 Roundtable

Morning Prayers

Discussion points

441 — WATCH that you do your part in bringing divine power into activity in this human sense. When Mrs. Eddy was confronted by a lawsuit in 1899, she wrote to a student: “Pray daily twice at least to divine Love to give you success in this case of libel, and then realize for yourselves that Love and Truth, and action on your part (for Truth does not work for you unless you work), will give you the victory.”

Science comes from the Latin word scio, which means to know. Christian Science is Christ-knowing, in which we do the knowing and Christ does the work. Our recognition of the human need, our knowledge of the operation of Truth, and our affirmations thereof, plus our detection and elimination of any deterrent lying in the path put divine power into operation.

Jesus said, “My Father worketh hitherto and I work.” Jesus’ work was the understanding of the utilization of divine power and his application of it to the human need; God’s work was the accomplishment of all good on earth. God is the Doer and man is the knower.

— from 500 Watching Points by Gilbert Carpenter

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GOLDEN TEXT: II CHRONICLES 15 : 2

“The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you.”

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MANY a fervent prayer has apparently gone unanswered, not because God does not hear, but because thought has not been receptive to God’s answer. The listening ear has the assurance of answered prayer. The “still voice” of Truth is always speaking, but it remains unheard when men are unwilling to hear.

There is the Biblical account of Isaiah comforting the people with these words, when circumstances pointed to despair: “The Lord God hath opened mine ear. … For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; … joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” Isaiah discerned the governing cause which preserves man and the universe from harm—even God, the divine Principle of all that is harmonious and eternal. This conviction, caught through the open ear of understanding, assured the prophet that physical sense with its noisy pretense of power could not disturb or destroy the harmony of being. Those about him evidently listened to and accepted the clamorings of mortal sense, while his consecration prepared him to receive intuitions of something higher and more steadfast.

Centuries later, when a heavenly host proclaimed the birth of the Saviour, only the wakeful, watchful shepherds caught the overture from on high, and received it with joy and thanksgiving in the silence of the Syrian night. When the jealous and materialistic Herod was informed of the birth of the Christ-child, he decreed the death of “all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under.” But again the blare of mortal mind, with all its unrighteous decrees, could not drown the “voice of melody” foretold by the prophet, proclaimed by the angelic host, and afterwards immortalized by him who grew “in favour with God and man”—by him whose gentleness drew the little children unto him, whose tenderness touched the multitudes with compassion, and whose wonderful love lives on as a vitalizing power in Christianity. The keynote of his mission was harmony, but harmony not of the physical senses. He said, “As I hear, I judge.” On this basis he healed the sick, raised the dead, stilled the sea in storm, and brought life and joy into manifestation.

“The Listening Ear” (excerpt) from The Christian Science Sentinel, March 24, 1928 by Louise C. Mattheus Martin

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What is the secret of our ministry? Jesus named it when he said, “I and my Father are one.” The embodiment of Truth, the gentleness, the love, the knowing only of Good, which was the Master’s may be ours, and then we win. This our call, this be our ministry, to discover to men, in Love’s reflection, the redemptive significance of the world’s greatest word, Immanuel; and if Christian Science has not come to mean in growing clearness, God with us, Life, Truth, and Love made present and potential in and through us, we have not as yet touched even the hem of its garment.

How blessed are all they to whom “the arm of the Lord is revealed,” who are bringing to earth’s highways and byways, wherever they may come, the comfort of a light that banishes all darkness, a power that subdues all pain, a peace that passeth not away—Immanuel.

“I and my Father are one.” (excerpt) from The Christian Science Journal, March 1903, By W.

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I like the little story that you have all heard. As the father read the Scripture in the family, and the child that was dearest to him sat at his knee,—the child who shared his journeys, and into whose sport he himself was not too old to enter,—when he came to the passage, “I and my Father are one,” the child looked up with a blessed insight, and said, “Just like you and me, papa.” Thus theologies fail and are ineffectual beside the insight of the child’s mind that knows that all doors into the Father’s heart are open and are never shut, and all access is immediate and ever procured.

“I and my Father are one.” (excerpt) from The Christian Science Sentinel, January 15, 1903 by Thomas A. Slicer, The Christian Register

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What song means to most men could scarcely have been portrayed more clearly than by a certain poet when he tells us that “the land of song” lies in the glorious world of God within us; while another speaks of song as “the speech of angels.” It has been in song that men have been wont to express their deepest feelings, their highest aspirations. Songs have gone with them through trial and through victory, encouraging them when hope wavered, expressing their joy and gratitude when good has triumphed. It is therefore not strange that our beloved Leader should have spoken definitely of “the song of Christian Science.”

On page 2 of her Message to The Mother Church for 1900, Mrs. Eddy wrote, “The song of Christian Science is, ‘Work—work—work—watch and pray.'” Herein she presented the primal necessities for the demonstration of this Science; and it was surely natural she should have referred to them as a “song.” Full well she knew that it was only as those necessities were held “in the land of song,”—in God’s glorious world within us, within our present possibilities,—where His angels are ever present to guide, guard, encourage, strengthen, that the inspiration could be gained and maintained which would be sufficient to fulfill the deep demands of “the song of Christian Science.”

Human belief has not been in the habit of calling work a song; and when the work has led to more work, and then to yet more, even though it may have been begun as a song, the singing has been apt to grow fainter and fainter, until it has often disappeared altogether, and in its place has come sad complaint. Weariness has resulted, and the work has either dragged hopelessly or ceased entirely. All this is because suppositional mortal mind is inherently lazy and is always crying out for inaction, which it calls rest. Christian Science, however, shows plainly that there is no possible satisfaction in a lack of activity. In “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” (p. 240) Mrs. Eddy tells us, “If at present content with idleness, we must become dissatisfied with it;” in the Church Manual (Art. XVII, Sect. 1) she says: “Amusement or idleness is weariness. Truth and Love rest the weary and heavy laden.”

Indeed, every student of Christian Science discovers very early in his attempts to obey its teachings that he is wise if he always approaches such obedience from this standpoint of a song. To recognize that whatever the demonstration of these teachings may involve, whatever the effort which may be required, if he will always hold such effort as a veritable song, every struggle will be lightened, every point won will be glorified. When we have entered the service of God, as marked out in Christian Science, there is no time for the singing to stop. There is no time to stop working, watching, praying. And why should one seek such release, since to continue thus joyously to “work—work—work—watch and pray” is to enter into the very Holy of Holies. It is to work as God Himself works. Jesus declared, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” It is to prove one’s self the reflection of divine Mind.

Jesus always presented work from the standpoint of a song. He called upon men who labored and were heavy laden—to whom work seemed toilsome and irksome—to come and learn of him, because, he said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” He knew and proved that to “work—work—work—watch and pray” in the service of God meant such joy and triumph that when contemplating it at one time he prayed for his disciples that the joy which he had gained through such activity might become theirs also.

Then for the Christian Scientist to realize what a marvelous privilege is his in fulfilling “the song of Christian Science” is for him to be able to rise above all sense of mental inaction; it is to prove that the divine Mind is superior to all the claims of mental apathy, egotism, animality; it is so to love to work and watch and pray that he shall each day and hour joyously use the arguments and affirmation of Truth, until the claims of inaction and evil shall have been proved without power, presence, or reality. Thus we find that “the song of Christian Science” may be translated into the joy of continual radiation—reflection—of good, wherein there is never weariness or burden, but only the complete satisfaction of the “well done” which comes from God-governed working, watching, praying.

“The song of Christian Science” (excerpt) from The Christian Science Sentinel February 16, 1924, by Ella W. Hoag

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O walk with God along the road,

Your strength He will renew;

Wait on the everlasting God,

And He will walk with you.

Ye shall not to your daily task

Without your God repair,

But on your work His blessing ask

And prove His glory there.

Ye shall not faint, ye shall not fail;

In Spirit ye are strong;

Each task divine ye still shall hail,

And blend it with a song.

— Hymn 247 from the Christian Science Hymnal

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Thoughts shared on the Lesson from readers:

Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God:”

Still: to silence; to calm; to quiet; as tumult, agitation or excitement; not be disturbed. (Webster 1828)

The phrase “be still” uses a Hebrew term which can be rendered as “relax,” “let go,” or “stop.” It implies an act of surrender—a release of striving and hostility.

In literal terms, this verse does not mean to “sit quietly and listen for God.” That interpretation is not entirely flawed, of course. God’s people can “be still” by faithfully trusting God to be their source of strength. “That trust and submission is key to what it means to “know that I am God.” It invites worshipers to consider the peace God gives those who trust in Him. He triumphs over those who wage war, and He will be given His proper respect among the peoples of earth. (Bible Ref)

“As God addresses Israel, He is not just telling them to “be still” or “rest.” …God commands them to “stop fighting” and open their eyes to who He is. In some translations, it is phrased as “cease striving.”

It’s easy to be fearful when things aren’t going well or when we are faced with challenges and conflicts in our lives. In the midst of their struggle, however, God tells His people to wake up and recognize who’s on their side. In that light, the tone of this verse can be read: stop striving, stop fighting, and stop trying to do things on your own. Stop stressing about the battle ahead, and trust me. Wake up! I am the Lord. I am your refuge and your strength. You have nothing to fear or worry about when I am with you. I will fight your battles and deal with your enemies. …Step back, open your eyes, and acknowledge who I am and what I can do… Be patient, be still, and let me go to work.

This verse encouraged the children of Israel in a time of war and can be just as comforting to believers today in their struggle and strife. In the midst of conflict and life turmoil, sometimes we need to open our eyes, step back, stop what we’re doing, and acknowledge who God is and what He can do. Doing so provides comfort in the chaos and peace amid struggle.”

from (Christianity.com)

There is a constant demand for all you have to give. That is the law of God. There can neither be a demand or supply of anything without both qualities of Mind being instantly present. Insist on this and you will have no fear whatever of lack. You are in the realm of Mind every instant. This is not the era of matter or of mental argument, but this is the final era of pure realization. Stay with this and find divine Love as embracing all in Its tender care. You are not outside of this all-embracing divine Love. Trust it and thank God that you know what you know of infinite Truth. Our hearts need to be full of thankfulness all the time, then as Mrs. Eddy so beautifully puts it, when thought “is lost in the eminence of Mind, the healing takes place.” Get into that eminence of Mind, that allness, that completeness of Mind and stay there and you will find your heart rejoicing.

— from “God’s Abundant Supply” by Herbert W. Eustace

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Final Readings