Sunday, December 10th, 2023 Roundtable
God Preserves Man
This week’s Lesson Sermon Subject: God The Preserver Of Man
Click here to play the audio as you read:
Morning Prayers
God governs all, is All-in-all. God is our constant Guide and Guardian. No mortal thought, known or unknown, seen or unseen, can interfere with the manifestation of Love’s presence with us. The weather manifests God’s government, and no evildoers can change this fact. The devils of human thought-all the powers of many minds-are powerless in Love’s presence. God is All. God is Mind.
Divine Love maintains man forever at the point of completeness, preserves his every faculty and his individuality; guides each separate idea in continuous unfoldment of the infinite grandeur of spiritual creation.
— from Divinity Course and General Collectanea, (the “Blue Book”), by Mary Baker Eddy, page 65
Discussion points
17 — WATCH lest your success in healing cause you to feel content with the grain of Christian Science you possess (Science and Health, page 449). The human mind impregnated with this grain of Christian Science becomes an instrument for great good. More of truth must be gained, however, until the human mind is put off, if one would continue to progress.
— from 500 Watching Points by Gilbert Carpenter
GOLDEN TEXT: Psalm 16 : 1
“Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.”
Chapter 7: “Pond and Purpose”, from Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, page 203
“Man did eat angels’ food.” Angels are described in Science and Health (p. 581) as “God’s thoughts passing to man.”—passing in profusion, in heavenly hosts,—but the mortal must turn a deaf ear to the serpentine suggestions regarding the reality of evil, or God’s thoughts cannot enter and sanctify his consciousness. A member of the Board of Lectureship recently used the simile of wireless telegraphy in connection with prayer. He pointed out how the sending instrument projects its messages equally in all directions, but that only certain receivers, perfectly attuned to the sender, receive its signals; and in view of all the wonderful joy and harmony flowing from divine Mind, poignant regret was felt because we are at present such poor “receivers” of them. On the other hand, there is in reality no projection of error from anywhere, yet mortals have constituted themselves receivers of that which is no message at all, for “the human mind never produced a real tone nor sent forth a positive sound” (Science and Health, p. 126).
Now, as of old, the manna must be sought daily, in order that the daily needs may become daily blessings, and thus serve to deepen each one’s recognition of the presence of divine Love in our midst. Some of the children of Israel persisted in saving the manna for the next day, but the good in consciousness must be demonstrated daily, without sloth or stagnation. Jesus said, “He that cometh to me shall never hunger.” The student who is perhaps pausing to wonder why he is not progressing as fast as another, is gathering a smaller share of the manna; that is all. The wanderers in the wilderness were told to “gather of it every man according to his eating.” All are equally blessed, and no circumstances can prevent Love from reaching needy ones, for circumstances have no more power than belief accords to them. It is sometimes found that intellectual pride has to grow humbler in our search for Truth, but spiritual progress is within reach of all who desire it, and Christian Science is awakening this desire on all sides and satisfying it.
“Manna” from Christian Science Sentinel March 14, 1908, by Violet Ker Seymer
Thoughts shared on the Lesson from readers:
For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
(17) Glory.— Better, ornament. The crown of a nation’s strength is not the triumphs it wins, nor the prosperity it secures, but the spirit in which these are used. Humility, and not pride, acknowledgment of God, and not conceit in her wealth or power, was the ornament of Israel’s strength, and made her greatness in her best days.
— by Ellicott Commentary, Psalm 89:17
Final Readings
I well recall my visit a number of years ago to a Christian Science practitioner when in search of relief from business worry and anxiety. I went, a tired and discouraged business man, weary with ceaseless planning and outlining. I believe that I must have been one of the world’s most adept planners. Every move was carefully scheduled, and if a day now and then worked out fairly close to the premeditated plan the day seemed quite satisfactory. However, a majority of the days did not work out as planned and this invariably resulted in confusion and dissatisfaction. After explaining all this to my very patient and loving practitioner, she said, “You must know the truth about your business.” To this I replied, “That is perfectly ridiculous; I have not the time to sit down and know the truth about it; I must do something practical.”
I shall never forget her answer, because it embodies a great truth. Said she, “I perceive your trouble; you think you must have two minds, one with which to know the truth and one with which to transact business.” She further remarked that if I would consent to let God run the universe and to look to Him for guidance I would find peace and success.
This advice sounded practical and logical, and so I told her I would try it, but asked her to please be specific with me. “For instance,” I queried, “what shall I do tomorrow morning?” My practitioner was equal to the occasion and said, “Go to your office, and do that which awaits your attention and do it well, without anxious thought for the coming hours. When this task is completed, respond to the next duty which presents itself, and give it similar attention. You need not worry,” said she, “tasks or duties will surely present themselves for your consideration and it is your duty to do them, ‘as to the Lord, and not unto men’.” Moreover, she counseled me further, to look constantly to divine Mind for guidance, and assured me that I would find my business calls being made where my services were desired, and thus would be eliminated chance, uncertainty, and failure.
All this is, of course, a detailed explanation of how to trust God and live one day at a time in peace and plenty. But the crux of all this is that I found by experience that the method outlined by my practitioner was a practicable, workable method, and all who so desire may duplicate my experience. David said, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Christian Science: The Way to Life, Peace and Joy (excerpt from lecture)
—1926, by William E. Brown, C.S.B., of Los Angeles, California