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You are Never Cut-off from your Faithful Father!

Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on “God” for July 9-15, 2007

Prepared by Kathy Fitzer, C.S. of St. Louis, MO


Editor’s Note: The following background information and application ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson for this week are offered primarily to help CedarS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and demonstrate the great value of daily study of the Christian Science Bible lessons year-round, not just at camp!   You can sign up free to have these mets emailed to you in English by Monday or in French or Spanish by Wednesday: CHECK www.cedarscamps.org/metaphysical/ FOR A FREE TRANSLATION of this weekly “met” offered in FRENCH by Pascal Bujard of Switzerland AND NOW in SPANISH by Ana Arcioni of Spain. 

 

Ever feel cut off from love?  Has your allowance (or other source of supply) been cut off?  Do you feel far away and cut-off from family, friends, security, or even health and safety?  No need to feel that way any more.  God is always pouring out blessings and caring for us.  Love is totally committed to us – Her ideas.  Faithfulness is the word of the week.  Faithful Love is universal, changeless, and the provider of all good.  We experience the power and strength as we obey this faithful Mind.  Love’s faithfulness is everlasting, and it reforms and saves.  Love keeps us from falling prey to temptation.  The works of the Son reveal the faithfulness of the Father.  Love’s faithfulness enables us to follow, act out our Sonship, and have the Mind of Christ.  Be faithful and feel God’s empowerment!

 

Golden Text:  As translated from the Hebrew, faithfulness literally means firmness; figuratively, it indicates security; and in a moral sense, it refers to fidelity.   Looking at the previous verse in Lamentations gives an even fuller sense of the Golden Text.  From the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (Lord, we are not cut off), his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3: 22-23)

 

Responsive Reading:  God is so good – so faithful.  (Cobbey Crisler asked: “might not the ‘instrument of ten strings’ also be the Ten Commandments to which we are to be faithful? – see B7, I Kings 8:56-58) Shouldn’t our lives radiate a true gratitude for God’s laws and standards that are designed to keep us free?  Shouldn’t we acknowledge His goodness, rejoice, and walk in the Spirit?  Doing this, we will be blessed and “live within the sunshine of [His] favour!” (Ps. 89: 15 – Moffatt)

 

Section I:  Faithful Love is universal, changeless, and the provider of all good.

The shepherd may be the best human example we have of faithfulness.  No matter what, the shepherd takes care of his sheep – meeting ALL their needs.  A shepherd feeds, leads, comforts and protects. (B-3)  And a shepherd never takes a day off, so no concern on the part of the sheep about having to deal with CHANGE. (B-5 and S-1)  Water is considered essential for human life and health – especially when it is hot.  Imagine traveling through the desert –  hot, tired and thirsty, desperately in need of water – and the shepherd (YOUR shepherd) puts it right in front of you, so that you will know that your needs will ALWAYS be met. (B-4)  Dummelow says about Isa. 41, “Jehovah will make easy their return through the desert, exchanging their misery and need for plenty and happiness, that man may acknowledge Him.”  Water is the human expression of what satisfies thirst – what eases a journey.  But, God meets our needs WHATEVER they are – including keeping us cool. (B-2) 

So, whatever difficulty may present itself, START with acknowledging the ALLNESS of God – Love, Principle.  The Principle (origin and law) of all things being Love, ALL good is from Love.  Acknowledge God as the source of all good, and judge what is good by asking how enduring it is. (S-4) Fleeting good – which comes and goes – does not have its source in Principle.  The temporary joy that comes from eating sweets, or seeking satisfaction from physicality, or doing something just out of habit, will fade.  Only the good of your faithful shepherd, Love, satisfies!

 

Section II:  We experience power and strength as we obey faithful Mind. 

God’s commands are trustworthy – faithful. (B-6) So, listening to and obeying the commands of Mind gives us power and strength (S-8).  God has entered into an enduring covenant (agreement) with us – He is our God and we are His people.  That means that God promises to show us mercy and take care of us ALWAYS!  All we need to do is be obedient to His commandments – which never ask us to do anything that won’t bless us. (B-7 & 10)  God’s commandments have been the same forever, and will remain the same.  Throughout the Bible we see evidence of God’s care for those who listened for His voice – and obeyed what they heard.  That same good, and protection, is happening everyday to people like you and me, too.  Think about it.  How often do we know, deep in our hearts, what the right thing to do is.  The question is … do we do it?  Do we think we are too WEAK to do what we know is right?  That’s where God’s faithfulness comes in … He will not leave us, but will “incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways…” (B-7) 

Because Truth, Life, and Love are the only things that make demands on us, they also enable us to obey.  (S-6)  Mind’s ideas are obedient to Mind.  (S-7)  If you conceive of an idea in YOUR thought, doesn’t it do what you intend it to do?  Your idea can’t act on its own or be disobedient.  So, as you identify YOURSELF as Mind’s idea, as eternally coexistent with God, you will realize that you reflect God’s dominion. (B-10)  Camp counselors and parents – realize that the most important thing to teach children is their freedom to be obedient to God’s law of good!  Obedience brings us power and strength!

 

Section III:  Love’s faithfulness is everlasting, and it reforms and saves.

God is Love. (S-11)  Love loves.  Love loves us ALWAYS – even when we mess up.  While we’re turning away from God, we don’t FEEL God’s faithful love, but as we turn back in prayer, we find that Love’s faithfulness is right there for us.  It’s like walking away from the fireplace and getting cold.  But, return, and the faithful flames again bring us warmth – because that’s what they do!  Manasseh messed up – started reinstating the idols that his dad had previously gotten rid of.  He started looking places other than to God for his wellbeing and happiness.  God tried to keep Manasseh on the straight path – to keep him from having to suffer.  But, it wasn’t until things got really tough (when he was in affliction) that Manasseh decided his way wasn’t working.  And then, as soon as he turned back in prayer, humbly listened, and changed his ways, God was there for him (as he had always been) and good was restored. (B-12) 

How many times have we thought that we’ve known better than our parents, or some other authority.  Certainly it won’t matter if we stretch the rules here or there, or ignore those that seem too demanding – or make a few idols (distractions) for ourselves.  But, sooner or later, we get to the point that our material solutions are no longer working.  We need something bigger.  And then we find that the problem (affliction) that would seem to be just too big for us to handle, becomes the very thing that turns us humbly to God in prayer, and right there Love provides the angels that lead us out of a distorted way of thinking to see Love and its idea in perfect harmony.  (S-13)  Love loves us too much to let us continue making mistakes.  Love’s job is to help us re-form our thoughts to find the strength and power of obedience. (S-12)  And so, when we realize that we really are one with God – like the ray of light is one with the sun and each note one with the music – we will experience the joy of being one with faithful Love apart from matter! (S-15)

 

Section IV:  Love keeps us from falling prey to temptation. 

The theme continues.  Love’s fidelity keeps us from falling – when we respond. (B-16)  We can trust God to make us strong and protect us from harm. (B-14)   But, we have to follow the “high road” and that’s not always easy. Joseph was challenged over and over again, but he was faithful to God – doing his best to be obedient.  What can we learn from Joseph’s example?  First, he didn’t listen to the voice that whispered, “Don’t worry about the rules, come have fun.”  Second, when the voice of temptation continued, he left the scene.  (B15)  If you are familiar with the rest of the story, it looks like Joseph suffered for taking a stand.  He was thrown in prison.  But, in the long run, it was his fidelity to God – and God’s fidelity to him that delivered Joseph and enabled him to save his whole region of the world.  Have the courage to walk away, even when it seems that it may cost you ridicule or temporary rejection.  The courage to take a stand for what you believe in will bring you lots of rewards that will bless not only you, but others, too.  (Part of CedarS Torchbearer Pledge is to “stand for what is right even though it may not be the popular thing to do.”) 

Temptation comes in different forms.  Learn to recognize the voice of temptation and assert your right to self-government, reason, and conscience.  (S-16)  Neither your body nor your “friends” can make you fall into the trap of believing that something other than good can influence or satisfy you.  We hear today that it is unreasonable to think that people will wait until marriage to be in an intimate relationship.  And it seems that more and more young people today are wondering why they SHOULD wait.  Perhaps a question to ask is what is it that is driving a sexual relationship (whether within marriage or outside of marriage)?  Or, what is the attraction of pornography?  Is it a response to bodily urges calling out to be satisfied?  Is it a way to make-up for a bad day or to seek comfort?  Stability is essential to progress.  Mrs. Eddy specifically speaks of chastity as cement – or that which gives civilization stability. (S-18)  As defined by Noah Webster in Mrs. Eddy’s day (in The Student’s Reference Dictionary, chastity is “purity from all commerce of sexes (before marriage) and fidelity to the marriage bed (after marriage.)” There’s really no gray area there.  Anything that tempts us to turn to matter for satisfaction or pleasure (rather than Spirit) should be looked at with suspicion.  How can we be self-governed if we let the impulses of our body – or our emotions –  push us around?  ADMIT that you are God’s likeness (linked and inseparable from the ever-satisfying Principle of good) and you can put off the limits of mortality with all its traps, and master the “infinite idea,” that is always expansive and permanently satisfying.  (S-19 & 20)  God makes us strong!  Fidelity strengthens and uplifts our whole society!

 

Section V:  The works of the Son reveal the faithfulness of the Father.

How do we know the sun is faithfully shining?  Because we see and feel the effects of the rays.  How do we know God is faithfully caring?  Because we see and feel the effects (the works) of His Son – Christ.  What if you were forced to live underground with a whole society who hadn’t ever seen the sun, or had only glimpsed it.  Maybe you’ve tried telling them about it, but the only way they will really be able to understand is to see it for themselves.  Every once and a while it gets so dark that even you may wonder if what you saw was really the light of the sun.  That may to some extent be what John the Baptist was feeling.  He had recognized Jesus as the promised Savior, but now that he was in prison, and his disciples were suggesting that Jesus wasn’t doing quite the dramatic works they expected of the Messiah, nor was he as openly proclaiming himself to be the Messiah as they had expected he would, John and his disciples needed reassurance.  Jesus didn’t verbally reassure John; he offered his works as the required evidence.  Jesus knew that it was his responsibility to reveal his Father to the world, and that only God could fully know him as His Son, and only the Son could fully know the Father.  Everything Jesus did was to demonstrate the power bestowed on the Son by the Father, and to illustrate the inseparability of the Son and the Father.  Healing resulted as Jesus revealed God’s power.  Darkness disappears as the sun shines. (B-18)  There was some thought that the Messiah would bring destruction through baptism by fire, but Jesus’ healings demonstrated that he came to SAVE the world, not destroy it! (B-19) 

 

Hearing Jesus’ works, John began to understand what divine power looks like. (S-24) Jesus was the mediator. (S-21)  In other words, he enabled those lost in fleshly beliefs to be reconciled to (or reunited with) Spirit, God. (S-21)  As man understands God, and is governed by Him, God faithfully heals the sick through man – through Christ. (S-25) 

 

Section VI:  Love’s faithfulness enables us to act out our Sonship, and have the Mind of Christ.

Jesus showed us the way – demonstrated man’s oneness with God.  But, the Christ (Truth) dwells in EACH of us.  God calls us ALL into fellowship with Jesus.  (B-21)  As we humbly respond to God’s faith in us by having faith in God, we’ll be well grounded in Love and KNOW the love of God for us and for all.  Then we’ll be strengthened to stick to the facts and demonstrate the law of God like Jesus did. (B-23)

 

When you’re grounded – your feet solidly planted – you can’t be easily pushed around.  And God loves us so much that HE grounds us.  God makes us wholly consecrated to Him, and His faithfulness calls us to Him and keeps us from drifting away.  (B-24)  Jesus recognized that we, as humans, ARE able to reflect the divine power and do the works that he did.  (S-27)  Our job is to love God and give our consent to living rightly. 

 

The numeration table of Christian Science is its divine Principle and rules. (Message for 1901, p. 22)  If you expect to solve a math problem, or play beautiful music, you have to obey the principles and rules governing math and music.  And if you DO obey them, the results are sure.  If you expect to play a sport well, you have to have good form and practice the basics.  NOTHING is stopping us from healing the sick as Jesus did.  Nothing is stopping us from exercising our Sonship.  Have the Mind of Christ – love as Jesus loved.  Have ONE God – one Mind – and there will be no more competition.  ALL will succeed.  If you understand your correlated relationship with God – the unchangeable and uninterrupted relationship of Father and Son (origin and expression) – you will be cognizant of the things of God – and ONLY the things of God. (S-29) The things of God are good – ALL good. (S-30)  God does it all.  He never cuts us off.  Accept his faithfulness and BE faithful!  Obedience is a good thing!  Rejoice and give thanks!

Camp Director’s Note: The above sharing is the latest in a series of CedarS Bible Lesson “mets” (metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians. This document is intended to initiate further study as well as to encourage the application of ideas found in the Weekly Bible Lessons as printed in the Christian Science Quarterly and as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms.* Originally sent JUST to campers, staff and CedarS families who wanted to continue at home and in their home Sunday Schools the same type of focused Lesson study and inspiration they had felt at camp, CedarS lesson “mets” are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way a substitute for daily study of the lesson. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit more dimension, background and daily applicability to some of the ideas and passages being studied.   The citations referenced (i.e.   B1 and S28) from this week’s Bible Lesson in the “met” (metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible (B1-24) and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. (S1-30) The Bible and Science and Health are the ordained pastor of the Churches of Christ, Scientist.  The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world.  The Lesson-Sermon speaks individually through the Christ to everyone, providing unique insights and tailor-made applications for each one.   We are glad you requested this metaphysical sharing and hope that you find some of these ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.   Spirituality is your innate estate that connects you moment by moment with God. (See S&H 258:30) Christ is the gift of light that Jesus gave. This Christ light of spiritual understanding comes with and reveals infinite blessings. So, have fun unwrapping and cherishing your very special, spiritual gift(s)!   Then, wherever you are, share them with all as big blessings that make the Infinite difference!

Enjoy!

Warren Huff, Camp Director    director@cedarscamps.org (636) 394-6162

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The weekly Metaphysical Newsletter is provided at no charge to the 1,200 campers and staff blessed each summer at CedarS, as well as to CedarS alumni, families and friends who have requested it. However, current and planned gifts are a big help and are greatly appreciated in defraying the costs of running this service and of providing needed camperships, programs and operations support.  Click http://www.cedarscamps.org/giving for more about how you can provide support online or to get information or discuss privately how to make a special gift to help perpetuate CedarS work.

 

You can also MAIL your tax-deductible support to:

The CedarS Camps, Inc.        THANKS TO YOU PRECIOUS DONORS

19772 Sugar Drive                       FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT

Lebanon, MO 65536               OF CedarS IMPORTANT WORK!

NOTE: We are seeking funds to cover 4 recently-scheduled Christian Science lectures (for different sessions this summer).  These 30-minute lectures are being offered by the Manual-based authority of the Christian Science Board of Directors with a topic of: “HEALING: the ultimate adventure!”  The campers and staff are LOVING these!

 

To print a formatted and printer-friendly version of this week’s Met just go to: http://www.cedarscamps.org/metaphysical/met.asp or your e-mail address can be added per your request by our staff at CedarS.   For additional support, or if you have any concerns, please send e-mail to: director@cedarscamps.org.


A new, visually-oriented and very helpful resource for study of the weekly Bible Lesson is being produced by The Christian Science Publishing Society and can be found at: myBibleLesson.com. What a great auxiliary to lesson study — maybe even reading beyond citation markers using the handsome new student books now sold in Reading Rooms!   MyBibleLesson contains word definitions, Bible background, timelines and translations, plus many healing ideas to use. Why not check out this effort to help bring to life each beloved Bible lesson in order to bless the youthful thinker and Sunday School student (and teacher) in us all!  (Check out the pictures on the front cover of this week’s MyBibleLesson that were taken at the 2006 CSO Summit at CedarS.  Please spread the word about the 2007 CSO Summit from August 31- Sept 3 at CedarS that is again sponsored by TMC Youth (The Mother Church Youth committee.) You can see details on the inside covers of recent periodicals and register at tmcyouth.com.


You can receive or stop your free subscription to this weekly newsletter in your email box by Sunday or Monday of each week by subscribing – or unsubscribing –at www.cedarscamps.org/myCedars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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