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It's the thought that counts
For the Lesson titled "Substance" from March 11 - 17, 2013
Recently when I was feeling quite sad about a situation, I remembered a saying on a mug at a friend’s home. It read, “Just when the caterpillar thought life was over, it turned into a butterfly.” I laughed, knowing that God’s thoughts couldn’t be sad, so I needed to change my thought.
“Substance,” the title of this week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson, focuses on thought; but whose thought? Each Bible story the Lesson presents teaches us to discern between our human thoughts about our experiences and God’s thoughts, which are divine substance.
In Section 2, for example, as the widow from Zarephath was preparing a last meal for her son and herself, she had fearful thoughts of lack and death. But Elijah intervened and offered her a different thought, one from God—“Fear not” (I Kings 17:13, citation 6); in other words, “Your life is not over.” Elijah asked her to use the small amount of food and oil she had left to make a meal for him and then to prepare a meal for herself and her son. She did, and her food supply was plentifully restored. Elijah knew that when we serve God, which in this case involved offering hospitality to one of His messengers, we “shall not want any good thing” (Psalms 34:10, cit. 7). Understanding spiritual substance begins with serving God.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
March 11, 2013 issue
View Issue-
Letters
Carole Westman DaDurka, Racine Dews, Rosanne Wright Goacher, Anna Willis
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God-inspired activity
Tim Terry
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Treat yourself
Doris Edington
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Can hoarding be healed?
Ginger Mack Emden
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'How many minds are there?'
H. M. Wyeth
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My steppingstone
Laurel Smith
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Into the woods
Text and photograph by Craig Kronman
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It's the thought that counts
Deanna Mummert
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The way will open
D' Onna Price
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Courtside prayer
Jeffrey Lewis
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Healed through praising God
Van Driessen with contributions from Christine Driessen
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Persistent prayer heals back pain
Annette Dutenhoffer
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Flu symptoms gone
Jacquelyn Reid
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Freedom from stomach distress
Hélène Brown
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Lincoln and a lesson in liberty
The Editors