HOW grateful are students of Christian Science to have a religion which will meet their every need completely! When on every side we hear of constant change and restlessness, Christian Science, in this day and age, stands as a beacon light, telling all humanity of the Science which is complete now. This revelation, which was given to our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, is here for all to understand and use. It needs only consecrated study and the desire to learn more of God to enable one to receive the help it promises.

One of the first steps in beginning the study of Christian Science is to read and ponder the Lesson-Sermons in the Christian Science Quarterly. These Lessons mean much to both the beginner and the advanced student, for they give us our daily food, furnishing us with needed inspiration and courage along the way. They protect us throughout the day, direct our thoughts along proper lines, and enable us to meet every problem with the peace which comes from preparedness.

The writer recalls with gratitude a Sunday morning when she gained a more spiritual understanding of the importance of each Lesson-Sermon. Her Sunday school class of girls of ten and eleven had not been so interested as usual in the recent Lessons, which seemed to them hard to understand. When she realized this, she prayerfully worked all that week to be shown the way to interest the pupils. She decided that she would talk to them the next Sunday about the necessity for studying the Lesson-Sermons, but she had no particular plan to follow. During the session, however, she was led to explain to them just how important each individual Lesson is. She realized for the first time that when Mrs. Eddy designated the twenty-six subjects for our Lesson-Sermons she must have realized that they included the subjects which are essential for an understanding of this Science. Not one can be neglected or passed over because we may think it too difficult to understand, or because we believe we already know enough about that particular subject. Every time a Lesson is studied, we should gain a higher understanding of Christian Science. No matter how difficult the subject may seem, earnest study of it will bring enlightenment. With gratitude the writer realized, during the weeks following this unfoldment, how much more diligently and thoughtfully the class was preparing each Lesson, and, in turn, how much more each Lesson meant to her.

In Ephesians we read, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." And later in the same chapter we are told what that armor is: "Having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ... taking the shield of faith, ... the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Surely the inspired study of our Lesson-Sermons will enable us to put on this armor. And indeed, if we put on the armor of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God, what further protection do we need? These protecting thoughts come to us as we fill our consciousness with the truth of being daily and hourly. There can be no better way to do this than by prayerful study of the Lesson-Sermons which have been so carefully and understandingly prepared for us. But we need the "whole armour." A part is not enough. We cannot afford to skip over the study of one Lesson. We need to understand Christian Science thoroughly, and if we consecratedly study each Lesson, we shall be gaining this understanding.

Nor can we get the full benefit of this study by merely reading the words. On page 319 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says, "The divine Science taught in the original language of the Bible came through inspiration, and needs inspiration to be understood." And on page 147 of the same book she says: "Although this volume contains the complete Science of Mind-healing, never believe that you can absorb the whole meaning of the Science by a simple perusal of this book. The book needs to be studied." We must come to our Lesson each day filled with gratitude for the feast of Love we are about to receive. We must read it with the understanding that it is the very Word of God, and will meet every need. Each day will unfold more of the spiritual meaning, if we thus earnestly work for enlightenment.

The Science which is taught in the Bible and in Science and Health was given to those who were inspired to receive it. We must recognize this fact, and pray for receptivity, in order to receive all the good which God has for us. One who is receptive to good, and who earnestly desires to gain a better understanding of Christian Science, will surely gain much from earnest study. We should be alert to reject the suggestions of so-called mortal mind which would try to tell us that we have no time to study our Lesson-Sermons. When one starts the day with the powerful statements of truth which have been prepared for us in these Lessons, it is indeed a spiritual repast, and will satisfy the desire for enlightenment which impels every student to press on. The importance which Mrs. Eddy placed on these Lesson-Sermons may be determined by turning to Article III, Section 1, of the Manual of The Mother Church, where, in her instructions to the Readers of The Mother Church and of the branch churches, she speaks of the "Sunday lesson" as "a lesson on which the prosperity of Christian Science largely depends."

Although Christian Science is the complete revelation of Truth, we can never feel satisfied with what we know of it, for it constantly unfolds to us through demonstration. Each day is another opportunity to prove God's allness and to learn more of our relationship to Him. So, too, each day is an added opportunity to gain more inspiration from the study of our Lesson-Sermon. In one of the hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal (No. 292) we read:

Let us be faithful in our consecration to our Leader's gift of these Lesson-Sermons, and thus put on the armor which gives us divine protection!