One of the most beautiful promises which Christian Science extends to those who accept its teachings is that contained in the following inspired words by Mary Baker Eddy (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 494): "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need."

How many weary seekers, with sorely tried hearts and distressed minds, have been comforted by this glorious promise inscribed on the walls of many of our branch churches! To believe in divine Providence is well, but to enjoy its blessings one needs to understand the Science of Christianity.

There are many students of Christian Science who, having recognized and admitted the wholly spiritual nature of God and His creation, sooner or later ask themselves this question: How can infinite Spirit, or divine Love, meet a human need which it does not and cannot know, since it can be conscious only of reality?

The sun knows nothing of the planets and worlds which receive its light and heat. The sun's role, its unique function, is to shine, and it has shone for millions of years without a moment's interruption. Without exception the heavenly bodies which make up the solar system receive and benefit by the sun's bountiful light, for its radiation is impartial.

God, the great Giver of all good, knows only the perfection of His spiritual universe. He knows nothing of the problems of human existence. It is His nature to express Himself universally and impartially. He gives of His vivifying and health-giving spirit abundantly and without discrimination, to small and great, to just and unjust, to good and bad. All who turn their thoughts to God and acknowledge Him as supreme good and the divine Principle of all harmony, receive His light and are blessed.

In perfect and immortal Spirit "we live, and move, and have our being." Spirit is the only substance, the sole presence, the only law and power. God is always with us and His spiritual ideas are always at hand for us to use.

Paul has told us that spiritual qualities are "the fruit of the Spirit." and it is to these and to spiritual ideas he referred when he wrote. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." Because they are spiritual, hence mental, we can take possession of them as soon as we have the earnest desire for them. What we must realize and know constantly is that it is divine Spirit which purifies, frees, forms anew, heals, solves our human problems, and meets our needs.

In her work entitled "Miscellaneous Writings" our revered Leader discusses and illumines the question of the human need in a way which leaves no doubt in the thought of the student, when she writes (p. 307), "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." In order to be benefited by these spiritual ideas, however, we must realize our possession of them.

Let us remember that demonstration in Christian Science consists of substituting the right or divine idea for the material concept, which is always erroneous. It is good to know that in any demonstration it is the power of God and the right idea emanating from Him which bring about the healing result.

When he realizes this fact, the student feels free from all responsibility and fear for the outcome. The divine omnipotence and omniscience strengthen his conviction that the divine work is always perfect, and that in the harmonious unfoldment of Mind's ideas there is no hindrance, no failure, and no delay.

In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says (p. 304), "This is the doctrine of Christian Science: that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object."

The divine manifestation cannot be interrupted any more than the sun can cease to shine. God's love surrounds us as completely as the air which envelops us and which we constantly breathe.

The real need of humanity is therefore to express spiritual qualities, such as love, joy, peace, meekness, harmony, health, tenderness, holiness, faith, kindness, compassion, and so on. These qualities are substance and are the spiritual stores from which we can dip at will. The human need is met in the measure that this store of spiritual treasure is recognized and used.

Negligence, mental apathy in utilizing the spiritual ideas which God gives us, or the belief that our needs are material is at the root of many a problem of lack, inharmony, and distress.

Mrs. Eddy counseled her followers to begin their mental work by affirming the truth of being, and to do that we need to know and utilize the right idea about God, man, universe, substance, law, presence, power, and so forth. We need also to find the right idea which reverses a discordant situation, for it is the right idea and that alone which brings the solution of our problem.

If, as we believe, God, divine all-powerful Love, meets the human need, how can we at the same time believe that He can do it while our heart is filled with enmity, with evil or hateful thoughts toward our neighbor? God is one and supreme, without an opposite, and He requires all our thoughts. Let us give Him then our whole heart, and let Love guide our every thought, word, and deed. Then the human need, which is but a lack of spirituality, will be abundantly supplied.