The Explanatory Note in the Christian Science Quarterly, describes the Lesson-Sermons in these words: "The canonical writings, together with the word of our textbook, corroborating and explaining the Bible texts in their spiritual import and application to all ages, past, present, and future, constitute a sermon undivorced from truth, uncontaminated and unfettered by human hypotheses, and divinely authorized." Is it not obvious that the thought best adapted to assimilate and put into practice these Lesson-Sermons is that which most nearly conforms to the above description; that is—is itself free from false doctrines, hence best able to unsee their claims to reality; and is able to accept the truth of a perfect, infinite God and a sinless, perfect creation, including man? How to claim and utilize these qualities as one's own is of vital importance to students of Christian Science, for without proper receptivity to and comprehension of the texts which elucidate this Science, little genuine progress can be made in its practical demonstration.
It is recorded that Jesus loved little children for their natural innocence and purity. On one occasion, when asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" the Master called a little child to him, and setting him in their midst, said: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
In II Kings we are told of a little captive maid who, by her mental alertness and single-minded trust in God, helped to bring about the regeneration and healing of a great warrior called Naaman. At a still earlier period, as recorded in Genesis, it was the young Joseph whose obedience, receptivity to truth, and loving devotion to the task at hand made him of great value to the nation in which he was held captive, and eventually led to the saving of thousands during a period of severe famine.
