Questions & Answers
How much we owe to those brave Hebrew captives Who dared keep faith in mighty Babylon, Refused the royal fare of self-indulgence, To serve, without defilement, God alone! They would not bow before the golden image, Their faith had risen to a purer joy, Undaunted by the seven times heated furnace, That proudest boast of evil to destroy. They fell down bound into that flaming madness, But found their bonds dissolved like empty air; Nor e'en the smell of smoke had passed upon them, Because the Son of God walked with them there.
Passed by a blinded man Reaching out gropingly, Danger on every side, Hands held beseechingly! "Oh, all ye passers-by, Ye who have eyes to see, Will ye not stretch a hand To such as me?" Are we the passers-by? Shall we not heed that cry? "Go heal the sick for Me; Love came and gave thee light, Pass on that gift of sight; Set those blind footsteps right. Thus as ye do to Mine, Ye do to Me.
Work , brother, work! Thy strength is needed every passing hour, To free thyself from error's subtle power. When faith grows faint and demons would devour, Thou must not shirk.
Dear Father, when the way seems hard, and clouds Of doubt and fear across my path may fall, I pray that I may know Thy guiding hand Is closer to me still, and governs all. Unfold my life in Thine own way, I pray, A life of loving service may it be.
A Place is prepared in my Father's house Where I may dwell in peace; And there, from sin and sorrow, Is swift and sure release. The Christ is host in my Father's house Where every guest is fed From founts of living water, And love is the daily bread.
I thank Thee, Father, for the truth revealing Salvation sure, deliverance from sin, The freedom brought through Christian Science healing From error's subtlety; without, within. I thank Thee, Father, for the joy of knowing That strength for all depends on Thee alone; That faith and hope and trust more constant growing Bring daily proof of God and man at one.
The mischief of the drawn sword is effaced, The ear replaced; The three denials thrice repented of— Master, "thou knowest that I love Thee. " Tenderly, by slow degrees, the rough-hewn rock Is chipped and chiseled to the perfect block, The jagged points removed, The whole polished and approved.
I will place all my trust in Thee, dear Father; With confidence let faith in matter go, And look Thee in love and consecration, Feeling Thy holy presence; learn to know That Thou alone art all-encircling greatness, All power, protection, Principle divine, And in humility and divine, And in humility and adoration Receive Thy tender message: Thou art Mine. Yes, gladly, Father, will I thus surrender This earthly sense of unreality, With holy joy receive the revelation Of omnipresence, man at one with Thee.
This I can know—that even though I do Walk as in sleep, still God is ever true; Just as the day must always follow night, So shall my eyes be opened by the light. Then I shall see that God is Life and Love, Peaceful, harmonious.
Who would be strong, let him a strong watch keep upon such thoughts as steal into the mind—as one in sleep might dream of floating palaces of beauty— where these are images of wasted hours, that give not strength to him who holds them fast. Let him arise, cast off the dragging chains of careless ease, refuse the burdened clatter of a pride that no man cherisheth.