Three important points to ponder today

This week's Bible Lesson contains the story of Jesus raising Lazarus. Three things stand out to me and give me direction for my own prayerful work today.

Where have ye laid him?
When Jesus arrives at Lazarus' village Mary comes to him greatly grieving the loss of her brother. Jesus seems saddened by her reaction and asks a very pertinent question. Where have ye laid him? I believe that is much more than just a question about where Lazarus was buried. It was a wake-up call to Mary. Where have you placed him in your thought? Mary was one of his favored disciples. She seemed to have understood much of his teachings. He would need her to be clear about the concept of death as very shortly Jesus was to go through the ordeal. Where would she place him in her thought? Was she understanding his teachings of eternal Life? Was she so overwhelmed by the picture that she could not see the truth? When we are faced with serious physical situations are we careful to be sure of where we place that person in thought? Mrs. Eddy writes: "Had Jesus believed that Lazarus had lived or died in his body, the Master would have stood on the same plane of belief as those who buried the body, and he could not have resuscitated it."

Take ye away the stone.
Remove what appears to stand in the way of healing, that which blocks out the light of Truth, that which seems an immovable object or unresolvable condition. Take it away, take away any power or reality it claims to have to affect anyone or anything. It is but a dream, an illusion, and once we see right through it - take the stone away - it no longer has any effect. The stone did not move of its own accord. We need to remove it from thought.

Loose him and let him go.
The loved one is now free. Loose him or her from any bonds still remaining. The 'what ifs; or the 'buts' what would try to weaken the healing. No fear of relapse. No scars. No lingering weakness or symptoms. Totally free. Let him or her go.

How grateful I am to be a student of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings. Every day brings fresh opportunities for continued spiritual growth and a clearer understanding of God and my relationship to him. The goal is to put this to practical use and apply God's laws of ever present good for myself, my loved ones and to love my neighbor as myself.