How amazing and sad is John 12:42-43.
The story in those verses seem rather like Lehi's dream with the great and spacious building (see also 1 Nephi 11:35-36 and 1 Nephi 12:18-19).
Today, it would seem, this principle still applies and I must ask myself. Do I believe in Christ and yet "confess not" because of modern-day Pharisees? Am I so full of fear--not faith--that I would love "the praise of man more than the praise of God"? The thought frightens me.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
John 12:44-50
I read this morning in John 12:44-50 and was struck deeply by the fact that Jesus is not judgmental. He simply came to do His Father's will and to teach the standards of the Kingdom, but He doesn't judge us when we fall. This is so comforting to me! His love, grace and mercy are beyond comprehension to me--the depths of them, at least.
The second part of this passage that is so stunning for me is that in this ever deepening world, ever darkening, we need not remain in that bleakness. Simply by turning to Christ and following close behind, He who is the light for our world, will brighten our day. We don't need our courage; we simply need rely on His.
And finally, vss. 49-50 are deeply significant to me. What the Savior expresses here is how I want to live. When God the Father gives a commandment, whether through His Son's teachings found in the scriptures or through the living modern prophets, I want to be found equally obedient. For Christ promises therein lies happiness (see John 13:15-17).
Aah, the beauty of the scriptures in bringing peace.
The second part of this passage that is so stunning for me is that in this ever deepening world, ever darkening, we need not remain in that bleakness. Simply by turning to Christ and following close behind, He who is the light for our world, will brighten our day. We don't need our courage; we simply need rely on His.
And finally, vss. 49-50 are deeply significant to me. What the Savior expresses here is how I want to live. When God the Father gives a commandment, whether through His Son's teachings found in the scriptures or through the living modern prophets, I want to be found equally obedient. For Christ promises therein lies happiness (see John 13:15-17).
Aah, the beauty of the scriptures in bringing peace.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The Strait Gate
My daughter and I have a little saying:
My daughter is perhaps too young to understand the previous example, but we have talked about other scenarios; i.e. a person at work sees money laying on the desk and he or she has an overdue bill. What might seem easy (taking the money) soon turns into the hard if and when they are discovered, with tough consequences following.
My husband is a counselor and has worked with those struggling with addictions. What a tough road! And as a result of a multitude of choices, many are one step from prison. One more infraction and they lose their children and their freedom.
The hardest thing for an addict is to say no to the drug they've so easily brought into their lives. How much easier if the drug had never been taken in the first place. But that would have required a hard choice made under peer pressure. Thus the saying: "Do the hard first, and the easy soon follows. Do the easy first, and the hard soon follows."
Now individuals struggling with addictions must face tough choices. But if they "do the hard" now, the easy will come later--meaning the joy of still being with their kids and enjoying therefore fruits of hard decisions made well. (An addiction is something that requires outside professional help, both from the Lord and oftentimes with a professional counselor or group. Otherwise, it wouldn't be an addiction. It is tough and heartbreaking.)
What is so essential for these struggling individuals is to begin choosing "the hard first" now that their situation is so dire. Yet some continue to choose the easy way out (taking a "hit"). Then when the "hard" comes (i.e. losing their kids and going to prison), the sorrow is heartbreaking.
Thus, I've talked much with my kids how much better life will be for them when they become accustomed to doing the hard things in life first (do your homework early because then the fruits will come later, doing your chores first before playing, etc.).
So when I read in Matthew 7:13-14 today, I thought of that family expression of ours. It is a struggle to live, but how urgent to do so! Thus, these verses in the Bible are particularly significant regarding all this ... (Remember, "strait" means narrow; "straight" means not crooked):
It seems this pops up in life everywhere. For example, in moral issues and "one night stands." What may seem easy the next morning can bring remorse as pregnancy and other issues crop up.
"Do the hard first, and the easy soon follows.
Do the easy first, and the hard soon follows."
My daughter is perhaps too young to understand the previous example, but we have talked about other scenarios; i.e. a person at work sees money laying on the desk and he or she has an overdue bill. What might seem easy (taking the money) soon turns into the hard if and when they are discovered, with tough consequences following.
My husband is a counselor and has worked with those struggling with addictions. What a tough road! And as a result of a multitude of choices, many are one step from prison. One more infraction and they lose their children and their freedom.
The hardest thing for an addict is to say no to the drug they've so easily brought into their lives. How much easier if the drug had never been taken in the first place. But that would have required a hard choice made under peer pressure. Thus the saying: "Do the hard first, and the easy soon follows. Do the easy first, and the hard soon follows."
Now individuals struggling with addictions must face tough choices. But if they "do the hard" now, the easy will come later--meaning the joy of still being with their kids and enjoying therefore fruits of hard decisions made well. (An addiction is something that requires outside professional help, both from the Lord and oftentimes with a professional counselor or group. Otherwise, it wouldn't be an addiction. It is tough and heartbreaking.)
What is so essential for these struggling individuals is to begin choosing "the hard first" now that their situation is so dire. Yet some continue to choose the easy way out (taking a "hit"). Then when the "hard" comes (i.e. losing their kids and going to prison), the sorrow is heartbreaking.
Thus, I've talked much with my kids how much better life will be for them when they become accustomed to doing the hard things in life first (do your homework early because then the fruits will come later, doing your chores first before playing, etc.).
So when I read in Matthew 7:13-14 today, I thought of that family expression of ours. It is a struggle to live, but how urgent to do so! Thus, these verses in the Bible are particularly significant regarding all this ... (Remember, "strait" means narrow; "straight" means not crooked):
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:In other words, it's all too simple to choose the "easy" in life...but the consequences will come (whether the next day or in 20 years time). So few find this though, as shown in the next verse:
How urgent we listen to the Lord and thereby avoid heartache.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Raising a Generation
Yesterday during our Christmas service, I sang with the congregation the beautiful Sacrament hymn (it was the one my young daughter thought so very long). At the bottom of the page, a scriptural reference caught my eye: JST Genesis 14:30-34.
My eyes grew wide as I turned to the reference and read it. How does a mother or a church family (or a nation) raise a generation with faith equal to this? Moses parted the red sea; Daniel had the faith to face lions. Many, many ancient prophets spoken of in the Bible had miracles that occurred. Faith precedes every miracle. How does a mother, or any of us really, raise a generation with that kind of faith?
I was praying this morning about this and the spirit whispered to me, "It begins with those who lead them." And I realized the veracity of this. If I as an adult, or we as a nation's group of parents, do not know the Lord ourselves, how can we teach of His goodness, grace, or power to our young?
Raising a generation full of faith and knowledge of God's abilities begins with those who do the raising.
My eyes grew wide as I turned to the reference and read it. How does a mother or a church family (or a nation) raise a generation with faith equal to this? Moses parted the red sea; Daniel had the faith to face lions. Many, many ancient prophets spoken of in the Bible had miracles that occurred. Faith precedes every miracle. How does a mother, or any of us really, raise a generation with that kind of faith?
I was praying this morning about this and the spirit whispered to me, "It begins with those who lead them." And I realized the veracity of this. If I as an adult, or we as a nation's group of parents, do not know the Lord ourselves, how can we teach of His goodness, grace, or power to our young?
Raising a generation full of faith and knowledge of God's abilities begins with those who do the raising.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Turning the Other Cheek
Christ taught that we are to "turn the other cheek" when struck by an enemy. In other words, we are not to retaliate. Today I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants 98 and was struck by these words:
"And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God."And I realized: unless I'm studying the scriptures and feasting on them, I'm not so sure I--on my own--have the power to be kind in the face of ugliness. I need the Lord and studying His words strengthens me, even in the hard things (see Philippians 4:13).
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Purpose of Prophecy
This quote is quite instructive:
In other words, to quote the hymn: "Who's on the Lord's side, who?" No matter what. Will we be true to Him till death, even without immediate reward? Thus, again, to quote the statement above: "Life on earth was designed for our education and testing."
"The purpose of prophecy is frequently misunderstood. It is not the Lord's purpose to completely remove the veil which guards the future. Too much prophecy would defeat the plan of salvation. Life on earth was designed for our education and testing." (W. Cleon Skousen, Prophecy and Modern Times, 5)If all were revealed, where would be the testing? For example, we read in the Pearl of Great Price the words of the Lord:
We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them." (Abraham 3:24-25, see also Genesis 1:26)If sin's effects were immediately felt, why would anyone choose anything but purity? But instead, if the results are delayed in coming, we then are more free to choose whether in principle we will follow our Father in Heaven's counsel...even if it brings no immediate gift.
In other words, to quote the hymn: "Who's on the Lord's side, who?" No matter what. Will we be true to Him till death, even without immediate reward? Thus, again, to quote the statement above: "Life on earth was designed for our education and testing."
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Christ's Way
Here is how to face those that mock and scorn:
It is in times like these that I think on the Savior who knew full well the eventual outcome of all He faced. It would be glorious, both on the earth and in the eternities. Here is a sample of what awaits:
I hid not my face from shame and spitting.The First Presidency has asked those in California to stand up and be counted, supporting Proposition 8. What could be a clearer request? Yet to do so may engage some to mock and actually be mean.
For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded... (2 Nephi 7:6
It is in times like these that I think on the Savior who knew full well the eventual outcome of all He faced. It would be glorious, both on the earth and in the eternities. Here is a sample of what awaits:
For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.If we fear and tremble in the face of anger, animosity and persecution, we can know that Jesus Christ faced the same. He showed the way of how to handle it; we can too...with His help.
Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation; for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light for the people.
My righteousness is near.
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