Jacob 3
I love the first two verses of this chapter- probably because they are so uplifting.
I try hard to count myself as one that is pure in heart, so I apply what Jacob has to say to me.
These are the things I must do:
I try hard to count myself as one that is pure in heart, so I apply what Jacob has to say to me.
These are the things I must do:
- Look unto God with firmness in mind.
- Pray unto Him with exceeding faith.
- Lift up my head and receive the word of God.
- Keep my mind firm forever.
If I do these things:
- God will console me in my afflictions.
- He will plead my cause.
- He will send down justice upon those who seek my destruction.
- I may feast upon His love- forever.
I love the simplicity and beauty of it.
Now- you'll notice that Jacob 5, the Allegory of the Olive Tree, will be stretched out for three days, Wed- Frid. There's so much in there that I don't understand. Books have been written about this chapter. So- I'm going to take a few days to really read, study and understand what I can.
What did you think/learn today?
Maybe my thoughts this morning are attached to the chapter or a conglomuration of yesterday's lessons and things on my mind.
ReplyDeleteIt's up to me. I can choose to work on that "pure in heart" theory. Or not. I can choose to repent. Or not. I can work harder. Or not.
My own salvation is my own choice. Do I have to be perfect? No. The Savior makes up that difference. But I have to continuously do the best I can. I am really tired of hearing some people say --- I am a good person. That should be enough. I don't understand why we always have to do "more."
We have to do more because as the Lord opens our hearts and minds to his truths, we are obedient because we choose to be. This causes us to be responsible for more. Staying static is not good enough. If you aren't progressing forward, your are not moving toward the Lord.
I am basically a good person. I can hold my own with the 10 commandments. But I realize there is always improvement to be made in my life. Being "good" isn't good enough for where I want to end up.
I love your comment. I'd like to write a book about this. It is up to us. I think we are becoming a society of celebrators of mediocrity and underachieving. We tell each other we are special, and we can do anything, and we are fine just the way we are.
ReplyDeleteI think the intentions are good, but it breeds an attitude of complacency and an expectation of mediocrity. And- even a disdain for those who rise above that level.
In a spiritual sense, that is a tactic of the Adversary's that we read about in 2 Nephi. He lulls us into a false sense of security by saying all is well and we are just fine.
I think we miss the mark (which is in tomorrow's chapter) when we look to the Savior and think that all we have to do is believe and that's good enough; that He will open the gates to heaven if I have pretty good intentions, regardless of my performance.
That's not how it happens.
Like you said - WE have to do more, be more. We have to do our part. We are accountable for our actions, deeds and even our very thoughts. He wants us to choose to step up, stop whining and be His disciples (my words, not His.)
Eliza R Snow once said "Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time. I know we like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibility upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities."
Love it!
Great thoughts today! Thanks for sharing. I also enjoyed the first two verses of this chapter. The other one that stuck out to me is verse 9. This to me is talking about us judging others and not seeing our own faults. The mote and the beam song and scripture comes to mind. In fact, that song is my fathers favourite hymn. Also, let he who is without sin, cast the first stone. It is not our place to judge. We leave that to the Lord. Then we focus on looking at our own faults and improving on those. Of course, much easier said than done. At Christmas time my son got Cars 2 on dvd and he has been watching it a lot the last few weeks. There is a line in that movie where Mater says "Yeah, but I'm not perfect." Maybe when we catch ourselves thinking badly about someone else, or judging someone else, we could think to ourselves, "Yeah, but I'm not perfect, so until I am, I won't cast any stones." (in Mater's voice of course) :)
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