Mosiah 4
Mosiah 4
What a great way to end the week! What a beautiful chapter!
The people have an interesting thing happen to them, that I never quite noticed before. In verse 2 they ask the Lord to "apply" to atoning blood of Christ. They believed. They had faith. But they knew it took more than just those two things. It took action.
It's like knowing that you can wash your hands at the sink. Standing there, with dirty hands, in front of the sink, believing with all your heart, won't get your hands clean. Something needs to happen- action. The water needs to be turned on, or "applied."
In the sink, we know it s simple turn of the knob and pump of the soap that does it.
But, with the Atonement it's a little more.
First, we do need to acknowledge that our spirits have become dirty through sin. Then, we need to stand before Him, knowing that He can make us clean. But, we can stand there, dirty spirits, in front of the Savior, believing with all our hearts, and be healed or cleansed. Something needs to happen- action. The Atonement needs to be "applied."
So, how does that happen?
They did three things: 1) They had humble hearts 2) They prayed to the Lord and gave Him their agency. 3) They received Him and followed Him.
They might sound like simple steps, but they might be the three hardest things to do for us carnally minded people.
That's why, in the last chapter, king Benjamin said that natural man is the enemy to God. I figure this is probably why.
Anyway, there's tons more in this chapter: Salvation, Love of and belief in God, repentance, faith, service, charity, and enduring.
I plan to re-read it again this weekend!
What did you think/learn today?
What a great way to end the week! What a beautiful chapter!
The people have an interesting thing happen to them, that I never quite noticed before. In verse 2 they ask the Lord to "apply" to atoning blood of Christ. They believed. They had faith. But they knew it took more than just those two things. It took action.
It's like knowing that you can wash your hands at the sink. Standing there, with dirty hands, in front of the sink, believing with all your heart, won't get your hands clean. Something needs to happen- action. The water needs to be turned on, or "applied."
In the sink, we know it s simple turn of the knob and pump of the soap that does it.
But, with the Atonement it's a little more.
First, we do need to acknowledge that our spirits have become dirty through sin. Then, we need to stand before Him, knowing that He can make us clean. But, we can stand there, dirty spirits, in front of the Savior, believing with all our hearts, and be healed or cleansed. Something needs to happen- action. The Atonement needs to be "applied."
So, how does that happen?
They did three things: 1) They had humble hearts 2) They prayed to the Lord and gave Him their agency. 3) They received Him and followed Him.
They might sound like simple steps, but they might be the three hardest things to do for us carnally minded people.
That's why, in the last chapter, king Benjamin said that natural man is the enemy to God. I figure this is probably why.
Anyway, there's tons more in this chapter: Salvation, Love of and belief in God, repentance, faith, service, charity, and enduring.
I plan to re-read it again this weekend!
What did you think/learn today?
I like the last verse the best.... watch your thoughts, your actions, your words, etc.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is easy to let our minds wander into negativity. For me, I have been working on that for quite some time. I have to stop myself and change my thought process. It's kind of like repentance... a realization your are headed in the wrong direction... stopping and consciously changing the path.
In verse 9 it says "believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." Sometimes I want explanations for things, I want to know how God can do some things. But this verse is telling us we need to just have faith and remember that we can't comprehend all he can.
ReplyDeleteIn verse 11 he is reminding us that he is in control, that he can end our lives in an instant if he wanted to, and that he blesses us greatly. I think this verse is trying to keep us from getting into that cycle of pride. Also he says "standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel." The people at that time were being taught about Christ's 1st coming, just as we are being taught about his 2nd coming today. We need to stay strong in the faith of the 2nd coming too, remembering that God's word has always been fulfilled.