Scripture Thought 10/22/09
1 Nephi 4:6
"I was led by the spirit, not knowing before hand where I should go."
Let's think about that for a minute. What does that mean? Have you ever moved forward in your life, trusting in the Lord, not knowing what is to come, only that it is what you must do? Do you think that Laman and Lemuel could have followed the spirit this way? Why?
I have pondered this thought a great deal. As we read this verse, who moved? Did they all move together? Or did Nephi go on his own? Why?
I have often seen and heard of people who walk that gray line that borders sin. They do not intend to sin, but the people they associate with do. When asked why they hang out with such people or in such places, they try to justify it by saying they doing missionary work. They are trying to influence the others to do good. I admire these desires in people. However, this verse teaches us some about that.
If we surround ourselves with people who murmur, sin, listen to and watch your good intentions, but really don't have their heart in changing, can they follow us? Even more importantly, can we be led by the spirit when we are in such company? I know that answer is yes, but only if we are listening. When placing ourselves in such environments, how many loud distractions are there around that might cause us to miss those promptings?
Nephi found himself in such company, by choice or by design. As we read this verse it is clear that he could only go so far with them. He was spiritually strong. But to continue, either his brothers needed to step up their spirituality a couple notches or Nephi had to separate himself from them. He could only get them to follow so far.
As they approached the city wall a choice had to be made. Nephi could stay around the distraction or he could leave them behind and continue on where he could focus on the spirit. He needed to be on higher ground.
Does that make sense? We have the same choices in our life's. At some point we are going to have to make a choice to move on to higher ground or stay outside the city walls and wait for something to happen. We can only be so much of an influence. As we make choices, likewise our friends and family will be required to do the same. They are either going to make the changes in their lives to move forward with us or choose to stay behind. Sometimes, that moving forward is the key to getting others to want to move forward. What is important to recognize here is that the choice is individual. We can exemplify until we are blue, teach until we are yellow, exhort until we are red, but in the end, the choice has to be made on an individual bases.
Nephi had to leave his brothers outside the city walls so he could continue progressing.
So, are you hiding without the city walls or are you, as an individual, being led by the spirit.
I encourage you to follow the path of Nephi. Move forward with faith, be positive, trust in the Lord and his infinite wisdom. Keep moving. Don't stop and be stagnant. Read or watch Elder Ballard's talk from the Priesthood session Oct 09. Instead of thinking about that relationship as between a father and son, think of it as a relationship between Heavenly Father and His child. That child being you. The key points help in that relationship as well.
"I was led by the spirit, not knowing before hand where I should go."
Let's think about that for a minute. What does that mean? Have you ever moved forward in your life, trusting in the Lord, not knowing what is to come, only that it is what you must do? Do you think that Laman and Lemuel could have followed the spirit this way? Why?
I have pondered this thought a great deal. As we read this verse, who moved? Did they all move together? Or did Nephi go on his own? Why?
I have often seen and heard of people who walk that gray line that borders sin. They do not intend to sin, but the people they associate with do. When asked why they hang out with such people or in such places, they try to justify it by saying they doing missionary work. They are trying to influence the others to do good. I admire these desires in people. However, this verse teaches us some about that.
If we surround ourselves with people who murmur, sin, listen to and watch your good intentions, but really don't have their heart in changing, can they follow us? Even more importantly, can we be led by the spirit when we are in such company? I know that answer is yes, but only if we are listening. When placing ourselves in such environments, how many loud distractions are there around that might cause us to miss those promptings?
Nephi found himself in such company, by choice or by design. As we read this verse it is clear that he could only go so far with them. He was spiritually strong. But to continue, either his brothers needed to step up their spirituality a couple notches or Nephi had to separate himself from them. He could only get them to follow so far.
As they approached the city wall a choice had to be made. Nephi could stay around the distraction or he could leave them behind and continue on where he could focus on the spirit. He needed to be on higher ground.
Does that make sense? We have the same choices in our life's. At some point we are going to have to make a choice to move on to higher ground or stay outside the city walls and wait for something to happen. We can only be so much of an influence. As we make choices, likewise our friends and family will be required to do the same. They are either going to make the changes in their lives to move forward with us or choose to stay behind. Sometimes, that moving forward is the key to getting others to want to move forward. What is important to recognize here is that the choice is individual. We can exemplify until we are blue, teach until we are yellow, exhort until we are red, but in the end, the choice has to be made on an individual bases.
Nephi had to leave his brothers outside the city walls so he could continue progressing.
So, are you hiding without the city walls or are you, as an individual, being led by the spirit.
I encourage you to follow the path of Nephi. Move forward with faith, be positive, trust in the Lord and his infinite wisdom. Keep moving. Don't stop and be stagnant. Read or watch Elder Ballard's talk from the Priesthood session Oct 09. Instead of thinking about that relationship as between a father and son, think of it as a relationship between Heavenly Father and His child. That child being you. The key points help in that relationship as well.
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