Actively Following or Selectively Living
Happy Sabbath!
I hope that you are all making this day what it could be.
I am always grateful for Sundays. They are great opportunities for me to re-charge, boost-up, and face the week before me. Are you getting your spiritual kick start?
How has your week been? Mine has been eventful. I have seen busy, boredom, impressions, and set backs, but all have been great learning experiences. Each has given me much to think about.
My verses of ponder have been in and out of my thoughts in many different forms this week. D&C 76:42-45. As I pondered these verses and compared them to the world we live in, I found myself reflecting more upon 2 Nephi 28 and 31. It amazes me that a prophet of God was seeing exactly what we are living some 2600 year ago.
As I read and pondered the role of Christ in verse 42. "That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;..." This means you and me. We all have the opportunity to take advantage of his saving power. Those that don't (verse 43) are those that "...deny the Son after the Father has revealed him..."
But what about those in the middle? What of those who don't fully deny him in all things, but only deny him in some ways? Do you know any of these people? Do you find yourself hanging out in this social group? Those mentioned in 2 Nephi 28! "...Eat, Drink, and Be Merry....it it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God..."
There are so many that see the Kingdom as ONE great place, not a division of different places or levels of obtainment? Will they be satisfied with the area they end up in? Will it be ok with them that have Eaten, Dunk, and Made Merry while on earth? Do they understand or see what they are going to lose? Do they understand that getting to said level or kingdom is something that is earned, regardless of which one it is?
See verse 44-45. Most people focus on the everlasting punishment of those who fully deny the Son, but lets think about it a minute. Unless we are fully intent on accepting the Son, striving to live according to the conditions of his covenant call the Atonement, we will find ourselves enduring consequences of our partial covenant living. It may not be everlasting punishment, but it will be there none the same. A torment, "...no man knows;" We are told that it will be a suffering that made even God himself tremble. Is that what we are willing to endure?
We were having this conversation with a group this week. It was interesting to hear the perspective of some. There were those who fully believe they are "Active" followers of Christ, but they do not heed the words of his living prophet on the earth or even those of past prophets who have been placed on the earth.
I heard comments like:
"I go to church.", "I believe in Christ", "I am an active member", yet when asked about a specific directive from a living prophet, I hear comments like:
"I don't do it all the time.", "It is not all bad.", "I know others who have done the same and they are OK.", "It makes me feel good.", "That directive is limiting my freedom of expression.", "I do it in moderation.",...etc.
It is clear that they, like many in the past, have chosen which commandments, doctrines, or portions of Christ's gospel to follow and which ones not to follow. How is that being "Active"?
I was reminded again this week as I added 2 Nephi 31 to my study that in order for the Atonement to have full cleansing force in our lives, we need to be striving to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost with us as much as possible. It is his role in the redemption power of the Atonement to cleanse us by "...the power of the Holy Ghost."
So I ask myself, are my actions conducive to the companionship of the Holy Ghost? Back to one of my initial questions? Are you getting your spiritual kick start?
It is not only applicable to the Sabbath Day? Are you putting the Lord first? Are you looking at the commandments as restrictions or are you looking at all the things you can do because of them? I wonder why it is that so many of us are willing to test the waters of living on the edge of just on the other side of a commandment instead of testing the waters of living fully in the gospel? Why are so many of us not willing to plant the seeds of faith, but would rather test the Lord to see if he will punish us for not living his gospel.
Think about it.
I wish I could fully communicate the marvelous understanding I have received through my study this week. I hope the spirit will clarify in a language you will understand.
Our week has been busy.
The Queen has been trying to fit into a new routine of being back in the neighborhood. Sitting in her office all day has been an adjustment. We did get out and share time with family and friends this week. It was fun to see some on the 4th, some on the 6th, and more on the 7th. When she was not, she continued to paint.
The Professor wrapped up another school year. Now she is spending all of her time planning for the new year that starts in less than 3 weeks and trying to get ahead of her grad studies.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been busy filling their time with all sorts of activities. It was nice to spend time with them on the 4th.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins are figuring out the new routine of work loads, school, study, and trying to make time for fun and family. It was nice to spend time with them on the 7th. We hope the work we were able to help them with keeps them cool.
We hope your week was filled with adventure. If not, you always have this week to make up for it.
I hope that you are all making this day what it could be.
I am always grateful for Sundays. They are great opportunities for me to re-charge, boost-up, and face the week before me. Are you getting your spiritual kick start?
How has your week been? Mine has been eventful. I have seen busy, boredom, impressions, and set backs, but all have been great learning experiences. Each has given me much to think about.
My verses of ponder have been in and out of my thoughts in many different forms this week. D&C 76:42-45. As I pondered these verses and compared them to the world we live in, I found myself reflecting more upon 2 Nephi 28 and 31. It amazes me that a prophet of God was seeing exactly what we are living some 2600 year ago.
As I read and pondered the role of Christ in verse 42. "That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;..." This means you and me. We all have the opportunity to take advantage of his saving power. Those that don't (verse 43) are those that "...deny the Son after the Father has revealed him..."
But what about those in the middle? What of those who don't fully deny him in all things, but only deny him in some ways? Do you know any of these people? Do you find yourself hanging out in this social group? Those mentioned in 2 Nephi 28! "...Eat, Drink, and Be Merry....it it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God..."
There are so many that see the Kingdom as ONE great place, not a division of different places or levels of obtainment? Will they be satisfied with the area they end up in? Will it be ok with them that have Eaten, Dunk, and Made Merry while on earth? Do they understand or see what they are going to lose? Do they understand that getting to said level or kingdom is something that is earned, regardless of which one it is?
See verse 44-45. Most people focus on the everlasting punishment of those who fully deny the Son, but lets think about it a minute. Unless we are fully intent on accepting the Son, striving to live according to the conditions of his covenant call the Atonement, we will find ourselves enduring consequences of our partial covenant living. It may not be everlasting punishment, but it will be there none the same. A torment, "...no man knows;" We are told that it will be a suffering that made even God himself tremble. Is that what we are willing to endure?
We were having this conversation with a group this week. It was interesting to hear the perspective of some. There were those who fully believe they are "Active" followers of Christ, but they do not heed the words of his living prophet on the earth or even those of past prophets who have been placed on the earth.
I heard comments like:
"I go to church.", "I believe in Christ", "I am an active member", yet when asked about a specific directive from a living prophet, I hear comments like:
"I don't do it all the time.", "It is not all bad.", "I know others who have done the same and they are OK.", "It makes me feel good.", "That directive is limiting my freedom of expression.", "I do it in moderation.",...etc.
It is clear that they, like many in the past, have chosen which commandments, doctrines, or portions of Christ's gospel to follow and which ones not to follow. How is that being "Active"?
I was reminded again this week as I added 2 Nephi 31 to my study that in order for the Atonement to have full cleansing force in our lives, we need to be striving to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost with us as much as possible. It is his role in the redemption power of the Atonement to cleanse us by "...the power of the Holy Ghost."
So I ask myself, are my actions conducive to the companionship of the Holy Ghost? Back to one of my initial questions? Are you getting your spiritual kick start?
It is not only applicable to the Sabbath Day? Are you putting the Lord first? Are you looking at the commandments as restrictions or are you looking at all the things you can do because of them? I wonder why it is that so many of us are willing to test the waters of living on the edge of just on the other side of a commandment instead of testing the waters of living fully in the gospel? Why are so many of us not willing to plant the seeds of faith, but would rather test the Lord to see if he will punish us for not living his gospel.
Think about it.
I wish I could fully communicate the marvelous understanding I have received through my study this week. I hope the spirit will clarify in a language you will understand.
Our week has been busy.
The Queen has been trying to fit into a new routine of being back in the neighborhood. Sitting in her office all day has been an adjustment. We did get out and share time with family and friends this week. It was fun to see some on the 4th, some on the 6th, and more on the 7th. When she was not, she continued to paint.
The Professor wrapped up another school year. Now she is spending all of her time planning for the new year that starts in less than 3 weeks and trying to get ahead of her grad studies.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been busy filling their time with all sorts of activities. It was nice to spend time with them on the 4th.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins are figuring out the new routine of work loads, school, study, and trying to make time for fun and family. It was nice to spend time with them on the 7th. We hope the work we were able to help them with keeps them cool.
We hope your week was filled with adventure. If not, you always have this week to make up for it.
Comments