Blessings and Responsibilities
Greetings All!
I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful week of reflections, relationships, and reunions as we have celebrated the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time and catching up with so many this week. I am grateful for the simple, yet powerful testimonies that have been shared to remind me of the reason for this season. I have learned to look for Him in all that surrounds me.
Through out the week I have been pondering many things. I sometimes find it difficult to focus on just one task that lies ahead of me. I struggle prioritizing those things that need to be done first. I am a work in progress.
However, topic of pondering this week comes from Alma 34:11-13
"Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay."
"But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world."
"Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there bee, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall pass away."
There are several things that have struck me as I have pondered these verses. The biggest is that "...not any man can sacrifice..." This says so much about Jesus Christ. It is true that he came to this earth as more than a man, but he lived not only among men, but as a man so that he could fully empathize with each of us. Then, through the infinite power within him, he sacrificed himself out of unconditional love, but with conditional boundaries for us to receive his gift.
He presented us with blessings and responsibilities that will allow us to be free from our first and second deaths.
The first, which is inevitable, is a physical death. Through the atoning sacrifice Jesus Christ, we can all one day be resurrected. He freely opened the door and bridged the gap to immortality.
The second, is self inflicted. It is a spiritual death. When we do not follow, live, or accept the conditions of Christ atoning sacrifice for our sins, we in essence murder ourselves spiritually. And as stated, the law requires the life of him who hath murdered. Or in other words, if we do not follow, live, and accept the conditions Christ has established, then we are required to pay for our own sins rather than have them taken from us by him.
What an amazing promise. Today, we live in a world where many believe Christ has made this mortal sacrifice and wait for his return. Amulek spoke and recorded these words with a hope that one day Christ would come and atone for the sins of his time. Regardless of the time period, we must all live according to the same laws, blessings, and responsibilities. We must conform our will to the will of our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, the true and living Godhead.
I hope that we can all recognize and do what is required of us.
Our week -
It has been a busy week. The first few days of the week were filled with last minute projects, shopping, delivering, and hustle and bustle. The Queen mentioned in the second half of the week that she was suffering from withdrawal from it all. We have all had to settle back in and start focusing on the next task before us.
The Professor enjoyed a few days of the hustle and bustle and seems to be focusing on the next task quite nicely. She is preparing for Honey Bucket make over job. I hope we get some pictures.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have pushed themselves to the point of exhaustion. It was fun to spend precious moments with Lego while they rested.
Puddin continue to hover in a holding pattern as he waits for news from Davis. Lady Hawkins is enjoying her break and filling spare time with extra hours at work, but most importantly celebrated another solar revolution.
SnackPack keeps plugging along and missing the days of a Christmas Break. With Christmas in the middle of the week, it was hard for all of us to go back to the grind for a couple of days, but we made it.
I love you all and am grateful for your influence in my life.
I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful week of reflections, relationships, and reunions as we have celebrated the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time and catching up with so many this week. I am grateful for the simple, yet powerful testimonies that have been shared to remind me of the reason for this season. I have learned to look for Him in all that surrounds me.
Through out the week I have been pondering many things. I sometimes find it difficult to focus on just one task that lies ahead of me. I struggle prioritizing those things that need to be done first. I am a work in progress.
However, topic of pondering this week comes from Alma 34:11-13
"Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay."
"But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world."
"Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there bee, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall pass away."
There are several things that have struck me as I have pondered these verses. The biggest is that "...not any man can sacrifice..." This says so much about Jesus Christ. It is true that he came to this earth as more than a man, but he lived not only among men, but as a man so that he could fully empathize with each of us. Then, through the infinite power within him, he sacrificed himself out of unconditional love, but with conditional boundaries for us to receive his gift.
He presented us with blessings and responsibilities that will allow us to be free from our first and second deaths.
The first, which is inevitable, is a physical death. Through the atoning sacrifice Jesus Christ, we can all one day be resurrected. He freely opened the door and bridged the gap to immortality.
The second, is self inflicted. It is a spiritual death. When we do not follow, live, or accept the conditions of Christ atoning sacrifice for our sins, we in essence murder ourselves spiritually. And as stated, the law requires the life of him who hath murdered. Or in other words, if we do not follow, live, and accept the conditions Christ has established, then we are required to pay for our own sins rather than have them taken from us by him.
What an amazing promise. Today, we live in a world where many believe Christ has made this mortal sacrifice and wait for his return. Amulek spoke and recorded these words with a hope that one day Christ would come and atone for the sins of his time. Regardless of the time period, we must all live according to the same laws, blessings, and responsibilities. We must conform our will to the will of our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, the true and living Godhead.
I hope that we can all recognize and do what is required of us.
Our week -
It has been a busy week. The first few days of the week were filled with last minute projects, shopping, delivering, and hustle and bustle. The Queen mentioned in the second half of the week that she was suffering from withdrawal from it all. We have all had to settle back in and start focusing on the next task before us.
The Professor enjoyed a few days of the hustle and bustle and seems to be focusing on the next task quite nicely. She is preparing for Honey Bucket make over job. I hope we get some pictures.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have pushed themselves to the point of exhaustion. It was fun to spend precious moments with Lego while they rested.
Puddin continue to hover in a holding pattern as he waits for news from Davis. Lady Hawkins is enjoying her break and filling spare time with extra hours at work, but most importantly celebrated another solar revolution.
SnackPack keeps plugging along and missing the days of a Christmas Break. With Christmas in the middle of the week, it was hard for all of us to go back to the grind for a couple of days, but we made it.
I love you all and am grateful for your influence in my life.
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