This week I want to look at a parable that the Savior used to teach during his ministry that displayed what is expected of us in relation to the blessings we receive. This is meant to get you thinking, so study them yourself and see what you get out of them too. If you find some things that you really like, please leave them in a comment so we can all benefit from your study!
Luke 16: 1-12: In the parable of the unjust steward, the man unwisely used all that he had been given stewardship over. When the lord of the house comes and asks for an accounting of what he had been given, the man is ashamed because he didn't deal wisely with what he was given. We will have a similar experience when we stand before God. He will ask us how we sued the gifts and talents that we were given while on earth and hopefully we can tell him that we used what we were given to further his work.
This principle is something that I try to keep in mind all the time, wondering why it is that I have been blessed with so much and what God expects me do with it. As I experience more professional success and increase my income, I will be continually expected to use those resources to bless the lives of those in need. I have a hard time imagining Jesus Christ, if he had a large worldly fortune, buying a large home, nice cars, and a private jet. He would likely appear like any other person on the street, having given all but what he needed to live, away. I think that would feel really good and would make for a very happy conversation with God at the judgment bar when he asks what I did with what I was given stewardship over. I would be able to tell him that I tried to do exactly what he would have done in the situation.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Sunday, December 15, 2013
The Holy Spirit
For this post, I want to focus specifically on one topic: The Holy Spirit. There are all kinds of scriptures describing the mission, nature, and power of the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost, depending on your preference) but I want to focus on a few verses found in the 14th, 15th, and 16th chapters of John. As I go through these verses, I will be looking to identify what the verses teach about the Holy Ghost as well as what a disciple need to do to receive the Holy Ghost.
John 14
I am so thankful for the gift and blessing of the Holy Ghost and strive to live worthy of his presence. That is also a good point to make here. We can, by improper use of our agency, offend the Spirit and drive him away. We must make every effort to keep the commandments as we understand them to merit the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. If we will do our part, we will receive that wonderful blessing of being guided through mortality by divine influence.
John 14
- v. 16: We first learn that the Holy Ghost (Comforter) is a gift from God. Christ indicates that he would pray to the Father and ask that he would bless the disciples with the Comforter, implying that it is something that is bestowed upon us.
- v. 17: Christ teaches that the Holy Spirit teaches truth, and even gives the Spirit another name, the Spirit of Truth
- v. 26: Here we learn that the Holy Ghost is a gift from God and that one of his purposes is to teach us and to bring things to our remembrance, specifically things of a spiritual nature.
- v. 27: Bringing the disciples peace is one of the main missions of the Holy Ghost. It is how God reaches out to us and makes us feel safe, comforted, and confident.
- v. 26: John reiterates that the Holy Ghost has divine origins and is intended to come to us to testify of God and Jesus Christ and their mission to have all of us return to their presence.
- v.27: This is a commandment that comes with the companionship of the Holy Ghost; that as disciples, we have a responsibility to share the gospel and testify of Christ. As we do so, we will be granted an increased measure of the Spirit.
- v. 7: Christ needed to leave the disciples to allow them the opportunity to learn and grow by the Spirit, instead of relying on him for answers to their questions. This also provides us the opportunity to watch how they developed the ability to learn by the Spirit so that we can develop similar skills.
- v. 8: God also uses the Holy Ghost to reach those who are doing things that are against his will. For those that are still sensitive to his promptings, God sends feelings of guilt and wrongdoing so that his children will hopefully use their agency wisely and choose to change the trajectory of their lives. This guiding light is sometimes referred to as the Light of Christ.
- v. 13: John teaches here that as the Spirit of Truth, he will not teach us something or lead us in a direction other than that which is right. We can always look to him for direction when we are confused about what we should do.
- v. 14: As one who shares the mission of both God and Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost will glorify them and lead all people unto them. If a feeling or prompting is received that does not point to the Savior or God the Father then it does not come from the Holy Spirit and should be avoided.
I am so thankful for the gift and blessing of the Holy Ghost and strive to live worthy of his presence. That is also a good point to make here. We can, by improper use of our agency, offend the Spirit and drive him away. We must make every effort to keep the commandments as we understand them to merit the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. If we will do our part, we will receive that wonderful blessing of being guided through mortality by divine influence.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
The Second Coming
This week I've been thinking about the second coming of the Savior. There has been so much prophesied concerning his coming and the events leading up to it, that I wonder if we will be surprised when it happens. With all of the warnings and signs, shouldn't we have some idea as to how soon it will happen?
In Mark 13 we find several things that as believers we can watch for. Starting in verse 5 Jesus states that we should listen to what he is about to say that we would be not deceived. Verse 10 says we should watch for the gospel to be preached throughout the world, which is happening already. Verse 13: those who stand for Christ shall be hated, which is becoming increasingly true and the moral state of the earth continues to deteriorate. Verse 22: false Christs and false prophets will arise, which we have seen on multiple occasions specifically when men claim to know when Christ will come again. Other signs that are mentioned in this chapter include stars falling from the skies (there sure seem to be more stories than normal right now about meteorites colliding with earth), the sun and moon will be darkened, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
But in verse 33 we are given a warning/promise; to take heed, watch and pray. Those three things will enable us to see the signs for what they are as they come and we will not be surprised by the Savior's coming when it does happen.
In Mark 13 we find several things that as believers we can watch for. Starting in verse 5 Jesus states that we should listen to what he is about to say that we would be not deceived. Verse 10 says we should watch for the gospel to be preached throughout the world, which is happening already. Verse 13: those who stand for Christ shall be hated, which is becoming increasingly true and the moral state of the earth continues to deteriorate. Verse 22: false Christs and false prophets will arise, which we have seen on multiple occasions specifically when men claim to know when Christ will come again. Other signs that are mentioned in this chapter include stars falling from the skies (there sure seem to be more stories than normal right now about meteorites colliding with earth), the sun and moon will be darkened, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
But in verse 33 we are given a warning/promise; to take heed, watch and pray. Those three things will enable us to see the signs for what they are as they come and we will not be surprised by the Savior's coming when it does happen.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Treasures in Heaven
Today, I'm thinking about rewards. My wife and I just had our second child and she has been a wonderful blessing to us. In church today I thought about what the Lord teaches in Luke chapter 15. After speaking about seeking the kingdom of God, Christ says, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." So, where am I spending my time and energy? On things that can be stolen or corrupted in this world? Or maybe on the things that are "a treasure in heaven, that faileth not"?
In Matthew 19:16-30 a young man comes to Jesus and asks him what he needed to do to obtain eternal life. The Savior responds that he needs to keep the commandments. The young man replies that he has kept the commandments since he was young and asks what he still lacks to be worthy of that great gift. Jesus ultimately says that if you really do what to be perfect, you need to go sell everything you have, give it to the poor, and follow me. It says that the young man then goes away sorrowful because he was very wealthy.
I've always found this interesting because the young man seems so intent on obtaining eternal life; like he would do whatever it took to achieve that blessing. But when Jesus tells him all that is required of him, he doesn't do it. It seems to me that the first answer the Savior gave the young man is one that applies to all of us. We all need to keep the commandments in order to be worthy to enter the kingdom of God. The second answer that Jesus gave seems to be more personalized. In fact, I believe that each of us could potentially receive a different answer to that question if we had the opportunity to ask it. We are required to sacrifice to gain eternal life and in order to be sacrificial, it will be something that we really like.
We go on to read in Matthew 20:1-16 that no matter when we join the Lord's service, we will receive the same reward as those that have been working at it for years and years. In this parable there is a man hiring workers for his vineyard. He hires some in the first hour of the day, some in the third, others in the sixth, more in the ninth, and final few in the eleventh hour of the day. When it was time to be paid, the man paid all of them the same and those who worked from the beginning of the day were unhappy. The man told them they had received what he had promised him and reserved the right to pay all the others as he saw fit. So it will be with those who receive eternal life. Not everyone will have the opportunity to know the Gospel of Jesus Christ from early in life, but all will eventually have the opportunity. No matter when a person decides to follow the Savior, they will have the opportunity to receive eternal life.
In Matthew 19:16-30 a young man comes to Jesus and asks him what he needed to do to obtain eternal life. The Savior responds that he needs to keep the commandments. The young man replies that he has kept the commandments since he was young and asks what he still lacks to be worthy of that great gift. Jesus ultimately says that if you really do what to be perfect, you need to go sell everything you have, give it to the poor, and follow me. It says that the young man then goes away sorrowful because he was very wealthy.I've always found this interesting because the young man seems so intent on obtaining eternal life; like he would do whatever it took to achieve that blessing. But when Jesus tells him all that is required of him, he doesn't do it. It seems to me that the first answer the Savior gave the young man is one that applies to all of us. We all need to keep the commandments in order to be worthy to enter the kingdom of God. The second answer that Jesus gave seems to be more personalized. In fact, I believe that each of us could potentially receive a different answer to that question if we had the opportunity to ask it. We are required to sacrifice to gain eternal life and in order to be sacrificial, it will be something that we really like.
We go on to read in Matthew 20:1-16 that no matter when we join the Lord's service, we will receive the same reward as those that have been working at it for years and years. In this parable there is a man hiring workers for his vineyard. He hires some in the first hour of the day, some in the third, others in the sixth, more in the ninth, and final few in the eleventh hour of the day. When it was time to be paid, the man paid all of them the same and those who worked from the beginning of the day were unhappy. The man told them they had received what he had promised him and reserved the right to pay all the others as he saw fit. So it will be with those who receive eternal life. Not everyone will have the opportunity to know the Gospel of Jesus Christ from early in life, but all will eventually have the opportunity. No matter when a person decides to follow the Savior, they will have the opportunity to receive eternal life.
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