Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 13:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 13:11
"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

People of so many different faiths have the same impression, we are in end times. When I see people fall away from the church I am so sad. Do they realize what time it is? Do they understand how close we are? Can anyone afford to fall away at this point in time? In Paul's time you couldn't afford to fall way either. The second coming was many centuries off. The problem with taking a break from church or the commandment is you may never have the desire to come back.

Day 4183

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 12:19

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 12:19
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Wanting vengeance has created so much suffering in the world. I want no part of vengeance. I am sure the Lord knows who they are and will make them account for their actions. Interesting words from the First Presidency during World War II about those that sit in their places of power, and those that hate and lust for unrighteous power and dominion.

"In this terrible war now waging, thousands of our righteous young men in all parts of the world and in many countries are subject to a call into the military service of their own countries. Some of these, so serving, have already been called back to their heavenly home; others will almost surely be called to follow. But 'behold,' as Moroni said, the righteous of them who serve and are slain 'do enter into the rest of the Lord their God'  and of them the Lord has said "those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them". Their salvation and exaltation in the world to come will be secure. That in their work of destruction they will be striking at their brethren will not be held against them. That sin, as Moroni of old said, is to the condemnation of those who 'sit in their places of power in a state of thoughtless stupor' those rulers in the world who in a frenzy of hate and lust for unrighteous power and dominion over their fellow men, have put into motion eternal forces they do not comprehend and cannot control. God, in His own due time, will pass sentence upon them.
Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
(Heber J. Grant, "Message of the First Presidency", Apr 1942 General Conference)

Day 4182

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 11:17-19

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 11:17-19
"And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in."

As I'm reading this I'm thinking of Jacob 5, "The allegory of the tame and wild olive trees". Did Paul have the words of the prophet Zenos?

"And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard saw it, and he said unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, go and pluck the branches from a wild olive tree, and bring them hither unto me; and we will pluck off those main branches which are beginning to wither away, and we will cast them into the fire that they may be burned.
And behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take away many of these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will; and it mattereth not that if it so be that the root of this tree will perish, I may preserve the fruit thereof unto myself; wherefore, I will take these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will."
(Jacob 5:7-8)

Day 4181

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 10:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 10:9-10
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

What must one do after confessing with the mouth the Lord Jesus? Just saying the words is not enough. It must be believed in the heart. Outwardly you could look like you're saved, but in the heart there must be a mighty change. If the heart of man really did believe then they would be righteous. They would repent and strive to follow Jesus Christ and obey his words. That is what leadeth to salvation.

Day 4180