Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 1:19-20

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 1:19-20
"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."

I could just picture Joseph pondering on how he should handle this situation with Mary. She was pregnant and it wasn't his child. It sounds like God had him ponder on this for a time. The angel did not appear to him until after he decided he would put her away privily. Isn't that how a lot of revelation comes. We must study it out in our minds and then ask God if it be right. In this case God was watching and knowing and then sent an angel to confirm this was the Christ child to be born. What absolute joy and relief he must have felt, along with a lot of humility at being entrusted with such a responsibility.

Day 4054

Today's Favorite Verse: Malachi 3:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Malachi 3:16
"Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name."

Malachi has so many good verses in it. For my favorite verse I wanted to look for something I had not considered before. I found it in this verse. It was the part that those that feared the Lord "spake often one to another". Those are the names written in the book of remembrance. I reflected on all the ways we share the gospel and strengthen each other in the gospel. Discussions during Sunday School classes and when ministering to each other. I thought about my family gathered each evening to read the scriptures together and do "Come, Follow Me". All of this is done in natural ways because it's part of our souls.

"May God help us to be in deed and in truth what we have been called to be—Saints of the last days, and then, whether in life or death, we shall be His, we shall enter into His glory and be numbered with His jewels; for the Lord cometh to make up His jewels, and it will be those who have met together often and have spoken often one to another, that will be numbered therein; while all the proud and they that do wickedly, will become as stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch."
(Erastus Snow, "Work of God the Same in All Ages", JD 25:68)

Day 4053

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 13:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 13:6
"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."

I find it interesting that the Jews did not recognize the prophesy and how crucifying Jesus Christ would give him these very wounds. Upon resurrection to a perfect glorified body Jesus retained these wounds in his hands and feet. The purpose is to testify that He is the Christ. The promised Messiah that would come into the world and redeem all mankind. He paid the price and earned every wound. When Jesus Christ appeared to his apostles after his resurrection he introduced himself and had them come and feel the wounds in his hand, feet and side. He did the same in the Book of Mormon when he appeared in the Americas. He will do the same when he appears to the Jews in Jerusalem. I am sure when I get to see Him he will also show me those wounds.

Day 4052

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 12:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 12:9-10
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

It has only been more recently that I saw these verses a little differently. I used to think I would always stand with Israel, why would you not? Then with more recent events I realized what I think is happening is not always what is happening. There might be real reasons all the nations come against Jerusalem. Their leaders may behave politically really badly. They may be causing world wide unrest. Why would the Lord then destroy all those nations? Well it could be wickedness in them too. I think more likely though, that in the midst of Jerusalem being destroyed a miracle needs to happen. The Lord appears, showing mercy to them. They will recognize the hands, feet and side that were pierced because their fathers crucified the God of Israel. They will come to know Jesus is the Christ and mourn and repent.

Day 4051