Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Thessalonians 1:2, 9

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Thessalonians 1:2, 9
"So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"

At first when I read about the destruction of the wicked I was thinking how harsh. Then I pondered on the persecutions these Thessalonians saints must have been living under. I even thought about those that crucified Christ, and the killing of the apostles. Yes, patience and faith have been needed then, and more than likely in the future. I then noticed a difference in verse 9 when I read the Joseph Smith Translation.

"Who shall be punished with destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his everlasting power;" (JST 2 Thessalonians 1:9)

It made me think of the wicked that would crawl into the cavity of a rock to hide from the presence of the Lord. In some ways their removal is something they would desire too. What would eventually hurt is to know what they could have experienced if they had been faithful.

Day 4241

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 19-20

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 19-20
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Quench not the Spirit.
Despise not prophesyings."

The chapter header says "The Saints will know the season of the Second Coming of Christ". I thought I would read this chapter very carefully to understand the season. Then I read it and wasn't sure I found anything like that. I'm told the Lord will come as a thief in the night. Those of the night and of darkness will be overtaken. Children of light and the day will not be. That tells me who, but not the season. Then I continued to ponder and read. I thought maybe this chapter and Paul isn't telling us a season? Then I noticed the first verse again.

"But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you."

Paul didn't need to tell us. He told us how the saints would know the times and seasons. We are to watch and be sober, and it will come through the Spirit. That is why I am not to quench it, but seek to always have it with me. I am told to not despise prophesying. To me that means to be watchful of the spirit telling me what I need to do for me and my family. Not any Tom, Dick or Harry that thinks they know what's going on. I must be worthy to know for myself. I thought about the prophet and apostles, wouldn't they tell me? Then I reflected on the times I've listened to a conference talk and swear something was said, but later I go back and look and it's not there. Instead through the spirit I was given more for my personal understanding. I think I've read somewhere that it takes prophesy to understand prophesy. I need both.

Day 4240

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

This is what is meant by being lifted up. It's not the rapture that movies depict, escaping all the end time tribulations. For how would those that are alive at Christ's second coming be caught up into the clouds to meet him in the air? For he is not saving the wicked in this manner. I can't wait for this event for I will see it regardless of which side of the veil I am on.

Day 4239

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Thessalonians 3:12
" And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:"

This made me think of "by their fruits ye shall know them". The increase in love towards our fellow man does show the heart of a person. It is very concerning when once righteous people hearts grow cold towards their fellow man, having lost charity, the pure love of Christ. You cannot serve two masters and will soon lose their faith in Christ.

"But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
(1 John 3:17)

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
(John 13:34-35

"And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.
And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.
I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.
And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give."
(Mosiah 4:21-24)

Day 4238