Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 24:44

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 24:44
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

This week on two separate occasions I had someone tell me that they didn't think the second coming was near, that is was years away. With all that is happening in the world I just don't want to put that opinion on the table. I think of this verse and remember it will be "when you think not". We have people fulfilling that prophesy all the time. I don't know when it will be but I sure am preparing for it. We are told to be ready. You cannot err if you plan as if it could be tomorrow. President Nelson told us to "Embrace the Future with Faith", and to "never stop preparing".

"What if the day of His coming were tomorrow? If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear?
If we would do those things then, why not now? Why not seek peace while peace can be obtained? If our lamps of preparation are drawn down, let us start immediately to replenish them.
We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming. And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult—the spiritual. A 72-hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for earthly challenges, but, as the foolish virgins learned to their sorrow, a 24-hour kit of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring value."
(Dallin H. Oaks, "Preparation for the Second Coming", April 2004 General Conference)

Day 4077

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 23:30-31

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 23:30-31
"And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets."

Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees. Here they think they would not have stoned or killed the prophets if they have lived in days of their fathers. Yet, they would do far worse. They would crucify God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.

Day 4076

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 22:1, 15, 46

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 22:1, 15, 46
"And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions"

The questions that were asked bring up some very important doctrine. It just wasn't what the Pharisees had in mind. Though they might not have realized it, it would only be through the inspiration of the adversary that they would stop asking questions of Jesus. They didn't want to hear truth, which is sad. They didn't want Him to teach because they would lose their standing. Questions are good, when asked in faith. Questions to raise doubt, and dismiss faith will lead to your downfall.

Day 4075

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 21:28-32

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 21:28-32
"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him."

As I reflected on this I thought there will be some surprised people at the beginning of the millennium. Seeing who remains and who does not. The Lord loves those that repent, it up to use to forgive and not judge them.

"Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained the meaning of this parable:
“The Father of the sons is God himself who offers employment in his earthly vineyard to all his children. The first son, who initially refused to labor in his Father’s vineyard but later repented and served him, is symbolical of the publicans and harlots who repented of their early sins and became faithful servants in their Father’s cause. …
“The second son, who willingly accepted an assignment in the vineyard but then failed to render the appointed labors, is symbolical of the Jewish leaders who professed to be about their Father’s business but were in fact letting the vineyard degenerate. …
“[In Matthew 21:31, Jesus] … teaches in forceful and plain language that repentance is a living, abiding principle which actually works. ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’ (1 Tim. 1:15.) What, publicans and harlots in the kingdom of God! Yes, and even the chief priests, scribes, and elders—if they also repent and keep the commandments” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:589–90)."
(New Testament Student Manual, Chapter 7: Matthew 19-23, "The Parable of the Two Sons")

Day 4074