Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 5:39-40

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 5:39-40
"And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying."

I pondered on laughing and ridiculing things that require faith. The Savior put them all out. They could not be present while he performed a miraculous miracle. It would be like casting pearls before swine. In some ways they were no different than the legion cast into the swine. Spiritual they had cast themselves into the deep and drown. They would not witness Jesus raising Jairus' daughter from the dead. Then he charged those that attended that no man should know what had happened. How many times do we miss miracles happening around us because of not only our lack of faith but our mocking of it too?

Day 4086

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 4:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 4:8
"And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred."

It made me think of this verse.

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20)

It reminded me of a talk given by a young service missionary during Stake Conference yesterday. He is serving at the FamilySearch Center, and mentioned while serving there they will experience more baptisms than the proselyting missionaries. Of course, those that we perform vicious baptism for the dead need to accept what was done in their behalf, but I had never thought about it that way. I reflected on the living that I was instrumental in their conversion and baptism into the church, and then those that I have researched, entered into FamilySearch, prepared their names for baptism and then participated in their ordinances. The work beyond the veil has been bountiful. They are the reason I returned after my near-death experience. This is my life's work and fruit.

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!"
(Doctrine and Covenants 18:15-16)

Day 4085

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 3:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 3:2
"And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him."

I pondered on watching people. They did it so they could find fault and accuse Him.

"They Watched Him", the Greek word translated “watched” implies that the Pharisees were scrutinizing Jesus with malicious intent. They had come to the synagogue not to worship, but to find fault.
(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 11: Mark 1-4")

When we watch to find fault we are no better than the Pharisees. I know I have been guilty of this. There is an incredible difference in your spirit and peace when you stop it. There will always be a temptation to judge others. The first step is to realize that is what we are doing.

Day 4084

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 2:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 2:15
"And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him."

I hadn't noticed the part of "they followed him". So that means the publicans and sinners in order to follow Christ would have repented. Would the Pharisees feel people could never repent and turn from their past sins?

"In the ancient Near East, sharing a meal with others meant much more than simply eating and drinking together. It was a sign of fellowship; it indicated that a bond of friendship and peace existed or was at least being offered. The Savior often used the occasion of sharing a meal to extend the invitation to repent and obtain forgiveness. On a number of these occasions, pious Jews criticized Jesus for dining in fellowship with people they regarded as sinners.
Those regarded by the pious Jews as “sinners” could have included not only people guilty of breaking commandments but also people who did not live in accordance with the Pharisees’ traditions—people whose daily work was considered unholy (like publicans) and people who were not Israelites (like Samaritans and Gentiles; see Acts 10:28)."
(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 11: Mark 1-4")

Day 4083