Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 25:4, 16

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 25:4, 16
"But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents."

I focused on two parables in this chapter, the parable of the ten virgins and of the talents. I looked at them to see if there was a pattern. The wise virgins had oil in their lamps. In my notes I had written they had a testimony and conversion. Those that were foolish may have had a testimony but they were not converted. We cannot share our conversion for it is gained dropped by drop. So I asked myself what would the increase in the talents? Would it be those that received a testimony and were converted and then shared it with others? The increase being more converted followers of Jesus Christ. The servant with one talent just buried it. His testimony didn't grow from usery for himself or for others. Not only must we gain a testimony and be converted, we must in turn share the gospel with others to help them grown.

Day 4078

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