Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 14:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 14:11
"For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

Jesus went to the chief Pharisees house to eat bread on the sabbath day. They were watching him and saw him heal a man of dropsy. Then Jesus explains that when you are invited to a wedding to not sit down at the highest room, or place next to the host. He explains that when you assume you are the highest place that you may be asked to move, being replaced by someone more honorable. That you should sit at the lowest place and be invited to come up. Then He speaks of not exalting yourself for you will be humbled. This made me reflect on President Benson talk on Pride. There sure is an issue with pride right now.

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
(Proverbs 16:18)

Day 4111

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 13:1-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 13:1-3
"There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

We cannot assume that when bad things happen that it was the judgment of God upon them for being wicked. Good people suffer along with the wicked. I think more disasters and wars are happening due to the overall wickedness of the people today, but those that fall in harms way can be of either persuasion. The Lord will call the righteous to him, and punish the wicked in the same breath. It is not us to judge, but for us to repent.

“To say that particular individuals slain in war, killed in accidents, smitten with disease, stricken by plagues, or shorn of their property by natural calamities, have been singled out from among their fellows as especially deserving of such supposed retribution is wholly unwarranted. It is not man’s prerogative to conclude in individual cases of suffering or accident that such has befallen a person as a just retribution for an ungodly course. … The Lord brings difficulties upon the most righteous of his saints to test and try them; persecution … is the heritage of the faithful.
“The real lesson to be learned from Jesus’ conclusion, ‘Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,’ is that there was no difference in righteousness between the slain and the living, and that unless the living repent they would perish with the dead. … In a broader sense the thought is that as these have perished temporally so shall all perish spiritually unless they repent” (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:475–76).
(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 17: Luke 9-14")

Day 4110

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 12:37, 40

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 12:37, 40
"Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not."

If the Son of man comes when people don't think He will, then shouldn't we always think that the time is now? I would much rather live each day thinking it could be tomorrow, leaving nothing that needs repenting left undone. There has been a hastening in preparation and signs that we are close, when I heard others say the second coming is years, and years away I wonder if they are the ones prophesied to say He delays his coming.

"And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth."
(Doctrine and Covenants 45:26)

"And they said, Who then is that faithful and wise servant?
And the Lord said unto them, It is that servant who watcheth, to impart his portion of meat in due season.
Blessed be that servant whom his Lord shall find, when he cometh, so doing."
(JST, Luke 12:50-52)

Day 4109

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 11:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 11:9-10
"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

I pondered on how asking doesn't always mean you get an answer right away, sometimes we must wait for it. Understanding comes in the Lord's time, which is perfect. Even if the answer is no. That said, I reflected on the times when I was immediately given answers to my prayers. As I contemplated this I would have to say all my prayers have been answered, and mostly in a timely way. What I probably don't do often enough is thank Heavenly Father after they are answered. I am trying to do better with that.

Day 4108