Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 6:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 6:4-5
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:"

Reading these verses I wondered how any other baptism than through immersion could be accepted? We are buried under the water in likeness of Jesus' death. Then raise from the water in the likeness of his resurrection. Baptism is a rebirth, we are born again and become alive in Christ, taking upon us His name and follow Him.

Day 4176

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 36:26-27

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 36:26-27
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

It is with a mighty change of heart that we turn to the Lord, and are born again. We will have His spirit to always be with us. Our hearts will desire to walk in this statutes, keep His laws and all that He asks of us. The place to start is within our hearts. I am reminded of king Lamoni and his mighty change of heart and desire for eternal life.

"And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.
But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest."
(Alma 22:15-16)

Day 4022

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 23:6-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 23:6-7
"And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them - yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away.
For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren."

What stood out to me was the passage that they, "never did fall away". Then I could see why. They were fully converted unto the Lord. Meaning they were not joining the church for its programs or because of their love for the missionaries. They were instead converted to the Lord, that is what was deep and abiding. That is what a good missionary would do. Not win converts to himself, but point the way to Jesus Christ.

The other reason they never fell away was they remained righteous and that takes a conscious effort to stay on the path. They also were peacemakers and appear to have avoided contention. They also did not fight against God. Which I take it they didn't rebel or challenge when told the word of the Lord, especially when it comes from a servant of God. When you lay down your weapons of rebellion I am reminded of giving up all our sins, even our favorite ones. Their hearts were broken and they were born again.

Day 1881

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 22:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 22:15
"And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may not be cast off at the last days? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy."

I am reminded of the earlier words of king Lamoni's father as he feared Ammon had the power to kill him.

"Now the king, fearing he should lose his life, said: If thou wilt spare me I will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wilt ask, even to half of the kingdom."
(Alma 20:23)

At that time his life over physical death was worth half of his kingdom. Yet when he is converted and desires eternal life it is worth all that he posses, including his kingdom. It is amazing the value things have considering which direction and master you are facing. We truly cannot be born again until we are willing to give up all our sins and that was the next step in king Lamoni's father conversion. 

"O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead."
(Alma 22:18)

The king was then dead to the natural man within him and he was born again. When Aaron takes his hand and raises him the king begins to minister to them and his whole household is converted to the Lord. More than all the material possessions or status we may gain in this life, the giving up or all our sins, even our favorite sins, is what brings eternal life.

Day 1880

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

I pondered on old things, for I never practiced the law of Moses, so I was not familiar with that experience of it going away. But, I have experienced looking back at old things I used to love, in particular movies. As I began to read my scripture daily I found things that I could once over look now destroyed the whole movie, and I could not longer watch it. Not only was the old thing gone but the old me too. I was a new creature in what brought me true joy. I am much happier for it.

Day 1656

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 31:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 31:5
"Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth."

And Jesus said this.

"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." (Luke 232:46)

If David and Jesus said this, should I not say this too? To be spiritually born again I would need to commit my spirit into His hands, and say Father thy will be done.

Day 1084

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 5:8, 13, 22-23

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 5:8, 13, 22-23

"And the tale of bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither has thou delivered thy people at all."

I sat and pondered on Moses question to the Lord. I could hear distinctly the words "To prepare my people to meet me." I sat and pondered how time is hastening. Satan is doing everything is his power to stop us from worshiping our God. How difficult it is to find the time to do the things the Lord has asked of me. I am just like the children of Israel trying to make bricks without straw and deliver nothing less. God will try and test his people before they are prepared to meet him. This period softens the heart to the point that it can change, and be born again. Some will curse God and die a spiritual death. Instead if I turn to Him with a broken heart I will be healed. He will make my burdens light. I will be found worthy to stand before my King. 

Day 630

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 34:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 34:3

"Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God. Wherefore you are my son;"

This chapter took me on a really great scripture chase. I wanted to know more about being a "son of God". So I pondered on how in the pre-existence or before my earth life, my spirit was created in the heavens by God the Father. I came to earth to receive a body and to be tried and tested. In doing so I have a literal father on the earth. So how does Christ fit in being my Father too? I know God the Father and Christ are two separate beings. 

Then I found these really great verses in Galatians 4:4-6

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" 

(See Romans 8;14-16 also) 

So what I learned tonight was the "law of adoption". I didn't realize there was such a law. I had pondered on this previously and had reasoned that being born again would be like being adopted by Christ and he became my Father. I am excited to see that it really is called adoption - there is such a law. When I receive Christ in my heart, and am obedient to his commandments I am born again. I have the right to become heir to eternal life. In this way he does become Father to me since I am born again.

"And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:18)

This gives me joy!

Day 453