Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:10-11
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter."

Why would godly sorrow cause revenge? Out of everything Paul listed as being the result of repentance with godly sorrow, why would revenge be amongst them?

Today's definition: Revenge is the act of retaliating against a person or group to get even for a real or perceived wrong. A desire for retribution or vengeance, often driven by anger, a need to restore honor, or a "bitter desire to injure another".

That sure didn't sound like what Paul was referring to, nor praising the saint for. I could see restore honor, but now I wonder if it could be a translation issue? I decided to search online for the meaning of revenge and learned that the word translated as "revenge" in the King James Version (KJV) means vindication, justice, or the punishment of wrong, rather than personal malice or spite.

Vindication would show the church proved itself innocent and serious about following God's commands. It cleared its name through proper church discipline. Paul was commending them for taking serious action against unrepentant sin in the community. The church disciplined the wrongdoer, removed complicity, and restored moral and spiritual order. Now that I can understand.

Day 4209

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 3:9,14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 3:9,14-15
"And now, because of this great thing which my people, the Nephites, had done, they began to boast in their own strength, and began to swear before the heavens that they would avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren who had been slain by their enemies.
And when they had sworn by all that had been forbidden them by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that they would go up unto their enemies to battle, and avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren, behold the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying:
Vengeance is mine, and I will repay; and because this people repented not after I had delivered them, behold, they shall be cut off from the face of the earth."

Revenge, and vengeance when taken on by man is not of God. Anyone that feels vengeance and revenge is justified is also not of God. It is horrifying to think we have set up leaders out for revenge. This story will not end well for them.

"I, the Lord, am angry with the wicked; I am holding my Spirit from the inhabitants of the earth.
I have sworn in my wrath, and decreed wars upon the face of the earth, and the wicked shall slay the wicked, and fear shall come upon every man;
And the saints also shall hardly escape; nevertheless, I, the Lord, am with them, and will come down in heaven from the presence of my Father and consume the wicked with unquenchable fire."
(Doctrine and Covenants 63:32-34

Day 3557

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 49:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 49:10-11
"Now, if king Amalickiah had come down out of the land of Nephi, at the head of his army, perhaps he would have caused the Lamanites to have attacked the Nephites at the city of Ammonihah; for behold, he did care not for the blood of his people.
But behold, Amalickiah did not come down himself to battle. And behold, his chief captains durst not attack the Nephites at the city of Ammonihah, for Moroni had altered the management of affairs among the Nephites, insomuch that the Lamanites were disappointed in their places of retreat and they could not come upon them."

I noticed Mormon warning on who we are to watch out for in our day. This type of person wants power, but "he did care not for the blood of his people". He also "did not come down himself to battle". In verse 13 it also tells us that "their chief captains came forward and took an oath that they would destroy the people of that city." When they lose Amalickiah is angry, exceeding wroth, and cursed God. He swore with an oath he would drink the blood of Moroni. Amalickiah seeks for revenge. There is a lot more in this chapter and it is a clear warning to not be deceived and fight for the wrong side, and for the wrong things. Moroni on the other hand keeps the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people. How grateful I am for a living prophet that is doing the same.

Day 3493

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 24:27

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 24:27

"But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound."

This made me think of the environment we are in now. How people do things according to their pleasure. Their pleasure can be motivated by revenge, entitlement, and pride. I'm sure there are other motivators but this is something I have run across in the last couple of days. I do not hold out hope that society will get any better in these things. The only thing I need to do is work really, really hard to not become like them.

"Rather than release Paul, Felix courted the favor of the Jews by leaving Paul in prison for two years (see Acts 24:27). Felix’s successor, Porcius Festus, acted with similar political interest when he proposed to send Paul to Jerusalem, where Paul’s enemies hoped to kill him (see Acts 25:3, 9). President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency spoke against acting solely to gain the approval of others: “Men and women often attempt to gain notice and approval of the group from whom they seek acceptance. Such peer pressure may cause them to do things they would not otherwise do. This is acting out of weakness, not strength” (“The Power of Self-Mastery,” Ensign, May 2000, 43–44)."

(New Testament Student Manual, "Willing to Shew the Jews a Pleasure" "Chapter 34: Acts 21-28)

Day 3201