Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 6:30

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 6:30
"Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again."

What does this mean about the man that taketh away and ask them not again? When I think of taking something it feels like stealing. I looked at a similar verse in the Sermon on the Mount.

"Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."
(Matthew 5:42)

Taketh away would not be stealing. It would be someone borrowing from you. So what does "ask them not again" mean? I could see not making the person ask you more than once to borrow something, but it doesn't sound like it's in the right direction. Does it mean not to ask for something back that someone borrowed? That's probably more like it when you think of it in the context of giving to those that ask. If they ask to borrow then be just as prepared to give it to them. I know when I've lent things and they come back damaged or not at all it sure can mess with your soul. I've had to struggle with letting it go in order to have peace inside myself. It better to already consider it gone. That doesn't excuse the person that technically stole from you, so that would make the "taketh away" part fit. I've found I have to turn the person over to the Lord to deal with them in order to have peace.

Day 4103

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 22:3, 22

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 22:3, 22

"Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!"

I pondered on how prophesy of the Lord's death and resurrection had been foretold from the beginning. Did it mean Judas was destined to be the one to betray him? What I noticed is Judas allowed Satan to enter him and tempt him. There is still agency there. Satan has no power over us, unless we give it to him.

In fact Jesus, once gave all the disciples, including Judas the power to cast out devils.

"Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." (Luke 9:1-2)

Jesus even told us that evil cannot cast out evil.

"And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?" (Matthew 12:26)

So it was not possible for Judas to be wicked from the beginning. The problem was overtime Judas let Satan tempt him and that is how he fell. His weakness was the love of money and he stole from the money bag. He broke the commandment "Thou shalt not steal."

"This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein." (John 12:6)

All the apostles were being tempted. If it was not Judas, Satan would have continued until he found someone weak enough to do his bidding. Even Peter was being tempted.

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:"

(Luke 22:31)

There is protection in keeping the commandments. Keeping the commandment gives us power over the adversary.

Day 3154

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 5:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 5:3

"Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it."

This made me reflect on the ten commandments. The eighth commandment "Thou shalt not steal" is one of the most basic that anyone should understand. Even if you never heard of the scriptures or the ten commandments its one of the most basic laws of society. Yet, I am appalled how brazen people are that not only steal but proclaim their thefts from the house tops. They tout how they steal from their employers, or from companies and others. Bragging and instructing others on doing the same. It really does bring a curse upon us.

We don't even have to address the swearing part. The breaking of the third commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." is pretty much at pandemic levels now. Yes, Zechariah was seeing our day.

Day 3075

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 5:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 5:3-4
"Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
I will bring if forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof."

Zechariah sees a flying roll and the angel gives him the interpretation of it. I believe the flying roll is the record kept in heaven of our deeds. Those that steal or swear will be cut off both in heaven and earth. The roll, or record of their deeds, will enter their homes and consume even the timbers and stones. I think this means that they will not prosper in this life or the next for their evil deeds. Instead even that which they have will be taken away from them.

This reminds of the curse spoke of in the Book of Mormon. Because of their iniquities the land will be cursed and their riches will become slippery. The greater their wickedness the less they can hold unto their things.

"And behold, the time cometh that he curseth your riches, that they become slippery, that ye cannot hold them; and in the days of your poverty ye cannot retain them.
Behold, we lay a tool here and on the morrow it is gone; and behold, our swords are taken from us in the day we have sought them for battle.
Yea, we have hid up our treasures and they have slipped away from us, because of the curse of the land.
O that we had repented in the day that the word of the Lord came unto us; for behold the land is cursed, and all things are become slippery, and we cannot hold them.
(Helaman 13:31, 34-36)

This curse is still upon the land, even today. It's not just tools, swords or treasures, now it's our electronic funds and identity. It amazes me how casually people will curse and swear and think nothing of it. They are also taking advantage of others, and stealing. As I was going over this I realized that swearing and stealing is considered so severe that the punishment comes not just in the next life. It will happened to them while upon the earth. I am grateful that there is a blessing and protection for the righteous living during these times.

"And it shall come to pass, saith the Lord of Hosts, yea, our great and true God, that whoso shall hide up treasures in the earth shall find them again no more, because of the great curse of the land, save he be a righteous man and shall hide it up unto the Lord.
For I will, saith the Lord, that they shall hide up their treasures unto me; and cursed be they who hide not up their treasures unto me; for none hideth up their treasures unto me save it be the righteous; and he that hideth not up his treasures unto me, cursed is he, and also the treasure, and none shall redeem it because of the curse of the land."
(Helaman 13:18-19)

Day 1491

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 23:24-25

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 23:24-25
"When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.
When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn."

Ah! I found it! In the New Testament in Matthew, Mark and Luke I read the same story that has always puzzled me.

"At the time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples where an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat." (Matthew 12:1)

The Pharisees saw this and said they were doing what wasn't lawful on the sabbath day. The implication being they weren't suppose to be picking corn on the sabbath. I always wondered why wasn't this considered stealing corn, regardless of it being the sabbath day?  Now I find the law. It was ok to go into a field or vineyard and eat your fill when you were hungry. Stealing would be picking it and storing it up for yourself. I knew Jesus and the apostle wouldn't steal, knowing the law helps me understand the custom and scriptures better.


Day 751