Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 9:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 9:17

"For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth."

I don't think God created Pharaoh to be wicked. Just that He knows his children well and what they would do under certain conditions. It reminds me of the videos where children are left alone with a treat and told not to eat it until an adult comes back. Some have no self control and others have amazing will power and determination to do what is right. As a parent I also knew when certain combinations of children were with my children what undesirable behaviors would come out. The quiet child became the unruly child. Everyone here on earth at this time was preserved for these days. The combinations of people together is what draws us closer and closer to the end times. The challenge is to become our best selves and not the one that is morally abased and corrupted. I want to be an example of overcoming and not being overcome. Not the warrior but the peacemaker. Pharaoh could have been different, he had a choice. Instead God showed his power was greater than Pharaoh or his magicians. Pharaoh dug a pit and fell in it. We see the same pits being dug today. God's people will be preserved if we remain on his side.

"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." (Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives, April 2018 General Conference)

Day 3214

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 8:35, 38-39

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 8:35, 38-39

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The only one capable of separating us from the love of God is ourselves. Our sins may separate us from his Spirit, but His loves does not cease. Everyone will have the opportunity to hear the gospel message, to accept or reject it. Death does not prevent that from happening if we had no opportunity in the flesh.

"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

(Isaiah 59:2)

Day 3213

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 7:21

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 7:21

"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."

I was talking to someone today about a young child that was being a terror in their primary class. I asked how old, and they told me eight. That brought back memories of my children when they turned eight. They could be so sweet and pure but once they turned eight and were baptized it was like the adversary came full force at them. They had reached the age of accountability and once baptized they were tempted. I did not much care for the age of eight. It was a very difficult year of training a child to overcome temptation and follow the spirit.

Day 3212

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 6:23

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 6:23

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Do I want wages or a gift? Wages you have to work for it, a gift I do not. Then I thought of wages as having a price. If these wages buy me death, or spiritual death, they must come pretty cheaply, because there isn't much value there. It comes from a poor paymaster. It's something everyone could earn. It's like cheap trinkets, or maybe brass tinkling bells?

Then I thought of the gift, which is something given to me. The value of this gift is not in the labor required but in the giver. The gift of the Savior's atonement is of inestimable worth, and lasts for the eternities. It was given to me, if I decide to receive it and not throw it away on cheap trinkets. It's interesting that we can slave our lives away on things that hold no value. Then the thing of value we can throw it way. "For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money." (Isaiah 52:3) "Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price." (2 Nephi 9:50 & Isaiah 55:1) "Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price." (2 Nephi 26:25)

Day 3211