In Romans 3-5 we learn a lot about faith, grace, and good works. In these chapters we learn that man is justified through faith and not through works. It is purely through faith in Jesus Christ and what he has done that we can come to stand before God and be justified, wiped clean. However, we cannot discount works. Romans 2:13 tells us that doers of the law shall be justified. We are not justified because of our workings in the law but rather because what we have done has caused us to have faith unto repentance to become justified. Paul tells us "glory, honor, and peace to every man that worketh good works" (Romans 2:10). Through faith in the grace of Christ we can become rid of the fallen man, but through good works we can become like unto God. So it's not that we only need either faith or good works. We need both. However, we must realize that none of it is possible without the grace of Jesus Christ. Without his sacrifice we would be no where and have nothing. We would be fallen and the Plan of Salvation would not have been realized. It is essential!
While teaching about faith Paul used the example of Abraham. First of all, Abraham was a righteous man and had faith without being circumcised, which would have been a good point for their arguments back in that time. However, Abraham plays another important role in faith. When Abraham was about 100 years old and his wife about the same he was told that he would have seed through his wife Sara, who was close to the same age. Sara had never been able to have children. So how could it be? Paul tells us that Abraham "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in the faith, giving glory to God"(Romans 4:20). Wow! This is why Abraham is used as an example! Most of us can in some way relate to this story. We have known those who have been unable to bear children and we can see how it may be easy to lose faith that you will ever have children. The circumstances of Abraham and Sara are amazing! They still believed! Abraham and Sara to me are the ultimate example of faith. What more could you want? They are simply amazing!
So how does this story (Romans 4:19-22) relate to my life? I actually have a recent experience relating this story to my life. Not too long ago there was an article in the Ensign with this story. I had skipped over the article, but one day one of my roommates told me how much she had enjoyed the article. So I skimmed through it. I reached the story of Abraham and Sara and decided to read it. In my life for the past little while I have been given a challenge. I have come upon a situation that I have often tried to get out of because it sometimes causes me pain. To get out of it I would just have to push it from my mind and move on, which of course is much more difficult than it sounds. However, the pain I have felt has been great enough that I have been willing to do it. So I often pray for strength in pushing this from my mind if it is right. I have made decisions and proceeded and begun on my course. However, within just a few moments of these decisions and prayers I have received the knowledge that it is not time for me to move on and push things from my mind despite the pain I feel. I feel that things will be ok. The hard part is that I don't know how. The situation doesn't seem like it will ever work out in any way that will be ok with me continuing. I ask myself why and how. I cannot see the end. This is where Abraham and Sara come in. They could not see the end. They did not understand how, but they knew that it must be and that the Lord would keep His promises. So they had faith! They had faith that the Lord has power to do all things! Even when it seems impossible He can come in and make it possible! I do not know how or even what is supposed to happen in my life, but I can testify that the Lord knows. He has a plan that sees a lot farther than I can. His plans began a long time ago and they may continue well into the future. However, because of the faith of Abraham and Sara I can say that His plans will be fulfilled. I can have faith! I can know that no matter how I feel now the Lord has a plan for me. I feel assured that it is a plan of great joy and happiness for I know that there is opposition in all things and the only thing that can follow such pain for such a period of time can only be great happiness. I don't know how or in what form that happiness will come, but just as Issac came I know that it will come. That is why the story of Abraham and Sara means so much to me.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
For My Strength is Made Perfect in Weakness
Often times in this world we seem to sorrow over everything. While I am at school many people will complain that life is too difficult and that basically life just stinks. I admit that occasionally I get stuck in this same trap. However, we don't really have it that bad and if we turn to the Savior then we can become stronger and life will seem a lot better, no matter our circumstances.
In the New Testament we have many records from Paul and we get to see his thinking as he goes through trials. In 2 Corinthians it is brought to our attention that Paul and Timothy are going through a very difficult time in their lives. They are being persecuted and many would be found in despair if they were in their places. However, they both know that the Lord loves them. They receive comfort and know that the Lord will be their light. They even point out that sometimes God must chasten us and give us trials otherwise we will not grow. They are grateful for the opportunity to grow.
In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 we are given some great words of comfort. After reading these words we feel as if we can handle our own tribulations. There is much more than this life. In the expanse of eternity this life is just a pinprick. We are not stuck, the tribulation will end even if it lasts our entire life. Verse 18 also tells us that it is not the physical things that matter, but the spiritual. Our bodies may be beaten and tormented, but when we reach heaven the Lord will look at the things we cannot see, He will look at our spirits and what we have become. This is how we will be judged so this is how we should grow. If we can make it through tribulation and still realize that God loves us then life will be much better now and in the hereafter.
After reading about Paul's experiences I can find a few things that are similar between him and Joseph Smith. Both men were persecuted heavily and both turned to the Lord. They were both strengthened and realized that this life is not everything, it is just a short time. They end up glorying in tribulation. They have both undergone unimaginable cruelty, but they both come out conqueror. They know what the goal is and why they should come out conqueror so they do.
Both Paul and Joseph's strength came out of what Paul would call the grace of Christ. This is the power by which Christ helps us overcome our weaknesses. As fallen mortals we make mistakes.We mess up and we have no way to redeem ourselves. Because we have messed up we cannot save ourselves. We need an advocate. Christ is that advocate. He takes everything that we have messed up on or had troubles with and makes it better so that we will be able to have eternal life if we so desire after this life. Christ's grace saves us and makes us stronger. If we know that Christ has made this sacrifice so that we can return to our Heavenly Father we won't want to waste his sacrifice and we will do all we can to make the sacrifice well worth it. Grace is a saving power. It can strengthen us and help us move forward.
In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 we are told that Paul has a weakness, what he terms as "a thorn in the flesh". We do not know what this weakness is, but we know that it really bugs Paul and that he tries to get rid of it and prays to have it taken from him multiple times. The weakness is not taken from him, but he is told, "my grace is sufficient for thee." He knows that the Lord will be there to help save him from his weakness. He is made strong in his faith and hope in Christ. His weakness is not taken away and it doesn't even seem as if he is strengthened upon his weakness, but rather his character is strengthened so that he can move past the weakness. This is the miracle of the grace of Christ.The same thing was done for the people in Mosiah. Their burdens were not taken away, but they received strength to carry them. In my own life I can use this principle when there seems there is no way out. Perhaps there is no way I can get rid of my weakness, but I can become stronger in areas such as faith that help me move past the weakness. A weakness does not have to consume me. I am not subject to my "thorn in the flesh". Instead, I have a loving Savior who offers me his grace and will help me learn from my weakness and be able to lift my burdens easier. They will be made light through my strength.
We are so blessed to have a loving Savior who was willing to fulfill his part of the Plan of Salvation. It is now our turn to fulfill our part and take advantage of his sacrifice. Never give in. Never surrender. Never allow despair to overcome your spirit.
In the New Testament we have many records from Paul and we get to see his thinking as he goes through trials. In 2 Corinthians it is brought to our attention that Paul and Timothy are going through a very difficult time in their lives. They are being persecuted and many would be found in despair if they were in their places. However, they both know that the Lord loves them. They receive comfort and know that the Lord will be their light. They even point out that sometimes God must chasten us and give us trials otherwise we will not grow. They are grateful for the opportunity to grow.
In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 we are given some great words of comfort. After reading these words we feel as if we can handle our own tribulations. There is much more than this life. In the expanse of eternity this life is just a pinprick. We are not stuck, the tribulation will end even if it lasts our entire life. Verse 18 also tells us that it is not the physical things that matter, but the spiritual. Our bodies may be beaten and tormented, but when we reach heaven the Lord will look at the things we cannot see, He will look at our spirits and what we have become. This is how we will be judged so this is how we should grow. If we can make it through tribulation and still realize that God loves us then life will be much better now and in the hereafter.
After reading about Paul's experiences I can find a few things that are similar between him and Joseph Smith. Both men were persecuted heavily and both turned to the Lord. They were both strengthened and realized that this life is not everything, it is just a short time. They end up glorying in tribulation. They have both undergone unimaginable cruelty, but they both come out conqueror. They know what the goal is and why they should come out conqueror so they do.
Both Paul and Joseph's strength came out of what Paul would call the grace of Christ. This is the power by which Christ helps us overcome our weaknesses. As fallen mortals we make mistakes.We mess up and we have no way to redeem ourselves. Because we have messed up we cannot save ourselves. We need an advocate. Christ is that advocate. He takes everything that we have messed up on or had troubles with and makes it better so that we will be able to have eternal life if we so desire after this life. Christ's grace saves us and makes us stronger. If we know that Christ has made this sacrifice so that we can return to our Heavenly Father we won't want to waste his sacrifice and we will do all we can to make the sacrifice well worth it. Grace is a saving power. It can strengthen us and help us move forward.
In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 we are told that Paul has a weakness, what he terms as "a thorn in the flesh". We do not know what this weakness is, but we know that it really bugs Paul and that he tries to get rid of it and prays to have it taken from him multiple times. The weakness is not taken from him, but he is told, "my grace is sufficient for thee." He knows that the Lord will be there to help save him from his weakness. He is made strong in his faith and hope in Christ. His weakness is not taken away and it doesn't even seem as if he is strengthened upon his weakness, but rather his character is strengthened so that he can move past the weakness. This is the miracle of the grace of Christ.The same thing was done for the people in Mosiah. Their burdens were not taken away, but they received strength to carry them. In my own life I can use this principle when there seems there is no way out. Perhaps there is no way I can get rid of my weakness, but I can become stronger in areas such as faith that help me move past the weakness. A weakness does not have to consume me. I am not subject to my "thorn in the flesh". Instead, I have a loving Savior who offers me his grace and will help me learn from my weakness and be able to lift my burdens easier. They will be made light through my strength.
We are so blessed to have a loving Savior who was willing to fulfill his part of the Plan of Salvation. It is now our turn to fulfill our part and take advantage of his sacrifice. Never give in. Never surrender. Never allow despair to overcome your spirit.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Become an Example
Paul gave a lot of advice to the Corinthians. One piece of advice that he gave them is to be an example. In 1 Cor. 4:9 Paul specifically addresses the fact that the apostles are to be examples. However, if only the apostles are examples then we will get no where. In Alma 39:11 Alma tells Corianton, "for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words." When we stand for something we need to stand for it. My high school band director once told us a story of his high school band. They went on a trip to a competition. While on the bus some of the band members decided to use some drugs. They ended up getting busted and a report of the event went in the newspaper. From that day forward when people heard about the band program all they could think of was druggies. The example of just a couple of the members tainted the entire program. This same thing can happen in the church. If we aren't careful then we might pass on a bad reputation for the church. It won't matter what we say because all the community can remember is what we did. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "What you are shouts so loudly in my ears that I cannot hear what you say." We must be careful of who we are because it often times means more than what we say.
I believe this is why in 1 Corinthians 4:2 Paul advises that the saints be "faithful". It is also why verse 16 states, "Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me." We must become an example of our Savior Jesus Christ. We may not ever become exactly like him while on this earth, but we can do our best to represent him. If we don't represent him, but say that we do then we are hypocrites. We also leave others with an incorrect view of the Savior. If we know what's right as Alma's son Corianton did, and don't do it then it might as well be that we don't know it.
In 3 Nephi 8:1 we learn that Nephi kept the record of the people at the time. They people knew that the record was correct because they knew who Nephi was and that he would not lie. He had become an example. We also learn in this verse that if we are examples and are living worthily then we may help in many miracles. We can become like the Savior himself and provide for those who need our help.
After all of this though I believe that the biggest influence of why I should become an example comes from my childhood. I grew up in a group of friends who were all different religions. We represented LDS, Catholics, Lutherans, and Baptists. I learned a lot from my friends. We all had slightly different standards, but we all respected each others standards. We represented who we had been raised to be the best we could. Sometimes I feel as if they did a better job than I did. As a result, none of us look down on each other or the different religions we represent. I can to this day say that I have never thought poorly of another religion and I'm pretty certain that my friends can say the same. We have all gone our separate ways and made our own choices, but we all learned to respect each other because of the examples we set for each other. This is why an example is important. For the sake of the whole.
I believe this is why in 1 Corinthians 4:2 Paul advises that the saints be "faithful". It is also why verse 16 states, "Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me." We must become an example of our Savior Jesus Christ. We may not ever become exactly like him while on this earth, but we can do our best to represent him. If we don't represent him, but say that we do then we are hypocrites. We also leave others with an incorrect view of the Savior. If we know what's right as Alma's son Corianton did, and don't do it then it might as well be that we don't know it.
In 3 Nephi 8:1 we learn that Nephi kept the record of the people at the time. They people knew that the record was correct because they knew who Nephi was and that he would not lie. He had become an example. We also learn in this verse that if we are examples and are living worthily then we may help in many miracles. We can become like the Savior himself and provide for those who need our help.
After all of this though I believe that the biggest influence of why I should become an example comes from my childhood. I grew up in a group of friends who were all different religions. We represented LDS, Catholics, Lutherans, and Baptists. I learned a lot from my friends. We all had slightly different standards, but we all respected each others standards. We represented who we had been raised to be the best we could. Sometimes I feel as if they did a better job than I did. As a result, none of us look down on each other or the different religions we represent. I can to this day say that I have never thought poorly of another religion and I'm pretty certain that my friends can say the same. We have all gone our separate ways and made our own choices, but we all learned to respect each other because of the examples we set for each other. This is why an example is important. For the sake of the whole.
Friday, May 6, 2011
The Beautiful Counsel of Paul
In Paul's letters to the Thessalonians he gives them a lot of advice. He even lists out some attributes that they should seek to acquire or improve upon. Whether the Thessalonians actually took his advice or not I do not know, but I do know that Paul probably would give this advice to more than just the Thessalonians. So I have listed out the things that Paul suggests to work on. I believe this is a list we should always be working on so I will post it here.
First, is the attribute of praying for others. I love to pray! I love to ask for advice and give thanks to a loving Father! However, I find that recently I have rarely been praying for anyone, but myself. If I want to build the kingdom then how am I ever going to get somewhere by only trying build myself. Thus, I have decided to try something in my prayers. You know how we are often given ideas for how to give thanks by saying one thing you're grateful for for every thing that you ask for? I believe the same thing could work with praying for others. For every thing I ask for myself I will also ask for something for someone else. This does not mean it has to be really specific because I don't know what everyone needs, but I can even just pray for the world, which is kind of a cool thought.
Second, is something we could all probably work on a little bit more: love one another. I don't know if you've noticed, but we live in a selfish world. I seek for what is best for me, not necessarily those around me. I always want to further myself. What if I put that same effort into those around me? What if I cared enough to help my roommates and classmates improve as much as I seek to improve? I think praying for others will greatly help in this idea, but I believe it will take a lot more work than that. I will have to be accepting and learn to help others without sounding like I think I'm any better than them, because I'm not. I will watch my thoughts. I will stop a judgmental thought before it goes too far. I will share advice when I find it appropriate and not hold back what I can help with. I will also accept help from others when they want to help. This way I will learn to love.
Finally, Paul told the Thessalonians to walk orderly. I'm not sure that this is what he meant, but it's how I'm taking it, to organize your life so that you are getting things done in an orderly fashion and doing what the Lord would have you do. Now, I do keep a planner and I write down everything that I need to accomplish. However, I have a difficult time sticking to that planner. I mostly just do whatever I feel like at the moment and then I wonder why I have wasted so much time. I believe that if I changed this then I would get a lot more done and feel better about myself at the end of the day. So I propose two things for me to do. First, I will make a reasonable schedule in my planner and stick to it the best I can. Second, I will listen a little harder for what I need to be doing. I know that the Lord probably has provided service opportunities for me all around, but I am too busy to listen. So I will listen and try my best to do. Hopefully I will then feel better at the end of the day.
Thank You Paul!
- Love one another
- Walk and please God
- Abstain from fornication
- Honor your body
- Don't take advantage of others
- Don't despise
- Study to be quiet
- Work with your own hands
- Be honest
- Watch
- Be sober
- Have faith
- Have hope of Salvation
- Keep the commandments
- Walk orderly
- Work
- Live in harmony with God
- Edify one another
- Be at peace among each other
- Comfort the feebleminded
- Support the weak
- Be patient
- Follow that which is good
- Rejoice
- Pray without ceasing
- Give thanks
- Prove/Examine/Test all things
- Abstain from the appearance of evil
- Pray for others
- Withdraw from unrighteousness
- Don't be a busy-body
First, is the attribute of praying for others. I love to pray! I love to ask for advice and give thanks to a loving Father! However, I find that recently I have rarely been praying for anyone, but myself. If I want to build the kingdom then how am I ever going to get somewhere by only trying build myself. Thus, I have decided to try something in my prayers. You know how we are often given ideas for how to give thanks by saying one thing you're grateful for for every thing that you ask for? I believe the same thing could work with praying for others. For every thing I ask for myself I will also ask for something for someone else. This does not mean it has to be really specific because I don't know what everyone needs, but I can even just pray for the world, which is kind of a cool thought.
Second, is something we could all probably work on a little bit more: love one another. I don't know if you've noticed, but we live in a selfish world. I seek for what is best for me, not necessarily those around me. I always want to further myself. What if I put that same effort into those around me? What if I cared enough to help my roommates and classmates improve as much as I seek to improve? I think praying for others will greatly help in this idea, but I believe it will take a lot more work than that. I will have to be accepting and learn to help others without sounding like I think I'm any better than them, because I'm not. I will watch my thoughts. I will stop a judgmental thought before it goes too far. I will share advice when I find it appropriate and not hold back what I can help with. I will also accept help from others when they want to help. This way I will learn to love.
Finally, Paul told the Thessalonians to walk orderly. I'm not sure that this is what he meant, but it's how I'm taking it, to organize your life so that you are getting things done in an orderly fashion and doing what the Lord would have you do. Now, I do keep a planner and I write down everything that I need to accomplish. However, I have a difficult time sticking to that planner. I mostly just do whatever I feel like at the moment and then I wonder why I have wasted so much time. I believe that if I changed this then I would get a lot more done and feel better about myself at the end of the day. So I propose two things for me to do. First, I will make a reasonable schedule in my planner and stick to it the best I can. Second, I will listen a little harder for what I need to be doing. I know that the Lord probably has provided service opportunities for me all around, but I am too busy to listen. So I will listen and try my best to do. Hopefully I will then feel better at the end of the day.
Thank You Paul!
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