When Jesus and the Apostles were in the area of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked them who men were saying He was. He also asked them who they thought He was. Peter, being moved upon by the Spirit declared, "Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Peter had received revelation from God, teaching and witnessing to him that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah, the very Son of God. Jesus goes on, stating Peter's name then saying that He would build His church upon "this rock." Because the word petros has meaning relating to rock, many Christians interpret this passage (Matthew 16:13-20) to mean that Christ would build His church upon Peter. That was not what Jesus meant. He would build His church upon the rock of REVELATION. God would reveal His truths to man by communicating from the heavens through the Holy Ghost, as He did to Peter.
Peter was promised that he would receive the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and that "whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Peter would become the president of the Church and would be given the keys of the Priesthood. He would be given the authority to perform sacred "sealing" ordinances that would be binding on earth, and in the heavens, as well. Peter, James, and John served as the First Presidency of the Church in their time (in that sense, the responsibility of the Church was upon Peter's shoulders). That same Priesthood authority, with those same binding keys, functions in Christ's Church here on earth today under the direction of today's First Presidency.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Inward purity
Jesus was teaching in Capernaum when a group of scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem challenged Him with the question, "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of th elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread." Jesus used that question to teach a great principle: "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man" (Matthew 15:11). Even His disciples didn't understand what He meant, so steeped were they in the man-made traditions attached to living the law of Moses. He explained, "Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man" (Matthew 15:17-20).
This very clear statement supports the eternal truth "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Our thoughts reflect (or create) our true character and degree of inward purity. If our thoughts are noble and rich, if they focus on that which is virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praisworthy, then our character is built of virtue, beauty, love, that which is good, and that which is of great worth. The opposite is just as true. An evil mind will produce an evil character. Such a person may outwardly try to appear to be righteous, as did the Pharisees, but it is impossible to consistently hide a mind filled with corruption. One's true character will eventually be known. And most importantly, nothing can be hidden from the Lord.
This very clear statement supports the eternal truth "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Our thoughts reflect (or create) our true character and degree of inward purity. If our thoughts are noble and rich, if they focus on that which is virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praisworthy, then our character is built of virtue, beauty, love, that which is good, and that which is of great worth. The opposite is just as true. An evil mind will produce an evil character. Such a person may outwardly try to appear to be righteous, as did the Pharisees, but it is impossible to consistently hide a mind filled with corruption. One's true character will eventually be known. And most importantly, nothing can be hidden from the Lord.
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Bread of Life
What would it have been like to live in Galilee or Judea in about 30 to 33 A.D.? What would have been my thoughts and feelings if I had witnessed the miracles Jesus performed and heard his teachings from His own mouth? Would I have been a true disciple? I like to think so.
The feeding of the 5000 men plus women and children was one of the most publically witnessed miracles. The Jews were looking for the Messiah to come - the One who they believed would deliver them from the hated Roman tyrants that ruled them. They recognized great power in Jesus, and they wanted Him to declare Himself their king. He could rid them of the Roman dominion and even provide them with free daily bread, as the Lord provided Moses and the Israelites (manna) to sustain them in the wilderness.
He refused their attempts to make Him king, for that was not why He had come. He understood the Messianic traditions and hopes of the common people - and that they were not much interested in the Gospel He taught, only in what He could do for them in a temporal sense. The day after the feeding of the 5000 a great multitude came to Him again, hoping for a free meal. Instead, He taught them the great sermon on the Bread of Life. He taught them that the only way for them to have eternal salvation was to eat of His flesh - the bread of life. The people didn't like what He said. They appeared to be repulsed by His imagery, refusing to look beyond the literal meaning of his words. Most of those present that day abandoned Him.
The Jews well understood His symbolic language, but they refused to HEAR Him. They didn't want a Messiah who required that they repent of their sins, clean up their lives and follow Him. It seemed easier to obey the outward rules that had been tacked onto the law of Moses than it was to truly love God and their neighbors and live the righteous principles He taught.
Unfortunately, that same kind of problem exists today among many Christians. They think that because Jesus loves them, He will forgive their sins and welcome them into His kingdom in the eternities if they only "believe" in Him. They forget that He never recinded the ten commandments and that He greatly expanded them in His teachings as recorded in the New Testament. They don't think it necessary to "eat His flesh" by repenting, obeying, and following His example. We cannot live in sin, disregard His words, then find ourselves blissfully living with Him in the eternities. Yes, He loves each of us perfectly. But those who refuse to live according to the principles and ordinances He has established will find that His love, without our obedience, will not grant us the full eternal blessings that His great atoning sacrifice has made available to us.
Let us truly partake of the Bread of Life. Symbolically, we do that each week when we partake of the sacrament bread, but in reality we must strive to incorporate His nature - His attributes into our very being.
The feeding of the 5000 men plus women and children was one of the most publically witnessed miracles. The Jews were looking for the Messiah to come - the One who they believed would deliver them from the hated Roman tyrants that ruled them. They recognized great power in Jesus, and they wanted Him to declare Himself their king. He could rid them of the Roman dominion and even provide them with free daily bread, as the Lord provided Moses and the Israelites (manna) to sustain them in the wilderness.
He refused their attempts to make Him king, for that was not why He had come. He understood the Messianic traditions and hopes of the common people - and that they were not much interested in the Gospel He taught, only in what He could do for them in a temporal sense. The day after the feeding of the 5000 a great multitude came to Him again, hoping for a free meal. Instead, He taught them the great sermon on the Bread of Life. He taught them that the only way for them to have eternal salvation was to eat of His flesh - the bread of life. The people didn't like what He said. They appeared to be repulsed by His imagery, refusing to look beyond the literal meaning of his words. Most of those present that day abandoned Him.
The Jews well understood His symbolic language, but they refused to HEAR Him. They didn't want a Messiah who required that they repent of their sins, clean up their lives and follow Him. It seemed easier to obey the outward rules that had been tacked onto the law of Moses than it was to truly love God and their neighbors and live the righteous principles He taught.
Unfortunately, that same kind of problem exists today among many Christians. They think that because Jesus loves them, He will forgive their sins and welcome them into His kingdom in the eternities if they only "believe" in Him. They forget that He never recinded the ten commandments and that He greatly expanded them in His teachings as recorded in the New Testament. They don't think it necessary to "eat His flesh" by repenting, obeying, and following His example. We cannot live in sin, disregard His words, then find ourselves blissfully living with Him in the eternities. Yes, He loves each of us perfectly. But those who refuse to live according to the principles and ordinances He has established will find that His love, without our obedience, will not grant us the full eternal blessings that His great atoning sacrifice has made available to us.
Let us truly partake of the Bread of Life. Symbolically, we do that each week when we partake of the sacrament bread, but in reality we must strive to incorporate His nature - His attributes into our very being.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Receiving the Lord's Servants
We are to give heed to the Lord's servants.
When it was time for Jesus to expand His ministry, He called and authorized His apostles to go forth as missionaries to teach the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out unclean spirits, etc. He told them, "He that receiveth you receiveth me. . ." (Matthew 10:40.)
When Jesus told his apostles that they represented him, he was expressing a principle that had been in force and had applied to the servants of God in every age. It is applicable today just as it was anciently. In his conference talk of October 1960, Pres. Marion G. Romney said, "This statement is worth emphasizing. 'He that receiveth my servants receiveth me.' Who are his servants? They are his representatives in the offices of the Priesthood - the General, Stake, Priesthood Quorum, and Ward officers. It behooves us to keep this in mind when we are tempted to disregard our presiding authorities, bishops, quorum and stake presidents, etc., when, within the jurisdiction of their callings, they give us counsel and advice."
"The servants of the Lord are ambassadors of the Lord, sent by him to you. The way you treat his servants, the way you react to what they say, is the way you are treating the Lord" (Matthew 10:41; Luke 10:16.)
Church members who aren't truly converted often ignore the counsel of their bishops, stake presidents, and other Priesthood leaders, thinking, instead, that they must hear it from a general authority. But when our local Priesthood authorities are called, they are given stewardship over the people in their wards and stakes, and as they seek inspiration from the Lord, their counsel is as valid as that from the general authorities. We will be held accountable for how we receive the inspired counsel from the Lord through His authorized servants, regardless of how high or low in the "church hierarchy" they are. It will be as though we refused the words of the Lord, Himself.
Unfortunately, it seems that much of the population of the world does not want God in their lives. Yet, as I listen to and read what is being said, there seems to be a general feeling that something "big" is coming. The different "worried" opinions and theories being put forth are pretty interesting, but no one seems to know what to expect or what to do about it. I don't know, either, but I am grateful to know that we have inspired Priesthood leaders whose counsel we can trust, and if we obey, we will find the best way to deal with the challenges.
When it was time for Jesus to expand His ministry, He called and authorized His apostles to go forth as missionaries to teach the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out unclean spirits, etc. He told them, "He that receiveth you receiveth me. . ." (Matthew 10:40.)
When Jesus told his apostles that they represented him, he was expressing a principle that had been in force and had applied to the servants of God in every age. It is applicable today just as it was anciently. In his conference talk of October 1960, Pres. Marion G. Romney said, "This statement is worth emphasizing. 'He that receiveth my servants receiveth me.' Who are his servants? They are his representatives in the offices of the Priesthood - the General, Stake, Priesthood Quorum, and Ward officers. It behooves us to keep this in mind when we are tempted to disregard our presiding authorities, bishops, quorum and stake presidents, etc., when, within the jurisdiction of their callings, they give us counsel and advice."
"The servants of the Lord are ambassadors of the Lord, sent by him to you. The way you treat his servants, the way you react to what they say, is the way you are treating the Lord" (Matthew 10:41; Luke 10:16.)
Church members who aren't truly converted often ignore the counsel of their bishops, stake presidents, and other Priesthood leaders, thinking, instead, that they must hear it from a general authority. But when our local Priesthood authorities are called, they are given stewardship over the people in their wards and stakes, and as they seek inspiration from the Lord, their counsel is as valid as that from the general authorities. We will be held accountable for how we receive the inspired counsel from the Lord through His authorized servants, regardless of how high or low in the "church hierarchy" they are. It will be as though we refused the words of the Lord, Himself.
Unfortunately, it seems that much of the population of the world does not want God in their lives. Yet, as I listen to and read what is being said, there seems to be a general feeling that something "big" is coming. The different "worried" opinions and theories being put forth are pretty interesting, but no one seems to know what to expect or what to do about it. I don't know, either, but I am grateful to know that we have inspired Priesthood leaders whose counsel we can trust, and if we obey, we will find the best way to deal with the challenges.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Being Steadfast
Jesus often taught using parables. Those who believed in Him and whose hearts were open to His teachings were most able to understand the parables. Even so, Jesus sometimes had to explain them to His followers, as recorded in the N.T. To those seeking to find fault with His teachings, the parables were nothing more than stories. The parable of the Sower is one that Jesus explained the meaning of. Commenting on the "stony places" (Matt. 13:5, 6, 20, 21; Mark 4:5, 16, 17; Luke 8:6, 13), the study guide says:
"Just as the rootless sprout is unable to remain alive under the heat of the noonday sun, so there are those who, without real testimony and faith, lose conviction and even interest under the pressures of difficulties or ridicule. Though not commenting directly on the Savior's parable, President Heber C. Kimball prophesied over a century ago of a condition that illustrates the need for a deeply rooted, living faith capable of enduring challenges. The prophecy has an increasingly important messabe for the Church in our day as it faces the unfolding future.
"'Let me say to you, that many of you will see the time when you will have all the trouble, trial and persecution that you can stand, and plenty of opportunities to show that you are true to God and his work. This Church has before it many close places through which it will have to pass before the work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for youselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it. If you do not you will not stand.
"'Remember these sayings, for many of you will live to see them fulfilled. The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand?' (Quoted by Harold B. Lee in CR, Oct. 1965, p. 128.)
This warning pertains to conditions that will challenge the Church as a whole, and to each of us as individuals. Even when we think our faith and testimonies are strong, we will find them challenged at times in our own personal lives, when others around us are not affected. The adversary knows our weak spots and how to use them against us when we are most vulnerable. We must be strongly converted and able to "keep on keeping on" even if the Heavens seem "like brass overhead" when we cry out for help. Satan would have us give up - even turn against God when that happens. A testimony sown on stony ground (in stony hearts) will not survive. And even if our ground is good, we must constantly nourish and cultivate it to keep it from growing hard and crusty and from producing thorns and thistles. Faith and testimonies cannot be neglected or taken for granted, or they will weaken.
"Just as the rootless sprout is unable to remain alive under the heat of the noonday sun, so there are those who, without real testimony and faith, lose conviction and even interest under the pressures of difficulties or ridicule. Though not commenting directly on the Savior's parable, President Heber C. Kimball prophesied over a century ago of a condition that illustrates the need for a deeply rooted, living faith capable of enduring challenges. The prophecy has an increasingly important messabe for the Church in our day as it faces the unfolding future.
"'Let me say to you, that many of you will see the time when you will have all the trouble, trial and persecution that you can stand, and plenty of opportunities to show that you are true to God and his work. This Church has before it many close places through which it will have to pass before the work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for youselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it. If you do not you will not stand.
"'Remember these sayings, for many of you will live to see them fulfilled. The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand?' (Quoted by Harold B. Lee in CR, Oct. 1965, p. 128.)
This warning pertains to conditions that will challenge the Church as a whole, and to each of us as individuals. Even when we think our faith and testimonies are strong, we will find them challenged at times in our own personal lives, when others around us are not affected. The adversary knows our weak spots and how to use them against us when we are most vulnerable. We must be strongly converted and able to "keep on keeping on" even if the Heavens seem "like brass overhead" when we cry out for help. Satan would have us give up - even turn against God when that happens. A testimony sown on stony ground (in stony hearts) will not survive. And even if our ground is good, we must constantly nourish and cultivate it to keep it from growing hard and crusty and from producing thorns and thistles. Faith and testimonies cannot be neglected or taken for granted, or they will weaken.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Beatitudes
Matthew 5 ends with a commandment that seems way out of reach: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Was Jesus being realistic when He issued that command?
President Harold B. Lee called the Sermon on the Mount "The Constitution for a Perfect Life." He compares it to a ladder that we must climb if we want to fulfill the command Jesus gave. He said the Beatitudes, especially, are the rungs on the ladder. It seems that the rest of the sermon tells us how to apply the Beatitudes in our daily lives. Also, if we want to know who Jesus is and how He lived His life, we can learn by studying the sermon. If we strive to live the instructions given in the sermon, we will eventually achieve the perfection he commands. Obviously it won't all be accomplished here, but earnestly trying to live as Jesus taught moves us towards that goal.
Turning from the love of the world to the Love of God.
1. Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (recognizing our need for God)
"To be poor in spirit is to feel youselves as the spiritually needy, ever dependent upon the Lord for your clothes, your food, the air you breathe, your health, your life; realizing that no day should pass without fervent prayer of thanksgiving, for guidance, and forgiveness and strength sufficient for each day's need."
2. Blessed Are They That Mourn (to mourn that we are in a sinful state)
"To mourn, as the Master's lesson here woul teach, one must show that 'godly sorrow that worketh repentance' and wins for the penitent a forgiveness of sins and forbids a return to the deeds of which he mourns."
3. Blessed Are the Meek (meek, not weak)
"A meek man is defined as one who is not easily provoked or irritated and is forbearing under injury or annoyance. The meek man is the strong, the mighty, the man of complete self-mastery. He is the one who has the courage of his moral convictions, despite the pressure of the gang or the club."
4. Blessed Are They That Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness (After we recognize our need for God, feel godly sorrow for our sinful state, and become meek and contrite, we long to fill our souls with righteousness.)
"It is that hungering and thirsting after righteousness that leads us to seek fellowship with the saints in sacrament services and that induces worship on the Lord's Day. It is that which prompts fervent prayer and leads our feet to holy temples and bids us be reverent therein." It is that which draws our hearts to the scriptures and the words of our prophets and apostles, that we may learn of Christ and what He would have us do.
Learning to love our fellowmen follows as we strive to bring the above attributes into our soul.
5. Blessed Are the Pure in Heart (repentance in thoughts and actions)
"If you would see God you must be pure. Only if you are pure in heart will you see God, and also in a lesser degree will you be able to see the 'God' or good in man and love him because of the goodness you see in him. Those who criticize and maligns the man of God or the Lord's anointed leaders in his Church, speak from an impure heart."
6. Blessed Are the Merciful (respect and mercy towards all life)
Our salvation depends upon the mercy we show to others. Unkind and cruel words, or wanton acts of cruelty towards man or beast, for whatever reasons, disqualify the perpetrator in his claims for mercy in the day of judgment. Blessed are all who are merciful for they shall obtain mercy.
7. Blessed Are the Peacemakers (not accepting or embracing sin, but not condemning other for theirs)
"Peace and goodwill to men on earth" was the angel song that heralded the birth of the Prince of Peace. The troublemaker, the striker against law and order, etc., are prompted by motives of evil and are under the influence of Satan. So, also, is the one who is quarrelsome or contentious, seeking only to prove his point rather than seeking for truth.
8. Blessed Are They Which are Persecuted (People who love the "world" are angry and hateful towards those who love God.)
"If you stand firmly for the right despite the jeers of the crowd or even physical violence, you shall be crowned with the blessedness of eternal joy."
9. Continue your efforts to Acquire the Attributes of God
President Harold B. Lee called the Sermon on the Mount "The Constitution for a Perfect Life." He compares it to a ladder that we must climb if we want to fulfill the command Jesus gave. He said the Beatitudes, especially, are the rungs on the ladder. It seems that the rest of the sermon tells us how to apply the Beatitudes in our daily lives. Also, if we want to know who Jesus is and how He lived His life, we can learn by studying the sermon. If we strive to live the instructions given in the sermon, we will eventually achieve the perfection he commands. Obviously it won't all be accomplished here, but earnestly trying to live as Jesus taught moves us towards that goal.
Turning from the love of the world to the Love of God.
1. Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (recognizing our need for God)
"To be poor in spirit is to feel youselves as the spiritually needy, ever dependent upon the Lord for your clothes, your food, the air you breathe, your health, your life; realizing that no day should pass without fervent prayer of thanksgiving, for guidance, and forgiveness and strength sufficient for each day's need."
2. Blessed Are They That Mourn (to mourn that we are in a sinful state)
"To mourn, as the Master's lesson here woul teach, one must show that 'godly sorrow that worketh repentance' and wins for the penitent a forgiveness of sins and forbids a return to the deeds of which he mourns."
3. Blessed Are the Meek (meek, not weak)
"A meek man is defined as one who is not easily provoked or irritated and is forbearing under injury or annoyance. The meek man is the strong, the mighty, the man of complete self-mastery. He is the one who has the courage of his moral convictions, despite the pressure of the gang or the club."
4. Blessed Are They That Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness (After we recognize our need for God, feel godly sorrow for our sinful state, and become meek and contrite, we long to fill our souls with righteousness.)
"It is that hungering and thirsting after righteousness that leads us to seek fellowship with the saints in sacrament services and that induces worship on the Lord's Day. It is that which prompts fervent prayer and leads our feet to holy temples and bids us be reverent therein." It is that which draws our hearts to the scriptures and the words of our prophets and apostles, that we may learn of Christ and what He would have us do.
Learning to love our fellowmen follows as we strive to bring the above attributes into our soul.
5. Blessed Are the Pure in Heart (repentance in thoughts and actions)
"If you would see God you must be pure. Only if you are pure in heart will you see God, and also in a lesser degree will you be able to see the 'God' or good in man and love him because of the goodness you see in him. Those who criticize and maligns the man of God or the Lord's anointed leaders in his Church, speak from an impure heart."
6. Blessed Are the Merciful (respect and mercy towards all life)
Our salvation depends upon the mercy we show to others. Unkind and cruel words, or wanton acts of cruelty towards man or beast, for whatever reasons, disqualify the perpetrator in his claims for mercy in the day of judgment. Blessed are all who are merciful for they shall obtain mercy.
7. Blessed Are the Peacemakers (not accepting or embracing sin, but not condemning other for theirs)
"Peace and goodwill to men on earth" was the angel song that heralded the birth of the Prince of Peace. The troublemaker, the striker against law and order, etc., are prompted by motives of evil and are under the influence of Satan. So, also, is the one who is quarrelsome or contentious, seeking only to prove his point rather than seeking for truth.
8. Blessed Are They Which are Persecuted (People who love the "world" are angry and hateful towards those who love God.)
"If you stand firmly for the right despite the jeers of the crowd or even physical violence, you shall be crowned with the blessedness of eternal joy."
9. Continue your efforts to Acquire the Attributes of God
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)