Like Becky said (although I didn’t want to agree) today hasn’t been the best day because we didn’t really have a plan.
I’ve spent much of the day vegging in front of the TV watching World Cup Soccer (USA tied with England 1-1).
Things that have tempted me today:
- Browsing around a bit on Facebook, looking at friends pics or people I don’t even know
- Flipping the channels
- Having a few thoughts
- Losing patience with Caleb and Madi
- Being a bit frustrated with Becky
- Being idle
Whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ” (Mosiah 5:9).
Most of us think of taking Christ’s name upon us in context of baptism and the sacrament, and rightly so. Consider for a moment what it might mean to be called by the name of Christ and to have His reputation as your own.
This is a bit hard to imagine. This scripture reminds me a bit of going to the temple and what we learn there.
To have the reputation of Christ would be really difficult I think: many eyes watching you, not many really understanding what your true purpose was, people doubting you, people judging you, etc.
The tough thing about the way the world is now is that those that do good can sometimes be looked down on. One of the goals I need to have is to not care what people think, but care only what God thinks – avoiding the “…fear of the arm of the flesh” more than the “fear of the arm of God.”
We went to the temple last night and I was reading Alma 5 before I went in to the endowment session. Here were some of the scriptures that stuck out to me:
[the people of Alma] were adelivered out of the hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of God.
This caught my attention, and I think it pertains to this topic of having the name and reputation of Christ as my own: the only way the people could be “delivered” was by the “mercy an power of God.” They couldn’t do it on their own. They were “natural men, an enemy to God”. But through His strength, they were able to be set free from bondage. The interesting thing is, that after they were set free once, they were again put in to bondage “and again the Lord did deliver them out of bbondage by the power of his word;…”
vs. 7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the abands of death, and the bchains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them…and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their btrust in the true and cliving God. And behold, they were faithful until the dend; therefore they were saved.
vs. 38 Behold, I say unto you, that the good ashepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not bhearken unto the voice of the cgood shepherd, to the dname by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.
As I read these verses in the Temple and then again today, it’s so interesting how they go right together with what I’m reading in the manual, even with this step’s question. The people humbled themselves before God, called on His name continually, were loosed from the chains of bondage, and put their trust in the true and living God. The good shepherd called them, and in his own name he called them, which is the name of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 5 was also interesting because it talked about some of my core character weaknesses:
- “…will ye still persist in the wearing of ccostly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your driches?” – not always focusing on what’s most important, not prioritizing sufficiently.
- “…will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another…” – just as it says.
I’m grateful I’ve taken this route today to not continue down a path that would not have led anywhere good.
I’m grateful I was able to go up and get Caleb out of his “nap” (which he wasn’t taking) and not get mad at him.
I’m grateful I was able to make time to play catch with him.
I’m grateful to know these things are true.
I’m grateful God will not give up on me and waits patiently for me while I try to do things on my own.
I pray that I can humble myself enough to completely submit my will over to Heavenly Father and not look back wondering “what if?”
Hasta Luego!
Nate
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