Matthew 6:34

If I put the Lord first I don't need to worry about how my life will turn out because He will help me one day at a time. A while ago I had a really interesting conversation with my roommate. She asked me for my interpretation of this scripture's twin found in the Book of Mormon. She wanted to know why the Lord would say that our days are "evil". He says "sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof." As I pondered it then and as I ponder it now I come up with the same conclusion. He is not saying that our days are evil. If we look at the verses directly above this we see that Christ is talking about unneccessary worry and stress over basic needs like clothing, food, and shelter. He is telling us that we do not need to be stressed about clothes, especially about having the most beautiful and popular/trendy outfits. He says that He will take care of our needs and we will be beautiful in Him. Also we need not worry about what we will eat or where we will sleep. We don't need the biggest house and the fanciest dinners to be happy. Rather to be truely happy all we need to do is to do His work. To follow Him and put the Lord's Kingdom first. How do we do that? By the standard Sunday school answers, they are the standard for a reason. Be obedient to the commandments, read your scriptures, keep the Sabbath day holy, and pray often. If we do these things we don't need to stress and worry about how things will get done, how we will make ends meet or any other number of things in our futures that we worry about.

 

"Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof" doesn't mean that each day is evil it means "you have enough to worry about today stop stressing about tomorrow, trust me and I will lead you day by day into my kingdom."

Witnesses (Matt 3-4, Mark 1, Luke 3-4, John 1:19-4:54)

As I have been reading through the four gospels I realized how repetitive some of the stories are. I thought I just read this in Matthew and now I'm reading it again in Mark, Luke, or John. This caused me to think about why in the world these things are in the Bible so often. For example, Christ's baptism is described in great detail in Matt chapter 3 and in smaller detail in the other gospels. The stories are all basically the same, but from a slightly different perspective than the others. Each one is told from a man who knew Jesus personally, but had a slightly different personality, writing style, or maybe just a different perspective on what was happening. Some give details of how Christ healed strangers, and others tell about how he healed their own mothers. Each personality has different things that are important to them and that is highlighted in what they record. This has caused me to think about the law of witnesses set forth by Christ.

• Matthew 18:16

  16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

It is through witnesses, their similarities and differences, that we get a complete picture of Christ, HIS personality, HIS character, and HIS Gospel...

This is why there is more than one book in the Bible, God knew how important it is to show who His Son really is. This is also why we need the Book of Mormon Another Witness of Jesus Christ. There can never be enough testimonies of Christ! As I read about His life and His teachings I feel close to Him. I feel close to Him because He was close to THEM! I know that He knows me because He knew THEM!
What greater witness can you have then this one is of God's love for us that He would preserve these testimonies so that we can read them and KNOW He is there and that He loves His children? His love for us is as individual as His witnesses.

 

The beginning of my study of the 4 Gospels

I've decided to study the four Gospels in the King James version of the Holy Bible and to post what I find here on my Blog. I hope and pray that as I learn from the word of God that He will inspire me with greater insight and knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ. I also hope that anyone reading this will also be inspired and enjoy going down this journey with me. I haven't really blogged about this before so I'm excited to try something new.

While reading in Matthew chapters 1-2 and Luke 2 I was impressed with a certain theme presented in these books. That of receiving and following the guidance given us from God. In Matthew 1-2 it states over and over again how Joseph and Mary are given instructions and because they follow them (wither given in dreams or by heavenly messengers) the words of the Prophets are fulfilled. When we do what we are asked to do by God then we fulfill His word. We become a part of His work! How exciting is that? Even the wise men were prompted and followed instructions saving the life of God's Son. What an important roll they had in helping Him grow up safely. They even brought presents which helped give financial means to Mary and Joseph to travel and live in a foreign land until it was safe to return. What great blessings we can be in the lives of others when we do what God asks us to do!

I was also thinking about Simeon in Luke 2:25-29. He was given a feeling by the Spirit that he would see his Lord before he died. Now because of this he was faithful his WHOLE life waiting for the blessing to be given. Wow not that's dedication! He was in the temple (the house of God) doing his duty and following the Spirit and that is why he received the blessing that he was promised so many years ago. How wonderful is that? That through his faithfulness he got to see his Savior, and by the Spirit he knew the babe was his Savior. I would infer from this story that Simeon had often throughout his life received guidance from the Spirit and followed it to see the blessings revealed. These experiences throughout his life prepared him to follow this one that gave him such great joy. May I be like Simeon and follow the Spirit so that I can continually renew my faith in my God!