Ponderize Scripture: John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
Monday 12/14
John 3:1-36 v. 16 "that whosoever believeth in him..." What does believeth mean? It is a form of action. I think of how do people see me...Do I have the attributes or am seeking the attributes of Christ? Service to others? Do I know and utilize the Atonement daily in my life? Do I know Christ? Have I felt the Holy Ghost testify of him (touch my heart)? v.36 talks about receiving of 'his fulness'. To me that means being cleansed and enabled. It means that I have peace of conscience and an assurance that things will work out. v.35 says that the fulness comes by the Holy Ghost. It is what actually cleanses and fills with light.
Tuesday 12/15
Mark 6:16-20 v. 20 "For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy man, and one who feared God and observed to worship him; and when he heard him he did many things for him, and heard him gladly." Interesting the impact that John had on Herod. Being a good person and striving to live the gospel helps one to have a positive impact on others. 'Fearing' is having respect for someone, having admiration, and even love. Herod respected John and John respected the Lord.
John 4:4-42 v.14 Christ is the living water. Why? The Atonement makes it possible to live forever and to have eternal life. "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst;" What does never thirsting mean? v. 23 "...the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth...for unto such hath God promised his Spirit. And they who worship him, must worship in spirit and in truth." What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth? I assume in spirit means not being able to see God, thus one must use faith (ie prayer, commandments, following example). Truth to me means a couple of things; both with real intent and in the correct way (ie baptism, sacrament, priesthood, ordinances, temple).
Wednesday 12/16
John 4:43-35, v.44 "Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country." The people who are closest to us see our faults and weaknesses and the tendency is for them to be critical and judgmental of our potential. Jesus received that same treatment. A higher way would be to be supportive and encouraging and to have eyes that see the good in someone and their potential, not their impediments. It is easy to see the bad, harder to see the good, but divine to see the potential.
John 4: 46-54, A nobleman's son is healed. The miracle was proceeded with faith (ACTION). The nobleman journeyed far to find Jesus. When Jesus told him (ie a commandment) he obeyed not knowing beforehand the why and that every hour the son was healed. The man showed faith coming to Jesus and that faith increased as he obeyed the Lord's commands. Tender mercies were then poured out upon him and he received the gospel. How applicable that is for me. Go the extra mile with the Lord and miracles will occur.
Thursday 12/17
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf A Summer with Great-Aunt Rose "Faith in the Savior taught me that no matter what happened in the past, my story could have a happy ending...'And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.'...'why get swallowed up in past or present things that don't go quite the way we planned?'...'When we love God, we want t o serve Him. We want to be like Him. When we love our neighbors, we stop thinking so much about our own problems and help others to solve theirs...That is what makes us happy.' What a profound story about faith, hope, and charity. Faith in God and that he can do all things leads to hope and that hope helps to cultivate our love for God and then to others. That love is what makes people happy. It sounds so simple. Put God first, keep his commandments to show your faith and that will bring hope that things will work out. That leads to love in God and then to our fellowmen. This is so simple and profound and powerful. I love reading and listening to this talk again and again.
Friday 12/18
Luke 4: 16-30, v. 24 "Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country." Also v. 27 "And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian." Jesus was speaking of the lack of faith and hardheartedness of the Jews. The ones closest to us are the most critical of us. The Jews didn't have the faith to believe that the Messiah had come, especially from "Joseph's son".
Luke 4:31-32, v. 32 "They were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power." Power comes from God through the Holy Ghost. When I am worthy and seeking the Holy Ghost, he will testify unto the hearts of man and the word will have power.
Matt 4: 13-16, v. 16 "The people which sat in darkness saw great light..." Christ is light. Look to him and one will see light (truth, understanding, wisdom, courage, power, peace, etc...).
Saturday 12/19
Matt 4:18-22, Jesus calls his disciples. v.20 "And they straightway left their nets, and followed him." To me, they were touched by the Holy Ghost or something like that, but I like how they responded when they felt the prompting. They followed. I can't imagine how hard it would be to immediately leave a life that you have currently for something completely new and foreign.
Mark 1:16-20, v.17 "Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." What does it mean to me to be a fisher of men. The Savior extends the invitation to all of us disciples...in following the Savior and really coming to know of his Atonement and being converted we will want to share the Gospel. It will seem to radiate from us. Truly striving to live the gospel will encourage one to do missionary work.
Luke 5:1-11, This tells of how before Jesus called Peter and others to be his disciples a miracle occurred. v.5 "Master, we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net." Peter had faith already and trusted Jesus. They caught a ton of fish (faith precedes the miracle) and from henceforth followed Jesus. Interesting how a little miracle does such great things and even more so that the nets almost broke and the ships started to sink, though they didn't. To me, the Lord gives us as much as we can handle both with challenges and with blessings. Tender mercies can bless our lives in magnificent ways. Sometimes all we need is a little nudge, a little encouragement.
Sunday 12/20
Mark 1:35-39, v.35 "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." I really like this. How important it is to have some time alone to commune with God, to ponder and reflect. Being a perfect example, the Savior required some solitary time; therefore, how much more is needed for me. I think it is so interesting how the morning is described. How can I improve my morning devotional with the Lord?
Mark 1:40-45, Jesus heals a leper and the leper spreads the news of his healing. v."...insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter." My thought was that everyone needs the Savior. He is the answer. No matter where one lives, or what their situation in life is, all need to come to the Savior to be healed.
Luke 5:16 "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed." It just seems like this is so important. There must be time to commune with God alone.
Luke 5:17-26, v.22-23 "What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?" What does this mean? To me, this means that Christ can forgive sins because of the Atonement and it is as important for me to forgive others of their shortcomings. Healing occurs in either case, whether spiritually or physically because of the Atonement. Both require faith and the man with palsy friends had showed enough faith for the man to be healed both physically as well as spiritually.
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