I thought I would get one last entry added to 2013. It's time to get it sent off to the printer and bound into a book for the bookshelf. This will be the biggest one since I started in 2007 with 213 entries. I can't believe I've had that much to say this year. Well…yes I can. I always have a lot to say, especially when it comes to my favorite subject - the gospel.
As I've mentioned I am studying the New Testament. I have been having a lot of thoughts as I am studying all the Epistles that Paul wrote. They are full of pertinent council for our day. Seriously good stuff! If you haven't had a chance to study the NT, I highly recommend it. You won't believe how much your understanding of the gospel will grow and as a result, your testimony which will lead to a more full conversion.
I am pretty much going to let the scriptures speak for themselves because they need little interpretation to get the application to our current situation as members of Christ's church today.
All of 2 Timothy 3 is good, so here it is:
Chapter 3
Paul describes the apostasy and perilous times of the last days—The scriptures guide man to salvation.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, a covetous, boasters, b proud, blasphemers, c disobedient to parents,d unthankful, unholy,
3 Without a natural b affection, c trucebreakers, d false accusers,e incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly a women laden with sins, led away with divers b lusts,
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these alsoa resist the truth: men of b corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their a folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 But thou hast a fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what a persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
14 But a continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a a child thou hast known the holy b scriptures, which are able to make thee c wise unto d salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 a All b scripture is given by c inspiration of God, and isd profitable for e doctrine, for f reproof, for correction, forg instruction in h righteousness:
This chapter is so good that there are 2 scripture masteries in it. Verses 1-5 and 16-17.
In chapter 2 of 2 Timothy Paul warns against a bunch of things and then says:
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be aa vessel unto honour, b sanctified, and c meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful a lusts: but follow b righteousness, faith, charity, c peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a d pure heart.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not a strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to b teach, patient,
25 In a meekness b instructing those that oppose themselves; if God c peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken a captive by him at his will.
If you are paying attention even a little bit to what is going on around us in the world today, it can be very frightening. It is hard to know how to live in such a world. What things to take on and which to leave alone. One thing we do know is that we will suffer persecution. We have never been so divided and divisive in our country over religion and we have a climate of religious persecution being acceptable on the basis that it is hateful on the basis of calling out sin. We are told that there is no sin and to say that there is, is hateful. We have to be careful how we approach inviting people to repentance. We need to be gentle and meek not divisive. Paul warned about all of this and gave us our charge.
In chapter 1 of 2 Timothy he says:
8 Be not thou therefore a ashamed of the b testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
I know I just worked my way backward in the chapters, but sometimes that is the best way to understand them. It's not going to be easy to stand as a witness of God in the last days. Paul suffered greatly for the cause. Should we be exempt? The Savior himself suffered all.
I want to be able to echo the words Paul spoke in chapter 4 of 2 Timothy:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a a crown of b righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous c judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
No matter how difficult it becomes we can be assured that "the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me…….and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" 2 Timothy 4: 17-18 If we will follow the path of righteousness and sanctification and do all we can do align our will with our Heavenly Father's will and then shall all things be made known unto us what we should do. We will also be blessed with eyes to see and ears to hear the council of the Lord. We will witness many miracles. We will see the hand of God more abundantly in our lives and the lives of those we serve.
It can be so tempting to want to take a back seat in the gospel, or to think the task too hard to figure out how to stand as a witness without being called a hateful person. The only question is one that President Monson posed: "Shall I falter or shall I finish?" from his talk "I will not fail thee, or forsake thee."
The more my testimony grows and my understanding of "the plan" grows - the roots of being "a finisher" make their way deeper and deeper into the rich and nourishing soil that is being cultivated around my soul producing a rock solid conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ and a more clear vision of what my mission here on earth is.
Happy New Year!
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