Romans 3:10-12 -- On Learning and Seeking

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
Romans 3:10-12


Paul seems to be quoting an Old Testament scripture here, perhaps from Psalm 14 or Psalm 53, but he explains further "Destruction and misery are in their ways / and the way of peace have they not known" (verses 16-17), and "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (verse 23).

It reminds me of the allegory of the Olive Trees, and how they got to a point where none of the fruit was good at all, so they think about burning it all, but the servant (representing Christ) pleads for a little more time. And I think that is what this is about. We all fall short. If it were a college class, we'd all be getting failing grades. But Christ sees the good in us, even though it is deeply buried sometimes, and he asks us to come and study with hia tutoring and coaching we might not get an A, but at least we'll pass. And then after this class (earth life) is over, he can help us even more in our chosen profession, learning how to navigate eternity. :)

Today, let's remember that we're falling short and that we really need help... and then look to Christ as the source of that help. He can teach us the way of peace.

Isaiah 8:12-14 -- On Sanctuary and Stumbling

"Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem."
Isaiah 8:12-14


I like the part about not believing rumors, and focusing on and trusting the Lord, but even more I like the second part about God being both a sanctuary and a stone of stumbling... and I think that is in how we approach Him. If we go to God, trusting him and seeking refuge, we will find it... but if we instead approach God to pick a fight, we can find that as well. God will always try to teach us, but often we're just shouting and not listening... and when we're not paying attention like that, we're bound to stumble.

Today, let's approach God for help and protection, in humility. As we do, he will teach us and help us find a better path, as well as a greater measure of comfort and joy. :)

Mark 3:32-35 -- On God, Family, and Unity

"And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."
Mark 3:32-35


This is an interesting story from Christ's life, which to me seems to be a little bit like the story of him staying behind in the temple when he was young. The overall lesson is not that family is unimportant. Christ as a young man was chastised and was subject to his parents, and I'm guessing that Christ, here, spoke with his family when he had time. We don't ever want there to be a conflict between family and God, but the lesson here I think is that if and when there is a conflict, that God's priorities are always the correct choice.

It also seems like a really awesome invitation to be part of Christ's family. People had been following him around, wanting to touch him to be made whole, and here he tells them that they (and we) are invited to be his family and his priority, if they do the will of God.

It would be easy to look at choices like these as disloyal and exclusionary, leaving family out or excluding them, but instead of asking Christ to come out to them, they could have chosen to come in. I think it is similar to choosing to be baptised or not. God invites us in, welcoming *everyone* ... he wants us to be a close community of believers, to love each other, to serve each other. He isn't trying to exclude, but to welcome, and invites all of us to join with him.... but the correct place to join together is where he is, not where we are.

Let's choose to come to Christ and be part of it all, to unite and rejoice in all that God offers us, together.

Psalms 127:1-2 -- On Trusting the Lord

"Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."
Psalms 127:1-2


I like this reminder that the Lord helps us, always, to the degree that if he didn't help us, our efforts would be in vain. When we work towards God's will, then things work out better. Similarly, worry doesn't help. Trusting in God is the only thing that can help for so many things that we don't have any control over... because God does. He can calm our worries and help us with anything.

Today, let's counsel with the Lord in all that we do, and follow his instructions so that we are not working in vain, but rather towards a better world and an eventual happy ending/eternity. And let's get some sleep, knowing that God has things under control. :)

D&C 46:30-32 -- On Spiritual Gifts and Blessings

"He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh. And again, I say unto you, all things must be done in the name of Christ, whatsoever you do in the Spirit; And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with."
Doctrine and Covenants 46:30-32 This is near the end of the section talking about spiritual gifts, and I really liked this last advice. If we are in tune with God, and ask for something, then we can trust that it is also God's will. We need to do everything in the name of Christ, because Christ is the center of all of it, and we should express our thankfulness for our blessings. When we leave that part out, it is easy to start feeling that it is something that we did without God's involvement, which is true of very little that is good. Today, let's cultivate the Spirit, remember, and offer thanks.

4 Nephi 1:10-13 -- On Unity and Joy

"And now, behold, it came to pass that the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people.
And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them.
And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the law of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord.
And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus."
4 Nephi 1:10-13


This is after Christ comes, and I love seeing how quickly they grow as a righteous / ideal community, like the City of Enoch / Zion. I feel like we spend so much time on things that don't bring us joy (not necessarily in a Marie Kondo way, but in a "Man is that he might have joy" way), and here, in this society there were no impediments to that joy... which is why I think also Christ's joy was full when he visited these people, because he could finally teach them that pure joy. :)

Today, let's work to get closer to this ideal of joy. :) Let's let go of contention. Let's continue in fasting and prayer. Let's meet together to pray and to hear the word of the Lord. Let's focus on Christ, and let go of the temptations that the devil throws in there to distract us. I don't think an ideal society, at least in mortality, removes all trials, but I think that despite all our trials, if we counsel with the Lord, he will lead us to the kind of pure happiness that we dream of.

Mosiah 23:13-15 -- On Trust

"And now as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds; yea, even out of the hands of king Noah and his people, and also from the bonds of iniquity, even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be a king over you.
And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments.
Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man should love his neighbor as himself, that there should be no contention among them."
Mosiah 23:13-15


It's interesting to hear "trust no one" from the scriptures. :) It's good that God wants us to be discerning and make sure that we aren't being taken advantage of by unscrupulous types... and let's remember here that we are probably all unscrupulous types. The scriptures instruct us that "it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion" (D&C 121:39). And if we can't trust ourselves 100%, then how much less those who are out there intentionally playing on our weaknesses and filling the world with scams and deception?

Let's take God's advice to heart today, and judge the world by, and through, Christ. Let's look unto God's commandments as a guide for our behavior, striving to love and avoid contention, and when we need help deciding what to do and we are looking for a teacher or a minister to help, let's turn to the Lord or those he has approved, rather than any other options.

Amos 4:13 -- On Mountains and Wind and High Places

"For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, The God of hosts, is his name."
Amos 4:13


Good reminders that God can do things that we can't dream of doing, even with the miracles of modern technology. He has better, and he can inspire our thoughts and tell us what we are thinking, so it isn't just an extra few generations of mundane tech that we are missing either. :)

Today, let's remember that God loves us, and that he is wiser than we are. He is someone that we can trust, and that we can consult him in all that we do, so we never have to struggle alone.

Romans 4:18-21 -- On Believing in Hope

"Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."
Romans 4:18-21


This is talking about "the faith of Abraham" (verse 16), and I love the general idea of this. It is so easy to accept the world's view and believe only in what we see, but God is the promise of things beyond our understanding and the hope of salvation that we can't make for ourselves. And trusting him and being in tune with that Spirit... that's not trusting in fakery, but instead wisely trusting in someone who can see more, who knows more, who loves us, and who can teach us more, just as children trust their parents.

Not much in this world is worthy of our trust. There are people trying to steal our identities and so much else, people taking advantage of each other, and with new AI technology being able to fake almost anything, it isn't always easy to sort out truth and fiction anymore. With God though, we always have a solid foundation, and a friend who knows reality and can help us see through the deceptions.

Today, thought we face different challenges, we need the same things that Abraham did... hope, and faith in God's promise that he can save us, and that he will keep his word, even in situations where we don't see a solution.

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 -- On Hearts and Souls

"But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
(For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them."
Deuteronomy 4:29-31


More good reminders. I love the part about the latter days when it seems that it is addressd directly to us, reminding us that God has not forsaken us, and that if we seek him with all our hearts and souls, we will find him. Let's take the time and make that mental and spiritual effort :) Not just temporarily, but to change ourselves and align our hearts with God's, so that we want what he wants, and we are working with God towards a permanent change.

Deuteronomy 4:9 -- On Taking Heed and Remembering

"Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;"
Deuteronomy 4:9


This is a really important verse I think, because it isn't that we don't have experiences with God. We all do. Miracles happen. We feel Christ in our lives. But later, when we're less in tune, it can be easy to forget or dismiss the way those things felt, the surety and confidence that we had in the truth. We are really good at blowing things off or explaining them away, and forgetting who we are as children of God.

Today, let's remember what we have seen, and hold them in our hearts, and pass them on in whatever way we can. Writing them down can help us remember, and also be there for others later. God is real. He loves us and is there for us. We know this. Let's take heed and do what it takes to remember, and to pass that knowledge along, as did those before us, thankfully, so that we have the scriptures to guide us.

Obadiah 1:15 -- On Rewards upon our Heads

"For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head."
Obadiah 1:15 In context, this is a horrible condemnation. The cool thing is that it is also a great blessing, if we learn to do better. And because of Christ, we can repent of past sins and change. Today, let's think about how we are treating others, and whether there are some things we need to clear up before we get those rewards that we have been storing up. When we get to the day of Restoration, let's make sure we have some goodness that can come back to us. :)

D&C 7:1-3 -- On Tarrying

"And the Lord said unto me: John, my beloved, what desirest thou? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you. And I said unto him: Lord, give unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto thee. And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people."
Doctrine and Covenants 7:1-3 This seems like such a huge thing to ask... but also cool, to be willing to spend thousands of years being a missionary. Perhaps today we can take some time to ponder that level of committment to the gospel, and renew our own committment to help build the kingdom of God.

D&C 4:2 -- On Committing to God

"Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day."
Doctrine and Covenants 4:2 An excellent reminder that if we are going to commit to God, we need to really commit. He loves us so much, but not in a permissive-grandmother type of way that stands back and watches the loved one choose destruction. He is committed, and does *everything* possible, short of denying our free will, to get us to make better choices and find happiness. If we want the happy ending that he wants to give us, we need to want that tpp, and to work and strive to be as worthy of it as we can. If we do that, then Christ makes up the difference. Today, let's reach beyond our capability for God, and God will teach us to reach father and to be better.

D&C 11:21-22 -- On Spirit and Word

"Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.
But now hold your peace; study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereto."
Doctrine and Covenants 11:21-22


I like this message. Not jsut the idea that sometimes you have to stop and study, which is a great principle, but also the idea of being able to have the power of God in his word. Today, let's take the first step and work on obtaining his word by reading and studying the scriptures. As we learn, God will lead us on to additional lessons, loosening our tongues, and granting us his spirit and his word.

D&C 34:8-9 -- On the Great Day of the Lord

"And it shall be a great day at the time of my coming, for all nations shall tremble.
But before that great day shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood; and the stars shall refuse their shining, and some shall fall, and great destructions await the wicked."
Doctrine and Covenants 34:8-9


It sounds great in the sense of big and amazing. Maybe not in the sense of "best day ever" ... although, despite the destruction, it is that as well in a lot of ways. When Christ returns, justice will be restored, the secret combinations done away... the world will finally be right. ... And whether or not we suffer through some destruction, if we are on the Lord's path, we'll still get a happy ending. Today, let's make sure we are on the Lord's path, and that we are helpful and kind to our fellow beings, helping as many as possible to do good and find the right path.

Psalms 86:11-12 -- On United, Whole Hearts

"Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore."
Psalms 86:11-12


It's interesting here that the psalm is asking God to unite the heart, and also mentions praising God with all of the heart. I think this points to our hearts being divided in this life, pulled in at least two directions, the spiritual and the physical, and perhaps more, as God and Satan influence us in different directions. We're fickle and changeable, and God, who is neither, is the source that we can look to for stability and help with uniting our own desires, and being able to find righteous ways to build up our spirits and our bodies into a united whole. Today, let's look to God for an example and power in unity, not only getting on the same page with God, or with others in working for a greater good, but also within ourselves as we try to sort out who we are, and help our spirits shine through and not get overwhelmed with the physical distractions.

Psalms 84:4 -- On Stillness and Praise

"Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah."
Psalms 84:4


I liked this because the "be still praising thee" part reminded me of "be still and know that I am God' ... it might not be meant as similar, but I think that there is a fair chance that it has multiple meanings here and part of the still ness is not just continuing, but rooting ourselves in the Lord, taking time for him, and focusing on him. And those blessings can come in the temple or during the second coming, or perhaps also in church when we are still and dedicated to praise and worship.

God helps us when we stop and focus and when we are in his house, so adding a layer on to those things makes it like a little whirlwind of blessings, helping us find peace but also helping us be the people that can do hard things and help God's kingdom go forward. Let's stand with the Lord and find that perfect stillness that can only be found in him.

Psalms 82:4 -- On Helping the Poor and Needy

"Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked."
Psalms 82:4 I like this because we usually hear about needing to provide for and help the poor, but this goes further, asking us to deliver them from people who are hurting or taking advantage of them... just like we should deliver ourselves if we have the resources. Let's partner with God, and help each other get back to him.

Psalms 81:10-12 -- On Choosing God over Our Faulty Desires

"I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels."
Psalms 81:10-12


It's interesting here that God doesn't mention cursing anyone or lashing out, but just says that he let them make their own bad choices... what we think we want, which never ends up where we wanted to be. I think it is telling that this is the consequence of rebelling against God. Like the parent that he is, God sits back and has to watch the mess we are amking of our lives sometimes, which is hard for him, because he yearns to save us and prevent those bad consequences from reaching us.

Today, let's turn to the Lord and listen to his advice, and not get caught in the trap of our own desires and our own ways, which very often lead us away from the Lord. Instead, let's counsel with the Lord and take counsel from his hand, and learn what will help us grow into better people, improve the world around us, and lead us to light and joy. That is what the Lord offers. Let's learn to align our wills with his, and to want that better self and access to heaven more than we want whatever random sin is tempting us today. Let's not leave the Lord in the dust as we wander off, but turn to him in love, and accept his protection. He will lead us to a place better than anything we could invent on our own.

Enos 1:8 -- On Faith and Wholeness

"And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole."
Enos 1:8


The idea here, that faith can make us whole, is intriguing. Part of that wholeness is likely the remission of sins that Enos has just prayed for, but I think on a larger scale we just aren't complete without God... his light and life are at the core of who we are, as his creations, and when we sin we're going against ourselves on a very basic level, which is why we say that seperation from God is spiritual death.

When we choose physical desires over spiritual desires, it is like choosing a digital avatar over the human self behind it. We might grow to love and adore that digital identity, but it is a tool meant to reflect and complement our true selves, not something that should become more important than our spirits.

Today, let's think about what wholeness means, and do what we can to reconcile our desires with God's will. There are righteous ways to feel happy and fulfilled, and God is leading us to peace and joy. Let's talk to him about what we want, and let him teach us the right way.

Mormon 6:7-8 -- On Fear and Hope

"And it came to pass that my people, with their wives and their children, did now behold the armies of the Lamanites marching towards them; and with that awful fear of death which fills the breasts of all the wicked, did they await to receive them.
And it came to pass that they came to battle against us, and every soul was filled with terror because of the greatness of their numbers."
Mormon 6:7-8


This is of course a terrible time for the Nephites, who are staring in the face of extermination. I do like though the mention of the "awful fear of death" being attributed to the wicked, even though everyone was "filled with terror," because I think those fears are very different.

We're all going to feel fear in war, or when we know we can't protect our loved ones, but fear that we are going to die without redemption or that death is the end with nothing after... that is an even more terrible fear, and that's the one we have more control over.

I mean, yeah, let's try to stay out of war zones, but more importantly, let's make sure that whenever we die, we know that ourselves and our families are safe in an eternal sense... that we are all sealed together and will see one another again, through the redemptive power of Christ, who died for exactly this... so that our terror can be turned into joy and newness of life beyone the grave.

Let's focus on solving that bigger fear by changing our lives and getting right with God... and then even when we do die, we can do so in hope.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 -- On Inheriting the Kingdom of God

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
1 Corinthians 6:9-11


I like the "and such were some of you" part... reminding us that we won't be judged by who we used to be, but by who we are... and if we aren't who we want to be, we can still put it in the past and become better. Today, let's seek to become inheritors of the kingdom of God by repenting and counseling with God on how to become better. If we follow his advice, we will make it there together.

Exodus 14:13-14 -- On Standing Still and Salvation

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."
Exodus 14:13-14


This is a good reminder that we never see the whole picture, and God has solutions that we have never considered. The Egyptians were following the children of Israel, and the children of Israel were (understandably, considering the circumstances) pretty freaked out. They had escaped slavery for only a very short time and now they were being followed by an army. It looked dire. ... To mortal eyes. God had a plan, and the prophet told them to be still and watch/trust that the Lord would do as he promised. This was just after a bunch of miracles in getting them out of Egypt in the first place, so they did have some experience to draw upon.

Today, let's remember this, and the miracles that God has done throughout the scriptures and in our own lives, and let's take those memories and bolster our confidence in God, and know that he is willing to help us every single time we need it. Let's do everything we can, and definitely pray for help, but then in stillness, let's trust that the Lord knows what he is doing, and not freak out or run around full of anxiety. We don't need to. God will take care of the things that we can't control, and however it works out, he will help us through it.

2 Nephi 27:25-26 -- On Hearts and Wonders

"Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men— Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid."
2 Nephi 27:25-26


The thing that strikes me about this selection is the idea of our hearts being far from God, even though we talk about him all the time... and I think that's kind of a scary thought, and something we need to probably think about and guard against in our lives. God is not a fairy tale, and if we aren't getting that, then let's take some quiet time to sincerely pray and talk to God... only He can convince us that he is there, and of his love. We can talk about it, and say it, but until we feel it and know it on a personal level, we won't be able to get past the blockage described here... that of having our hearts far from God. God is already in the midst of doing his marvellous work. Let's pay attention, and pray and study, and get our hearts and our minds aligned with God, as he works this last time to pull us all back into His fold. :)

2 Nephi 27:23 -- On Miracles

"For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith."
2 Nephi 27:23


I like this declaration that God is, and always will be, a God of miracles. We look for drama sometimes, and don't see it, and so we think God isn't there... but God works by faith, and the dramatic things come *after* faith, not before it. And even then, most miracles happen in the small and simple things of every day, and might not look like miracles to everyone. I'm sure when Nephi's family left Jerusalem it didn't seem like a miracle to those left behind. And Noah's ark looked like the work of a madman until the floods came.

Today, let's be faithful and look to God in faith for help and protection. His blessings won't always seem miraculous to others, but as we seek God's hand in our lives, we will clearly see it.

Jeremiah 47:6 -- On Swords and Scabbards

"O thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still."
Jeremiah 47:6


This is an interesting one... it expresses the fear we have of disasters and destruction that we can't control. It's something we feel often, sometimes thinking "make it stop!" The next verse expresses the contrasting viewpoint: "How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge...?" We want the pain and confusion to stop, but on the other hand we also want peace and justice. In a world where we are allowed to choose good or evil and happiness or misery, there is always going to be this conflict, because of sin and the consequences of sin. The Lord has to prune his vineyard from time to time, removing the bad branches so that the good ones have room to grow. Interestingly, the verse preceding this says "how long wilt thou cut thyself?," illustrating that often, we suffer from our own destructive choices.

Which leads us to the answer to the query. The sword of the Lord will be still when we stop playing destructive games with it... likely the Millenium is the answer for the world in general, but hopefully some of us can find some measure of peace before that, choosing peace and stillness in our own lives, and turning to God rather than the drama around us--in essence, putting the sword away and accepting the Lord's peace.

Matthew 3:13-15 -- On Suffering it to Be So Now

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him."
Matthew 3:13-15


I like that Christ reassures John about this... acknowledges that it is a little awkward, but still important to do. Baptising a sinless man? Silly. Surely it should be an exception. But Christ shows us that sometimes we should do it anyway as a way of marking the path or setting an example for others. God's gospel *is* for everyone, and it works as we apply it in our lives. Let's remember the example of Christ and let go of our rebellion at the exceptions in life, instead trying to live by the Spirit and find out how we fit into God's plan. All of us do, even though we might have to drop some of our burdens to make it work. :)