"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive."
Alma 7:23
This is Alma preaching to the people in Gideon. These people were living righteously already, but he still had a lot to say to them, which makes sense if we we look at our own lives. Even when we're doing good, we have plenty that we could do better. :)
I think that is the core of the humility that Alma talks about here... just remembering that we're not perfect, and neither is anyone else. If we really take that to heart, maybe it will help us with the rest of this list... submissiveness (acknowledging that God always and other people often know more than we do, or have the answers when we do not), gentleness (with ourselves and others, and even God, remembering that he is our friend, not a bully), patience (with ourselves and others), long-suffering (not masochistic, but willing to endure trials and frustrations without letting them change our devotion and commitment to God's path), temperate (not freaking out when things go wrong, but keeping our cool, both for the sake of our own calm and the way we affect other people as well).
I like "easy to be entreated" I think because it reminds me of a grandmother. Experienced enough to hold her ground with the rules, but wise enough to be flexible when it is something that will delights her grandchildren. Yes, bedtime, but okay, another 15 minutes. I think it's also what Christ did with the law of the Sabbath, and what we mean about the spirit and the letter of the law. The law is important, but it is these relationships and the people all around us that matter--and what the law is made for. That doesn't mean we should break laws frivolously, of course, because we are supposed to be diligent in keeping the commandments, and they are there to help us, but what it does mean that we should love people before we judge them (again including ourselves)--that care and connection is the whole reason there is a law--rather than hating people and using the law to justify it.
I also love the part about asking and thanking. God wants to be included in our lives, and he wants to help us. He encourages us to ask for help to get us talking, and he encourages thankfulness so that we don't forget him, as we too often do.
Today, let's work on Alma's list, knowing that we can improve and that God wants to help us do so. :)
Alma 7:23
This is Alma preaching to the people in Gideon. These people were living righteously already, but he still had a lot to say to them, which makes sense if we we look at our own lives. Even when we're doing good, we have plenty that we could do better. :)
I think that is the core of the humility that Alma talks about here... just remembering that we're not perfect, and neither is anyone else. If we really take that to heart, maybe it will help us with the rest of this list... submissiveness (acknowledging that God always and other people often know more than we do, or have the answers when we do not), gentleness (with ourselves and others, and even God, remembering that he is our friend, not a bully), patience (with ourselves and others), long-suffering (not masochistic, but willing to endure trials and frustrations without letting them change our devotion and commitment to God's path), temperate (not freaking out when things go wrong, but keeping our cool, both for the sake of our own calm and the way we affect other people as well).
I like "easy to be entreated" I think because it reminds me of a grandmother. Experienced enough to hold her ground with the rules, but wise enough to be flexible when it is something that will delights her grandchildren. Yes, bedtime, but okay, another 15 minutes. I think it's also what Christ did with the law of the Sabbath, and what we mean about the spirit and the letter of the law. The law is important, but it is these relationships and the people all around us that matter--and what the law is made for. That doesn't mean we should break laws frivolously, of course, because we are supposed to be diligent in keeping the commandments, and they are there to help us, but what it does mean that we should love people before we judge them (again including ourselves)--that care and connection is the whole reason there is a law--rather than hating people and using the law to justify it.
I also love the part about asking and thanking. God wants to be included in our lives, and he wants to help us. He encourages us to ask for help to get us talking, and he encourages thankfulness so that we don't forget him, as we too often do.
Today, let's work on Alma's list, knowing that we can improve and that God wants to help us do so. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment