Mark 9:33-35 -- On Greatness and Love

"And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all."
Mark 9:33-35


This is a really important lesson about how to become great. Greatness isn't found in power or position or even in skill or talent, but in service and lifting up other people. Bringing joy to others is the greatest work, and that is God's work, and what he is striving to do for all of us, if we will accept him and allow him to gather us. :)

Part of bringing joy is delighting individuals, but I think most of it is in building and sustaining communities where we can learn to lift and help each other and find joy in our interactions. It is the same idea as Proverbs 27:17: "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." ... We perfect each other as we live and interact and learn to navigate relationships with friends and family as well as people outside those circles. Life is literally our classroom as we learn from God how to love.

Enos 1:11 -- On Shaken and Unshaken Faith

"And after I, Enos, had heard these words, my faith began to be unshaken in the Lord; and I prayed unto him with many long strugglings for my brethren, the Lamanites."
Enos 1:11


It tells us here that Enos's faith "began to be unshaken" after Enos prayed for days for two other requests... and the first (for repentance) was granted "because of [his] faith in Christ" (verse 8). So, it seems clear that he had faith, but it wasn't necessarily unshaken during that first request. It makes complete sense, because we aren't going to have unshaken faith when we first start out talking to God and seeking repentance. It takes time and effort to get to that point.

As we learn to have unshaken faith, then "we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea" as Jacob 4:6 instructs us, although it also cautions us to remember our weaknesses, probably so we don't become prideful and lose that connection with the Lord that enables all of it. ... So many things are possible as we grow and learn and practice our faith in the Lord, and learn to walk with his Spirit. I think the central point here though is that we don't have to jump there immediately in order to be heard. The certainty comes as we practice and learn... and the Lord will still hear and answer our prayers and help us even if we are a little shaky at first, as long as we stick with it and continue seeking his help with diligence.

Today, let's work on our faith, but not expect it to be perfect before we engage with God and seek repentance. He wants to hear from us now. Let's remember the father in Mark 9:24 that wanted to believe in the miracle that he had asked, but wasn't 100%. He said to Christ "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." And the Lord did help him... as he will help us, even in our shakiness, if we turn to him and give what we have.

Moses 2:4 -- On Light and Darkness

"And I, God, saw the light; and that light was good. And I, God, divided the light from the darkness."
Moses 2:4


This struck me today because it occured to me that dividing the light from the darkness is what God has been teaching us to do our whole lives. It's an amazing talent and one that we still get wrong sometimes. Today, perhaps we should look to God and be a little bit more careful that we aren't getting our lights and darks mixed in with shades of gray.

As we stick with God and learn his talent, we'll be able to judge correctly and choose to walk in the light.

Mosiah 26:13-14 -- On Pouring Out Our Souls

"And now the spirit of Alma was again troubled; and he went and inquired of the Lord what he should do concerning this matter, for he feared that he should do wrong in the sight of God.
And it came to pass that after he had poured out his whole soul to God, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying:"
Mosiah 26:13-14


I know it is sort of a weird place to stop at the end there, but I liked this central portion because it talks about how to solve a problem. The story is good, but outside of the story it doesn't so much matter what the "matter" was or what God's answer was... it shows us that if we are humble, and we go to the Lord and pour out our souls to him, that he will help us.

That said, pouring out our souls to God is not a light or an easy thing. It requires sincerity and effort, and if we want to really change things, depending on what the issue is, it isn't just the one effort, but sustained effort over time. We have to really value getting the answer... enough to invest ourselves into working for a solution with God.

Today, let's be willing to turn to God and put forth the answers to solve the problems before us. Let's work on getting answers from the Lord, and the sustained effort and mindfulness that it takes to keep the spirit with us and remember God always, so that we can always have that connection and help.

Ezekiel 18:21-22 -- On Unmentioned Transgression

"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he will surely live, he shall not die.
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live."
Ezekiel 18:21–22


I was thinking about the whole idea of not mentioning our sins, and how amazingly cool that is. Too often in life, we have to live with people expecting us to be who we used to be... some version of our dead selves from the past before we learned and changed. We ourselves beat ourselves up for past actions at times. And on some level that is fair/justified, and for God even more so, since it is his laws that we offend when we sin. So how incredibly merciful and kind when he allows us to be who we are now, and never reminds us of our mistakes and errors of the past.

Today, let's rejoice in God's mercy, working to be better each day, and let's also try to recognize others for who they are rather than who they used to be. Let's all live in righteousness, and in the now, working to be the best we can be, in hope that God will help us continue to strive for improvement.

Proverbs 20:9 -- On Cleansing our Hearts

"Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?"
Proverbs 20:9


This is a good question, whether or not we can say it at this time. It is something to strive for, and something to appreciate when we have it.

Today, let's work with God on cleaning our hearts, freeing ourselves from sin and error. As we do, not only will we be able to say this, but we'll feel the weight and burden of sin lift from our hearts, which brings hope and joy. :)

Psalms 102:4 -- On Remembering to Eat and Relying on the Lord

"My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread."
Psalms 102:4


I read this today and it seemed to be something that a lot of us can relate to... signs of sorrow or depression. As with all other things in the gospel, the answer here is to remember and call on the Lord... not because things like this won't happen, but because in Him we can find rest and hope and a way to feel better.

As we turn to the Lord, his Spirit will help us to remember important things like taking care of our physical selves, and He will lift us up when things are difficult. Today, let's move forward in his strength, even when we can't find any of our own.

Psalms 147:6-7 -- On Meekness and Thanksgiving

"The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:"
Psalms 147:6-7


I really like these verses tied together because I think that part of meekness is being thankful, and offering praise to God. It's acknowledging that God knows what he is doing, that he grants us everything that we have, and that we aren't standing alone. That isn't weakness or being a doormat... it is acknowledging reality and drawing strength from the true power, rather than decieving ourselves that we can make it through life alone and unscathed.

Today, let's acknowledge God and praise him, thanking him for all things good and doing all we can to let go of evil and enhance the good. Let's be meek and humble and stick to what's right... as we do, God will lift us up rather than casting us down, and up is the right direction. :)

Omni 1:2 -- On Becoming Better than Wicked

"Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have done."
Omni 1:2


I was thinking about what it would be like to write in your family history that you were wicked. Omni here points out that he tried to help his people, but that on a personal level he isn't a very good example... so maybe in that way he was attempting to encourage his descendants to be better than he was.

And on some level it is a huge task, and hopefully something that encourages some humility and honesty... but still, I hope that is something that I never have to do... to write my own history and say that I am wicked. I hope that I can be better than that. Certainly not perfect, but I hope better than wicked. Something I, and maybe all of us should be aiming for: better than wicked. :)

Today, let's repent and be serious about changing our lives, even if it is in tiny increments. The farther away from wicked we can get, the closer we are getting to eventual perfection, tiny little step by tiny little step. :) And if we ask, God will help us with the obstacles and the storms that threaten our progress. Let's pray for his help, and keep moving forward.

Mark 5:35-36 -- On Fear and Belief

"While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe."
Mark 5:35-36


The idea here, that even when the worst happens, we should still believe, is a powerful one. Jairus sought healing for his daughter, and hearing that she was dead I am sure threatened to shake his hope... but in the face of ridicule and scorn, Christ saved her anyway.

I think similar things happen in our lives. We wonder how things could ever be okay again, or how we will become the people we want to be when we are a million miles away from that ideal. Sometimes we face external mockery, and sometimes we laugh ourselves to scorn for believing in something that isn't happening, and threaten our own hope.

Today, let's follow Christ's advice, and be not afraid, but hold on to hope, and trust and believe that Christ will help us and deliver us, no matter what stands in the way or how things seem.

James 4:15 -- On Prioritizing the Lord's Will

"For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
James 4:15


This seems like a good middle ground between taking no thought for the morrow (not stressing about the future), and being prepared and planning ahead, knowing that we have enough to complete the tower before we begin to build it, etc. It's planning with flexibility, because God might have other ideas, but he still asks us to move forward doing the best we can until he gives us a nudge in a different direction.

I think this is also what verse 10, earlier in the chapter is getting at, asking us to be humble so the Lord can lift us up. It isn't thinking that we are worms and waiting for God to give us detailed instructions on everything we need to do today, but knowing we are at least mostly competent servants, predicting what the Lord will needs, but being ready to turn on a dime if He wants something else... and that appropriate humility and deference to God will help us stay on God's path and help us someday learn to be better than servants or students or apprentices, and graduate to something better as we grow into our birthright as God's spiritual children.

James 1:22-24 -- On Action and Memory

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was."
James 1:22-24


I like this idea that if we aren't acting on our beliefs, we are forgetting who we are. We go to church, we agree with what is said, we feel the Spirit, we know that we should be better, and then we go home, and we "straightway" forget everything we thought and felt, and fall into the same patterns.

Today, let's stop forgetting, but make a specific effort to remember... to read, to pray, to feel again today what we felt previously. Let's do the work to remember God and remember who we have determined to be on our best days. Let's stop decieving ourselves by forgetting the things that we learn. Let's build on them, follow through, and live the way that we believe. Let's put forth the daily effort to stick close to the Spirit and refresh our memories, and not lose who we are when we look away.

Daniel 6:4-5 -- On Fault Finding and Looking Inward

"Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God."
Daniel 6:4-5


Reading this today I thought it was strange that they were actively looking for ways to destroy Daniel by finding fault... but then after thinking about it more, realized that this is exactly what was done with Christ... searching out ways to find fault so they could have an excuse to remove him, and also that we often look to find faults in others so that we have an excuse not to like them, or to feel like we are better, or justified in treating them differently than we do our friends. The thing that had seemed so foreign a moment before in these verses seemed very familiar when I started applying the lesson in other contexts, and especially to myself.

A lot of the gospel is like that... easy to see when we are thinking about and applying it to others, but harder to see when we bring it closer to home. Today, let's think about these universal lessons and how they apply to ourselves and our lives and relationships first... let's work on getting ourselves right, and a little less hypocritical, before we starting applying lessons outside ourselves. Not to fall in shame and guilt, but as an impetus to repentance and change... more empathy and less judgement.

Proverbs 5:21-22 -- On the Cords of Sin

"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins."
Proverbs 5:21-22


I like that God thinks about us... although the second verse is less happy. Today, let's make sure that we repent and remove the cords of sin from ourselves before we become permanently trapped.

Jeremiah 18:11-12 -- On Hope

"Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.
And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart."
Jeremiah 18:11-12


What strikes me about these verses is that the people don't take God's advice because they think there is no hope. ... I think we sometimes make mistakes for the same reason--because we think that it is too late for us, that God will never take us back, or that it's just impossible... there is no way to change. It's too much for us, and we've already proven that we can't sustain the level of effort required.

When we start feeling that way, let's take a lesson from these verses, and do as God asks anyway, because of course we can't do it alone, but if we stay the course and walk the path that God has laid out, he will do miracles on our behalf. He will make it possible for us to return, to cleanse the evil from our hearts... to find our way out of the darkness and into the light of hope, and love.

Today, let's hold on to hope, and keep trying to let go of evil and turn to the good.

Jeremiah 16:21 -- On Knowing and Preparing

"Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The Lord."
Jeremiah 16:21


Earlier in this chapter it talks about a dramatic event that will surpass bringing the children out of Egypt, so that people won't be talking about that miracle, but rather about the new one, where the Lord brings "the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them" (verse 15). I am guessing that is the "this once" talked about in this verse.

It seems appropriate and somehow satisfying that Christ will cause everyone to know who he is and his unmistakable power. It seems to symbolically close the unfulfilled possibility of the life he didn't get to live during his mortal ministry. Finally, he shows everyone who he is, making us all responsible for that knowledge. Well past time for that kind of triumph.

... Scary for us though, because we need to repent and improve a lot before that day comes. Today, let's work on that, preparing for the day mentioned as well as improving our lives and the lives of the people around us

Jeremiah 15:21 -- On Deliverance

"And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible."
Jeremiah 15:21


This is a good thing to remember... it always happens on the Lord's timetable, but the Lord is totally willing to deliver us. It's hard to remember sometimes, because God isn't physically here, gracing us with his presence. We can contact him anytime though, and he does love us immeasurably, and he wants to help us. If we can express even just a smidge of patience and faith and a willingness to do as God wills, he will help us out of terrible situations.

Today, let's trust in that, and keep enduring until that day of deliverance. :)

3 Nephi 13:14-15 -- On Forgiveness and Moving On

"For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
3 Nephi 13:14-15


When we've done something wrong, we often wish we could just erase it, go on with life, pretend it never happened, and we're grateful when, sometimes, the people around us allow us that grace, to go on and not have constant reminders of our failings. And yet, how often do we do that for others? I think we have long memories for other people's mistakes when we would prefer that they have short memories for our mistakes.

Today, let's try letting go of some resentment or anger for past events. Let's give people the space to be different, just as God gives us space to change and to do better. Let's forgive and repent and move on to better things, as we allow others to do the same.

Hebrews 13:15 -- On the Sacrifice of Praise

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
Hebrews 13:15


The idea that praise is a sacrifice is an interesting one here, and I wonder if it is because we have to overcome our own pride, admitting/aknowledging that we need help, or perhaps it is because it takes effort and faith to work through our own feelings about what we think God should be doing versus what God knows he should be doing. We get angry sometimes because things don't go the way that we want them to, and have a hard time realizing that whenever there is a difference between our will and God's will, God is the one that is right. That's tough on our egos sometimes, because we not only want to be right, but it is also hard to do the work to understand God's perspective, especially when it is very different than our own on something we care a lot about.

Today, let's work on the sacrifice of praise, remembering to be grateful and to compliment God's virtues... his wisdom, power, light, mercy, perfection, truth, beauty, etc. All of it... and yeah, maybe God doesn't need the compliments/acknowledgements to boost his mood or to reassure him the way we mortals sometimes do, but I think *we* need that reinforcement and reminder that we really do need and love God, and that we recognize how amazing he is. :)

Hebrews 10:24-25 -- On Provoking and Assembling for Good

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Hebrews 10:24-25


The whole provoking thing usually seems bad, like you are pushing people's buttons and trying to get them angry, but I kind of like the idea if it is provoking people to love, and to do good. Maybe those are areas where it is worthwhile to be prodded a little bit. :) Inspiring others to do good seems a lot better than the nitpicking or power plays that we often see.

Today, let's try turning things around, and if we're going to provoke each other, let's provoke each other to positive action... to actively loving and doing good. :) And, as always, let's pray to God to help us have the wisdom to follow his commandments as he desires, and not interpret them in a harmful way. Let's gather together to do good and lift each other up.

Ephesians 1:15-16 -- On Love and Gratitude

"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;"
Ephesians 1:15-16


Reading the scriptures sometimes I come across verses that seem to magnify the difference between God's way and the World's way... between seeking heaven and enduring earth, and this is one of them. As I read this today I was thinking of the conversations we have with people where there are already barriers between us before we even start talking, because we don't trust each other, or aren't sure that we are esteemed in the other's eyes. Or we feel a difference between us that interferes in understanding or in feeling like we can communicate clearly or honestly.

Reading about faith and love, and being thankful to the Lord for others... that's the way that things should be between us all. We should enjoy being together and thankful for that time.

Perhaps today, that is something that we can work on... finding ways to love the people around us, whoever they are, and overcoming the barriers between us. Let's pray for others, and to God to get help with seeing others as he does and opening ourselves to learn to love the way that God does, and to be grateful for all the interactions we have, not just with our favorites. :)

Hebrews 10:35-36 -- On Retaining Our Confidence in God

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."
Hebrews 10:35-36


I think we often "have need of patience" in waiting upon the Lord, who always keeps his promises, but rarely according to our timetable. His is much wiser, but it is hard sometiems for us because we can't see the eternal purposes and we can only see the immediate consequence of waiting (and even then we are often wrong because we don't factor in the occasional miracle... and they do indeed happen.

Today, let's stop and think and retain our confidence in the Lord, trusting that he will keep his promises, as he always does, and reward us for our good efforts, even if they are small. Let's trust, and pray, and continue in hope... in faith doing everything in the expectation that God will have our back in the end as we keep his commandments... because he will. It might not be immediate, but the happy ending is always there at the end, waiting for us.

Psalms 149:2 -- On Rejoicing in God

"Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King."
Psalms 149:2


I like the idea here of celebrating God as our creator and king... to be happy, knowing that the person leading us is good. It's a good thing to imagine in a world where most of the choices we have for leaders leave a lot to be desired... a good leader who has our best interests in mind and who will keep his promises and do whatever he says he will... seems pretty miraculous even before considering the whole all-powerful aspect. :)

It's also hard sometimes to trust authority figures with our society of less than stellar examples. But that is also exactly the reason that rejoicing is a good idea... because God is different, and better, and trustworthy and good in a way no one else is. He made the rules, and the whole world, and all of us, and yet he reaches out to each of us personally and loves us individually. Today, let's rejoice in that. :)

Psalms 7:15-16 -- On Pits and Pates

"He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate."
Psalms 7:15-16


This is talking about things that happen to the wicked, but I think it is something we can all relate to, because we all are wicked on some level, and in need of repentance for exactly this reason... because at the end of all of this, our reward or curse is the same... restitution of whatever we give out. We are rewarded exactly as we rewarded others, and the sole thing standing in between ourselves and the evil that we have handed out in our lives is Christ, and his mercy, allowing us the space to change and to repent and to have time to put some better things out there. :)

Today, let's take advantage of Christ's love and his sacrifice on our behalf. Let's make changes and work for a better self and a better world, honoring that sacrifice and becoming better than we have been. Let's make sure that whatever is coming down on our heads in the future is something that we welcome.

3 Nephi 12:47-48 -- On Newness

"Old things are done away, and all things have become new.
Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."
3 Nephi 12:47-48


I like the idea of newness here, both in the law, which Christ is talking about just before this, and in ourselves, which I think is part of what Christ is saying about perfection... that it is the natural result of this process as well, letting go of the old and becoming new.

It's the same symbolism as baptism--the symbolic death of our old selves and our sins, being purified and perfected in Christ, which we can be if we open ourselves to that possibility, and do as Christ asks, following his instructions to a better life and a better world.

Today, let's embrace the idea of newness, and realize that perfection is possible. It doesn't happen all at once, but it is a process that we can begin, becoming clean and maintaining that state as we improve... and we have instructions and assistance available through the scriptures, and direct access to God's power through prayer. Let's hold on to faith and hope, and reach for the amazing newness and perfection that God offers us.

Alma 32:27 -- On Experiments and Doors

"But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."
Alma 32:27


I love the idea here of experimenting with the Gospel. Even if we aren't sure, even if we have the tiniest amount of faith... if we go with it and don't try to crush it, God can work with us and help us get to the next level. As Christ tells us in Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." ... The first step in the experiment is just to open the door and let Christ in. As we do, he will teach us as we walk with him, and give us more things to try and to learn as we grow in faith.

Today, let's give it a try. Let's read, and pray, and open the door. As we invite Christ in, let's also listen to him and take his advice, and see how things change for us. Let's let God into our lives, and feel how much he loves us, and trust him as he guides us to further experiments as we learn to trust him and follow his advice to make better choices and live better lives, for ourselves and the world around us.

Ether 4:15 -- On Rending the Veil of Unbelief

"Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel."
Ether 4:15


I like the idea of rending/tearing the "veil of unbelief" here. Tearing away the darkness to let the light in. It's hard sometimes because we raise those barriers ourselves, blocking out God and so much else, not trusting anything outside our own heads, and trusting those heads way too much even when we know that they are leading us to unhappy places.

If we are willing to look outside ourselves and allow the possibility in, or "no more than desire to believe" (Alma 32:27), then God can work with us and help us to see the truth. Let's let go of trusting in things that don't work, and turn to a power greater than ourselves for help. God is there and learning of his love and gaining his assistance will help our lives so much more than we will ever be able to improve them ourselves. Today, let's try tearing off that veil of darkness and unbelief and find the true light of God.

Doctrine and Covenants 34:7 -- On Christ's Return

"For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, the time is soon at hand that I shall come in a cloud with power and great glory."
Doctrine and Covenants 34:7


The Lord's timing is not our timing, and "soon" might not always coincide with our personal definition of the word... but with regard to the Lord's time, he is coming soon, and for all of us it is a good idea to be ready for that event--to repent and to prepare.

I also think that the whole idea is amazing, after reading about the sadness of the exit of Christ from this life, and the stunning injustice of the whole thing, it sounds like a perfect way to return. Let's all be ready to cheer him home. :)

Luke 20:3-7 -- On Sincerity and Answers

"And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was."
Luke 20:3-7


At first it can seem a little strange that Christ was so clear with some people about who he was, and what he was trying to accomplish, and others he wouldn't answer, but then you read some exchanges like this where people were trying to trap him into saying something they can criticize him for, and how deftly he escapes being set up, and it makes sense that he was clear with the people that were sincere, and evasive with the people who were intentionally trying to find a way to trap him.

That's part of why we can't find out the truth of God if we are looking to prove God wrong. God isn't promising to reveal himself to everyone. It's the "cast your pearls before swine" idea, right? You don't invite robbers into your house if you know they are clearly robbers, and God tells us several times in the scriptures that we have to ask with a sincere heart, having faith, and that is when the truth will be revealed.

Today, if we can, let's let go of our doubt and cynicism, and truly and sincerely seek God. As we work to do that, God will help us with clearer answers and help us to find truth, because he knows we will value it and are willing to accept it.

Micah 6:10-12 -- On Treasures of Wickedness

"Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?
For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth."
Micah 6:10-12


This idea of the treasures of wickedness is interesting. It seems clear that even though they are called treasures that they are full of dishonesty and disregard for others... probably why they are "of wickedness." ... I think the point here is that this kind of treasure isn't worth our time, and the value is either ephemeral or downright deadly. The only riches that we can gain from defrauding others or harming them are things that are also going to destroy us.

Today, let's make sure we aren't justifying bad actions that will offer temporary "treasure" but end up poisoning our souls. Instead, let's turn to God and repent and get his help to change.