Luke 17:20-21 -- On the Kingdom of God

"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
Luke 17:20-21


I like this. The kingdom of God is not an Earthly place, but a united people, dedicated to God, independent of any national boundaries. Perhaps at the Second Coming the whole thing will be a little bit more literal, but until that day, we serve God's kingdom by uniting in serving the Lord, not by flying any particular flag or preferring one country over another. God asks us to lift each other up, to learn to love and help... that's the way that we can become part of his kingdom.

Luke 14:15-24 -- On the Lord's Supper

"And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper."
Luke 14:15-24


This parable seems similar to the one in the parable of the ten virgins, where five of them go in and five of them are shut out because they weren't ready. In this case, it isn't necessarily that they aren't ready, but the guests each prioritize something else over the invitation, finding excuses not to come. Part of this I think is showing that the people that seem important, that were the invited guests, are not the ones that are going to be eating of the Lord's supper, perhaps because they feel something else is more important. Rather, those that are humble and regonize the invitation for what it is will drop everything else and be ready to attend at the last minute.

The last part is the point that seems central. Here, hopefully we aren't the invited guests, but rather the ones that are being scooped up from the roadside, and we need to be ready to drop everything, and put the Lord's invitation above everything else. The ten virgins story does give hope to the invited guests though... in that story at least half of them made it in, so as long as we have oil in our lamps and don't prioritize other things over God's invitations, we're good.

I think that part of life is learning that last point though, and we shouldn't despair completely if we haven't been putting God first and responding to his invitations in a timely manner. We can repent, and learn better to recognize the Spirit and act on those promptings. The warning of the story is that we need to be working to learn this before it is too late though, so today, let's take God seriously and work to place his will before our own.

John 20:30-21 -- On Life Through His Name

"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
John 20:30-21


The idea that there are so many things that happened in Jesus' life that we miss out on knowing is not really surprising... it's a whole life... but it is a little frustrating, because everything about Christ is interesting and cool, and I want to have insider access, not like a fan, but like a friend. Other people's lives can be similarly intriguing. I think everyone has their own way of being interesting and cool, but Christ's life obviously transcends everything else. I also really like the idea of all of this being written to help us. Hearing about him and believing in all that he did is our first step to having "life through his name," because he offers us more than we could ever have alone, including better selves. The chance to be the kind of people that we can currently only dream of... the good, true, pure, lovely, consistent, generous, kind, wise, gracious, happy, whole people that currently we just are not, but that we so want to be. Christ is the way that our impatient, flawed, unrighteous selves can actually have the hope to get there, and to be able to function in a society of people that currently would just be way beyond us. Life is the way there, and trust and repentance, and faith in the atonement that he died to offer us.

Today, let's embrace the hope of a better life through his name, and offer thanks, and work on becoming who he made it possible to become.

Luke 12:51 -- On Division and Peace

"Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:"
Luke 12:51


It is interesting that Christ, the Prince of Peace, says this. It doesn't mean that promoting and publishing peace isn't a good idea. The scriptures reinforce elsewhere that this is a good idea. I think what Christ is talking about here is that peace isn't the ultimate, most important goal. If it were, then perhaps any peace would do... an ignorant sleep where we stop worrying about things and just go with the flow for instance. Christ is the champion of Good, and his peace is a peace of love, service, generosity, and good tidings. It is a peace where we help each other and lift each other up, working to repair relationships and heal hearts. It is a peace that does not embrace evil or sacrifice principles, but that loves people where they are, as they are trying to become better.

There will be division, as the sheep from the goats, or the wheat from the tares, but our job isn't to stop division or beat it into submission, but rather to show that God, and the peace and happiness that He brings is the right choice. We can help Christ as we work to get ourselves and other people over to his side, where we can learn His peace... a lasting, sustainable peace that stays in our hearts long after the holiday season is over. Eventually there will be peace on Earth, but first we have to work for it, and teach ourselves to be peacemakers, finding ways to do all that we do in His name and in His way, working to internalize his teachings and become the kind of people who can build a Zion society.

John 15:4-5 -- On Vines and Fruit and Opportunity

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
John 15:4-5


This is a good analogy and lesson. Every good thing comes from God, and we rely on him for health, strength, and power. It is his power that we exercise in our lives to do everything, and I think part of what the parable of the talents is all about. It isn't just this or that ability... it is every ability, the life force that we have, the life that we have. And what are we going to use those gifts for? What are we going to accomplish with our lives? This is our chance to make a difference, to choose what we will. Today, let's take Christ's gifts and use them for good, to make a positive difference. Let's build community and help each other and love everyone, and be unifying rather than divisive. Let's help other people know that they have the power to change and make a difference too. Let's be bold and do good things. :)

James 3:17-18 -- On Wisdom from Above and Growing Peace

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
James 3:17-18


I like this description of God's wisdom, and also the idea of "sown" peace... that it is something that we can plant and harvest, and that we are involved in growing it. Today, let's think about God's wisdom, both how to accept and apply it in our lives, but also how to plant and grow it, in our hearts and in the world around us.

Mosiah 15:14-18 -- On Publishing Peace

"And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet!
And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!
And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever!
And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people;"
Mosiah 15:14-18


I love the idea here of publishing peace and bringing good tidings of good. It seems to me to be a call for us to be positive and focus on the good. I don't think that means that we should ignore evil... we definitely need to choose the good rather than just passively agreeing to evil, but I think the point here is that God is calling us to find ways to draw attention to the light, and to broadcast and multiply that light. God will work on pruning the evil as we grow the good. Today, let's follow Christ and establish and proclaim peace in all that we do. Let's show that there is a good, clear path in a confusing world where many people aren't sure where to look to find the good. Let's work with God to find and show others the good and peaceful things all around us.

Exodus 14:12-14 -- On Change and Peace

"Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 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 14:12-14


This is an interesting verse, as the children of Israel, escaping from Pharaoh, see the Egyptians coming behind them with an army, and are understandably concerned. They complain to Moses, saying that it would have been better to stay where they were, even though they were slaves. Moses reassures them, telling them that the Lord will fight for them.

I think this is something that happens to us a lot in life... not a literal Egyptian army following us, but that time between miracles when we fear and doubt, uncertain whether the next miracle will come, and uncomfortable with change, we wish we could just crawl back into our old life, even though it was worse. At least it wasn't so uncomfortable and exposed and scary and full of effort.

I think God was helping these people learn to readjust to freedom, but also to making bold choices and thinking for themselves... to becoming more than a cog, but realizing their own power and ability to do hard things and to become more than they had been. And he is doing the same for us. ... Promised lands are usually not at the end of a luxury cruise, or supplied with all of the comfort and amenities of home. It's a long walk in the wilderness, with tents and privation, and sometimes barges or arks. It's hard to set out for someplace new and break ground and start over.

As God taught Abraham, and Moses, the Israelites, the Jaredites, Noah, Lehi, Nephi, Joseph Smith, and so many others though... his path is the worthy one. He wants us to be the powerful people that we can be and make a change in the world. He wants us to step up and be a light, and be an example of strength and goodness.

Today, and the next time we get caught between miracles and Satan tries to get at us with fear and doubt, let's choose peace over panic. Let's trust that God has the next miracle in store, and keep going, and keep praying, knowing that our promised land is at the end of the journey. Let's not turn back, physically or spiritually as Lot's Wife did, but instead let's pray and follow the Lord's advice, accepting the discomfort of discovery and change in order to grow, trusting that the Lord will fight for us, and guide us to where we are needed.

John 14:27-28 -- A Better Peace

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."
John 14:27-28


The peace that the Lord offers is definitely different than what the world offers. We're often attuned to the world where if comfort isn't immediate and tangible, it isn't worthwhile... the kind of short-term thinking that can get us into a world of spiritual trouble. God offers us peace that is more powerful and long-lasting, but it requires a change in perspective, like the understanding sought here. In death, Christ would return to our Father, which is a reason to rejoice. For the disciples at the time, and also for us, it seems difficult to rejoice when the focus is on now and not on eternity. This isn't to say that God doesn't have compassion for our sorrow. He wept for Lazarus and his family even though he knew that Lazarus would rise again. He gets it, but he also asks us to learn to get his perspective as well, and allow him to help us see further, so that we can focus on eternal consequences rather than earthly ones. Today, let's work on accepting a better kind of peace.

Zechariah 8:16-17 -- On Truth and Peace and Love

"These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord."
Zechariah 8:16-17


These are some good things to focus on: truth and peace, which seem to encompass the other advice, but always good to remember specifically not to imagine evil against others (since that definitely doesn't lead to peace), and not to love lies either, since that doesn't help us stay dedicated to truth.

It's difficult to do sometimes, because our society has a different view, which is reinforced in a lot of our media... that some lies, deception, and violence are okay, depending on the people we're lying to. Indeed, the scriptures back this up in some cases, with people infiltrating opposing organizations or armies, wars fought against other nations, etc. God commands, and supports his servants in making decisions for the greater good. However, I think it is dangerous to assume that we are exceptions. That gets us into conditional obedience where we find ways to justify our actions, belittling others and seeing them as enemies of God so that we can justify our treatment of them. That is definitley not what God wants. He wants us to go way out of our way to love other people, as he did, whatever their sins.

Christ, during his mortal ministry, was popular and powerful. He could easily have started a revolution and led his people to victory. He could have chosen to fight his enemies and to conquer the world. Instead he chose to teach love, kindness, compassion, and peace. He fulfilled the will of his Father, promoting God's plan over individual desires, even though that led to his death. And in his suffering and death, he saved us all. Today, let's be willing to endure some opposing opinions and bad behavior in pursuit of God's goals of truth and peace and love. Let's speak the truth to others and ask God to help us change our hearts so that we don't imagine evil or love false oaths. Let's do ask God asks and not wish bad things upon our enemies, but instead find a way to love them, as he does.

Isaiah 45:5-6 -- On Power and Authority

"I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else."
Isaiah 45:5-6


I like this message from God to Cyrus that the blessings that he has seen in his life, the help, the strength... that was all God. Perhaps because he is speaking to a king, who is used to power, he explains that there is no one else that challenges God's power. He is at the top, and later warns against striving with your maker. :) For us, it's of course good to remember that we shouldn't ever assume that we are right and God is wrong. When one of us needs to change, it's always us. We're the children (and potsherds) here (see verse 9). I think more importantly though, it is good to remember that there is only one place to look to for salvation, and that is God's great plan of happiness through Jesus Christ, his son. We are his children and he wants the best for us... but we need to, at some point, stop fighting him, and let him into our hearts and minds and feelings so that he can teach us, and help us, and we can grow up into our best selves with his help. Let's open our hearts to him today, and listen to his advice. It's true that there is no one else to turn to... but also, he loves us.