SUNDAY THOUGHT
I had a friend in Arizona lean over to me in church while we were studying the book of Enos and whisper to me "this says I should go hunting more." :)
My favorite scripture from the book of Enos is:
I think we each have our own wrestle with the Lord. We each have to strive and struggle to gain a testimony, and then to keep it. It's not a one time thing, but something that is constantly evolving and changing. Our circumstances in life change and so does our understanding.
I love the experiment Alma describes using a seed. His instructions are so simple that they are plain to everyone. If you want a testimony - here are the instructions plain and simple.
First off I like how it takes some effort to accomplish. It requires work and action. Once we acquire some growth of the seed we need to continue to work and nourish the seed, otherwise it will die. If it does die, it's because we didn't continue and follow through. We got lazy.
If we follow through we'll end up with not only a strong and sturdy tree, but fruit that will fill us forever, we'll never hunger or thirst again.
I planted a tree yesterday!
It's important to remember that a true testimony isn't built on some proof or logic. It's spiritual. I talk to a lot of people who want to base their belief on some ancient fact or archaeological proof. When I remind them that God wants faith, not fact they have a hard time understanding. There's a wonderful example in the book of Matthew 16:15-17.
Listening and developing a relationship with the spirit is essential. Later in the same chapter we read:
Don't get lazy, do the work. You can't gain and grow a testimony without doing the work required. Get busy!
Pelican landing out in the lake behind the house.
I had a friend in Arizona lean over to me in church while we were studying the book of Enos and whisper to me "this says I should go hunting more." :)
My favorite scripture from the book of Enos is:
"And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God"
I think we each have our own wrestle with the Lord. We each have to strive and struggle to gain a testimony, and then to keep it. It's not a one time thing, but something that is constantly evolving and changing. Our circumstances in life change and so does our understanding.
I love the experiment Alma describes using a seed. His instructions are so simple that they are plain to everyone. If you want a testimony - here are the instructions plain and simple.
First off I like how it takes some effort to accomplish. It requires work and action. Once we acquire some growth of the seed we need to continue to work and nourish the seed, otherwise it will die. If it does die, it's because we didn't continue and follow through. We got lazy.
If we follow through we'll end up with not only a strong and sturdy tree, but fruit that will fill us forever, we'll never hunger or thirst again.
I planted a tree yesterday!
It's important to remember that a true testimony isn't built on some proof or logic. It's spiritual. I talk to a lot of people who want to base their belief on some ancient fact or archaeological proof. When I remind them that God wants faith, not fact they have a hard time understanding. There's a wonderful example in the book of Matthew 16:15-17.
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?Simon Peter knew who Christ was, not because anyone had told him, but because he'd received the information spiritually.
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Listening and developing a relationship with the spirit is essential. Later in the same chapter we read:
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Don't get lazy, do the work. You can't gain and grow a testimony without doing the work required. Get busy!
Pelican landing out in the lake behind the house.
posted by Troy at 8:32 PM
3 Comments:
Lazy is so easy to do. I better shape up or I will be shipped out on the sea of discontent.
Good job Troy.
Nice tree too!
I love your Sunday Thoughts that I read on Monday, starts my week out good, it's like a precursor to FHE, and it's just fun to hear your testimony Troy.
It's true, we can't expect to be given a testimony, we have to earn it - study, pray, have faith, and the Spirit will manifest truths to us - then we have to continually work to keep it and help it grow.
And I like the random pelican picture. =)
T,
I'm thinking you will be a great Gospel Doctrine Teacher someday.
Jim
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