Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that the Lord was displeased with David after he numbered the people. David realized that he had done foolishly, but the Lord was so displeased with him that he sent an angel to give him three choices of punishments--three years of famine, three months of being destroyed by their foes, or three days of pestilance. He got the three days of pestilance and 70,000 men fell. 1 Chr. 21: 7-14 "And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel. And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. And the Lord spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying, Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man. So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men."

In the D&C I read that we need to love the Lord and other people and keep the commandments. We need to thank the Lord in all things. The Lord's wrath is kindled against those who confess not His hand in all things and who do not obey the commandments. If we're righteous we'll receive our reward, which is peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come. D&C 59: 5-7, 21, 23 "Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it. Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things. And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments. But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that God is rich in mercy toward us because of His great love for us. His mercy is not based on just some superficial kindness, but it comes from a heart full of love! Eph. 2: 4 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,"