Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that those who say that serving God is vain and not of profit are stout in speaking against the Lord. Mal. 3: 13-14 "Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?"

In the Pearl of Great Price I read about the last days and how there would be false prophets and persecution of the righteous. However, those who will remain steadfast will be saved, and not be overcome. There is safety in keeping the commandments and staying on the right path. JS-M 1: 5-11 "And Jesus answered, and said unto them: Take heed that no man deceive you; For many shall come in my name, saying—I am Christ—and shall deceive many; Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations, for my name's sake; And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another; And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many; And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold; But he that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet remind us of the importance of paying our tithing. If we don't, we're actually robbing God because this money belongs to Him. And if we do pay our tithes, we'll be richly blessed--so much so that the windows of heaven will pour our so many blessings that there won't be room to receive them. I've found this so true in my own life. As long as I've paid my tithing, the Lord has blessed me with what I need. All our resources belong to God. When we hoard them in a stingy way, our greed will reep the punishment we deserve. But when we're generous and giving, we'll find that the Lord blesses us with more. Mal. 3: 7-12 "Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts."
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