Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that the wicked cannot dwell with God, but there is a place of filthiness prepared for them. The wicked will be judged for their works and will not be able to taste the fruit of the tree of life, which is precious and desirable and the greatest of all the gifts of God. 1 Ne. 15: 33-36 "Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to righteousness; wherefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be judged of their works; and if their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God must be filthy also. But behold, I say unto you, the kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God; wherefore there must needs be a place of filthiness prepared for that which is filthy. And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful hell of which I have spoken, and the devil is the preparator of it; wherefore the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken. Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God. And thus I spake unto my brethren. Amen."

In the New Testament I read a comparison between a Pharisee who thought he was very righteous and was quite prideful about it, and a publican who was humble and repentant. Jesus said the publican was more justified before God than the Pharisee was. Do we sometimes think that we're so righteous we don't need to repent? Do we look down on "sinners" and think we're better than they are? If so, need to humble ourselves before God, the way this publican did, or we're not going to find ourselves exalted at the last day. Luke 18:9-14 "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us to rejoice evermore. That sounds like something great to do, but how do we accomplish it? Sometimes our circumstances are bad and situations come our way that are very difficult to deal with. The next two verses give us some answers. We are to pray without ceasing and give thanks in everything. If we're in a constant frame of mind of prayer and are always giving thanks in all things (not just the good things) we're going to be grateful for what we have and look at things in a positive light. This is going to cause us to rejoice! So if things are looking pretty grim for us right now, it may be time to turn to prayer in an attitude of giving things for the blessings we have, and also thanking the Lord for sending us trials to strenghten us and humble us and turn us to Him. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
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