Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that awful will be the state of a person who knows the commandments of God but chooses to transgress them and wastes the day of his probation here on this earth. Men who think they are wise enough to disregard the counsel of God are really foolish and they will perish. 2 Ne. 9: 27-28 "But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state! O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish."

In the New Testament I read that Israel was chosen, or foreordained according to the election of grace. However, they hardened their hearts and killed the prophets. The Gentiles were then grated into the House of Israel and will receive salvation if they are righteous. But they should not be lifted up in pride because of this. They will still be rejected if they turn to sin, and the Israelites will still be saved if they repent and return to the Lord. Romans 11:1-12 "I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?"

A verse with a thought booklet tells the Israelites that they are a chosen people, special unto the Lord. They need to keep themselves holy and righteous. But as we read in the New Testament verses above, this all depends on righteousness. Wicked Israelites are rejected and righteous Gentiles are grafted into the House of Israel, so they too are special people unto the Lord if they are willing to come unto Christ and keep His commandments. Deuteronomy 7:6 "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth."


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