Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read about the great reluctance the Nephites had in going to war with the Lamanites.  They took no pleasure in sending so many of them into the eternal world, unprepared to meet their God. But they likewise could not sit idly by and allow their wives and children to be massacred in a barbarous and cruel manner. Alma 48:23-25 "Now, they were sorry to take up arms against the Lamanites, because they did not delight in the shedding of blood; yea, and this was not all—they were sorry to be the means of sending so many of their brethren out of this world into an eternal world, unprepared to meet their God. Nevertheless, they could not suffer to lay down their lives, that their wives and their children should be massacred by the barbarous cruelty of those who were once their brethren, yea, and had dissented from their church, and had left them and had gone to destroy them by joining the Lamanites. Yea, they could not bear that their brethren should rejoice over the blood of the Nephites, so long as there were any who should keep the commandments of God, for the promise of the Lord was, if they should keep his commandments they should prosper in the land."

 In the Old Testament we read tht the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, so He delivered them into the hands of the Midianites, who greatly impoverished them.  Because of this, the children is Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord sent a prophet unto them who reminded them of how the Lord had delivered them from bondage in Egypt and had delivered them out of the hands of those that oppressed them, but they had refused to obey the Lord. When we willfully disobey the commandments of the Lord, we can't expect Him to bless us.   Judges 6:1, 6-10 "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice."

Some verses with a thought booklet describe how Paul was called to the ministry and able to serve the Lord, in spite of the fact that he had been a sinner and had persecuted the believers previously.  Through the atonement of Jesus Christ and His mercy and grace, Paul was able to repent and turn his life around.  Jesus Christ came into the worldto save sinners. The Lord wants to change us no matter who we are or what we have done. No matter how bad we've been in the past, we can be forgiven and still have great work to do in the service of God.  What an encouraging message! 1 Timothy 1:12-17 "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."