Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that instead of laying up for ourselves worldly treasures that rust or can be stolen, we need to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, which are eternal.  3 Nephi 13: 19-21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

In the Old Testament we read that the Lord spoke to Elijah regarding the wickedness that Ahab had committed, which we read about yesterday.  The Lord told Elijah to go to Ahab and tell him all the evil that would befall him due to his sins.  When Ahab heard these words, he repented of what he had done and humbled himself before the Lord.  So the Lord said he wouldn't bring all that evil upon his house during his lifetime, but would wait until the next generation.  1 Kings 21:17-29 "And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.  Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house." 

Some verses with a thought booklet talk about people who are hypocrites--they seem to draw near unto the Lord by their words, but their actions don't follow and their hearts are far from Him.  Their worship is in vain.  Do we go to church on Sunday, singing hymns of praise to the Lord, and then go about our week as if He didn't exist?  Do we profess to be Christians in yet fail to show love to our fellowmen, which is what Christ and His teachings were all about?  What is really in our hearts?  Matthew 15: 7-9 "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."