Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we read that the judgments of God must come upon the wicked.  We can warn them, but if they refuse to listen they will reap punishment from God. We do not delight in the destruction of our fellowmen because every soul is precious, but we know that the word of the Lord must be fulfilled.  God's will be done, not ours.  D&C 109:41-45 "And whatsoever city thy servants shall enter, and the people of that city receive not the testimony of thy servants, and thy servants warn them to save themselves from this untoward generation, let it be upon that city according to that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of thy prophets.  But deliver thou, O Jehovah, we beseech thee, thy servants from their hands, and cleanse them from their blood.  O Lord, we delight not in the destruction of our fellow men; their souls are precious before thee;  But thy word must be fulfilled. Help thy servants to say, with thy grace assisting them: Thy will be done, O Lord, and not ours. We know that thou hast spoken by the mouth of thy prophets terrible things concerning the wicked, in the last days—that thou wilt pour out thy judgments, without measure;"

In the New Testament we read about how Satan tempted Jesus but His response was to tell him to get lost, go away, scram.  The exact quote is "Get thee hence, Satan!" These four words might be good ones to memorize and recite to ourselves when we're faced with temptations.  Matthew 4:8-11 "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."

Some scriptures in a thought booklet tell the parable of the great supper.  A man gave a great banquet and invited many guests to attend, but one by one they made up flimsy excuses of why they couldn't come.  So he had a servant go out into the streets finding poor and disabled people who wouldn't normally receive invitations and invited them to come until he had enough people to fill his feast.  When the Lord invites us to His feast, do we make up excuses why we can't come?  The Lord invites all to feast with Him, even the poor and downtrodden.  He leaves no one out.  Sometimes we're like the servant to issues the invitations, as we spread the gospel to the world.  We must likewise to remember to leave no one out.  The Lord loves everyone and wants them all to feast at His table.  He leaves no one off His invitation list!  Luke 14:16-24 "Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper."
-----------------------------