Search This Blog

Monday, September 23, 2013

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read quotations from Isaiah, telling the House of Israel listen. They have been driven out and scattered because of wickedness. Servants of the Lord are sent to speak to people, but sometimes they labor in vain because people refuse to hearken to what they say.  1 Nephi 21:1-4 "And again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people; yea, all ye that are broken off, that are scattered abroad, who are of my people, O house of Israel. Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken ye people from far; the Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.  And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;  And said unto me: Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.  Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught and in vain; surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God."

In the Old Testament we read that Aaron and his sons were called to minister in the priest's office and the Levites were called to minister in the service of the tabernacle. They were given as a gift for the Lord.  Numbers 18:1-6 "And the Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.  And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die. And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.  And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.  And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that if we'll keep God's commandments, we'll abide in His love and our joy will be full.  John 15:10-11 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

No comments: