Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read about the foolishness of men who think they are wise because they are learned, but they refuse to hearken to the counsel of God. They think they know better, but their wisdom is foolishness. They will perish.  But to be learned is good if we'll hearken to the counsels of God.  2 Nephi 9:28-29 "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.  But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God."

In the Old Testament we read the words of Joshua as he asked the children of Israel who they will serve--the gods of the land or the true Lord?  He says that as for he and his house, he will serve the Lord. The people answer that they, too, will serve the Lord, and they covenant that they would put away the other gods. We all have this same choice to make.  Will we serve the Lord with all our hearts and put Him No. 1 in our lives?  Or will we place more importance on money or recreation or possessions, which will become as other gods to us? Where do we place our priorities and how do we show this by the things we do?  Joshua 24:15-25 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;  For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: And the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the Lord; for he is our God. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.  If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord.  And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.  So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem."

A verse with a thought booklet admonishes us to no longer pass judgment on one another.  Sometimes it's easy to find fault with each other without really understand what the other person is going through or where they're coming from.  Only God can judge another person, for only He knows all the circumstances and all the facts.  It's our job to love one another, not judge each other.  Romans 14:13 "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way."