Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read Nephi's prophesy that John the Baptist would baptize Jesus Christ to fulfill all righteousness.  If Jesus, being holy, had need to be baptized, how much more do we, who are unholy, have need to be baptized.  2 Nephi 31:4-7 "Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world. And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water! And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water? Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments."

In the Old Testament we read that Jehoahaz reigned in wickedness and did evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hand of Syria.  However, then Jehoahaz besought the Lord and the Lord hearkened to him and delivered them from the hand of the Syrians.  You'd think they'd learn their lesson from his, but instead they refused to depart from their sins.  How often are we like this?  We refuse to obey the Lord and then start experiencing troubles.  So we turn to the Lord who answers our prayers, only to return to our sins when things are going better for us?  2 Kings 13:1-6 "In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael, all their days. And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.  (And the Lord gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.  Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)"

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that godliness with contentment is great gain.  Sometimes we think about all the things we'd like to buy but cannot afford.  We think a new car or an expensive vacation would make us happy.  But actually, true contentment comes from our relationship with the Lord and our gratitude to Him for all the blessings we have.  There are a lot of very unhappy rich people out there who have everything money can buy.  It's the things money can't buy that truly bring joy.  And being content with what we have is the key to being happy. 1 Timothy 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain."