Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that those who refuse to hearken to the words of the Lord are like sheep without a shepherd who have gone astray. But the Good Shepherd is calling after them, they just refuse to listen. They are followers of the devil.  Alma 5:37-39 "O ye workers of iniquity; ye that are puffed up in the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone astray, as sheep having no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is still calling after you, but ye will not hearken unto his voice! Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.  And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a child of the devil."

In the Old Testament we read that because the people had turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers and refused to hear the words of the Lord, but had instead served other Gods and broken their covenants, the Lord would bring evil upon them that they could not escape from and would not hear them when they cried unto Him. They could cry unto their false gods, but they would not save them in the time of their trouble.   Jeremiah 11:10-12 "They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.  Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us that even sinners love those who love them, do good for those who do good for them, and loan money to those they expect repayment from. But as disciples of Christ, more is expected of us.  We are to love our enemies and lend hoping for nothing in return.  We are to be kind even to those who are unthankful and evil and be merciful to others as our Father is merciful to us.  We are not to judge nor condemn, but to forgive. This is certainly a higher law to live by.  Luke 6:32-38 "For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.  And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."