Do you ever read something and the whole time you're just like "wow! oooooo! uh-huh!" that was me this morning. Let me go back a bit.
I have been trying really, REALLY hard to revamp my personal scripture study. Emphasis on the study part. Casually reading a scripture here and there is what I've always considered my "personal scripture study", but I'm finding out it's not what I need. What I feel the need for is more in depth, eye-opening and heart rendering scripture study. My last 7 callings have all been Primary callings, but don't get me wrong, I enjoy it all and I'm now getting the hang of teaching Primary, it's taken 7 years though ;) So while I'm really beginning to hit my stride in Primary teaching styles, I lack the adult level discussions on gospel topics. Ergo the "in depth, eye-opening and heart rendering scripture study". So I'm posting this to help deepen that depth, Make sense?
Ok, back to the present. Today I was reading Luke 12. let me just say "WOW!" Lots of purple (today's marker color of choice)
As a reminder, in Luke 12, Christ is on a roll with his teaching, which also means he is making no efforts to hide His disgust with the presiding authorities of the time. So He begins by saying "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." Ouch. Way to sugar coat it, right? Ok let's focus on the word "leaven" the reference at the bottom of page in the LDS King James version tells us to go to the topical guide, but I gotta admit, I usually find the TG a bit overwhelming, On to the Bible dictionary! "Anything in cooking that produces fermentation...(pg 723)" alright, pretty well known, but look at the bottom of the paragraph, we are referred to Matt 13:33 where a leaven is compared to "the inward growth and influence of the church upon the earth." So basically, Christ is calling the Pharisees a terrible influence over the people of God. He then tells His disciples that anything done in secret will be known to all. Does that frighten anyone else? Not just the good things we do in secret, but EVERYTHING!
I'm going to skip my next several marks and go to verses 29-32 and paraphrase "Neither be ye doubtful of mind...your Father knoweth ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the things of the kingdom of God; and all these shall be added unto you... it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." This fits so well with what's going on in our lives right now it's astounding! We are house hunting and it's so hard! How do you find that one house that meets all of your "needs"?! Size, Location to school and work, plus get it all on budget? What if you get stuck with a house that will be a money pit? How on earth are you suppose to know how you and your family AND guest will function in said house?! But these scripture say clear as day "your Father knoweth ye have need of these things" phew... what a relief, right? My Heavenly Father knows exactly what I need, even if when I try to explain what my "needs" are I find myself babbling like an idiot. But that's not the only info Christ gives in these scriptures, we are told exactly what we need to do, "seek ye the Kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." This fits so well into the FHE (family home evening) lesson I've been trying to get across to my children (and myself) to put God first and then all the little things in life will fit in so well.
We colored rice and put spoonfuls into a jar as we named all the good things in life we like to do (go to the beach, visit grandparents, play games with daddy, eat ice cream- you get the idea) then I had rocks I labeled with gospel principles (pray, read scriptures, go to church etc.- Primary answers) that we tried to fit in after we did our "rice activities". But we showed the girls that if we do all the "rice activities" the big "rocks of the Gospel" don't fit in the jar. Then we reversed it, "rocks of the gospel" then "rice activities" and found out when we put the gospel first, everything fits. So Luke 12:31 just reemphasized this for me.
Are you with me still? Ok, onto verse 34: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Self explanatory, right? Hahaha is anyone else thinking this would be the cutest quote to hang in a pirate themed room?! Yup, I want one. Ok, treasure, the Lord, my Savior, my family, but then I have to ask myself, is there anything that I treasure that is less than stellar? hmmm.....
Ok, verse 37: "blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find WATCHING...." Do any of you remember a time when your Mom or Dad give you a task to complete before they return and you decided to put it off until the last second? Only for them to come back sooner than expected and you're just lounging about? And of course you get busted for being a lazy-good-for-nothing-twit. Yeah, we shouldn't do that with the Lord. It WILL NOT work out as well as it did with your parents....
Verse 40: "Be ye therefore ready also: for the son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." So remember your parents coming home before you're done with your job(s)? Again, you shouldn't do that with the Lord... which leads into the next verse; 43 "Blessed is the servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so DOING". see the difference between 37 and 43? Ok, now imagine you're a parent (a real stretch for some of you I know) and you come home after whatever event and you had given chore assignments out to your children. the first thing you see is the little ones in the window watching and waiting for your return (heart melting, right?) then you walk in to see the older children still working hard to complete their given task. (more heart melting feelings) What a difference it would be to come home and see nothings been done and every one's being lazy?! See the relation between the scriptures and our lives?
And the last one I'll cover today (I promise) verse 48: "For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall much be required." So let me leave these thoughts: Yes, count your blessing, they are many! For the Lord is great and "it is [His] good pleasure to give you His kingdom (Luke 12:32)" But remember you are not done after you receive the blessings. Blessings are a tool given to you so that you can better serve in the kingdom of God.
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