Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel. Without faith in Christ we can go not further. We have no foundation on which to build. Nothing else in the gospel makes sense. With faith in Christ it all makes sense. It was interesting to live in Taiwan where most people did not have faith in the Savior. Most had never really heard of him. Those who had only knew him as a great teacher like Mohamed,Buddha, and Confucius. Life was hard for them. It was all materialistic. It was all about how hard you work and how much you get paid. You are the only one you take care of. With faith in Christ you have hope for a life after death. You know you can repent of your sins. You care about everyone because they are Christ's children too. Faith in Christ affects how you live in this life and for all eternity.
I was kind of thinking along the lines of Mom a bit with regards to faith. Without faith, there isn't much purpose in anything. This past week a teacher at my school passed away from cancer. Although I know it's not what she would have wished for her husband or 2 sons, she had faith that she would see them again and faith that God knew what he was doing. She was the kind of person who tried to be kind and help everyone she knew, so when it came time for her life to end, she was able to have faith instead of fear.
Sometimes I think God doesn't want us to just have faith in him, but to have faith in each other. Christ must have had some faith in each of us, or else he wouldn't have gone through with the atonement. I don't think he would have allowed himself to go through that if he thought it was all for nothing.
I also like how this scripture refers to faith as a seed and plant. We have to nurture it or it will die. Heavenly Father has set up lots of ways for us to nurture our faith, through weekly Sunday services, daily seminary, FHE, callings, VT/HT, family prayer and scripture study, etc. Sometimes he even lets us experience trials so we can further experiment and make our faith grow.
This is a really good "farmer scripture." Every spring the farmers exercises his faith and puts the seeds in ground. If he had no hope of seeing the seeds grow what would be the use of planting. In many aspects of our lives all God requires is just enough faith to plant the seed. He will take care of the nourishing just like he does with the farmer's seeds. In many aspects of our lives we let fear of man or fear of failure stand in the way of simple faith. This is why Christ tells us to become as a little child; their simple faith is always rewarded. Its springtime. So go ahead and plant some faith in your heart.
When I think of experiment my first thought is some complex science project. However, as I have been thinking about this scripture this week, I have been touched by watching my girls. As Madi and Olivia grow they continue to try new things, or experiment. As Ash and I try to get them to try new foods and things some times there is resistance but as they trust us they eventually try and find out what we are telling them is true, "it's good". Sometimes it takes more more than one time trying a food or activity until they like it. There willingness to try allows them to grow and to find out new things are good. I hope that I can learn from there example and be willing to try what the Lord asks of me.
Today as we attended the temple dedication for the Provo temple it really is amazing the beauty that can come from the ashes. Sometimes we might think of our faith as a failed experiment. As we continue to try and learn out experience His goodness. Why do we fall? So we can learn how to get back up again and learn. The learning brings forth the beauty from the ashes.
Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel. Without faith in Christ we can go not further. We have no foundation on which to build. Nothing else in the gospel makes sense. With faith in Christ it all makes sense. It was interesting to live in Taiwan where most people did not have faith in the Savior. Most had never really heard of him. Those who had only knew him as a great teacher like Mohamed,Buddha, and Confucius. Life was hard for them. It was all materialistic. It was all about how hard you work and how much you get paid. You are the only one you take care of. With faith in Christ you have hope for a life after death. You know you can repent of your sins. You care about everyone because they are Christ's children too. Faith in Christ affects how you live in this life and for all eternity.
ReplyDeleteI was kind of thinking along the lines of Mom a bit with regards to faith. Without faith, there isn't much purpose in anything. This past week a teacher at my school passed away from cancer. Although I know it's not what she would have wished for her husband or 2 sons, she had faith that she would see them again and faith that God knew what he was doing. She was the kind of person who tried to be kind and help everyone she knew, so when it came time for her life to end, she was able to have faith instead of fear.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think God doesn't want us to just have faith in him, but to have faith in each other. Christ must have had some faith in each of us, or else he wouldn't have gone through with the atonement. I don't think he would have allowed himself to go through that if he thought it was all for nothing.
I also like how this scripture refers to faith as a seed and plant. We have to nurture it or it will die. Heavenly Father has set up lots of ways for us to nurture our faith, through weekly Sunday services, daily seminary, FHE, callings, VT/HT, family prayer and scripture study, etc. Sometimes he even lets us experience trials so we can further experiment and make our faith grow.
This is a really good "farmer scripture." Every spring the farmers exercises his faith and puts the seeds in ground. If he had no hope of seeing the seeds grow what would be the use of planting. In many aspects of our lives all God requires is just enough faith to plant the seed. He will take care of the nourishing just like he does with the farmer's seeds. In many aspects of our lives we let fear of man or fear of failure stand in the way of simple faith. This is why Christ tells us to become as a little child; their simple faith is always rewarded. Its springtime. So go ahead and plant some faith in your heart.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of experiment my first thought is some complex science project. However, as I have been thinking about this scripture this week, I have been touched by watching my girls. As Madi and Olivia grow they continue to try new things, or experiment. As Ash and I try to get them to try new foods and things some times there is resistance but as they trust us they eventually try and find out what we are telling them is true, "it's good". Sometimes it takes more more than one time trying a food or activity until they like it. There willingness to try allows them to grow and to find out new things are good. I hope that I can learn from there example and be willing to try what the Lord asks of me.
ReplyDeleteWe need to have more faith in our own lifes and be more faithful in what we do in our lifes. Have a great week !
ReplyDeleteToday as we attended the temple dedication for the Provo temple it really is amazing the beauty that can come from the ashes. Sometimes we might think of our faith as a failed experiment. As we continue to try and learn out experience His goodness. Why do we fall? So we can learn how to get back up again and learn. The learning brings forth the beauty from the ashes.
ReplyDelete