After I wrote my last entry, I continued reading in 3 Nephi and went to the gathering Thursday night. Turns out righteous judgement was the theme for the week.
In chapter 18, Christ mentions that He is the light of the world. Then He tells us that we are also expected to be a light unto the world. We are to shine His light. We are to do all the things that He has done...serve and love and forgive one another. He teaches that those who profess to believe in Him but do not DO these things will be cast out. Only Christ can make that judgement because only He knows their heart.
We cannot judge or cast anyone out of the church because we can't see what is inside of them, their intent, their heart, their potential. God loves all of His children, even the ones that annoy us. He wants all of them/us to return to Him and will give them every chance to turn it around and get on the right path.
So we need to do what we are supposed to do - love one another, serve one another, forgive one another and leave the rest to God. If we forgive and love and help one another along, He will be more likely to forgive us. If we judge one another harshly, we will be judged the same.
I don't know about you but as for me - I need a lot of leeway. I am an imperfect being and I need lots of forgiveness. I can't afford to look down my nose at anyone. Plus, I would much rather be a part of saving souls than condemning them.
I imagine how amazing it was for these Nephites to have the opportunity to visit with the Savior. I would love to be able to sit at His knee and feel of His love. In the short period of time that He was with them, he gave them the most important instruction of all. It is the same thing He always taught by word and by example. It is simple. It is love. He loves us. We are to love one another. And despite what romance novels and telenovelas and most of the world might tell you - love is not a feeling. It is an action. We must get up and serve. We must give one another the benefit of the doubt. We must forgive and move forward and share His light with the world.
There are lots of things that we are supposed to do - lots of commandments. If we follow all of them but fail to serve and love our fellow man, we are lost. The first and greatest commandment is to love God. The second is to love one another. It is by the second that we follow the first. Everything else falls under these two.
Read the words of the Savior to the Nephites again. Imagine seeing and hearing Him speak. What does His message mean for you? What does He want you to do?
No comments:
Post a Comment