The Prodigal Son

Today in New Testament we also talked about the story of the Prodigal Son, which is of course very famous. Today however we added some details that really deepened my understanding of the story.

One was that the Prodigal Son basically said "I wish you were dead" to his father when he asked for his inheritance immediately. When he gathered all his things together, he was saying that he wasn't coming back. And when he took his journey to a far country, he was trying to get as far away from his father as possible. Ouch.

One of the best lines of the parable is, "When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran." His father had been watching for him, waiting for him. He knew his child would return. The image of a father running at breakneck speed toward his child makes me choke up a bit. He had compassion. He ran to his child, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

The father gives his wayward son three gifts: a robe, a ring, and shoes. All of those have to be fitted. You can't just give someone a random ring or a random pair of shoes and hope that they fit. This shows that the father knew his child would return and was waiting for him. He had forgiven his son long before the son ever returned home and thought to ask forgiveness.

This shows me how my Father in Heaven feels about me, and how He forgives me and loves me even before I repent and return to Him. It also shows me how I ought to forgive others. I don't need them to come to me and ask forgiveness; I can freely forgive them as my Father has forgiven me.

You Matter to Him

So I feel as though I may just give it up and turn this into my New Testament blog.......... because every class is seriously SO great. :)

Today we talked about a few stories from Luke. One, found in Luke 19, is the story of Zacchæus, who was chief among the publicans, rich, and "little of stature." When Jesus comes, Zacchæus tries to see him but can't because he is too short. So he runs ahead a bit and climbs a tree. When Jesus passes under, He looks up, sees Zacchæus, and says that He will dine in Zacchæus' house. Zacchæus recieves him joyously, and promises to give half of all he has to the poor and to restore anything he has wrongly taken away {in his job as a publican this happened a lot} fourfold. Though the other people call him a sinner, Jesus says that this day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

One of the lessons I learned from this story is that we all have weaknesses, but I don't need to let these keep me from seeing the Saviour. I may be a little short in some areas, but that shouldn't stop me. I can show a little gumption and determination and "climb a tree" if necessary to get to my Saviour. I would imagine that Zacchæus lost a bit of his dignity as a grown man climbing a sycomore tree, but getting close to Jesus was more important to him. Is it most important to me? How desperate am I to get to Christ?

Another thing I learn is that we are never lost to the Saviour. How often is a person walking along when they just randomly look up to see if a person is in the tree above them? Jesus knew exactly where Zacchæus was at all times. We are never lost to him. We are never insignificant to him. We matter to him. "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

The Good Samaritan

Surprise, surprise........ it was another great day in New Testament. :)

We talked about the story of the Good Samaritan, one I'm sure almost everyone is familiar with at least the premise of. Today, however, we learned an allegorical interpretation I've never even considered before, although if I had looked around a little more I would have seen it taught by Martin Luther, John Welch, and others.

First of all, to understand it you have to know that topographically Jerusalem is the highest point in the Holy Land. People always spoke about going "up" to Jerusalem, the way we in America talk about going "up" if we're headed north. By contrast, Jericho is the lowest city in the world, below even the Dead Sea. So when Jesus talked about a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, he was really going down. This represents the Fall of man.

Next we read that this man "fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead." The thieves are Satan and his angels, and the wounds are sin. We are spiritually dead (being separated from God) but not yet physically dead.

Next, "by chance there came down a certain priest that way" who did not save the man. "And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side." Neither the priest [Law of Moses?] or the Levite [Priesthood] could save the fallen man. They came by chance, not on purpose. By chance certain children were born into the family of Israel and lived the Law of Moses. By chance they had the priesthood. But these things cannot save.

forgiveness.... again :)

I hope with all these posts about forgiveness I'm not making it seem like I have a lot to forgive someone for, cause that's not the case. It's just been on my mind lately :)

Today in New Testament (I know, I know....) Brother Smith pointed out the difference between Matthew 7:3 and Luke 6:41. One reads:

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

and the other:

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Then we talked about the difference, and which is scarier. To me, I'm much more concerned that I have faults that everyone else can see clearly that I'm just not perceiving. I know I do, because sometimes they are made quickly and painfully apparent to me.

I've never thought about these verses in this way before... I'd always thought it was just to remind us that we have our own big sins to worry about, so don't judge your brother. Now it's a reminder to me that I have huge faults that I'm not even aware of that people are forgiving me for every day.  If I can't perceive a beam, how can I blame them for not perceiving a mote?

If I remember have my own beams that I need to just work on perceiving and removing, forgiving my brother for his little motes becomes a lot easier.  They might not be aware, or they might be. Mostly, I need to work on relying on the Spirit, fixing myself, and remembering that I am so, so, so far from perfect.

Thanks, God, for this amazing lesson today :) Perfect!

forgiveness

again with the inspirational new testament class......... but seriously.

today we talked about the Parable of the Unjust Servant and forgiving others. In connection with this, we read the story of Abigail and Nabal from 1 Samuel 25. Basically, Nabal offends David and refuses to help him even after David has been helpful to Nabal. So David takes his men and his swords and goes to punish Nabal. Abigail hears what is happening and runs out to meet David with gifts. She kneels down and puts her face in the dust at David's feet and says, "Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be...forgive the trespass of thine handmaid." She is literally taking Nabal's sins upon herself, and asking David to forgive her even though she did nothing wrong.

Then we talked about Abigail as a type of Christ. Through his infinite Atonement, Jesus Christ literally took upon Himself all the sins of the world. When I stand before God to be judged, Christ will say, "Father, she wasn't perfect. But I was perfect. I suffered and died for her, so that she wouldn't have to pay the price for her mistakes. For my sake, let her into the Kingdom of Heaven. For my sake, offer her forgiveness."


I believe that when Jesus Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, He took upon Himself their sins too. Everyone's sins - not just mine. When I withhold forgiveness for something someone did to offend me, I'm not really withholding it from them - I'm withholding it from Him. From my Savior. From Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for me. How could I ever do that? When I imagine my Savior saying to me, "For my sake, won't you forgive them?" there is nothing to think about. Of course I will. There's nothing to forgive, nothing I wouldn't do for Him. It's just automatic. I love Him.

a fourth-watch God

today in new testament we talked about how we have a fourth-watch God and we have an immediate God. meaning, sometimes God lets us struggle until the "fourth-watch," or last possible moment, before He comes to us. Why? Well we don't always know God's purposes {though we know they are wise}, but one reason I think comes from The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis: 

"It is during such trough periods, much more than during the peak periods, that it is growing into the sort of creature He wants it to be... He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand."

God has to let us struggle, because by struggling we grow. If He always rushed in and saved us the moment we needed help, we could never become who we need to become. So, in His infinite mercy and wisdom, sometimes he let's us be "tossed with the waves," so to speak, and comes to us in what seems the very last possible moment.

This has happened to me many times in my own life. Sometimes God makes me wait what feels like a very long time {though really it's usually only a few days.......} before I feel better about things. Most recently, I was upset and stressed about school and personal life, and it seemed to be dragging on forever. I made it to the Relief Society Broadcast however, and it was just exactly what I needed to hear, and I felt at peace with the situation and loved by God. So perfect.

Sometimes, though, our God is an immediate God. He knows when to step in and rescue us immediately {and it's not up to us to tell Him which situation is which.} :) These situations can also be incredibly faith-strengthening. Not even two hours after the Broadcast ended, I got a text that again put my mind at ease. The situation isn't perfectly resolved, but I'm confident that we're back on the right path.

These personal examples don't exactly go along with the principle Brother Smith was talking about, but I wanted to record them and be thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who answers prayers in His own perfect timing, who loves me enough to let me struggle and grow, and who will never abandon me or let me drown. :)

xox, happy monday :)

Inspired!

I love my New Testament class. It's seriously like efy every Monday and Wednesday! :) And I love my professor, Brother Smith. :)

Today we talked about the temptations of Christ and how they break down into 3 main categories:
1. Stones into bread {flesh vs. spirit}
2. Jump off the temple so that God will catch you {vanity vs. humility}, and
3. Worship me [Satan] and I'll give you the kingdoms of the world. {aspiration vs consecration}

Anyways, the part of the lesson that really inspired me was when we talked about how a lot of us want to consecrate our lives to God but are finding it really difficult... because we haven't mastered the earlier temptations like flesh vs spirit {um hello, I love sleep and my snooze button.}

How can we give God something that isn't ours? 

"The first and best victory is to conquer self." ~Plato.

So I'm going to work on self-control. Choosing spirit over flesh, and humility over vanity. & then when I've learned to be in control of myself, I can give myself to God. :)

Goal! :)