"He served as a ransom for mankind."
What does that even mean? I've heard that phrase before many times but never really thought about it. But it describes perfectly what Jesus Christ's role was for us.
The plan of salvation was laid out to us in the pre-mortal existence. We were told what the plan was, and then given the choice to follow through with it or leave with Satan and never gain a body. 2/3 of us chose to follow through with the plan. The rest left and decided to take on the role of tempting us while we had mortal bodies. An act of jealousy on their part because they realized they would never progress like we had the opportunity to.
Yet we couldn't just go down to earth and live a perfect life. How would we progress, really learn right from wrong? We had to experience the good and the bad. But justice requires a price to be paid for every wrong committed. But that would doom us. There would be no way we could return to Heavenly Father if there wasn't a way for us to become perfect like him.
Then Jesus Christ stepped in with his role. A "ransom" was put upon him. He would take the sins of the world upon him in order for us to recieve the opportunity to repent and return to our Heavenly Father. We thought we understood how important it would be to come back to him, but Jesus Christ knew as soon as we came to the earth and the veil was put between us and heaven, we would find many ways to forget or choose wrongly.
Therefore, Jesus Christ knew how important this sacrifice would be. He was the only one who could atone for the sins of the world.
I'm trying to do what I can to make that sacrifice worthwhile, to honor and continue to use the atonement. Because I don't want that ransom to have been in vain.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Day 38: In Wonder
"I stand all amazed at the love Jesus has for me;
Oh it is wonderful, that he should care for me, enough to die for me!
Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me."
We sang that hymn today in sacrament meeting and I love the words to it. Music really does speak to my spirit and affects me in a way other things can't. These words are how I feel in my own heart when I partake of the sacrament every week. I am constantly amazed at the love Jesus Christ has for me.
Satan continues to try so hard to make me believe that I am not loveable, that I am never going to amount to much, if anything. And I regret to say that sometimes I let those thoughts get the better of me. Letting those thoughts become dominant in my mind pushes away the spirit, and takes away the feeling of love and support I always have from my Savior. Jesus Christ loved me enough to die for me.
Oh it is wonderful! Wonderful to me!
Oh it is wonderful, that he should care for me, enough to die for me!
Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me."
We sang that hymn today in sacrament meeting and I love the words to it. Music really does speak to my spirit and affects me in a way other things can't. These words are how I feel in my own heart when I partake of the sacrament every week. I am constantly amazed at the love Jesus Christ has for me.
Satan continues to try so hard to make me believe that I am not loveable, that I am never going to amount to much, if anything. And I regret to say that sometimes I let those thoughts get the better of me. Letting those thoughts become dominant in my mind pushes away the spirit, and takes away the feeling of love and support I always have from my Savior. Jesus Christ loved me enough to die for me.
Oh it is wonderful! Wonderful to me!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Day 37: Faith
Faith is not only a power we have within ourselves, it's an action. In order to have faith, we must act and move onward in faith. We can't say we have faith and then just sit and wait for the Lord. We need to show him that we have faith in him by living our lives the best we can, and knowing in our hearts he will lead us and take care of us.
The more we act in faith, the stronger our faith gets. Our eyes are opened to the tender mercies of the Lord and we see how he blesses our lives. Even if things happen that we weren't planning on or at first don't understand, with faith we know that eventually we will understand. And we will continue to trust in the Lord that life is going the best it can for us.
Faith and trust are very closely related. You can't have one without the other. We are blessed to have both faith in the Lord and trust in the Lord. When we completely trust him, we start to see our lives the way he sees our lives-a way to mold us and shape us into the eternal beings he plans on us to be.
The more we act in faith, the stronger our faith gets. Our eyes are opened to the tender mercies of the Lord and we see how he blesses our lives. Even if things happen that we weren't planning on or at first don't understand, with faith we know that eventually we will understand. And we will continue to trust in the Lord that life is going the best it can for us.
Faith and trust are very closely related. You can't have one without the other. We are blessed to have both faith in the Lord and trust in the Lord. When we completely trust him, we start to see our lives the way he sees our lives-a way to mold us and shape us into the eternal beings he plans on us to be.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Day 36: Gifts
"11. For all have not every agift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.
12. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby." (D&C 46: 11-12)
Our personalities and abilities are another example of Heavenly Father's love for us. We each have been blessed with our own characteristics that make us who we are, and each one of those characteristics is valued to help build the kingdom upon this earth.
Sometimes I feel like I don't have much to offer as a person. But then I'm reminded, either by those I love or the Spirit, or both, that I do matter. And that I am valued as a daughter of God. I am loved so much by my Heavenly Father and my older brother that I was given the opportunity to live on this earth for a period of time. And because Jesus Christ loved me personally enough, he suffered for me to give me the option to be able to return back home.
I am loved, and valued for my own personal self-worth. Everyone is. Sometimes it's really hard to remember that in a world where every one compares to every one else. We all have something to give, and we all have special spiritual traits about us that are unique to only us. That is proof enough that a higher, more powerful being loves us unconditionally.
12. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby." (D&C 46: 11-12)
Our personalities and abilities are another example of Heavenly Father's love for us. We each have been blessed with our own characteristics that make us who we are, and each one of those characteristics is valued to help build the kingdom upon this earth.
Sometimes I feel like I don't have much to offer as a person. But then I'm reminded, either by those I love or the Spirit, or both, that I do matter. And that I am valued as a daughter of God. I am loved so much by my Heavenly Father and my older brother that I was given the opportunity to live on this earth for a period of time. And because Jesus Christ loved me personally enough, he suffered for me to give me the option to be able to return back home.
I am loved, and valued for my own personal self-worth. Everyone is. Sometimes it's really hard to remember that in a world where every one compares to every one else. We all have something to give, and we all have special spiritual traits about us that are unique to only us. That is proof enough that a higher, more powerful being loves us unconditionally.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Day 35: Love
I feel like everything I study about the gospel and Jesus Christ all comes back to focus on one thing: The Atonement. It's a topic that never gets old to me, and that I know I'll never quite understand during this life. It was the purest act of love that was ever done or will be done on this earth. It was an act done that gave us the power to be like our Heavenly Father.
Jesus Christ has the greatest love of all. A love so pure and strong that he gave up his life for each of us. He felt every pain and affliction imaginable in order for us to find a way to ease our burdens while here upon the earth.
Without him, there would be no chance for us to succeed. With him, we have every chance.
Jesus Christ has the greatest love of all. A love so pure and strong that he gave up his life for each of us. He felt every pain and affliction imaginable in order for us to find a way to ease our burdens while here upon the earth.
Without him, there would be no chance for us to succeed. With him, we have every chance.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Day 34: Christlike Love
"We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities.
The means of this refinement is our Christlike love. There is no pain it cannot soften, no bitterness it cannot remove, no hatred it cannot alter. " -Joseph B. Wirthlin
I love this quote. Elder Wirthlin gave such good talks about hope for better days after his wife died a couple years before his death.
We, as mortals, can't see life in terms Heavenly Father can. We aren't perfect yet, and it's hard to believe sometimes that I can be perfect like Christ when right now I feel so far from it. But like Elder Worthlin said, we are seen in His eyes differently. How grateful I am that He sees the whole picture. And he knows where I fit in, and is guiding me to be that person he sees. Jesus Christ made his sacrifice to help me become perfect. What a comfort that is.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities.
The means of this refinement is our Christlike love. There is no pain it cannot soften, no bitterness it cannot remove, no hatred it cannot alter. " -Joseph B. Wirthlin
I love this quote. Elder Wirthlin gave such good talks about hope for better days after his wife died a couple years before his death.
We, as mortals, can't see life in terms Heavenly Father can. We aren't perfect yet, and it's hard to believe sometimes that I can be perfect like Christ when right now I feel so far from it. But like Elder Worthlin said, we are seen in His eyes differently. How grateful I am that He sees the whole picture. And he knows where I fit in, and is guiding me to be that person he sees. Jesus Christ made his sacrifice to help me become perfect. What a comfort that is.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Day 33: Service
When we are baptized and become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we take upon ourselves the responsiblity of service. Service in the church, and service to others. I used to think service was only counted if it was an actual act you did, such as baking cookies for your sick neighbor, or raking the leaves off the yard of the old lady down the street.
But service is anything where we put someone else first, and don't expect anything in return. It can be a phone call to a friend who is having a bad day. Anything simple. Any sacrifice without us wondering what we'll get repaid with.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of service. He came to this earth perfect, but he spent his whole ministry teaching without expecting anyone to give him something in return.
“I am among you as he that serveth” (Luke 22:27).
He showed us how simple and rewarding service is in our lives. When we serve, we feel closer to Heavenly Father. It's an interesting concept how we feel better about ourselves when we put others first.
But service is anything where we put someone else first, and don't expect anything in return. It can be a phone call to a friend who is having a bad day. Anything simple. Any sacrifice without us wondering what we'll get repaid with.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of service. He came to this earth perfect, but he spent his whole ministry teaching without expecting anyone to give him something in return.
“I am among you as he that serveth” (Luke 22:27).
He showed us how simple and rewarding service is in our lives. When we serve, we feel closer to Heavenly Father. It's an interesting concept how we feel better about ourselves when we put others first.
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