DECEMBER 1, 2023

 “When an individual is motivated by great and powerful convictions of truth, then he disciplines himself, not because of the demands of the church, but because of the knowledge within his heart” 

― Gordon B. Hinckley

EZEKIEL 45-46

9“ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You have gone far enough, princes of Israel! Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. (44:9) 

2 PETER 3

14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

JOURNAL 

In the end its all about "growing in the grace and knowledge" of Christ. To see that Peter and Paul are of one spirit and one intent and that each of them warn of being deceived is eye-opening to the reality of our struggle.  It is imperative that my own faith journey continue in this vein. It is of paramount importance to keep a discipline of reading scripture, thinking and meditating on it. For this is where God's ultimate truth is found. This is where I gain the knowledge and strength to counter my own misguided emotions and thoughts as well as those of others. 

More and more I realize that we are to love but never to make any human anything other that what they are...broken, sinful but still a child of God. No doubt that God speaks through us and uses us to further his kingdom. However there is a great danger when we buy into the notion that any man other than Jesus himself is to be followed and glorified. It often is our temptation to want a King / God here in the flesh, but that spot has already been taken. Anything or anyone else that offers to fill that void is not of God...no matter how good, righteous or holy they may seem. In the end "all fall short of the glory of God..." Therefore we are to love, forgive, have grace but trust in God and God alone.

22Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

23They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.”

25The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him;

26it is good to wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord.

LAMENTATIONS 3:22-26