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# 139 -- Come, Follow Me – Week # 36 – 2 Corinthians 1–7 -- “Be Ye Reconciled to God”
Dear Family
and Friends
I hope that
you are each having a wonderful week😊 I have found a great Christian radio
station that I listen to whenever I drive – it helps me to keep my focus on
Jesus Christ. My mind tends to wander into other places when I can listen to
songs about my Lord and Savior😊My
mind doesn’t tend to wander so much as when I am listening to other people
share their testimonies through their songs.
It is also very uplifting to
listen to this type of songs, It is also very uplifting to
listen to this type of songs, that are not hymns. Now, don’t get me wrong – I love
the hymns we song in church and I sometimes sing them to myself as I am driving
down the road😊
If you are
feeling low, discouraged, lonely, lost, or even upset, mad or angry, maybe you
should try it. I don’t think that you
will stay that way for long after you have sung through a hymn or primary song
or two. My favorite go-to song is ‘I Am a Child of God.’ Just knowing the words
to hymns is really beneficial you know. Years
ago, I was on my way to work one morning, it was probably around 3:30 -3:45 a.m.,
I know it was way too early, right? ☹
I was working
as a cook in a convalescent home and I had to be to work by 5am. I had to cross
through about three ravines while traveling to work a couple of towns away. I was
moving right along when the brain n my Jeep quit working☹ I was
stuck at the bottom of one of the ravines right on a blind curve and right next
to the river that ran through the ravine☹
I am not a fan
of being in the dark in a precarious spot on a two-lane road. My first thought
was – “oh, no, what if one of those water haulers come around that turn too fast
and they don’t see the car – until it’s too late! I knew that those trucks
traveled quite fast on this road and they probably couldn’t go too fast across
that bridge and around the curve too fast but logic was not in my brain at that
particular moment☹ I prayed a lot and sang primary songs
and the one or two hymns that I knew. This happened a few months after I had
become a member of the Church of Jesus Crist of Latter-day Saints😊
I can’t
remember just exactly how long I was sitting there, but I will tell you that my
imagination was working overtime with all of the sounds in that ravine! As I was
sitting there in the ‘quiet’ and praying, I had the impression to try the car
again to see if it would start. I got it started and got up the hill and just
outside of the next town when the car quite again. I had just got the car the car off onto the
side of the road, when a semi-truck went by me, followed by another, and still
another!
Immediately a
prayer of thanks went out to my Heavenly Father. I was so grateful that my
first thought had not become my last. I was and still am grateful to know the
words to a few hymns and primary songs that I could sing to myself that
morning. I am sure I would have been a basket case of worry and let fear take
over where faith was allowed to be.
You do know
that faith and fear cannot reside with you at the same time, right? If I had
stayed in that ravine, I would probably not be here to tell you the story. But,
since I am and this story came to my mine, I thought maybe I was meant to tell
it to you. This was a short little trial for me, but one that has taught me a
lot. I have tried very hard to never let my fears overtake my faith.
I have
trusted in the Lord and held fast to my faith. I am far from being perfect. In fact,
I am the most unworthy of His servants. I feel like I am such a slow learner
and so forgetful – even more-so now with the chemo brain added into the mix😊
I know that the Lord listens to and answers my prayers. I know that our trials
are usually blessings in disguise😊
I always tell my co-workers, friends and even
family members that ‘I am like a bad penny, I keep turning up.’ That is kind of
like me with my prayers, my scripture study, and family home evening – when my
children were older, but still at home. I
would wait for my husband to get home, so that he could join us. He never
really did, but sometimes he would stay in the same room if the children would
ask him.
Then pretty
soon he stopped coming home in time or he simply stopped coming out of his room☹ My
husband went through a long period of depression where he would not even come
out of his room. I think even after the depression was gone this was his habit
to shut himself off in his room and only come out when he needed to do so☹
I don’t know about your children, but mine
depended upon their dad for the example to be with and follow for the most
part. They still look to him for his example and his guidance. Oh, but I am
rambling too much☹ again☹ I guess
my point in bringing this up is to share with you the fact that I know that I am
not very good at these things but I kept trying to do them because these are
things that the Lord has asked – or maybe even something that we have been commanded that we do.
I also
believe that in doing these things on a regular basis has made such an impact
in my life and hopefully in the lives of my children. Anyway, I digress a bit I
guess😊 I have gotten off track many, many
times, but I do my best to get back in the habit of doing these things on a
daily basis as much as I can. I have struggled to find a good way for me to
study the scriptures, but I keep on trying – so, if any of you have something
that works well for you – please share with me😊
I do believe that my life is better, my days go better when I am able to study
my scriptures ( especially the book of Mormon😊),
say my prayers, and attend church and partake of the sacrament.
As I look
back it seems as though that over the years I kind of got into the bad habit of
just taking the sacrament without giving it much thought because when you don’t
know better you cant do better. I have learned so much in the past 8 or 10
years – things that I wish I had known sooner so that I could have put them
into practice that much sooner.
I believe that the Lord knows when we are
ready for the nest step in our line upon line, precept upon precept, and maybe I
simply wasn’t ready for it then😊 Oh, hey, let’s
get right into our lesson. Today we will be studying second Corinthians chapters
1-7.
Our instructor will always ask us each week – well, every other week😊
if we want to share ideas or experiences that we have had during the week as we
have studied. Or if we have ideas or experiences related to the topics of our
study for the week. This week we were asked to share on what things we do that
make our scripture study effective or if we found something that makes our scripture
study more effective for us.
I have tried
many things over the years – many ideas, many ways, trying to make so that my
scripture study is more meaningful and more effective for me. I believe that
some key elements of my scripture study have become: 1.) to say a prayer
before, during, and after my study. In praying, I am seeking the Spirit of the
Lord for guidance and instruction as I study. 2.) to write down my thoughts and
feelings that I have as I study my scriptures – for this reason I always try to
keep a pen and paper or journal handy to write my thoughts and feelings down as
they come to me😊
Let me see,
here are a few more things to add to my list of things that help me: 3.) I have
learned to look for patterns and lists of things, and things that are repeated
are important. I also have learned to look for comparisons – for blessings,
commandments and for consequences. I know the scripture that says blessings are
determined by your efforts to attain them, is very true. We are blessed for our
obedience to the commandments. 4.) I have learned how helpful it is to use the
study helps that are in our scriptures: the footnotes and the references that
are with them, the Joseph Smith Translation is very helpful in clarifying some
passages in the Bible.
I do have a
few more things that I have tried and some that I know have worked well for me
though I guess that is enough to get you
going, I will share more on this topic of scripture study in a later post so
that I don’t distract you too much from our lesson. I hope that I have not left
you hanging on this topic at all, for this was not my intention. Just know
this, any way that works well for you do it! and if you get side-tracked by
life, please get right back at it😊 It is so important that we know the
word of the Lord!!!
This next part comes directly from our Come, follow Me for Individuals and Families
manual:
Sometimes, being a Church leader means having to say some difficult
things. This was true in Paul’s day just as it is today. Apparently a previous
letter from Paul to the Corinthian Saints included chastening and caused hurt
feelings. In the letter that became 2 Corinthians, he tried to explain
what had motivated his harsh words: “Out of much affliction and anguish of
heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that
ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you” (2 Corinthians 2:4).
When you’re on the receiving end of some correction from a leader,
it definitely helps to know that it is inspired by Christlike love. And even in
those cases where it is not, if we’re willing to see others with the kind of
love Paul felt, it’s easier to respond appropriately to any offenses. As Elder
Jeffrey R. Holland counseled, “Be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of
those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women.
Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all
God has ever had to work with” (“Lord, I Believe,” Ensign or Liahona, May
2013, 94).
Our trials can be a blessing.
You know maybe there’s someone in your family, your
neighborhood, or amongst your friends who may be experiencing a difficult
trial. The experiences Paul described and the counsel he gave in
2 Corinthians can help you, your family members, friends and neighbors to
think about the blessings that can come from their individual trials.
With your family members and friends, you may want to share an
experience about how a trial blessed your life or what you learned from someone
else who endured a trial. After that you could take a few minutes to
review 2 Corinthians 1:3–7; 4:6–10, 17–18; and 7:4–7 together as a group with your family members and
friends.
You might ask them to listen as you read, for what Paul taught the
people about the purposes and blessings of trials.
Then you
might ask your family members and friends to share with your group a certain
teaching that was meaningful to them – or you could share with them an
experience or testimony related to that teaching. This next section for personal
scripture study comes directly from our Come, follow Me for Individuals and Families
manual:
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
My trials can be a blessing.
Given the tribulation that Paul faced in his ministry, it’s not
surprising that he wrote a lot about the purposes and blessings of tribulation.
Think about ways your trials can be a blessing as you read 2 Corinthians 1:3–7; 4:6–10, 17–18;
and 7:4–7. For example,
you might ponder how God “comforteth [you] in all [your] tribulation” and how
you can, in turn, “comfort them which are in any trouble” (2 Corinthians 1:4).
Or you might focus on the light of Jesus Christ that “hath shined in our
hearts,” even when you are “troubled” and “perplexed” (2 Corinthians 4:6–10).
See also Mosiah 24:13–17;
Gospel Topics, “Adversity,” topics.lds.org.
You might want to consider pondering how trials can bless our
lives, including by reviewing Paul’s teachings found in 2 Corinthians 1:3–7; 4:6–10, 17–18; and 7:4–7. In reviewing you could write down some ways of how
Paul’s teachings might apply to afflictions you or they have or might face in
their own lives.
Here is something that you might consider singing together with your
family members and / or friends, one of their favorite primary songs and / or hymns
that testify of the comfort and blessings Heavenly Father and the Savior offer
us in times of trial—like maybe “How Firm a Foundation” (Hymns, no. 85). After singing together, you
might ask your family members and /or
friends to look for a phrase in 2 Corinthians 1 and 4 that they feel fits the message of the hymn.
We receive blessings and bless others when we
forgive.
You all can probably agree that we’ve each had experiences in
our individual families when someone has “caused grief” to us or our family (verse 5). It may do us each well to search 2 Corinthians 2:5–11, looking through these verses
for some counsel from Paul about how we should treat someone who has offended
us, or who we think may have offended us.
We could also take another look at
the verses in Luke 15:11–32; John 8:1–11; as well as the following quotation by
Elder Kevin R. Duncan:
Seeing others as God sees them helps us to forgive.
Elder Kevin R. Duncan taught: “One key to forgiving others is
to try to see them as God sees them. At times, God may part the curtain and
bless us with the gift to see into the heart, soul, and spirit of another person
who has offended us. This insight may even lead to an overwhelming love for
that person” (“The Healing Ointment of
Forgiveness,” Ensign or Liahona, May
2016, 34).
We
searched these verses and read this quote that we may learn more about how we
should always treat those who have sinned. Here is a great question for you: How
do we harm ourselves and others when we are unwilling to forgive? This next section for personal
scripture study comes directly from our Come, follow Me for Individuals and Families
manual:
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
I receive blessings and bless others when I
forgive.
We don’t know much about the man Paul referred to in 2 Corinthians 2:5–11—only that he had
transgressed (see verses 5–6) and
that Paul wanted the Saints to forgive him (see verses 7–8).
Why do we sometimes fail to “confirm [our] love toward” someone who has
offended us? (verse 8). How
does withholding forgiveness harm others and ourselves? (see verses 7, 10–11).
What does it mean to you that withholding forgiveness from others gives “Satan
… an advantage of us”? (verse 11).
See also Doctrine and Covenants 64:9–11.
Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can
be reconciled to God.
Many people come to church with a desire to feel closer to God,
and a discussion of 2 Corinthians 5:14–21 can help them. To begin,
you and your family members and friends should take a look at the meaning of
the word reconcile. You may want to begin here by looking
up the word reconcile in a dictionary. Here are a few more questions for
you to consider:
·
What insights does this provide about being reconciled with God?
·
What additional insights do we gain from the entry “Atonement” in the Bible Dictionary?
·
How do these insights help us to better understand 2 Corinthians 5:14–21?
At this
point you may want to share with your family members and friends your own feelings
about the Savior, whose Atonement is what makes it possible for each one of us
to be reunited with God. This
next section for personal scripture study comes directly from our Come, follow
Me for Individuals and Families manual:
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I can
be reconciled to God.
As much as anyone,
Paul knew what it was like to become “a new creature.” He went from being a
persecutor of the Christians to a fearless defender of Christ. He knew for
himself how Jesus, who “knew no sin,” can take away our sin and give us His
“righteousness,” restoring us to unity with God. As you read these verses,
think about what it means to be reconciled to another person. How does this
help you understand what it means to be reconciled to God? Ponder what might be
separating you from God. What do you need to do to be more completely
reconciled with Him?
See also 2 Nephi 10:23–25.
Godly sorrow leads to repentance.
In searching through 2 Corinthians 7:8–11 we will find that here
in these verses is a helpful explanation
of what godly sorrow is and what its role is in repentance. And now for another question or two: What do
we learn about godly sorrow from 2 Corinthians 7:8–11 and President
Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s words in the following quote from his talk “You Can
Do It Now!”
Godly sorrow inspires
change and hope.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained:
“Godly sorrow inspires
change and hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Worldly sorrow pulls
us down, extinguishes hope, and persuades us to give in to further temptation.
“Godly sorrow leads
to conversion and a change of heart. It causes us to hate sin and love
goodness. It encourages us to stand up and walk in the light of Christ’s love.
True repentance is about transformation, not torture or torment” (“You Can Do It Now!” Ensign or Liahona, Nov.
2013, 56).
Why is
godly sorrow essential to repentance? This
next section for personal scripture study comes directly from our Come, follow
Me for Individuals and Families manual:
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Godly sorrow leads to repentance.
We don’t usually think of sorrow as a good thing, but Paul spoke of
“godly sorrow” as a necessary part of repentance. What do you learn about godly
sorrow from the following? 2 Corinthians 7:8–11; Alma 36:16–21; Mormon 2:11–15; and
Gospel Topics, “Repentance,” topics.lds.org. When have you felt godly sorrow, and what
effect did it have in your life?
If you feel impressed to learn and /or teach more about
repentance. You might try this with your family: Write on a poster board the
words ‘Repentance
is …’. Ask your family members and friends to think of some ways
to complete this phrase, using the things they have learn from 2 Corinthians 7:8–11, as well as from the
following the scriptures, talks and other
resources that are listed below:
What is repentance?
·
Mosiah 3:19; 5:2
·
Bible Dictionary, “Repentance”
·
“Repentance,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org
Elder Neil L.
Andersen taught:
“When we sin, we
turn away from God. When we repent, we turn back toward God.
“The invitation to repent is rarely a voice of chastisement but
rather a loving appeal to turn around and to ‘re-turn’ toward God [see Helaman 7:17]. It is
the beckoning of a loving Father and His Only Begotten Son to be more than we
are, to reach up to a higher way of life, to change, and to feel the happiness
of keeping the commandments. Being disciples of Christ, we rejoice in the
blessing of repenting and the joy of being forgiven. They become part of us, shaping
the way we think and feel. …
“For most, repentance is more a journey than a one-time event. It
is not easy. To change is difficult. It requires running into the wind,
swimming upstream. Jesus said, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me’ [Matthew 16:24].
Repentance is turning away from some things, such as dishonesty, pride, anger,
and impure thoughts, and turning toward other things, such as kindness,
unselfishness, patience, and spirituality. It is ‘re-turning’ toward God” (“Repent … That I May Heal You,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009,
40–41).
How
might we use these teachings to help someone understand how to sincerely
repent? This next section
for family scripture study and family home evening ideas comes directly from
our Come, follow Me for Individuals and Families manual:
Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening
As you read the
scriptures with your family, the Spirit can help you know what principles to
emphasize and discuss in order to meet the needs of your family. Here are some
suggestions:
Have members of your family ever asked someone to write a letter of
recommendation for them, such as for a job or school application? Ask them to
talk about this experience and what the letter said about them. Paul taught
that the lives of the Saints were like letters of recommendation for the gospel
from Christ Himself, “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living
God.”
As you read 2 Corinthians 3:1–3 together,
discuss how our examples are like letters of recommendation for the gospel that
can be “known and read of all men.” Perhaps each family member could write a
letter or “epistle” explaining how another family member has been a good
example of a disciple of Jesus Christ. They could read their letters to the
family and give them to the family member they wrote about. Why is it important
to understand that our lives are “epistle[s] of Christ”?
What does it mean to
“walk by faith, not by sight”? What are we doing to show that we believe in
things we can’t see?
Can your family
think of—or find—examples in nature of
things that go through remarkable transformations and become new creatures?
(see the pictures that accompany this outline). What do these examples teach us
about how the gospel of Jesus Christ can change us?
According to these
verses, what does it mean to be “ministers of God”?
How can we follow
Paul’s counsel, “Come out from among [the unrighteous], and be ye separate,”
while also being good examples to those around us?
For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.
For next week
we will find out how Paul responded when he prayed to have a trial removed – (have
any of you or your family members and friends ever done this – prayed to have a
trial or affliction removed?), Paul’s prayer was not answered in the way that
he had expected it would be answered.
Well folks,
here we are again at the end of our lesson on 2 Corinthians chapters 1-7.
As always, I hope, and I pray that I have shared something with you today in our study or in my ramblings that has encouraged you or uplifted you in some way. That our study together has been as beneficial for you as it has been for me. I am learning so much. Thank you for studying along with me😊
As always, I hope, and I pray that I have shared something with you today in our study or in my ramblings that has encouraged you or uplifted you in some way. That our study together has been as beneficial for you as it has been for me. I am learning so much. Thank you for studying along with me😊
It is amazing
tome that you can learn more each time that you study the same verses of
scripture. Sometimes I think to myself ‘was that there the last time I read
through these verses?’ I don’t know if you have ever had this kind of
experience, but I have had it many times😊 I will be studying s few verses or a
chapter and find some golden treasures within those verses or chapters.
Then in
reading through those same verses or chapters I will find more golden treasures
that I didn’t seem to notice during my previous study of those verses or
chapters. I believe that it is part of the learning line upon line and precept
upon precept, that I mentioned earlier. Maybe I simply wasn’t ready for those
truths – or golden treasures, during my previous study😊
what do you think?
Well, again I
am rambling. As always, please remember who you are! You are each a child of God
– no matter what your age – you are His child! You are a son or a daughter of a
Heavenly Father who knows each one of you individually and personally. I believe
this to be true and that is why I always share it with you😊
Knowing this
has helped me many times and I am hoping that this knowledge helps you as well😊
I mean think about it – You are a child of God! That statement gives me
comfort. Knowing that He will always be there for me. He will always love me –
no matter what I do! 😊😊 That knowledge is powerful to me and I
hope nd pray that it is powerful to you as well.
Keep studying
your scriptures and learning all you can about our Heavenly Father and His Son,
Jesus Christ – this knowledge will also become a guide nd a protector for each
one of us in the very near future. We will need our spiritual lamps to be as
full as possible in order to endure what is coming at us in this life. I am
afraid this is very true, and we must prepare NOW! Until my next post, please
remember to keep praying and remember to make is a great week😊
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