Jesus the Christ Chapter 26
A lot of great stuff here, but just a couple of thoughts:
The parable of the Good Samaritan and Christ’s answer to Peter concerning how many times he was to forgive his brother really sum up for me the difference between the law and the gospel. The law would tell you exactly who is your neighbor- how many houses in what radius contained those people you were to love. The gospel says that everyone is our responsibility, we are to have charity and love for all. The law would tell (and did) exactly how many times you were required to forgive, while the gospel teaches us to always forgive. It’s interesting to me that it’s through living the gospel, rather than the law, that the deeper truths of these principles is learned.
Oh Mary and Martha, how I love you. I think it’s a shame that people set them up as a one or the other choice, and I love how Talmage points out that both were faithfully serving in the way that suited them, and that the one needful thing was NOT putting aside housework, but was true spiritual development.
I LOVE this: “By inattention to houseful duties, the little touches that make or mar the family peace, many a woman has reduced her home to a comfortless house; and many another has eliminated the essential elements of home by her self-assumed and persistent drudgery, in which she denies to her dear ones he cheer of her loving companionship.” I’m having a difficult time finding that balance recently, so this quotation is one I’ll be pondering.
What stood out to you?
the story of mary and martha has always been important to me, so i too was glad to have it clarified that growing closer to christ is what is important, however we do that. i agree that balance is important (said as i look up from my book long enough to acknowledge that the weird smell is my trash i haven’t taken out in forever…)
this really stood out to me:
“As the time of His foreknown betrayal and Crucifixion drew near, ‘he steadfastly set his face to to to Jerusalem’ though, as we shall find, He turned northward on two occasions…”
Is it possible that He was scared and willing? I think so. I think about the times that I retreat from something I know I should do and even want to do, but am too_____ (fill in the blank) to do. Like right now, as I prepare to go to the temple again, there are times when I set it aside because it’s just all too real, and watch a movie or something.