From Beginning to End

Day one hundred and two

The other day I heard a guy on the radio talking about the What Would Jesus Do? bracelets and he brought up an interesting point, he asked, wouldn't the better question be:  What Can I Do For Jesus?  I've been thinking about that question.  There are times in my life when I am asked to step out of my comfort zone to meet a need that God has or to make a sacrifice that I will feel deeply. I am not always gracious in these moments.  In fact, I have often complained about it or done the work with a poor attitude.  Not my best moments.  I keep forgetting that's it's not all about me.  As I prayed this morning these were the thoughts in my head and it led to a prayerful conversation with my Father in Heaven about ways I think I can improve. I felt better after repenting for my bad attitude and unwillingness, but the best part is that I know I won't have to face these challenges alone.

Genesis 50

I have finished the Book of Genesis.  It has been quite a journey and I have shared only a portion of what I have learned in my posts.  Here are a few things that I found interesting about this book:

• The book is known as the book of beginnings.
• It is the place that we are introduced to things like sin, death, marriage, childbirth, family dynamics, prayer, sacrifice, rain, etc. 
• We are introduced to God and learn about some of His attributes in this book. 
• It is in this book that most of us will trace our ancestry to one of the 12 tribes.
• It is this book that sets the stage for all other scripture. 
• It is in this book that we are first given examples of living righteously, like Adam and Joseph.
• It is also a book that ends quite differently than it begins. It begins with creation and ends with a coffin. It begins with life and ends with death.

For me I think the examples of the Genesis prophets have taught me the most.  Their reliance, trust, and allegiance to the Lord is very inspiring.  Their desire to do the right thing under all circumstances is impressive. There is a quote in the institute manual that impressed upon me the need for these attributes in my own life:

“I believe this is the greatest lesson that can be learned by the youth of Zion—to do the right thing because you love the Lord. It is so vitally important that, I feel, if you do anything in righteousness for any other reason than you love the Lord, you are wrong—at least you are on very shaky ground. And, somewhere your reasons for acting in righteousness will not be strong enough to see you through. You will give way to expediency, or peer group pressure, or honor, or fame, or applause, or the thrill of the moment, or some other worldly reason. Unless your motives are built upon the firm foundation of love of the Lord, you will not be able to stand.” (Hartman Rector, Jr., "Live above the Law to Be Free," Ensign, Jan 1973, p. 130)

I know the quote is directed to the youth of Zion, but I am still young in my relationship with God so I think that it is suited to me too.  It is the last line of the quote that I really appreciate because that is what I have gained from my study of this book, a firmer foundation of love for the Lord.  I have learned to recognize the Lord in all aspects of my life, the good and the bad, and to know that He is leading me in the direction that I need to go because He loves me!  I just need to be more trusting.

I stated earlier that the Book of Genesis starts with life and ends with death.  This is the opposite of my spiritual experience with this book, I feel more alive now than when I began my studies.  It was a book of beginnings for me, the beginning of more understanding and a closer relationship with God. I think that's how it's supposed to be.