Just how merciful is the Lord?
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I need to continue to remind myself of this. I often beat myself up more than I probably should. I tend to beat myself up the more and more I learn of Christ, too. Isn’t that weird?
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Why wouldn’t I learn and want to have more patience and love for myself? I mean, I’m learning of Christ—the most loving and forgiving.
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This is my thought on why I do this—I would say the more I come unto Christ, the more I understand His word, the more I indulge to feed myself spiritually, the harder I am on myself when I sin.
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Why am I harder on myself when I’m doing what the Lord wants me to do?
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Because I know what’s expected of me, the more I learn of Him and His Gospel, the more I hold myself accountable. I’m harder on myself because I understand I’ve sinned. I know better when I’m in communion with the Lord.
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Let’s look at Laman and Lemuel. How many times did they have Heavenly messengers appear to them after they departed from Jerusalem? MANY!! Even the voice of the Lord chasten them exceedingly.
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They wanted to MURDER their father, Lehi, and brother Nephi. They turned their hearts away from Heavenly visitations numerous times. Why? I assume, but I say it was because they didn’t study the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They didn’t have a personal conviction of the truth.
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It didn’t matter what they saw or heard from Heavenly messengers. It didn’t mean anything to listen to the voice of the Lord chastise them. They were never converted to the word of God. They never developed a relationship with the Lord.
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As hard-hearted as they were, the Lord STILL forgave them; he still accepted their please of repentance, and He blessed them with food that they didn’t perish.
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It doesn’t matter if you’ve had Heavenly visitations. Excellent for you if you have, but as we learn from 1 Nephi 16 and so many other scripture references, if you don’t have a relationship with the Lord and indulge in the world of God, you will fall away.
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You cannot become converted unto the Lord unless you are daily studying the Gospel and pleading with the Lord in prayer. Disagree with me all you want, but I will hold my ground on this.
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Hear Him and love yourself. He does!