In the Old Testament we hear of the story of Moses and the people of Israel. The people had rebelled against God and for so doing poisonous serpents were sent among them, and inasmuch as they were bitten, they did die. God told Moses to lift up a serpent on a staff and to instruct all those who were afflicted to look upon the serpent on the staff, and if they did they would be healed. But because of the easiness of the way, many did not look and suffered death. But, those who had faith and exercised it by looking at the serpent on the staff were healed.
How simple the task, and so great the blessing. Yet, many would not do it. Are we in the same situation today? Our spiritual leaders are not asking for us to make monumental sacrifices or pilgrimages to show our faith. They ask us all to choose to do what is right on a regular and consistent basis in order to show our faith in God. If we do so, our faith, exercise through our actions, will be sufficient to make us whole.
Another example was given in the Book of Mormon. If you are not LDS then please just read these verses. The story goes that after the crucifixion and resurrection, Christ visited the people who inhabited the Americas. After several days of preaching to them, he told them that he would then ascend to the Father. They began to weep, hoping that he would stay a bit longer with them. Being filled with mercy this is what he said:
3 Nephi 17
How simple the task, and so great the blessing. Yet, many would not do it. Are we in the same situation today? Our spiritual leaders are not asking for us to make monumental sacrifices or pilgrimages to show our faith. They ask us all to choose to do what is right on a regular and consistent basis in order to show our faith in God. If we do so, our faith, exercise through our actions, will be sufficient to make us whole.
Another example was given in the Book of Mormon. If you are not LDS then please just read these verses. The story goes that after the crucifixion and resurrection, Christ visited the people who inhabited the Americas. After several days of preaching to them, he told them that he would then ascend to the Father. They began to weep, hoping that he would stay a bit longer with them. Being filled with mercy this is what he said:
3 Nephi 17
6 And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with acompassion towards you.
7 Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.
8 For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.
9 And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.
Do you feel that spiritually you are sick, afflicted, lame, blind, dumb, or afflicted in any other way? (This is where we ALL nod our heads 'yes.')
Our Savior simply asks of us a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and that we humbly come before him in grateful supplication for his blessings to be given us; that we may be forgiven and made whole, that we may be strengthened in our resolve to live righteously and to do good in the sight of God - not man. If we meet the requirements of 1) being spiritually afflicted in anyway, 2) humble ourselves before God, 3) ask for forgiveness and help, and 4) are willing to do what the Father would have us do; then we shall be healed and become true sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.
- Spread the Good News
