Jesus Christ: Our Friend

Acts 4:10-12

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this (impotent) man stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

JESUS is the head of the corner or the chief cornerstone of the temple and of our lives. He is the author and finisher of the temple and our lives. He is our salvation. The Apostle Paul said to the Ephesian saints following their conversion to Christ and Christ’s church:

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

Jesus is the perfect leader and master of His church,  individual salvation, and eternal life. We always have a friend in Jesus. When we obey Him, he calls us His friends. We should seek to be His friend.

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” song on Vimeo

Text: Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.

Jesus can make us whole spiritually, just like He made whole physically the impotent man. He is the Rock upon which we can build and have safe foundation. He alone is our Savior and Redeemer, our Advocate and Mediator with the Father. GO to Heavenly Father in prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ, for He is our Confidant in whom we can always depend and trust.

Jesus: Look-Seek-Follow

Isaiah 51:1

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

JESUS is the Rock from which we are to be molded after. We are created in His image; therefore, we have the capacity to become as He is in personal perfection. He is the perfect example for us to follow and seek to become like. We can become more like Him if we (1) Look to Him, (2) Seek the Lord, and (3) Follow after righteousness.

1. Look to Him:  Always remember Him and His Spirit will be with us. Look to Him in every thought, word, deed, motive, and action. Look at all the marvelous creations, and realize that He is God, the Almighty.
2. Seek the Lord: Try to find the Lord through faith and prayer, through scripture study and fasting, through meditating and pondering. Search His commandments and live them.
3. Follow after righteousness: Obey all His commandments, for therein is peace and security. He is the exemplar of righteousness, and the more obedient we are the more righteous we become. Following Him is following righteous, for He is righteous.

Herein lies the formula for happy, successful living in this lifetime, and it will continue throughout eternity. Look-Seek-Follow our Savior Jesus Christ, and He will bless you forever.

Attitude of Gratitude

Isaiah 17:10

Thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength.”

Jesus is the God of our salvation, redemption, deliverance, and reclamation. He is the one true and saintly Savior and Redeemer of mankind. He is the Rock of our strength, our energy, our existence, our being, even our all. He is the light within each of us, all who enter the world through birth. He is the Light of Christ that lighteth all in all. He is the light of the sun, the moon, and the stars, and of the all-inclusive universe.

We give thanks and gratitude to Him for His countless and undeniable blessings, for His patience and longsuffering towards the children of men.  The commandment is, “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:7). ‘Thou shalt’ makes it a strict commandment that we must heed or punishment be at our door. We need to cultivate an “Attitude of Gratitude,” as counseled by Thomas S. Monson, prophet, seer, and revelator for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pour Out Your Hearts to God

Psalms 62:6

6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength,and my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

JESUS is our Rock and we must commit to be firm at putting no other god before Him and the Father. We must not be moved from our devotion to Him first. Putting God first is the key to happy and successful living. He is our salvation and glory. He gives us strength to withstand Satan and to perform our daily labors. We find refuge in Him. Refuge is safety or shelter from danger or trouble, and Jesus provides us His armour.

We can always trust Him and depend on Him. He always lifts, and never lets us down. Sometimes our faith in Him falls, but we are the doers.

Pour out your hearts to God,  and

He will refill it full to overflowing.

He is the giver of life, peace, and happiness. We just need to build our lives upon the Rock of Christ, and His blessings will be ours. Our lives will be overflowing with ‘milk and honey.’

Jesus Christ: Higher Than I

Psalms 61:2

1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Jesus Christ is our Higher Rock. No one, save the Father (Elohim) only, is higher than our Savior, and no one else will ever ascend above them. When our souls are rejoicing in Christ due to our successes and self-fulfillment, we will cry unto Him for gratitude and our indebtedness to Him. When our hearts are filled with sorrow and hurt, we will weep and pour out our souls to Him for mercy and grace. We can look upward to Him at any time of need, and He will be there for us, to comfort us and strengthen us. As we pray to the Father, both the Father and Christ hear our cries, and will be answered according to our faith and as they see fit. Our prayers will not go unattended. Jesus said, “Ask, and ye shall receive.”

Rejoice in Christ

2 Nephi 4:30

Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

Rejoice in Christ. Joy, peace, and happiness are found in Christ. He is our God and the Rock of our Salvation. The more we praise and sing to Him, the more rejoicing we experience. Moments while in the presence of Jesus Christ are delightful, times of gladness for He is the source of true happiness. We can succeed each day if we turn to Christ and rejoice in Him.

Each day can be a jubilation if we cry unto Him and then go about obeying God’s  commandments with exactness. Joy can come in the morning, noon, and at night as we rejoice in Christ. Praise God with all your heart, might, mind, and soul. Immerse yourself in His love and peace.

Serving others opens the door for knowledge and acceptance. “While serving others, we find Christ” (Harold Clyde).

Obeying God + serving others = Rejoicing in Christ

Jesus Christ: The Perfect Leader

2 Samuel 23:3

The Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear (reverence) of God.

Jesus Christ was and is the perfect leader. He spoke and  communicated with  mankind in the past and continues to speak to us today. He informs us that leaders must be righteous people, that they must be just and true, acting with no hypocrisy nor guile. “When the wicked rule, the people mourn.” Wicked leaders make wicked laws; therefore, leading souls to sin and personal destruction. Wicked leaders will be held in strict accountability for the evil laws they make and pass that lead people to sin. “Right is right, even if everyone is against it. Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it” (William Penn).

Jesus was the perfect leader, and we must strive to follow His leadership example regardless of the leadership position we are in, whether it be husband, wife, president, secretary, supervisor, teacher, doctor, sargent, policeman, coach, senator, or any other lead role. Wicked leaders must be replaced with good and upright souls in order to follow the command or our Lord and Savior; otherwise, these wicked leaders will perish.

A leader, political or religious or any other,  must believe in God, be honorable and moral,  and live by His commandments best he can. There is no place for the unbelieving leader. Satan possesses many leaders’ hearts to get them to sin and lead others astray, and he is succeeding.

May we seek to be just and moral, virtuous and noble leaders to pattern our leadership after Christ, the ideal leader. If we are anything less than that, then we are falling short and will suffer in the short and long run. Lead and succeed in helping others come unto Christ and be saved in eternal exaltation with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, family and friends.

Messiah: My Merciful Mentor

2 Samuel 22:2-3

2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Jesus is ready and available and willing to help us at anytime, if we are but  worthy and solicit His divine assistance. He is our personal guide, confidant, and friend. He is my:

1. Rock-I can build upon His teachings and make Him the Rock foundation of my life.
2. Fortress-He surrounds me and protects me from the wiles of mine enemy, satan and his followers. He gives me strength and power to resist evil and to do right.
3. Deliver-He delivers me from sadness and sorrow when I am experiencing life in the low valley. He delivers me from evil and corruption, from mediocrity and failure when I look to Him.
4. Shield-He is the protective armour that protects my heart from hatred and anger. He keeps dishonorable and sinful thoughts and temptations from creeping into my soul and staying there when I discipline myself to turn my thoughts and feelings to Him.
5. The Horn of my Salvation-His voice sounds out softly and loudly like a trumpet. It is up to me to determine the pitch of His voice. If I am humble and meeking, then His voice is soft and mile. If I am hard and proud, then His voice needs to get loud before I will hear Him and abide by His voice of warning.
6. High Tower-I must look up to Him in all things, for He is at the top while I dwell at the bottom.
7. Refuge-He calms me from the storms of life and gives me peace and serenity.
8. Savior-He is my and everyone’s personal Savior. He is the only one who can atone for the sins of the world and see that everyone receives a just and righteous judgment.

Jesus is everything to us. I need to praise and obey Him with my our heart, for He is My Merciful Mentor.

Jesus Christ: There is No Other

1 Samuel 2:2

There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Jesus, like His Father, is holy. No one can match the Savior of the world in glory, honor, awe and righteousness. There is no other savior besides Him. No rock exists compared to Him, for He is mightier than all. Many rocks subsist, but there is only one Rock of our Salvation, and that is “Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King.”

Jesus: The Rock of Our Salvation

Deut. 32:4

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Jesus is the Rock of our salvation. He it the Rock we need to build our lives upon rather than sand. Rock is firm and solid; whereas, sand will wash away when the rain and storms come our way. Jesus will never let us down. We build our lives upon Him by learning, living, and abiding by His teachings, His commandments, covenants, and principles of righteousness and truth. He is fair and absolute, possessing all knowledge and wisdom, love and patience, understanding and foresight. Jesus is the foundation stone that will never veer to the right or to the left, but will remain constant amid change in society. You can trust Him 100%. Turn to Him. Look to Him. Believe in Him. Believe Him. Remember Him. Follow Him.

Jesus Christ: The Stone of Israel

Genesis 49:24

But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel.

Jesus is the Mighty God of Jacob, even the Stone of Israel. He is the foundation upon which Israel is built, a stone or rock upon which if they build and continue faithful to the stone, they cannot fall. (See Helaman 5:12). Faith is perseverance, enduring and persisting faithfully. Christ makes us strong and helps us to resist the temptations of satan, the adversary.  Christ lifts us up; whereas, satan tears us down. Satan attacks our thinking with the anticipation of making us choose the wrong and destroy our souls. He sets snares and traps, attempting to catch us constantly. We must be on our best guard at all times, and building our lives upon the foundation of Christ, our Rock, our Stone, is a sure safeguard against the fiery darts of that old serpent, the devil.

Trust in Christ and trust Christ; for He will not lead you astray. He will lead you to salvation and eternal life in the highest heaven of the Celestial world. Seek Him daily, hourly, and moment by moment. Always remember Him, and His Spirit will be with you.

First Principles: Faith in Jesus Christ and Repentance

Moses 5:15

And as many as believed in the Son, and repented of their sins, should be saved; and as many as believed not and repented not, should be damned; and the words went forth out of the mouth of God in a firm decree; wherefore they must be fulfilled.

The first principles of the gospel are (1) Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, (2) Repentance. On these two principles hang all other laws, ordinances, doctrine, principles, and beliefs of true Christendom. Christendom is the worldwide body or society of Christians, those who confess a faith and belief and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ leads to repentance, and repentance leads to obedience to the commandments, and obedience until the end of mortality leads to salvation in the eternities, even eternal life living with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, family, friends, and others. Eternal life is the life that God now lives, and He desires that we become as He is and enjoy exaltation that He now enjoys.

Those who do exercise faith in Christ and repent will be saved, and those who do not, will be damned, will not progress eternally and become gods or goddesses, which is damnation.

Believing in Jesus Christ, repenting, and obeying all God’s laws and commandments is the only way to live and enjoy peace and happiness. Satan, the devil, even Lucifer, desires just the opposite. He wants us to doubt Christ, never repent, and always be disobedient because this life style makes one miserable like he is miserable. God is the author of light-satan darkness.

Seek the path of life that God’s desires you to trod, and you will be buoyant and happy, successful and triumphant. You will fulfill the missions and foreordinations for mortality and will be prepared to return to live with Him again.

Jesus Christ: The Only Begotten and Savior

Moses 1:6

And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all.

Jesus, the Only Begotten of the Father, is the Savior of the world who is full of divine assistance (grace) and truth (knowledge of things past, present, and future). He sees all things for all things are present before Him. He sees the beginning to the end, for there isn’t anything save He knows it.

We are created in the image of God and can become like Him through our thoughts, desires, works, and His grace. “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (See 2 Nephi 26:23). Grace is divine help from deity, His free gift and favor to us.  

Treasure Christ in Your Hearts and Minds

DC 43:34

Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.

Jesus bears witness of himself, “I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.” In His own words He declares His true identity leaving no doubt that He is the living Christ, the Savior, the Deliverer, and the Emancipator of mankind. When Jesus appeared to the Nephite saints at Bountiful in 34 AD following His resurrection, He descended out of heaven and made His appearance and introduced himself with the words, “Behold, I am Jesus Christ.” He is the center and heart of all righteous things. He is the light and life of the world. Treasure in your hearts and minds always thoughts of Christ and His teachings. Think of the eternities ahead. Seek to live righteously now while in mortality because following death and resurrection, we will all live forever, and we must live obedient lives now in order to live eternally in a happy, exalted state. We are now determining the type of life we will live in the hereafter by the way we live now in this mortal probation.

Apply our hearts and minds to a greater sense of things of the spirit and of eternity. We become what we think about; therefore, think about: (1) Christ, (2) His gospel, (3) Living obedient lives, and (4) Serving others.

Strive to always remember Christ and become like Him.

Knowledge of a Savior

Doctrine and Covenants 3:16

Nevertheless, my work shall go forth, for inasmuch as the knowledge of a Savior has come unto the world, through the testimony of the Jews, even so shall the knowledge of a Savior come unto my people—

Knowledge. A knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Savior, comes through studying and by the power of the Holy Ghost. As people testify of Christ, the Holy Ghost can bear witness to individuals that Jesus is the Christ, the living Son of the living God. To know Him is to love Him. “While we are serving others, we find Christ.” (Harold Clyde). We should seek His face.  “Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am” (See D&C 93:1).

Seek Him and we shall find Him.

Jesus: He Surely Must Die

Helaman 14:15

For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord.

Christ must die the infinite death, the death that affects all mankind and all created things. It is expedient that He die so that salvation can come, even the resurrection of all, to bring us back into the presence of Heavenly Father. Jesus is the only one who could suffer death that would atone for the sins of all people. “He only could unlock the gate of heaven and let us in” (See LDS hymn “There is a Greehilll Far Away”). Thus, it was expedient that He die. Expedient means: important, necessary, advantageous, useful, beneficial, vital. Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer of all.

Knowing Our Savior

Mosiah 3:20

The time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

A knowledge of our Savior and His true gospel being spread to all the world prior to His Second Coming is one of the signs of the times. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is getting nearer to being in all parts of the world. Members of the church, wherever they reside or are at the present moment, are representatives of the church, ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ. Full-time missionaries are more numbered that ever before, and the number continues to increase. Members and missionaries spread the message that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true, that Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet, that the Book of Mormon is true, that the church is lead under the direction of Jesus Christ himself, and other specific testimonies. Things will come to pass to complete the aforementioned prophecy that a knowledge of our Savior will spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Miracles are unfolding daily reflecting  evidence of prophecy being fulfilled.

Jesus Christ: Taking His Name upon Ourselves

2 Nephi 31:13

If ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

We take upon ourselves the name of Christ by baptism, by being baptized by a legal administrator with proper authority and under the auspices of ecclesiastical direction, witness and approval. “And no man taketh this honor unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron” (See Hebrews 5:4). When we take upon ourselves the name of Christ, who is our Lord and Savior, we are promising to strive to live as He lived, as perfect as possible. We need to seek a higher standard of living every day and every hour, to raise the bar of performance.

Self-Evaluation

1. Do you put God first in all that you do?
2. What is your current standard of living?
3. What are your current needs?
4. How can you improve?
5. What commandment are you having the most difficulty living?
6. What is the quality of your prayers?
7. What is the extent of your praise and gratitude to God?
8. What are you doing to build the Lord’s kingdom on earth? Do you magnify your callings?
9. How are you using your talents?
10. Can you, with perfect honesty, acknowledge God’s hand in all things?
11. Do you serve others selflessly? “When we serve others, we find Christ” (Harold Clyde)

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a balm, like the balm of Gilead. Look to God and live, even the abundant life.

Jesus Christ: The Lamb of God the Eternal Father

1 Nephi 13:40

“The Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.”

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God the Eternal Father. He is God the Father’s Son, His Only Begotten Son in the flesh. He is the one Lamb that followed His shepherd, God the Eternal Father, perfectly. He is the Savior of this world and all worlds created without number. Our finite numbering system isn’t capable of calculating the large number of worlds that have been created. The only mathematical concept that comes close to counting the number of worlds God has created is the idea of infinity: never-ending. Jesus’ atonement was infinite. The Great Atoner’s  influence reaches into infinity, endless.

Jesus is the model, the exemplar for all of us to follow and pattern our lives after. He is supreme. Seeking to improve our lives is to become more like Christ. As we are in the process of becoming more as Christ is, then we are coming unto Christ. We are coming closer to the standard of living that the Christ-like life reflects. Coming unto Christ brings us nearer the goal of eternal life, being saved. “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do” (See 2 Nephi 25:23). The grace of Christ finally saves us. Grace is God’s help, His divine assistance. Without Him, the Lamb of God, we could not make it back home to live in His and the Father’s presence.

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ: Two Separate Distinct Beings

1 John 4:14

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are clearly and distinctly two separate, individual beings. The Father, one being, sent the Son, a separate being, to be the Saviour of the world. Jesus being the Saviour of the world is the liberator and deliverer of the world. He liberates and delivers us from sin and bondage, from satan’s temptations and evil strategies. Jesus is the rescuer. He reaches out to all and strives to rescue us from the blood and sins of our current generation, from lost and forbidden paths.

Jesus being a rescuer shows us the example that we should strive to emulate, and to be rescuers also. We need to reach out and seek to rescue lost souls and those who are trodding forbidden pathways. As we reach out in love and friendship, God reaches out to us to guide and inspire us, to forgive us of our sins, and to lead our lives. Let God lead your life.

Our prayer to God is, “Lead me, guide me, walk beside me. Help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do to live with Him some day” (See the Primary song, “I Am a Child of God”).

Jesus is the Saviour of the world, and not only this world, but worlds without number.

Jesus: His Atoning Influence

What is the most important commandment?

1 John 2:1-2

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus is our Advocate (Helper, Comforter, Intercessor) with the Father. All have sinned and continue to sin. Disobedience to God’s commandments distances us from Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Thus, we must constantly repent and improve our souls by obeying all God’s laws and statutes and especially work on those that we are having trouble living with exactness.

President Harold B. Lee said, “The most important of all the commandments of God is that one that you're having the most difficulty keeping today. If it's one of dishonesty, if it's one of unchastity, if it's one of falsifying, not telling the truth, today is the day for you to work on that until you've been able to conquer that weakness. Then you start on the next one that's most difficult for you to keep.”  (President Harold B. Lee, Church News, May 5, 1973, p. 3)

Our disobedience separates us from the presence of God, and Jesus, the mediator, reconciles us to the Father, restores God’s peace to our hearts, since He is our Advocate. Jesus propitiates (calms and soothes) us as we repent of our wrongs. This applies to all people through the entire world and the countless worlds beyond this mortal earth. For this earth is only one of the worlds without number Jesus has created under the direction of the Father. His atonement is infinite, which means there are no ends to His atoning influence.

Seek to sin not.