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| Uh Oh... |
I was thinking recently about giving things up--whether it be addictions, things that just hold us back from who we want to be, or whatever--and in my often-runs-amok imagination, I thought what it must be like to have an octopus stuck on your face. That would really
suck (
pun most assuredly intended)! Even if you got a few of his tentacles off of you, he's still got 6 more legs to latch back onto you. Not good. Giving things (or people, or habits, etc.) up that we've become really attached to (or that have really become attached to
us) can be difficult, especially when we don't necessarily
want to give them up but we know we need to. But every time we give something up that is holding us back from a closer relationship with God or with doing His will, no matter how hard it may hold on, no matter how difficult it may seem, we can and will be strengthened.
Think for a moment about the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000. This little boy has 2 loaves of bread and a few small fishes. That's
all he had. By himself, he couldn't have done what was needed. But then he gave it all to Jesus, and Jesus did what no one else could do. Think for a second about the faith of that little boy. He didn't just give
some of the bread and
a couple of the fishes to Jesus; he gave
all that he had--
that's when the miracle happened.
Pause and think about that in terms of you trying to be better, to "be ye therefore perfect", as Jesus' injunction goes. Can we do it all on our own?
Heavens no! We don't have
nearly enough to get to where we want to be! But when we give
all that we have, Jesus takes our meager offering and multiplies it until the job is done. So don't worry if your present situation sucks like having an octopus on your face. Do your best, He'll do the rest.
Much Love,
Elder Spendlove
PS here's a
cool talk about
Christ's all and
our all. Might help illustrate this better.
Jesus and boy: https://net-at-hand.s3.amazonaws.com/sites/10732/images/15191_full.jpg
Octopus image: http://www.dinosaurtypes.org/images/other_prehistoric-creatures/sea_creatures/Giant_Octpus/Giant_octopus.jpg
I like the analogy of an octupus--very descriptive! We don't start life with an octopus, it comes slowly. The devil uses a weak, flaxen cord to get us at first, and then binds us with strong cords (2 Nephi 26:22), or in this case an octopus :) But, with Christ's help, we can be redeemed from our sins (Alma 5:21). It is only with the Savior's help that we can come off conqueror!
ReplyDeleteI think you just helped me to make up my mind on doing the purity challenge! thanks for your post! it was AWESOME! and very funny!
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts Elder Spendlove! It reminded me of the following scripture from Matthew 4:
ReplyDelete18¶And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
The "nets" being whatever it is we need to give up or give to the Lord. These apostles had so much faith in Jesus that they left them not next week or when things were more convenient but rather, "straightway".
What an amazing example!
(Elder Wirthlin gave a great talk on this entitled "Follow Me")