Question of the day: Why is it so important to forgive our fellow man?
My first thoughts were more around Jesus' teaching that we should do alms and pray in secret as opposed to showing it off. While I recognize the blessings Jesus promises, that we would be rewarded outwardly, I can't help but wonder if there aren't other reasons. One that came to mind is that when done in secret we are helped to develop a relationship with Heavenly Father. When down outwardly, in public, there is little to no way the relationship will be built because the focus is on how we are perceived.
Do we sometimes and in partial ways say our prayers or make our donations publicly? I found myself asking this question. Do we maybe give small hints towards these things and in turn make the a little less sacred or reduce the value or blessing we would receive from Heavenly Father?
I've been thinking about how in the previous chapter we were taught to not call others fool, or to not be angry with them, and that contention is of the devil. Contention of course takes two people, but anger doesn't. And of course the natural man in me deflects and says, "the problem isn't with me...", but in that moment, the problem becomes mine -- I need to forgive. We receive that portion of the commandments here.
My first thoughts were more around Jesus' teaching that we should do alms and pray in secret as opposed to showing it off. While I recognize the blessings Jesus promises, that we would be rewarded outwardly, I can't help but wonder if there aren't other reasons. One that came to mind is that when done in secret we are helped to develop a relationship with Heavenly Father. When down outwardly, in public, there is little to no way the relationship will be built because the focus is on how we are perceived.
Do we sometimes and in partial ways say our prayers or make our donations publicly? I found myself asking this question. Do we maybe give small hints towards these things and in turn make the a little less sacred or reduce the value or blessing we would receive from Heavenly Father?
I've been thinking about how in the previous chapter we were taught to not call others fool, or to not be angry with them, and that contention is of the devil. Contention of course takes two people, but anger doesn't. And of course the natural man in me deflects and says, "the problem isn't with me...", but in that moment, the problem becomes mine -- I need to forgive. We receive that portion of the commandments here.
1 comment:
Clark, I liked you thoughts on this section and like you, I found a different part of these verses sparked some thoughts. Verse 7 reminds us to avoid vain repetitions in our prayers. This injunction raised a question in my mind. How do make sure that when we do repeat the same things in our prayers, that they do not become vain repetitions. Joseph Smith counseled, "... continue to weary Him (the Lord) with your importunings, as the poor woman did the unjust judge...".
Those things we deeply desire the Lord's help in, are those things, I believe, we can continue to ask for in prayers. I suppose what keeps them from becoming 'vain repetitions' is the sincerity with which we offer them each time we pray. Maybe we worry too much about our prayer having enough content and length when what is most important is the depth of feeling behind the words.
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