Our Work With God

Blog #105 August 18, 2025

Proverbs 15:6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure; but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble

Brethren, the presence of God's voice fills our life with both truth and understanding. It speaks to us in the warmth of the spring breezes that brings life to the world at the end of a killing winter. It renews us each time we allow it to fill our hearts with the joy of redemption. His words and the way they are brought to us bring with it a burning desire to share with the world all we have received. This is the way of God and the very motivation and energy that will build in this world the Kingdom we seek. But, we must be aware that used improperly, our words can turn this treasure into an unfair burden on those that seek the heart of the Father.

James 3:5-6
3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth
3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Understand if you will the balance that must exist in our hearts and our lives if we as a people are to bring God's Word and His voice to the people of the world. Many times the difference between an act of evil and a righteous endeavor can be defined by intent. The righteousness of God invites each of us to add to our lives the virtue He offers that we might grow to become one with the Father. If ways of the Gospel are attached to a threat of eternal suffering one can expect to incite either hopelessness or reprisals to the threat offered. History is replete with man's misdirected effort to further the Kingdom of God. From the Spanish Inquisition of the 1400s to the modern day promise of earthly riches and death to those that oppose us, mankind has the ability to make God's word and the spreading of God's word act of wickedness. 

John 3:16-17
3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish; but have everlasting life.
3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Stated in this passage from the Gospel of John is not only the God given intent of Christ's ministry, but also God's wish for how it is to be brought to the people. As it is Christ guidance, so it is ours. God reveals truth through love and directs us away from condemnation. If we reach out intending to condemn others for their unrighteousness, we have chosen not to follow God's wishes. God sees this as wickedness.

Section 3:3a-3b
3:3a Verily, verily I say unto you, that Satan has great hold upon their hearts; he stirreth them up to iniquity against that which is good, and their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness and abominations, and they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; therefore they will not ask of me.
3:3b Satan stirreth them up, that he may lead their souls to destruction.

Christ brought a much different ministry to God's children than the God of judgment offered by the laws of Moses. The growth of truth through love was the mandate He followed. Do not imagine that this attitude is the responsibility of clergy or priesthood only. All that seek God must live and love within God's design, which is growth through love.

2 Corinthians 6:3-4
6:3 Giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed;
6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

Christ's labor is a ministry of righteousness and hope. It should be our labor, too.

Proverbs15:10-11
15:10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way; and he that hateth reproof shall die. 
15:11 Hell and destruction are before the Lord; how much more then the hearts of the children of men? 

If we are to be successful in our labors with God, we must willingly choose to join God in His purpose to free all humanity from their bondage to ways of the world. We must open our hearts and be eager to give our whole selves to God's purpose realizing that our commitment changes us, and the way we live in the world around us. If our trust in God knows no doubt we will be able to welcome the changes this choice brings to our life. But be aware growth brings with it mistakes and the need for correction. If we allow our hearts to be filled with a trust in the Father, chastisement can open our hearts to the truth of God's love for his children. This effort will strengthen our hope for the labor and will testify of the faith God has in us as His children.

Hebrews 12:5-11 Author's Note: In dealing with chastisement from God, this passage of Hebrews is often used. These verses show a clear relationship between chastisement and the love of God. Most teachers quit with verse 6 and a few will include verse 7. I expanded the passage to verse 11 for a very specific purpose. We need to know God's true revealed nature and realize how much trust and love by both parties needs to exist within the covenant we have made. We need to open ours hearts to the fact that our covenant labor is more than just a responsibility or a burden we bare. Our labor for the Kingdom is more than just a job we do for God. Our love for Him causes His need to become our need, too. In this mindset we can find the full depth of our relationship with God. In this mindset we find joy. 

Hebrews 12:5-7
12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him;
12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Verses 5 & 6 let us know that God will correct us and that He does it because He loves us. We must understand the depth of love that God offers us. In covenant with the Lord we grow in awareness of God's affection for us. Verse 7 tells us that we are more than just faithful followers; we are now family. We must allow this change to alter everything about us, even our own perception of ourselves and how we grow. Early in life we become familiar with the term family. In our hearts the term family represents those older than us that guide us, provide for us, and prepare us for a life in the world. Whether it is parents and siblings, Grandparents, or other relatives, or even a foster situation where blood relationships are not the mandate, at an early age we were faced with the concept of family.   

Growing within the bounds and rules of the temporal family begins with the temporal sameness that binds us together. We begin in the oneness of the same level of guidance by the parental figures. All are the same within the bounds of their temporal life. They all eat the same food. They all wear the same quality of clothes. Their oneness is a fact of life they did not choose. They learn to seek each day growth that will allow them to cease needing this forced oneness to gain their own individuality. Pride in one's self becomes a learned necessity if that helps us achieve success and "leave the nest" to become the individual we want to be. 

Leviticus 26:9-12
26:9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.
26:10 And ye shall eat old store and bring forth the old because of the new.26:11 And I will set my tabernacle among you; and my soul shall not abhor you;
26:12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

The oneness we seek within a family with God as our Father differs greatly from the temporal family we are familiar with. We must learn humility that we can live within a unity of purpose that is the hallmark of the Kingdom. We must leave behind the pride that has been a lifelong drive, and we must do it without sacrificing the individuality that is of so much value to God and the Kingdom. Life and growth within the Kingdom must be motivated with a type of chastisement that is unlike anything we have known before. In the temporal realm chastisement by our parents was meant to produce growth through regret and even shame. It was something we had to suffer through and learn to overcome. In the Kingdom of God chastisement needs to be something we trust and honor. It is not meant to either create or destroy our distinctive differences. It is meant to teach us to allow our own individual strength to grow and become perfect within the oneness that makes us a family. We must allow ourselves to recognize our chastisement by God as a blessing of love that helps to create within each of us an awareness of the God who created us and loves us as his own. 

Hebrews 12:8-11
12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
12:9 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Welcome the love that God offers all those that will live in His ways and live for His purpose. Let it lift us up and fill our hearts with purpose and direction. Allow the truth of Gospel to open our hearts that we might seek out and recognize the needs of others, because fulfilling those needs is the foundation on which God's Kingdom is built. Compassion and the acts of charity are Gods way and the path we walk with Him. The world is filled with disgust for those who would willingly debase themselves and become servants, but God showed us through Christ Jesus that those who minister in the ways of humility are necessary to the effort and precious for the testimony of a loving God they bring before the world. 

Alma 16:134-137
16:134 And now because ye are compelled to be humble, blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humbled, seeketh repentance;
16:135 And now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
16:136 And now as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble, ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?
16:137 Yea, he that truly humbleth himself and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed; yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble, because of their exceeding poverty; therefore blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble,

Recognize the fullness of all that was brought here today. God loves His children and His wish is for all to seek out covenant with Him through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and come join Him in life and purpose everlasting. Many seeking God's Kingdom would use the fear of judgment and the threat of hell-fire to fill the streets of Zion. This is not the way of God. These same people would have us believe that God chastises His people with pain and the fear of pain. They want to believe that people are sick because they are sinful. That people are poor because they are corrupt. This also, is not the way of God. 

Luke 12:35 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The way of God is the way of love and patient understanding. If this is God's way it should be our way, too. As a meaningful example: Christ suffered a humiliating death on the cross a Calvary that we might have the choice to be cleansed of our sins and make covenant with God. This was not an effort at dynamic showmanship. It was and is an act of love.

Roman's 5:6-8
5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Brethren our covenant labor is first becoming one of God's children, and then inviting others to come be a part of this labor. Doing it is important, but not more important than how we do it. God reaches out to each one of us with love in His heart. Our effort at sharing the Gospel should be in that same way. To God love and fear are polar opposites, because each threatens the others very existence. 

1 John 4:19-20
4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Realizing that life in God is not a burden, will bring truth not only our hearts, but also the hearts of those we seek for God. When we finally accept that life in God is a very worthy endeavor, everything changes for us and them.

1 Nephi 3:64 And I answered him, saying, Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable above all things.

FRED