Where do we fit in?

This past week in New Testament, we discussed Luke 15 and the parables regarding The Prodigal Son and The Coin, and The Lost Sheep. With all of these parables, we analyzed each situation and how they can apply to our lives. When one sheep wandered away from the other 99, the shepherd went and found the one that had wandered away. In the story of the coin, it was neglected and therefore ended up lost and missing, but the woman diligently searched for it and found it. In both cases, something was lost, and someone went and searched for it.

In the prodigal son, he told his father that he was dead to him and that all he wanted was his money and to be on his own. The prodigal son rebelled and chose to go astray. His dad couldn't just go looking for him, he had to wait until the son chose to come home on his own. When he did finally come home the dad ran to him and welcomed him with open arms.

Christ shared parables for us to learn from and to apply the interpretation to our own lives. Who are we? Where do we fit in? Are we the sheep that was just looking down and got lost, or are we purposefully choosing to rebel and go astray like the prodigal son?

In either case, we need to repent. God is so happy when we repent and come unto him. I know for me personally I never want to disappoint my earthly parents, and especially my heavenly parents. I don't want to be the one to leave them and be lost, or one they worry about. I want to be on the lord's side at all times. I know that I will be happier and life wont be as hard. Yes there are trials and struggles, but if I have the lord on my side, those trials and struggles will be much easier to manage.

Where are your priorities?

This past week in New Testament, we talked about Christ and his apostles, when Jesus told them how to instruct and teach the people. In Matthew 10:37 it says; "he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more that me is not worth of me." This piece of scripture reminds me of a talk in General Conference the past week where Elder Oaks talked about priorities, and that we need to make sure that we have our priorities in the right place. It is okay to have other priorities, as long as Heavenly Father/Jesus Christ are our number one priority. If you think about it , it shouldn't be hard to make that our number one priority because in the long run, the goal is to end up with our Father in Heaven.  In Mathew 10:30 it says: "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered," not just some, but every little tiny hair. We matter to him, no matter what. At times it may seem like we are so little and even invisible, but we need to think about the bigger picture. We are children of God, He knows us one by one. How could we not love him and want to be with him. This earth life is so small and so minute with an eternal perspective, but at the same time so important. How we live in this life will impact us forever. We need to keep our priorities straight and focus on Christ, love God and love everyone else. Be christlike, and not let little things get in the way of your eternal happiness and salvation. We are loved no matter what we do, and no one is perfect, so when we make mistakes, we need to just remember to reach toward Christ and he will help us.