Jesus said - Day 20

3 Nephi 27: 19-20

And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.

Now this is the commandment:  Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.

I was thinking a lot about this scripture recently.  At Christmas time, we celebrate the birth of our Savior and all that his coming to earth means to us.  Also, I think we need to spend some time contemplating that his life had purpose and that he sacrificed his life for us.  It's been helpful to me to contemplate what his words and teaching are and how they really should change us to be more like him.  He requires something of us all in return for the sacrifice of his life for all of mankind.  We can't just say we love Jesus and then do nothing more.  We have responsibilities as followers of Christ to do, to be, to overcome, to progress, to improve, to follow, to forgive, to obey, and to repent.  We can't be believers of the word only.  We need to be partakers and doers of the word he taught and exemplified.  

How often to do repent?  How often do we ask forgiveness of someone we have harmed, or try to make whole something we have destroyed or damaged?  How often do we sincerely offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit for the things we do wrong?  Do we follow the steps of repentance?  Do we try and not repeat what we did wrong?  Repentance is hard work.  I'm not even close to being perfect at it.  I'm striving to do better though.  I'm striving to be less judgmental, less critical, less harsh and more kind.  More forgiving.  More like the Savior in every way. 

He was born.  He lived.  He died. He was resurrected.  At Christmas and all through the year, it would behoove us to follow Him, the Savior of the world.   For He is truly mighty to save us from not only our sins, but our sorrows, our injustices, our infirmities of body and mind and so much more.  He is the greatest gift there is this time of year, and I'm eternally grateful that he condescended to come to earth.

For unto us, a child is born.  Unto us, a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful!  Counsellor! The Mighty God! The Everlasting Father! The Prince of Peace! 

Isaiah  9:5