40 Days Closer to Christ

What if they decided to hold a concert and every member of the orchestra showed up with their instruments tuned anyway they wanted? I’ve been to a few middle school concerts and I have to tell you that it wouldn’t be good. There must be some standard to which all the instruments are tuned, or else you end up with a cacophony. But not only do the instruments need to be tuned, but they need to be tuned to a Master note.

In my house I have three guitars. (Actually since my kids played rock star with one of them only two are playable, but for illustration purposes lets suppose all three can be played.) If I tune one of them to with a pitch pipe or with an electronic tuner than I am pretty sure that it is conditioned for optimal performance. Now I can go to the second guitar and tune it by the first one. And I can get around to tuning the third one by using the second. Theoretically, all three should be tuned up just right. But if I strum a note on the third one, and check it with the tuner, more than likely it will be a little flat or a little sharp. It is just not quite in tune. No matter how good my ear is, a little variation sneaks in as they get tuned down the line. All three guitars have different tones and pitches but if they are all tuned with the electronic tuner and to the same standard then they sound good together.

It is the same way with us. We can get pretty close to where we should be in our spirituality, in our righteousness, and in our walk with God by sharpening ourselves against each other, but we will always be a little off. We need to go back to the Master to make sure that we are where we need to be. It is Christ alone who is the standard by which we measure ourselves. And it is by Him alone that we will be able to perform as we should. That is why we take forty days leading up to Easter and use it to draw closer to Christ and to reestablish our discipleship.

Forty days is the optimal period to form a new habit, to establish a new practice, and to change the pattern of your life. 40 Days – Closer to Christ is an activity (we won’t use the word program) that can change your life.

Forty is a significant number in the scriptures. When God brings about change, the scriptures often represent a significant event as having a forty day duration. Noah’s world was changed forever in forty days. Moses saw God face to face and in forty days received the word which is still the basis for law and government. The city of Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes and turned away God’s wrath in the space of forty days. David became a hero after all Israel cowered under Goliath’s forty day challenge. Elijah lived by faith for forty days after God sustained him with one meal. The disciples were given the mysteries of the kingdom as they were taught by the Lord during an intensive forty day seminar after the resurrection. Jesus prepared with a forty day fast for a ministry which culminated in the salvation of mankind.

We can grow closer to the Savior as we study His life and His appearances throughout scripture. We become the people we should as we strive to lead a life of diligent discipleship. In these forty days we can review and renew the vital things that bring us to the Lord. We can refresh our memories and recall the eternal truths of who God is, who we are, and how we can have a close relationship with Him. 40 Days – Closer to Christ is an opportunity to more fully develop that relationship, so that we may see as we are seen and know as we are known.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Day 29 ~ Friend (John 15:15)


Moses 1:39 says, "For behold, this is my work and glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Heavenly Father could have said this. But this is Jehovah (Jesus Christ). He's speaking as if he is Heavenly Father. It's called Divine Investiture of Authority. Jesus is a partner in the work. He is obedient to the Father's will in all things. But He is more than just obedient. He has with all of His heart and soul made it His own work. He's a partner in the family business.

One day I sat across from a boss asking for a raise. He looked at me and said, "All right, but I'll have to pray about it first, because I don't do anything unless the Lord tells me to do it." My first inclination was to quote, "behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant" (D&C 58:26). But I figured that would pretty much shoot down my chances for that raise. It did make me think. It is easy to wait to be commanded. It is harder to take initiative and do the right thing without being told.

Somebody wrote, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, but sometimes I wonder what He can do through me." Jesus told the twelve "I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:15). In other words, you know the goal, you know the plan, work with Me and not just for Me. When we become a friend of Christ, we take on responsibility to do what is right. We're not waiting to be commanded in everything, but take the initiative for ourselves to do the things that we know to do. We help the work along. Now that doesn't mean that we don't check in, we don't pray, we don't ask for inspiration, and we never go against the Lord's direction in our own wisdom. But we're not just sitting around waiting to be told what to do. "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:23:24). Abraham knew what the Lord had in mind for his family, and he tried to bring about that purpose. Many people blame Abraham for the way the world is today. If he hadn't had Ishmael there would be peace in Middle East. But Abraham receives no condemnation from the Lord. In fact, it seems that because of Abraham's efforts the Lord drew closer and closer to him.

We need to use the gifts that God has given us. We all have areas where we can contribute as well as and often better than those around us. These talents are given to help each other, to build community and to honor God. There is one very important caveat. We should never become swelled up in our own pride. Jesus let the disciples baptize and teach and heal. He didn't always do it Himself, even though He could have done everything infinitely better. A wise friend of Christ is alert to where he can help others grow and not seek to be "seen of men."

Sometimes when we magnify our talents others may become irritated by us. Laman was offended by Nephi's righteousness and his gifts. Even our good brothers and sisters in the gospel may become offended when we seem to be hogging the spiritual spotlight. Neal A. Maxwell taught that because "others may be so offended is not reason for us to reduce such righteousness as we have, of course, but awareness of this irony is a reminder for us to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of others who can be greatly inflamed with resentment."

Aristides was one of Athens leading citizens. As he was walking the streets one day he came across an illiterate citizen with an ostrakon. An ostrakon was a petition that if signed by enough Athenians could get another citizen banished. Aristides asked the man if he needed help filling out the ostrakon. He did. What citizen did he want banished? The man not knowing to whom he spoke replied, "that Aristides." Surprised, but without revealing himself, Aristides asked why. Because the man had grown sick and tired of hearing about the "noble" and "great" Aristides.

Be a friend of Christ, grow up and share the work. Be sensitive and wise. Jesus was.
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