The Rock of our Redeemer

A week ago Sunday, my ward Relief Society gave us a 12 week challenge to encourage us to draw closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We have each been given a notebook with a picture of the Savior attached to the front, and a list of 12 scriptures.   The idea is to concentrate on one scripture each week, reading and pondering the scripture of the week every day as part of our personal scripture study, then sometime during the week taking time to write our thoughts and feelings about the scripture in the notebook.   In December we will gather together and share some of our thoughts on these scriptures and on our Savior.

 I'll probably write some of my thoughts in the notebook, but seeing as how I usually write much better on the computer, I'll probably write just as much or more here.  The fact that our Heavenly Father has seen fit to provide us with a Savior is without a doubt the greatest Tender Mercy that ever has been or ever will be. 

 So, here is the Scripture for week one, and yes, I did read it every single day this past week: 

                                                                                                                                      

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
Helaman 5:12

The first thing that came to my mind when reading this scripture was the primary song that we have been singing lately in Primary this year:  “The wise man built his house upon a rock.”  Of course this refers to the rock of a testimony or a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Our testimony should be based on our Savior, Jesus Christ, as should the way that we live our life each and every day.   Everything we do or decide, the way we act, should be based on our knowledge of the example and teachings of Jesus Christ.  He is the Son of God, our Father, our loving Father who provided this earth life as part of his plan of salvation for every man and woman, and for me.

Jesus Christ is His son, His partner in his work, or even you could say, His business.  He is our mediator, our representative, our “sales rep”, who has this wonderful partnership with God the father.   We’re so blessed to have this “in” with Our Father.

Another hymn that comes to mind is an old favorite of mine, “Oh Thou Rock of Our Salvation, Jesus Savior of the World.” I especially love the chorus:  “Gather round the standard bearer, gather round in strength of youth.”   We need to gather around the Savior, our standard bearer, our leader in this war that we are waging against sin and darkness and evil.  Every day we need to gather round, make him our center, our guide, and the focus of everything we do every day.  I sure hope that I can do better at this.

And now, this coming week’s scripture:

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:  and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.   He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings:  and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14: 23-27