In the last General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Brother Durrant encouraged members to "ponderize" a scripture weekly. His definition of ponderizing is 80% pondering and 20% memorizing. You can read his talk here: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/my-heart-pondereth-them-continually?lang=eng It's a great talk, highlighting the benefits of scripture study- specifically that it gives our thoughts a higher place to go.
I took his challenge and this past week I have been ponderizing John 15:12-15. I chose this scripture because I have also been working on a 45 Days of Christ scripture reading that I found on Pinterest. If interested you can find it here: http://www.handmadeintheheartland.com/2014/03/the-life-of-christ-45-day-scripture.html As I was pondering John 15: 13, I had strong feelings about it, and as I was looking for a scripture to ponderize, I returned there and was also lifted by the other scriptures around it. I'm going to share a few feelings and the insights I've had as I've thought about these scriptures.
12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends .
14Ye are my friends , if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15Henceforth 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.
What initially stood out to me were the words "lay down his life", I felt the spirit testify that although Christ had to lay down his for us physically, there were plenty of ways that I could and should be "laying down my life" for those I love. Laying down my life means that I think less of myself and more of others. That there are times I need to put aside my petty wants to more fully meet the needs of my family. It means my heart changes and I become more Christ-like. For me personally it means I take a job that perhaps I wouldn't normally choose because it meets my families needs better, but I not only take the job, but I find happiness and joy in it- not because it meets my needs, but because it meets their needs. I'm still working on this. And please don't think this means that I am saying that you always have to "play the martyr" and never have the things you want. That's not true or right, I know Heavenly Father wants us each to be happy and have things we like and enjoy, but I also know true joy can come as we sacrifice for others. There is just something about truly considering another and their needs that can lift us as well. Christ wasn't asking his disciples to give up their physical lives for him, but he was asking them to "lay down their lives" by giving up their sins, and weaknesses and self- centeredness.
Verse 15 also spoke to me. I just love that Christ calls us his friends and basically uses the analogy saying a servant doesn't know what the Lord does, but Christ is saying we are his friends and he has freely given us all that he can. He hasn't held anything back from us. He wants us to have eternal life and exaltation and has freely and fully given us the knowledge we need to obtain it.
I'm grateful for the opportunity and encouragement to ponderize scriptures. I'm going to sit and consider what I will ponderize for next week. If you have been pondering scriptures as well, I would love to here your thoughts and insights.
And so it goes...
