Nephi explained in simple terms that he shared the words of Isaiah about the coming of Jesus Christ because they “teach any man the right way” to live and be happy. “The right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not.” Heroes know that the way to believe in Christ is to “worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul.” Heroes know that worshiping God means “ye must keep the performances and ordinances of God.” To believe in Christ, we must live what we believe. We must live like Him.
Talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, preaching of Christ, and prophesying of Christ are not enough. We must live like Christ. Our actions speak louder than our words. It’s not enough to just say we believe in Christ. We must show it by being like Christ. We must do all the good we can do like Jesus Christ “who went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). We must practice over and over to do better and to be better. Jesus Christ wrought the Atonement and rose “from the dead, with healing in his wings; [that] all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God.” His mercy and grace give us the opportunity and assistance each day to turn our hearts to Him and live with purer hearts and cleaner hands (see 2 Nephi 25:16).
I love the analogy Brad Wilcox gave about practicing the piano in “His Grace is Sufficient” to teach us why it is important to live like Jesus Christ and do “all we can do.” He reminded us that our obedience–our practice–does not pay the demands of justice or earn our way into heaven. Rather our obedience and good works show our gratitude for what Jesus did for us. Jesus Christ took our punishment for sin. And because He satisfied the demands of justice, “He can forgive what justice never could, and He can turn to us now with His own set of requirements.” These requirements for obedience will help us learn how to live in heaven. Doing all that we can do prepares us for heaven as we practice over and over again how to live heavenly–how to live like Him.
Jesus Christ is the “source” we should look to for remission of our sins and our mistakes. He is the source we should look to for how to live heavenly. Because He came to earth, lived, taught, loved, was rejected of men, crucified, and rose “from the dead, with healing in his wings,” He can heal us from our sins, our sorrows, and our suffering by restoring us from our “lost and fallen state” and reconciling us to God through His grace (see 2 Nephi 25:23). Brad Wilcox reminded us that “grace is the presence of God’s power (see Luke 1:37).” He continued, “Christ is not waiting at the finish line once we have done ‘all we can do’ (2 Nephi 25:23). He is with us every step of the way.” His life of obedience, service, and sacrifice show us the way and enable us to live like Him (see John 14:6, 12-27).
Learning to live like Him takes time. Learning to live like Him takes practice. “When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9).” When we understand grace, we understand that “the task ahead of [us is] never as great as the power behind [us].” Keep trying to live like Him each day. Keep practicing. “Don’t look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and His perfect strength….Seek Christ, and, as you do, I promise you will feel the enabling power we call His amazing grace.”
* How does the Lord’s grace help you as you learn to live like Him?
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