My Favorite Bible Verse

(This is Day 15 of my Journaling through January series)
Write out your favorite Bible verse. Why is it important to you? How does it play a role in your life?

There are many scriptures from the Bible, Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price that hold great value for me. It seemed hard to choose at first, but then I remembered this scripture, which rises again and again in my life when I need guidance. It is Matthew 7:16-20:

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

I absolutely love this scripture! It is so simple to understand. It is easy to look at the "trees" I have planted in my life, and determine if their fruits have been good or evil. It is easy to see the things I should be planting in my life to bring the fruits of greater happiness and progression on my spiritual journey. It is easy to see the things that harm my soul and make me wander away from the fold.

Of course, the rub is in acting upon these realizations. It is not always easy or simple to get rid of the bad trees and replace them with good ones. It is not always easy to give nourishment to the right trees. Too many good trees in my life need more water, more pruning, and better protection from the danger of withering away.

Thank you, Laura, for giving us this journal entry today. I needed to revisit this scripture more than I realized. I hope that, with a new week ahead of me, I can change some things that will help my good trees to grow and make my bad trees die and leave my soul.

Journaling through January is a series which can be found on iamalongfortheride.blogspot.com