Morning Thoughts - by Elder Philip Conley

Morning Thoughts

Hebrews 5:8, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;"

This morning, there are many that do not feel the need to learn anymore. They say, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." However, none of us are too old to quit learning. One time, someone told me that they could not wait to get out of college so that they would not have to learn anything else! One of the best pieces of advice ever given to me was, "Don't ever go to bed after any day unless you have learned at least one new thing that day." It is important that we always learn, and be ever attentive to those things that are for our edification. The words of God are pure words and they are ALL for our learning and edification. (II Timothy 3:16-17)

One of the traits of Christ is that He is our perfect example. There is not a situation that we can encounter where we cannot find where Christ had to deal with that situation. Therefore, we are without excuse not to know how to respond to persecutions and afflictions. The Apostle Paul has been laying out the priesthood of Christ, and now he addresses some things that Christ learned. How mystifying is that? One who has all knowledge learns something! Christ knew what suffering was and the effects that it had, for He saw suffering throughout the Old Testament until the time His humanity was born of the virgin Mary.

However, what Christ learned is what obedience through suffering FELT like. He knew (as God) what suffering was, but as God, He never felt suffering for no power was able to wound Him. However, by taking on human flesh, for the purpose of death, He learned what it felt like to hunger, thirst, be tempted, and finally forsaken. What pains the man Christ Jesus endured! Being tempted in all points, He showed us how to handle temptation. And, I believe that He truly felt the horror of that temptation, yet without sin. He left us an example of how to respond to the devil when he comes calling. He showed us how to endure despising and afflictions. He showed us how to behave honourably when all of our friends and neighbors leave us, and perhaps even deny any knowledge of kinship to us.

Finally, He showed us what we were spared from. After enduring all these things while He walked this sin cursed earth, He suffered for us (through the veil of darkness) what it was like to be truly alone. While He had already been despised and rejected of men (even His disciples), He felt the pain and horror of being despised and forsaken by God. The Lord bruised Him and punished that sin that He carried. While it was not His own, He carried it for us, and the Father justly punished the sin. This forsakenness that He tasted and endured we shall NEVER have to taste or endure ourselves. These are things that He learned. If One who is Omniscient learned some things, it should behoove us to get out and learn a few things as well. When you press against the pillow tonight to sleep, ask, "What have I learned today?"

In Hope,

Bro Philip