Christlike Attributes

Monday 8th May 2017

Happy Happy Monday everyone!

Hope you are all having a great start to the week! It’s freezing here in Bathurst!

It was -2C this morning when we got out of the flat and it has warmed up a little to 2C hahhaha, Hello winter!

Just a few updates!

My new companion is Sister Sio! She is awesome! Fresh from MTC and ready to work! She is from Samoa and we are related, albeit very distant. How cool is that? My companion Sister Niu is in Prariewood 1st with Sister Burgess - For those of you from the Mighty Panmure Stake just know she is being well trained by Sister Niu! She is amazing! It was so good to see her last week! She is going to do great work!

 

Sooooo! How was your week in asking and developing patience? I have definitely had experiences this week where I have been able to ask for the ability to be more patient and to further accept the Lord's timing!

Sunday is Mother's Day! How exciting is that! I know I am definitely grateful for my mom and all that she has done for me and my siblings! And so this week, I just wanted to talk about some of the awesome Women in the Old Testament who I feel portray characteristics that we can all strive to have!  And how their characteristics and values can help lead and guide us to better our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ!

Ruth and Naomi

Naomi (future mother in law of Ruth) and her family travelled to Moab because of a famine in Bethlehem. Naomi's husband passed away, and her two sons married Moabite women, one of them being Ruth. Later, both of Naomi's sons passed away also.

Following these events, Naomi left along with her daughter in laws to return to her homeland Bethlehem as she received news that the famine was over. As they were travelling, Naomi told her daughter in laws out of love for them to go back home to their own families, in hopes that they would find worthy men to become their husbands in their own land (Ruth 1:8-9). Both the daughter in laws of Naomi did not want to leave her because of the love they had for her (Ruth 1:10). Eventually, one of the daughter in laws returned back, but Ruth was determined to stay with Naomi. Ruth also converted to the Israelite faith. 

"Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goes, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." 

Ruth 1:16

For the kindness that Ruth showed Naomi, she helped her marry Boaz, a good and worthy man to be her husband, and also a relative of her late husband.

Ruth and Naomi displayed loyalty, virtue, charity, faith purity and patience. We learn from them that treating others with love and kindness helps them see the gospel of Jesus Christ at work in our lives and can help them gain a testimony. We learn also that as we are patient and faithful that the losses that we experience in life will be made up by the Lord according to His will and His timing! 

Widow of Zarephath

This Gentile woman was a woman who had great faith! Because of the rebellion of the people towards the Lord at this time, there was severe drought and famine. The Lord instructed the prophet Elijah to travel to the Widow of Zarephath. As Elijah arrived to her home, she was preparing the last portion of food that she had for her son and herself. Elijah gave her a promise that if she fed him first, that her food would last until the famine that they were experiencing was over. This faithful woman agreed immediately and fed the prophet Elijah first. And the promised blessing came as she had sufficient food to last her and her family for the entire length of the famine (1 Kings 17:12-16)! Later, the Widow of Zarephath's son became ill and he passed away. Elijah came and restored him back to life (1 Kings 17:17-23) Following this miraculous event, the widow testified that she knew without a doubt that Elijah was a prophet of God (1 Kings 17:24)

From the Widow of Zarephath we see her display faith, service, trust, obedience, kindness and selflessness. We learn from her that acting on counsel from the Lord's prophets can require much faith and that unhesitatingly obeying the Lord's prophets can bring great blessings into our lives.

These are only three of the amazing women in the scriptures. How great are they? My invitation to you this week is to strive to emulate ONE of the Christlike attributes that these three devoted women of the Old Testament portrayed! Pick one for this week and work on it! 

Loyalty, virtue, charity, faith, purity, patience, faith, service, trust, obedience, kindness and selflessness. I know that as we do this and continue to strive to develop these attributes that we will become more like our Saviour and we will be in a better position to be examples of Him!

Love you all!

Sister Roos xx (: (: