Every Good Thing

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.Blogspot.com

While on our daily walk on the Christian path we are admonished to “…lay hold on every good thing.” (Book of Mormon, Moroni 7:19)  In like manner, Paul said to Timothy, “…lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called….” (New Testament, 1 Timothy 6:12)  From these and other sacred sources, we learn that the process of “laying hold” appears to be a work we are called to do. Elsewhere we are told that the day of this life is the day to lay hold on good things as we perform our labors. (see Book of Mormon, Alma 34:32). 

We might ask, “How do we lay hold on eternal life?”  Paul tells Timothy, “… follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith….” All of these, and more, we are to grasp, to seize, and to lay hold.  As we do so, we will learn of the covenant process that leads us to God and life eternal through the celebration of our relationship with Him by way of ordinances.  Such divine rituals bind us to God and an eternity of “good things.”  Notwithstanding, the scripture suggests that the process may not come easy or without a fight.  Fighting the “good fight of faith” reaffirms the universal truth that there is opposition in all things, and that there are prices to pay for laying hold on and in holding on to precious things of eternal worth.

Our meditation also warns us to beware of that to which we lay hold.  For that which we grasp and hold on to, becomes part of who we are.  Unfortunately, we sometimes find ourselves holding on to useless unworthy things, even impure things.  When we try to let go we are sometimes shocked to find that the process has reversed itself, and that those unworthy things have now laid hold on us in an ever tightening grip, requiring a painful, but necessary, procedure to separate them from our grasp. This process, called repentance, brought about by Christ’s atonement, removes all impurities, and changes that which we desire and which attracts us.  When sincere and complete, repentance changes our behavior in a way that drives us toward Godly pursuits, and allows the resumption of our search and seizure of, or laying hold of, “every good thing.”

Every Good Thing

 I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ. 

Book of Mormon   Moroni 7:19; also New Testament 1 Timothy 6:12

In Christ we lay hold on every good thing

As we walk humbly yet boldly in His light

We grasp His rod of truth and to it cling

And deny all wrong while choosing the right

To be enticed by everything good

Is to lay hold on all that is right and true

With good works and doing as we should

As we model Christ in all we say and do

For by Him we lay hold on all good things

Things eternal which bring heaven’s reward

Feasting on God’s word and the peace it brings

Moving heavenward and ever closer to the Lord

Let us beware of that to which we lay hold

Good or bad, it becomes part of who we are

For that to which we cling will take its toll

As evidence before God at judgment’s bar

 Larry Doyle Crenshaw