When you first come to me and we begin a relationship, how great is your understanding of me? Most people start with a small and flawed image of me. I am receptive beyond your ability to comprehend, and will accept you no matter how limited your understanding is, but I want you to grow in faith. Consider the story of the mustard seed, which I use as an example of faith. It is a small seed that grows into a large plant. This story from nature illustrates a spiritual principle. It is normal for your faith to start out small, but it is not normal for it to remain small. Your faith will increase in like manner as your increase in understanding my true nature. 

Do you believe in equality? Nearly everyone does, but since people are not identical or equal in a mathematical sense some careful thought is required to understand the ways in which people can be equal. Even then there is a tendency for those who see themselves to be less than equal to grasp for advancement. My word addresses this situation when it says that I did not consider equality with the Father as something to be grasped. You know from the doctrine of the Trinity that I have a closer identity with the Father than between any two people, even twins. If I didn’t grasp for equality then you shouldn’t either. 

Do you think it is your doctor’s job to keep you healthy? Perhaps you think that your insurance company bears some responsibility as well, but the healthiest people are those who assume their own responsibility for their health even though they make use of other resources for assistance. Do you think it is your pastor’s job to make you spiritual? True pastors are more than preachers and church managers; they are shepherds, but my word teaches you to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. You make it easier for those who watch for your souls if you take the responsibility and initiative for your own spiritual life. 

Do you think things that are intact are better than things that are broken, and unbreakable things are best of all? What use is something that is broken? If it doesn’t work and isn’t worth repairing you throw it away. Yet I said that whoever falls on this rock would be broken, and that was better than the alternative of having the rock fall on you. Hearts can be broken, and this is painful, but it is better than the alternative of making your heart unbreakable. I also teach that the sacrifices acceptable to me are a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart. If you understand the value of this you will come and fall on the rock of your own choice to break your heart.