7 Ye see that ye have not power to slay me, therefore I finish my message. Yea, and I perceive that it cuts you to your hearts because I tell you the truth concerning your iniquities.
8 Yea, and my words fill you with wonder and amazement, and with anger.
9 But I finish my message; and then it matters not whither I go, if it so be that I am saved.
I’ve been thinking today about the relationship between obedience and courage. Abinadi knew what he had been commanded to teach, and he knew that Heavenly Father would enable him to fulfill the commandment. He knew that obedience to God would unlock the power of the Atonement and enable him to be saved. And so he was able to focus on the work he had been called to do and avoid being distracted by the dangers he faced.
I love the final phrase in the passage above: “It matters not whither I go, if it so be that I am saved.” When we have an eternal perspective and strong faith in the Lord, we can focus on the task at hand without worrying excessively about what may await us in the future. Knowing that we are doing what we should be doing right now gives us confidence that we can handle anything that may come.
Today, I will follow Abinadi’s example of courage through obedience. I will focus on doing what I should, with full confidence that the Lord will bless me to overcome all challenges I may face. I will “do what is right, let the consequence follow” (Hymns, 237).
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