Examining the Scriptures Daily - 2013

[LeslieDean]

The Watchtower comments add so much to the scripture and really brings it to life for me.  It is like having a good teacher that makes learing fun.  Thank you Jehovah for your wonderful and unique organization.  It is your example to us about a perfect sacrifice!

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, May 21

 

He gave gifts in men.—Eph. 4:8.

 

What would you do if you received a gift especially made for you? Would you show your appreciation by using it? The “gifts in men” are what Jehovah through Jesus Christ has provided for you. One way you can show your gratitude for these gifts is by listening intently to talks given by the elders and by trying to apply the points they bring out. You can also show your appreciation by making meaningful comments at meetings. Support the work in which the elders are taking the lead, such as the field ministry. If you have benefited from counsel you received from a certain elder, why not tell him so? In addition, why not show your appreciation for the elders’ families? Remember, for an elder to work hard in the congregation, his family is sacrificing time spent with him. Yes, we have ample reason to show gratitude for the elders, who are working hard among us. w11 6/15 4:3, 19, 20

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, May 22

 

The wisdom from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable.—Jas. 3:17.

 

Being peaceable is secondary to chasteness, that is, upholding God’s clean moral standards and meeting his righteous requirements. One account involving Jehu shows that God’s righteousness takes priority over peaceableness. God sent Jehu to execute His judgment on the house of King Ahab. Wicked King Jehoram, the son of Ahab and Jezebel, rode in his chariot to meet Jehu and said: “Is there peace, Jehu?” Jehu replied: “What peace could there be as long as there are the fornications of Jezebel your mother and her many sorceries?” (2 Ki. 9:22) With that, Jehu drew his bow and shot Jehoram through the heart. Just as Jehu took action, elders must not compromise with willful, unrepentant practicers of sin for the sake of keeping peace. They expel unrepentant sinners so that the congregation can continue to enjoy peace with God.—1 Cor. 5:1, 2, 11-13. w11 8/15 4:15, 16

 

 

[LeslieDean]

This is why we study the scriptures.  The last two sentences gives clarity to James 3:17.  I would not have understood that scripture alone but these 2 sentences explains it all.

[GrumpysWife]

If they were not expelled, then we would be not much different than Christendom, who tolerates any kind of behavior. As Jehovah's people we need to keep our associates up to par with His standards. The elders help us do this, if we pay attention.

[SUNRAY]

I liked the point in the Watchtower article that we are being trained now to help resurrected ones.

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, May 23

 

We who have exercised faith do enter into the rest.—Heb. 4:3.

 

When quoting Genesis 2:2 concerning God’s rest, Paul wrote under inspiration the words of today’s text. (Heb. 4:4, 6, 9) So the seventh day was ongoing in Paul’s day. How much longer was that day of rest to continue? In order to answer that question, we must remember the purpose of the seventh day. Genesis 2:3 explains what it is: “God proceeded to bless the seventh day and make it sacred.” That day was ‘made sacred’—sanctified, or set apart, by Jehovah—in order to bring his purpose to completion. That purpose is for the earth to be inhabited by obedient men and women who will take care of it and all life upon it. (Gen. 1:28) It is toward the realization of that purpose that both Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, the “Lord of the sabbath,” have “kept working until now.” (Matt. 12:8; John 5:17) God’s rest day will continue until his purpose in connection with it has been fully realized at the end of Christ’s Thousand Year Reign. w11 7/15 3:4, 5

 

 

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, May 24

 

Do not forget the doing of good and the sharing of things with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.—Heb. 13:16.

 

When you dedicated yourself to Jehovah, you made that decision without reservation, did you not? In effect, you said that in every aspect of your life, you would put Jehovah first. (Heb. 10:7) Doubtless you have seen that when you seek Jehovah’s will in a matter and strive to work in harmony with it, the results are excellent. (Isa. 48:17, 18) It is important that we avoid any associations or involvements that would defile us from God’s point of view. (Isa. 2:4; Rev. 18:4) We also cannot allow our eyes to keep looking at that which is unclean or immoral or let our minds fantasize about such things. (Col. 3:5, 6) Being good and doing good to others as a matter of course is something that Jehovah views as an acceptable sacrifice to him. It is a distinguishing mark of true Christians.—John 13:34, 35; Col. 1:10. w12 1/15 4:7-9

 

 

[LeslieDean]

We can not always be their financially for others but when we know they are in need we do our best to remember there are many ways to help.  If we choose to share financially we should give in a manner that we do not expect it back.  It is better to give with a generous spirit than give more than you can afford then become bitter if not repaid. If you gave someone a gift of a special cake--you would not expect it back.  Dare say you would not want it back.  There is supporting ones with meals, sharing gas expenses for service, visiting when they are down trodden or unable to attend meetings.  Helping around their house, Errands to run.  An endless way to show our love and support.  It should never be said that we can not think of what we can do for someone.  Don't wait for them to ask.  Sometimes pride won't allow it.  Just do it.  Pray and listen to the Holy Spirit then follow it.

[GrumpysWife]

We also shouldn't go around telling others when we do give financial help or any other kind of help because then it would not be a sacrifice. We would be receiving our reward by bragging about our deed. We should be giving out of love, not so others can see what a good person we are.

[Delightful1]

Even just offering a listening ear can be a tremendous help. In this manner, we are giving of our time in such a small yet meaningful way.

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, May 25

 

Jehovah knows those who belong to him.—2 Tim. 2:19.

 

One day a Pharisee approached Jesus and asked: “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus responded: “You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.” (Matt. 22:35-37) Jesus had great love for his heavenly Father and truly lived by those words. Jesus was also concerned about his standing with Jehovah, demonstrating this by his faithful life course. Therefore, shortly before his death, he could state that God knew him as one who faithfully obeyed His commandments. Jesus thus remained in Jehovah’s love. (John 15:10) Many today claim to love God. We no doubt include ourselves in that number. However, serious aspects to consider are: ‘Am I known by God? How does Jehovah view me? Am I known as belonging to him?’ What a privilege it is to contemplate such a close relationship with the Sovereign of the universe! w11 9/15 5:1, 2

 

 

[bogartd]

So heart strengthening. These scriptures really reassure me of Jehovahs love and kindness. Especially in times of need.

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, May 26

 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for your souls.—Matt. 11:29.

 

As Christians, we have been comforted by learning about Jesus Christ and by walking in his footsteps. Learning about Jesus’ upbuilding way of treating people and then following his positive example is in itself a great help in relieving the stress that we may experience. We can also be comforted by fellow Christians. For example, consider how the elders in the congregation help those facing distressing situations. The disciple James wrote: “Is there anyone [spiritually] sick among you? Let him call the older men of the congregation to him, and let them pray over him.” With what result? “The prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up. Also, if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him.” (Jas. 5:14, 15) Other members of the congregation can provide comfort as well. w11 10/15 4:9, 10

 

 

[LeslieDean]

I remember sobbing uncontrollably during one of my studies early on and  this was one of the  scriptures Gwen shared with me.  Being the wonderful teacher she was we then went to the Insight book for a detailed explanation of the word yoke.

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, May 27

 

The one listening to counsel is wise.—Prov. 12:15.

 

If elders observe that some questionable conduct is retarding a man’s spiritual progress, they take the initiative to readjust him in a spirit of mildness. (Gal. 6:1) At times, counsel is needed because of some personality trait. If a brother seems somewhat self-sparing, for example, an elder may find it helpful to point out that Jesus was a zealous Kingdom proclaimer who commissioned his followers to make disciples. (Matt. 28:19, 20; Luke 8:1) If a brother appears ambitious, an elder might show him how Jesus helped His disciples to see the dangers of seeking prominence. (Luke 22:24-27) What if a brother has a tendency to be unforgiving? The illustration of the slave who refused to forgive a small debt even though he himself had been forgiven much more would make a powerful point. (Matt. 18:21-35) When counsel is needed, it is good for the elders to provide it at the earliest opportunity.—Prov. 27:9. w11 11/15 5:13, 14

 

 

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, May 28

 

He ordered us to preach to the people and to give a thorough witness.—Acts 10:42.

 

This assignment calls for skills that may not come naturally. How grateful we are that Jehovah uses his spirit to enable us to accomplish the wide variety of tasks that we are entrusted with! Thus, as we carry out our commission, we can say as did the prophet Isaiah: “The Sovereign Lord Jehovah himself has sent me, even his spirit.” (Isa. 48:16) We set our hearts to the work with the assurance that Jehovah will enhance our qualifications as he did for Moses, Bezalel, and Joshua. We take up “the sword of the spirit, that is, God’s word,” confident that he will empower us as he empowered Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson. (Eph. 6:17, 18) By leaning on Jehovah for his help in overcoming obstacles, we can be as mighty spiritually as Samson was physically. Clearly, Jehovah blesses those who take a bold stand for true worship. w11 12/15 3:18, 19

 

 

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, May 29

 

Every high priest . . . is appointed in behalf of men over the things pertaining to God.—Heb. 5:1.

 

A priest appointed by Jehovah represents sinful people before God by means of prescribed offerings, pleading with Him on their behalf. Conversely, a priest also represents Jehovah before people, instructing them in divine law. (Lev. 10:8-11; Mal. 2:7) In these ways, a divinely appointed priest works to reconcile people to God. The Law covenant thus offered to Israel the opportunity to produce a royal priesthood that would benefit “all other peoples.” (Ex. 19:5) This awesome prospect came with a condition, though: “If you will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant.” Could the Israelites ‘strictly obey Jehovah’s voice’? Yes, to a certain degree. Could they do so perfectly? No. (Rom. 3:19, 20) For that reason, Jehovah established in the meantime a priesthood within Israel, separate from any kingship, to offer animal sacrifices for sins that the Israelites would inevitably commit.—Lev. 4:1–6:7. w12 1/15 5:8, 9

 

 

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, May 30

 

Everyone that is perfectly instructed will be like his teacher.—Luke 6:40.

 

Parents can do much to help their children learn how to make decisions that honor God. A fine example is one of the best teachers. When appropriate, parents can explain to their children which steps they themselves took to make a certain decision. They may also want to allow their children to make some decisions for themselves and then commend them when the decision works out well. What, though, if a child makes a poor decision? A parent’s first inclination may be to shield the child from the consequences, but doing so may not always be in the child’s best interests. For example, the parent may allow the child to obtain a driver’s license. Suppose the child were to break a traffic law and receive a fine. The parent could pay the fine. However, if the child is required to work to pay off the fine, he is more likely to learn to be responsible for his actions.—Rom. 13:4. w11 4/15 2:18

 

 

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, May 31

 

Make sure of the more important things.—Phil. 1:10.

 

Setting realistic goals can yield rich dividends. Take, for example, the goal of discussing the day’s text every day. The comments given by family members can help the head of the household to discern the degree of their spirituality. The goal of regularly reading the Bible together as a family provides an excellent opportunity for children to improve their reading skills as well as their comprehension of the Bible’s message. (Ps. 1:1, 2) And should we not want to make it our goal to improve the quality of our prayers? Cultivating aspects of the fruitage of the spirit to a greater degree can also be an excellent goal to pursue. (Gal. 5:22, 23) Or what about looking for ways to show fellow feeling for people we meet in the ministry? Striving to do that as a family can help children learn to be compassionate, and they will be more likely to develop a desire to serve as regular pioneers or missionaries. w11 5/15 2:9, 10

 

 

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, June 1

 

If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a fine work.—1 Tim. 3:1.

 

When Paul encouraged the men in the congregation to strive to qualify for greater responsibility, his intention was not to encourage anyone to satisfy personal ambition. “Reaching out” requires of Christian men that they develop a strong desire to work hard at acquiring needed spiritual qualities in order to serve their brothers. If a brother has been baptized at least one year and to a reasonable degree meets the Scriptural qualifications for ministerial servants outlined at 1 Timothy 3:8-13, he can be recommended for appointment. Note that verse 8 specifically states: “Ministerial servants should likewise be serious.” Are you a serious baptized brother in your late teens? There are several ways that you can reach out. One is by improving your personal share in the field ministry. w11 4/15 1:11, 12

 

 

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, June 2

 

Happy are those whose lawless deeds have been pardoned and whose sins have been covered.—Rom. 4:7.

 

God has arranged a legally proper means for pardoning sins. That good news centers on Jesus’ role in the outworking of God’s purpose. Paul could look forward to “the day when God through Christ Jesus judges the secret things of mankind, according to the good news.” (Rom. 2:16) In stating that, he was not minimizing “the kingdom of the Christ and of God” or what God will do by means of the Kingdom. (Eph. 5:5) But he showed that for us to live and enjoy the blessings to prevail under God’s Kingdom, we must recognize (1) our situation as sinners in God’s sight and (2) why we need to exercise faith in Jesus Christ to have our sins forgiven. When a person comes to understand and accept those parts of God’s purpose and sees the future that this opens to him, he can rightly exclaim, “Yes, that truly is good news!” w11 6/15 1:17, 19

 

 

[LeslieDean]

So much to think about in that short scripture.  Here the word happy is used to not necessarily mean happy as in happy-ha-ha, but as in favored by fortune.  We certainly have been favored as  the Israelites--to be Jehovah's chosen people.  The scripture supports the idea that although we CAN be happy that it does not mean we will always be happy.  Our true happiness comes from serving the true God and the hope put before us.

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, June 3

 

I am going to make a helper for him.—Gen. 2:18.

 

Actively supporting her husband with words and actions will surely involve sacrifices on a wife’s part. But she is aware that her husband’s involvement in theocratic activities helps the entire family to keep awake spiritually. Being exemplary in a supportive role may be a challenge for a wife when her husband makes a decision she disagrees with. Even then, she manifests a “quiet and mild spirit” and cooperates with him to make his decision work. (1 Pet. 3:4) A good wife tries to follow the fine examples of godly women of former times, such as Sarah, Ruth, Abigail, and Jesus’ mother, Mary. (1 Pet. 3:5, 6) She also imitates present-day older women who are “reverent in behavior.” (Titus 2:3, 4) By showing love and respect for her husband, an exemplary wife contributes much to the well-being of the entire family. Her home is a place of comfort and safety. To a spiritual man, a supportive wife is priceless!—Prov. 18:22. w11 5/15 1:10, 13, 14

 

 

[LeslieDean]

Noun 1. helper - a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "my invaluable assistant"; 

To me this scripture conveys such a wonderful role/assignment.  Unfortunately, in Satan's world he goes against everything that Jehovah puts in place and fights against everything that Jehovah stands for.

 

Many times today woman are forced into taking the primary role of provider, protector, teacher, and both parents.  We just cannot fulfill it all, no matter how hard we struggle to do so.  Sometimes we find ourselves in that role because of poor choices we make, or going against Jehovah's counsel, or sometimes just because of unfortunate accidents/circumstances.  

 

When we our fortunate enough to have been drawn by Jehovah and make the Truth are own, we need to do everything within our power to submit to Jehovah's authority.  If that means we have married out of the Truth we need to look at our marriage mates with the knowledge that Jehovah will support us in this assignment and bask in the realization that if we do,  it is or husbands that are accountable to Jehovah.  We must keep our balance and not go against Jehovah's word but feel secure that any decisions made that fail are not ours alone.  We hope to be able to offer our input and be respected and considered but the ultimate decision rests upon our husbands shoulders.  

 

To me, having Jehovah's backing is like being in the ULTIMATE I told you so role.  We would dare not say it but in the final outcome > ;--0