Examining the Scriptures Daily - 2015

[Alexa]

It is like Matthew 5:8. Because, being pure is a protection. It helps them to clean themselves and eases their determination to stop and forget what they have done bad.

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, December 5

 

They will not lift up sword, nation against nation.—Mic. 4:3.

 

Earth wide today, true worshippers of Jehovah have beaten “their swords into plowshares,” and they refuse to “learn war anymore.” (Mic. 4:3) Understandably, we want Jehovah to bring an end to this wicked system soon. If we are to wait patiently, though, we need to view matters from Jehovah’s perspective. He has set a day when he will judge mankind “by a man whom he has appointed,” Jesus Christ. (Acts 17:31) But before then, God is giving all sorts of people the opportunity to gain “an accurate knowledge of truth,” to act on that knowledge, and to be saved. Precious lives are at stake. (1 Tim. 2:3, 4) If we are busy helping others to gain accurate knowledge about God, the time remaining before the coming of Jehovah’s judgment will pass more quickly. Soon—even suddenly—time will run out. When it does, how glad we will be that we kept busy in the Kingdom-preaching work! w13 11/15 2:7, 8

Edited December 4, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, December 6

 

The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.—1 John 5:19.

 

As he did in Eden, Satan also today targets the inexperienced. Young people are a particular favorite for attack. Satan is not happy when a young person, or indeed anyone, volunteers to slave for Jehovah. God’s enemy wants all who dedicate their lives to Jehovah to fail in their devotion and loyalty. Satan promotes the idea that a career in his world will satisfy a person, but Christians should take into account the importance of satisfying their spiritual need. “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need,” taught Jesus. (Matt. 5:3) Dedicated Christians live for God’s will, not Satan’s. Their delight is in the law of Jehovah, and they meditate on it day and night. (Ps. 1:1-3) However, many of today’s educational courses allow little time for a servant of Jehovah to meditate and to satisfy his spiritual need. w13 10/15 2:9-11

Edited December 5, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[Alexa]

Education of this system of things is being condemned by students. They are still youth but they are making Jehovah happy.

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, December 7

 

The heart is more treacherous than anything else.—Jer. 17:9.

 

The spirit of a sound mind does not mean just going by what we or others think or feel is reasonable or expedient. Our imperfect mind and heart can be like a watch that is going either too fast or too slow. Being guided by it could bring us serious trouble. We need to calibrate our mind and heart by God’s reliable standards. (Isa. 55:8, 9) With good reason, the Bible admonishes us: “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5, 6) Note the expression “do not lean upon your own understanding.” It is followed by “take notice of [Jehovah].” He is the One with a truly sound mind. Thus, it follows that whenever we are faced with a decision, we need to turn to the Bible to see what God’s view is. Then we should base our decision on it. That is using the spirit of a sound mind. w13 9/15 4:9, 10

 

[Alexa]

Its not easy to have a spirit of being sound in mind. Its the heart you should be guided, by avoiding it to be tricky and knowing its motivation.

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, December 8

 

It is the foolishness of an earthling man that distorts his way, and so his heart becomes enraged against Jehovah himself.—Prov. 19:3.

 

What can we do if our sinful heart starts to question some of Jehovah’s activities? Remember that it is unwise to do so. Another translation of Proverbs 19:3 says: “A man’s ignorance muddles his affairs and he flies out against Jehovah.” (Byington) So we must never allow the frustrations of life to make us blame Jehovah, nor should we neglect our relationship with him. We can avoid the imperfect tendency to become enraged against God if we maintain a close relationship with him. (Prov. 3:5, 6) We need to trust in Jehovah. We also need to avoid becoming wise in our own eyes or becoming self-centered. (Prov. 3:7; Eccl. 7:16) We will then be less likely to blame Jehovah when bad things happen. If we meditate on Jehovah’s activities, remembering all the good things he has done for us, we will strengthen our relationship with him. w13 8/15 2:12-14

Edited December 8, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, December 9

 

Continue reminding them . . . to be reasonable.—Titus 3:1, 2.

 

How does Jehovah demonstrate reasonableness? Consider the example of how Jehovah dealt with the righteous man Lot. When Jehovah determined that he would destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, he gave Lot clear direction to flee to the mountains. For some reason, though, Lot pleaded for permission to flee to another location. Just think—Lot actually asked Jehovah to change His instructions! (Gen. 19:17-20) It might be easy for someone to judge Lot as being weak or disobedient. After all, Jehovah surely could have kept Lot alive anywhere, so Lot’s fears really had no basis. Nevertheless, they were still his fears—Lot felt what he felt, and Jehovah yielded accordingly. He allowed Lot to flee to a city that He had intended to destroy. (Gen. 19:21, 22) Clearly, Jehovah is neither stern nor rigid. He is yielding and reasonable. w13 6/15 2:12-14

Edited December 8, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[Alexa]

Being reasonable means being not too strict and being considerable to the circumstances - just like what Jehovah has shown towards Lot.

[Luezette]

Yep! And trying so hard to work on that.

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, December 10

 

There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be.—Matt. 13:42.

 

Is that happening right now? No. Today, Christendom, as part of the harlot, still says about herself: “I sit a queen, and I am no widow, and I shall never see mourning.” (Rev. 18:7) Indeed, Christendom feels very much in charge, even presuming to ‘sit as a queen’ atop the class of political leaders. Presently, those represented by the weeds are boasting, not weeping. But that is about to change. During the great tribulation, after all organized false religion has been destroyed, former adherents will run for cover but will find no secure place to hide. (Luke 23:30; Rev. 6:15-17) Then, realizing that there is no escape from destruction, they will weep in desperation and ‘gnash their teeth’ in anger. As Jesus foretells in his prophecy about the great tribulation, at that dark moment, they “will beat themselves in lamentation.”—Matt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7. w13 7/15 2:13, 14

Edited December 9, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[timpin]

yea  - happy dance time - woo hoo too!

[Alexa]

Yes because we are mortal men. 

[Alexa]

The christendom is like 'I can control, even sit as a queen in this beast'. But she will be shocked later on that the beast will make her fall. And when she fall, she will be greatly affected. For those who believe that the queen can control the beast and anyone, because the queen says so, they will gnash their teeth because she lied.

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, December 11

 

Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together.—Heb. 10:24, 25.

 

For what reasons does our God place such importance on our regularly gathering together? Our meetings, assemblies, and conventions help us to have courage to speak with boldness and to deal with opposition or apathy in our territories. (Acts 4:23, 31) We are strengthened and made firm in the faith by the Scriptural discussions. (Acts 15:32; Rom. 1:11, 12) The teaching and interchange of encouragement that we receive at our gatherings for worship help us to experience real happiness and give us “quietness from days of calamity.” (Ps. 94:12, 13) The Teaching Committee of the Governing Body oversees the preparation of all spiritual programs for the instruction of Jehovah’s people earth wide. How thankful we can be for the provisions that are made for us to enjoy wholesome teaching at our meetings every week of the year! w13 4/15 4:4, 6

Edited December 10, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[Alexa]

That's why out of town with JWs is the best way to take a relaxation.. 

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, December 12

 

[Jesus] saw a needy widow drop in two small coins of very little value.—Luke 21:2.

 

Try to imagine how the widow felt as she entered the temple courtyard carrying her two small coins. Would she be embarrassed at seeing the large donations made by those ahead of her, perhaps wondering whether her offering was really worthwhile? Even if she had such feelings, she still did what she could in behalf of true worship. Jesus showed that both the widow and her contribution were valuable to Jehovah. He said that she “put in more than [the rich] all did.” (Luke 21:3, 4) Her donation would be mixed in with what others gave, yet Jesus singled her out for praise. The treasury workers who later came across those two small coins could hardly have known how precious the coins and their donor were to Jehovah. Still, God’s view was the one that really mattered, not what other people thought or even how the widow viewed herself. w14 3/15 2:8-10

Edited December 11, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[Luezette]

Wonderful!

Jehovah appreciates what we give him. He doesn't and won't look at the amount so as long as it's coming from the heart.

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, December 13

 

The king will long for your beauty, for he is your lord, so bow down to him.—Ps. 45:11.

 

Over the centuries, Christ has been preparing his future bride for their heavenly wedding. The apostle Paul explained that Christ “loved the congregation and gave himself up for it, in order that he might sanctify it, cleansing it with the bath of water by means of the word, so that he might present the congregation to himself in its splendor, without a spot or a wrinkle or any of such things, but holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:25-27) Paul told the anointed Christians in ancient Corinth: “I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, for I personally promised you in marriage to one husband that I might present you as a chaste virgin to the Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:2) The Bridegroom-King Jesus Christ appreciates the spiritual “beauty” of his future bride. And the bride recognizes him as her “lord” and ‘bows down to him’ as her future husband. w14 2/15 2:5, 7

Edited December 13, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, December 14

 

Is not wisdom found among the aged, and does not

understanding come with a long life?—Job 12:12.

 

Older Christians are a potentially powerful source of encouragement for Jehovah’s people by teaching, leading, and strengthening the brothers and sisters. How could you use your potential more fully? Perhaps you could show younger ones how to start and conduct Bible studies. If you are a sister, could you suggest to young mothers how they might keep up with spiritual activities while caring for small children? If you are a brother, could you teach young brothers to give talks with enthusiasm and to be more effective preachers of the good news? Could you show them how you visit elderly brothers and sisters to encourage them spiritually? Even if you do not have the physical power that you used to have, you have splendid opportunities to train younger ones. God’s Word says: “The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray hair.”—Prov. 20:29. w141/15 4:6, 7

Edited December 13, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, December 15

 

Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over your souls.—Heb. 13:17.

 

In giving direction to fellow believers, elders provide encouragement and counsel based either on the Scriptures themselves or on Scriptural principles. Their objective in providing such guidance is not to dictate how their brothers should live their lives. (2 Cor. 1:24) Rather, it is to give their fellow Christians Scriptural guidelines to help them make good decisions and to promote order and peace in the congregation. (1 Cor. 14:33, 40) The elders are ‘watching over souls’ in the sense that they desire to help each member of the congregation maintain a good relationship with Jehovah. They will thus be quick to offer assistance if they perceive that a brother or a sister is about to take, or has already taken, a “false step.” (Gal. 6:1, 2; Jude 22) Are these not good reasons for being “obedient to those who are taking the lead”?w13 11/15 4:7

Edited December 14, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[Alexa]

Being submissive requires trust in Jehovah's word

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, December 16

 

Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?—Matt. 24:45.

 

The faithful slave must be made up of anointed Christians on earth. Such ones are called “a royal priesthood” and have been commissioned to “‘declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called [them] out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Pet. 2:9) That slave is made up of a small group of anointed brothers who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food during Christ’s presence.Throughout the last days, the anointed brothers who make up the faithful slave have served together at headquarters. In recent decades, that slave has been closely identified with the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Note, however, that the word “slave” in Jesus’ illustration is singular, indicating that this is a composite slave. The decisions of the Governing Body are thus made collectively. w13 7/15 4:8, 10

Edited December 16, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, December 17

 

Every man must be swift about hearing.—Jas. 1:19.

 

To keep the lines of communication open, family members must listen—really listen—to one another. Parents, do you really listen to your children? This may be difficult when you are tired or when the conversation seems somewhat trivial. But what appears to be trivial to you may be very important to your child. To be “swift about hearing” means being attentive not only to what your child says but also to how he or she says it. Tone of voice and body language give clues about how a young one feels. Asking questions is also important. “A person’s thoughts are like water in a deep well,” says the Bible, “but someone with insight can draw them out.” (Prov. 20:5, Today’s English Version) Insight and discernment are especially needed when you are drawing your children out on sensitive topics. w13 5/15 4:7, 8

Edited December 17, 2015 by GrumpysWife

[LeslieDean]

Same goes true with spouses, and well, basically everyone. Active listening involves more than a hearing ear.