Examining the Scriptures Daily - 2016

[GrumpysWife]

Doing better. 

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, May 31

Become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate.—Eph. 4:32.

Gracious speech is without a doubt one of the keys to marital stability. How sad it would be if marriage mates spoke to each other with less respect than they do to total strangers or even to their pets! When couples lash out with “malicious bitterness, anger, wrath, screaming, and abusive speech,” they erode the spiritual defenses of their marriage. (Eph. 4:31) Instead of undermining their marriage with constant criticism or biting sarcasm, couples need to buttress their relationship with words that are kind, tender, and compassionate. A husband and wife do not solve their problems by screaming or by refusing to talk to each other. Instead, they fortify their marriage by choosing not to let disagreements become habitual or deteriorate into protracted arguments. Therefore, even in difficult situations, endeavor to make what you say gracious, both in your tone of voice and in your choice of words.—Col. 4:6. w15 1/15 4:13-15

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, June 1

I am longing for all of you with such tender affection as Christ Jesus has.—Phil. 1:8.

Jesus felt tender compassion for others. When he saw his friend Mary and those with her weeping over the death of her brother, Lazarus, Jesus openly “gave way to tears.” (John 11:32-35) Then, likely stirred by heartfelt pity—just as when he raised a widow’s son—he resurrected Lazarus. (Luke 7:11-15; John 11:38-44) By means of that tender act, Jesus may have put Lazarus in line to receive life in heaven. On an earlier occasion, Jesus “felt tender affection” for a crowd that came to him. Impelled by compassion, “he started to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34;Kingdom Interlinear) What a life-changing experience that was for any who responded to his teachings! Note that Jesus’ tenderness was more than a feeling; it moved him to take the initiative to help others.—Matt. 15:32-38; 20:29-34; Mark 1:40-42. w15 2/15 1:11, 12

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, June 2

The bridegroom came.—Matt. 25:10.

Jesus’ prophecy recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25 contains eight references to his “coming”; in each case, a form of the same Greek word is used. In every instance, Jesus was referring to the time during the great tribulation when he will come to carry out the judging work and then the destruction of this world system of things. Evidently, then, this parable of the ten virgins applies during the last days, but its climax comes during the great tribulation. (Matt. 25:1-13) What is the parable’s basic message? Remember the context. Jesus had just discussed his “faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45-47) That slave would prove to be a small group of anointed men who would take the lead among Christ’s followers during the last days. Jesus warned those men that they must remain faithful. Next, he broadened his focus and gave this parable to admonish all his anointed followers to “keep on the watch” lest they miss out on their precious reward. w15 3/15 2:5, 6

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, June 3

[Moses] looked intently toward the payment of the reward.—Heb. 11:26.

Like his forefather Abraham, Moses was confident that Jehovah can resurrect the dead. (Luke 20:37, 38; Heb. 11:17-19) The prospect of future blessings helped Moses not to view his 40 years as a fugitive and his 40 years in the wilderness as a wasted life. Although he did not have all the details regarding the outworking of God’s promises, his eyes of faith could see the unseen reward. Do you look “intently toward the payment of” your reward? Like Moses, we still do not have all the details regarding God’s promises. For example, we “do not know when the appointed time is” for the great tribulation. (Mark 13:32, 33) Yet, we know far more about the future Paradise than Moses knew. Even without all the details, we have enough divine promises about life under God’s Kingdom to look “intently” toward it. A clear mental image 

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, June 4

Jesus spoke to the crowds by illustrations.—Matt. 13:34.

Simple illustrations are often the best kind to use. For example, when explaining to a householder that God is superior to Jesus, we can mention that both God and Jesus used a family reference when describing their relationship. God referred to Jesus as his Son, and Jesus spoke of God as his Father. (Luke 3:21, 22; John 14:28) Next, we might ask: “If you wanted to teach me that two people are equal, what type of family relationship would you use to illustrate the point?” The person may mention siblings—even twins. If he does, we could point out how natural that comparison seems to be. Then we might ask: “If you and I could come up with this illustration so readily, would not Jesus—the Great Teacher—have thought of the same comparison? Instead, he spoke of God as being his Father. Jesus thus portrayed God as being older and having more authority than he had.” w14 5/15 1:12, 13

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, June 5

Many are the hardships of the righteous one, but Jehovah rescues him from them all.—Ps. 34:19.

Because we know that our loving God is always ready to help those who are faithful to him, we feel secure as part of ‘the flock of his pasture.’ (Ps. 79:13) Moreover, God’s love for us will be evident in what he will accomplish in our behalf through the Messianic Kingdom. After his chosen King, Jesus Christ, rids the earth of violence, oppression, and wickedness, obedient mankind will be blessed with lasting peace and prosperity. (Ps. 72:7, 12-14, 16) Right now, however, Jehovah has favored us with the priceless privilege of serving as his Witnesses. (Isa. 43:10-12) We love God for granting us this opportunity to support his sovereignty and to bring true hope to people in this troubled world. Moreover, we can speak with faith and conviction because we are declaring good news based on the Word of the true God, whose hope-inspiring promises never fail.—Josh. 21:45; 23:14. w14 6/15 1:13, 14

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, June 6
The eyes of Jehovah are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him.—2 Chron. 16:9.
Jehovah is intensely interested in those who belong to him. Therefore, we can have absolute confidence that what we do for Jehovah “out of a clean heart” is never in vain. (1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Cor. 15:58) It is also sobering to know that Jehovah does not tolerate hypocritical worship. As his eyes “are roving about through all the earth,” he can detect those whose heart is not “complete toward him.” “Jehovah detests a devious person,” says Proverbs 3:32, such as one who deliberately puts up a front, feigning obedience while practicing sin in secret. Although a devious person may skillfully deceive other humans for a while, Jehovah’s almightiness and righteousness guarantee that “the one covering over his transgressions will not succeed.”—Prov. 28:13; 1 Tim. 5:24; Heb. 4:13. w14 7/15 1:13, 14

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, June 7
[Abigail] was discerning and beautiful.—1 Sam. 25:3.

Abigail was a noteworthy woman who lived in the 11th century B.C.E. She had discernment, whereas her husband, Nabal, was harsh, worthless, and senseless. David and his men protected Nabal’s possessions for a time, but when they asked for provisions, he “screamed insults at them” and gave them nothing. This angered David so much that he planned to do away with Nabal and his men. Hearing about this, Abigail took food and drink to David and his men, thereby preventing bloodshed. (1 Sam. 25:8-18) David later said to her: “Praise Jehovah the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!” (1 Sam. 25:32) In 455 B.C.E., among those who helped to repair the walls of Jerusalem were the daughters of Shallum, a prince of half the district of Jerusalem. (Neh. 3:12) They willingly did menial work. How we appreciate the many Christian women who joyfully support theocratic building projects in various ways today! w14 8/15 1:13, 14

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, June 8

A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.—John 15:20.

More than once, Paul was persecuted because of his faith. (2 Cor. 11:23-27) One such incident occurred in Lystra. After healing a man who was lame from birth, Paul and his companion Barnabas were hailed as gods. The two had to beg the ecstatic crowd not to worship them! All too soon, however, Jewish opposers arrived, and they used slander to poison the minds of the people. Quickly the tide turned! The people now pelted Paul with stones and left him for dead. (Acts 14:8-19) After visiting Derbe, Paul and Barnabas “returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. There they strengthened the disciples, encouraging them to remain in the faith and saying: ‘We must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations.’”—Acts 14:21, 22. w14 9/15 2:2-4

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, June 9

Your throne will be firmly established forever.—2 Sam. 7:16.

Jehovah made this covenant with David during David’s reign in Jerusalem, promising him that the Messiah would be his descendant. (Luke 1:30-33) Thus, Jehovah further narrowed the line of descent of the offspring of the woman and established that an heir of David would have “the legal right” to the throne of the Messianic Kingdom. (Ezek. 21:25-27) Through Jesus, David’s kingship “will be firmly established forever.” (Ps. 89:34-37) Yes, the Messiah’s rule will never become corrupt, and its accomplishments will last forever! While the Davidic covenant makes it certain that the offspring would have a kingly function, that role alone would not suffice to bring blessings to people of all nations. (Gen. 3:15) For them to be truly blessed, they would have to be freed from their sinful state and brought into Jehovah’s universal family. To accomplish this requires that the offspring also serve in a priestly capacity. w14 10/15 1:14, 1

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, June 10

You will not leave me in the Grave.—Ps. 16:10.

One reason why we know that Jesus’ resurrection occurred is the zeal that his disciples showed in proclaiming it. Zealously bearing witness to the resurrection of the Christ exposed them to persecution, suffering, and death. If Jesus had not been raised up—if it was all a hoax—why would Peter risk his life to proclaim Christ’s resurrection to the religious leaders, who hated Jesus and had plotted his death? It was because Peter and the other disciples were certain that Jesus was alive and was directing the work that God wanted done. Moreover, Jesus’ resurrection assured his followers that they too would be resurrected. For instance, Stephen died with the conviction that there would be a resurrection of the dead. (Acts 7:55-60) We would probably never have heard of Jesus had he not been resurrected. But we have solid reasons to believe that Jesus is alive and is now guiding and directing us as we proclaim the good news far and wide. w14 11/15 1:11, 13, 14

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, June 11

You will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the most distant part of the earth.—Acts 1:8.

The unseen power of the Kingdom message to change people has particularly been evident in countries where the Kingdom work is legally restricted. It is hard to know how far the message has reached in such countries, and we are often surprised by the results. Take Cuba, for example. The Kingdom message reached there in 1910, and Brother Russell visited Cuba in 1913. However, the progress was slow at first. What do we now see in Cuba? In 2013, there were over 96,000 publishers preaching the good news, and 229,726 attended the Memorial—that is 1 out of every 48 inhabitants of that island nation. Even in countries that are not under ban, the Kingdom message may have reached into areas where local Witnesses think that little witnessing can be done.—Eccl. 8:7; 11:5. w14 12/15 1:11, 13

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, June 12

Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations.—Matt. 28:19.

First-century Christians made good use of the Roman system of roads. Roman engineers constructed over 50,000 miles (80,000 km) of roads that linked nearly every province. The roads cut through forests, crossed deserts, and scaled mountains. In addition to their system of roads, the Romans could take advantage of some 17,000 miles (27,000 km) of navigable rivers and canals. Roman ships traveled some 900 sea routes that linked hundreds of ports. Christians could therefore travel throughout the Roman world. There were difficulties, but the apostle Paul and others could journey throughout the realm without passports and visas. There were no immigration and customs checks. Outlaws feared Roman punishment, so roads were relatively safe. Travel by sea was similarly safe because Rome’s navies kept sea lanes free of piracy. w15 2/15 3:1, 9, 10

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, June 13

The peace of God . . . will guard your hearts.—Phil. 4:7.

Having a grateful heart can help us to cope with grievous trials. We may feel overwhelmed if we are suddenly confronted with life-altering circumstances, such as the unfaithfulness of a marriage mate, a life-threatening illness, the death of a loved one, or the devastating effects of a natural disaster. At such times, we will be comforted and strengthened by reflecting on our blessings. Irina, a regular pioneer in North America, was married to an elder who proved unfaithful and abandoned her and their children. What helped Irina to go on serving Jehovah faithfully? She says: “I am grateful for Jehovah’s personal care for me as an individual. By choosing to count my blessings each day, I can see what a privilege it is to be known and loved by our protective heavenly Father. I know that he will never abandon me.” Her joyful spirit continues to sustain her, and she is a source of encouragement to others. w15 1/15 1:9, 10, 13

[trottigy]

When we are under stress, trials and / or persecution - can we find things to be thankful for? Think of Paul and Silas in Philippi - deep in jail and in stocks, but doing what? Acts 16:25 "praising God with song."  WOW! It can be done. 

 

When we are grateful / thankful to Jehovah THEN the peace of God can guard our hearts. We need that most when under trials, so find and meditate on things to be grateful for - especially then.  and then tell Jehovah what they are.  

[GrumpysWife]

 So true Jerry. We can always rely on Him, but we need to let Him know that we are grateful for his help. 

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, June 14

They will become one flock, one shepherd.—John 10:16.

Jesus’ illustration of the sheep and the goats teaches us that those with the earthly hope have the honor of loyally supporting Jesus’ anointed brothers in the preaching and teaching work. (Matt. 25:31-46) During these critical last days, the two groups work together as “one flock” in zealously carrying out the work of making disciples. The Master rightly expects results. His faithful disciples in the first century certainly increased his belongings. What about in this time of the end? Jesus’ faithful, hardworking servants have carried out the greatest preaching and disciple-making work in history. Their collective effort has resulted in hundreds of thousands of new disciples being added to the ranks of Kingdom proclaimers each year, making the preaching and teaching work an outstanding feature of the sign of Jesus’ presence in Kingdom power. Surely their Master must be pleased! w15 3/15 3:9, 10

[trottigy]

Quote

 

John 10:16 says, 

Quote

John 10:16 — “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those too I must bring in, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.

What unites us - listening to the voice of Jesus.

 

look at 3 areas where JWs do and other religions do not: 

 

1. Jesus voiced these words at John 17:16

Quote

John 17:16 — They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.

Look at how devicive politics is.  Not so with us.

 

2. Jesus continued

Quote

John 17:17 — Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth.

We trust the word of God and what it says of morals: homosexuality, same sex marriage, abortion, etc. Look at other religions - even in the same church - many are divided on whether to be more inclusive and less judgmental.  

 

3. Jesus said preaching of the kingdom would happen. NONE can deny JWs are doing this, but others? Look at a recent speech the pope gave at the UN. Clearly, not once would he mention the kingdom, but he did not even mention the name of Jesus AT ALL. Whose voice is he listening to?

 

there are other areas where we listen. Like how we feel about our brothers and sister - Matt 7:1-5 We assume the best. Sure, we may see a straw, but that only makes us examine ourselves for that rafter that must surely be there.

 

We may say, yes but others agree with me that he or they are not right!  So, how do you tune a piano? Do you get another piano and use it to tune yours. No, you use a tuning fork that is always on tune- as that other piano might also be out of tune. Jesus is our tuning fork. He is and was never out of tune with his Father. Don't use others to determine if you ar right. Use Jesus and his voice. This is what helps us t be united and love and appreciate our brothers.    

 

have a a great day and know you are loved and appreciated.    

[MizPeg]

brings to mind one of my favorite Scriptures, Ephesians 4:2-5

[timpin]

Hey Jerry thanks for the excellent post, sounds like you are on a bus ride up to Warwick, don't forget to keep us posted   ...   

Edited June 14, 2016 by timpin

[trottigy]

2 hours ago, MizPeg said:

brings to mind one of my favorite Scriptures, Ephesians 4:2-5

2 with all humility and mildness, with patience, putting up with one another in love,   3    earnestly endeavoring to maintain the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace.   4   One body there is, and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling;   5    one Lord, one faith, one baptism;   6    one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 

 

[GrumpysWife]

Bravo!!! 

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, June 15

Keep . . . seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.—Matt. 6:33.

We can trust that Jehovah will bless us as he promises. ‘Seeking first God’s righteousness’ includes viewing family obligations as Jehovah does. The Law of Moses contains this principle that applies to Christians: Parents need to give their own children spiritual training. (Deut. 6:6, 7) God has assigned this responsibility to the parents, not to grandparents or to anyone else. King Solomon stated: “Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and do not forsake the instruction of yourmother.” (Prov. 1:8) Jehovah intended that both parents be physically present to share in guiding and teaching their children. (Prov. 31:10, 27, 28) Much of what children learn from their parents, especially in spiritual matters, comes from hearing them converse about Jehovah on a daily basis and from observing their example firsthand. w14 4/15 3:6, 7

[trottigy]

2 parts - ours & God's

 

1. Ours - NEVER be anxious. Never? Yes. 

Jesus outlines that our Heavenly Father knows what we need. Serve Him and he'll take care of us. Eccl 5:19

 

We can not serve 2 Gods - either Jah or riches - for where our treasure is our heart is. Luke 12:16-21 shows riches are useless without life. So, serving Jah is better anyway. Be rich toward God. That is the key element. Luke 12:15 Make serving Him our priority - especially as we have no idea when the end will come. 

 

2. Jah will do his part.