Examining the Scriptures Daily - 2016

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, July 2

Five were discreet.—Matt. 25:2.

The five discreet virgins truly prepared themselves, bringing extra oil in their flasks along with their lamps. Have faithful anointed ones likewise proved to be prepared? They have indeed! Throughout the last days, anointed Christians have acted like those discreet virgins, prepared to carry out their assignment faithfully until the end. They count the cost of faithful service, realizing from the outset that their assignment will mean giving up many of the material advantages available in Satan’s world. They devote themselves exclusively to Jehovah and serve him, not with some date or deadline in mind, but out of love and loyalty to him and to his Son. They maintain their integrity, refusing to adopt the spirit of this wicked world and its materialistic, immoral, and selfish attitudes. They thus remain ready, steadily shining as illuminators, undaunted by any apparent delay in the arrival of the Bridegroom.—Phil. 2:15. w15 3/15 2:4, 7, 8

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, July 3

If we hope for what we do not see, we keep eagerly waiting for it with endurance.—Rom. 8:25.

We do not view any years in Jehovah’s service as wasted time. Rather, we are convinced that “the things seen are temporary, but the things unseen are everlasting.” (2 Cor. 4:16-18) Faith allows us to discern “the convincing evidence of realities that are not seen.” (Heb. 11:1; ftn.) A physical person does not see the precious value of serving Jehovah. To such a person, spiritual treasures “are foolishness.” (1 Cor. 2:14) We, however, hope to enjoy everlasting life and witness the resurrection, things unseen by the world. Like the philosophers of Paul’s day who called him an ignorant “chatterer,” most people today think that the hope we preach is sheer nonsense. (Acts 17:18) Since we are surrounded by a faithless world, we must fight to maintain our faith. Supplicate Jehovah that “your faith may not give out.”—Luke 22:32. w14 4/15 1:17-19

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, July 4

I will open my mouth with illustrations.—Matt. 13:35.

Some believe that Satan is “in charge” of hellfire. We could ask them: “Imagine that your child has become very rebellious and is doing many bad things. How would you react?” Likely, the parent would say that he would correct his child. (Prov. 22:15) But what would he do if the child rejected all efforts to help him? Most parents would say that eventually they would have no choice but to punish the child. We could then ask, “What if you found out that an evil person had influenced your child to become so rebellious?” No doubt, the parent would be angry with such a person. Driving home the point of the illustration, we might ask the parent, “Knowing that an evil individual had influenced your child, would you ask that person to punish your child for you?” The answer, of course, would be no. Clearly, then, God would not use Satan to punish the very same people who have been influenced by the Devil himself to do bad things! w14 5/15 1:12, 14

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, July 5

You comforted and soothed me.—Ps. 94:19.

Jehovah shows mercy to those who suffer. (Isa. 49:13) Bible study can make us so keenly aware of Jehovah’s loving concern for us that we are inclined to respond with deep love for him. Also, we should pray to God regularly. Our prayers draw us ever closer to the “Hearer of prayer.” (Ps. 65:2) When we discern that God is answering our prayers, our love for him deepens. For instance, we may have seen that he does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. (1 Cor. 10:13) If we have anxiety and turn to Jehovah in earnest supplication, we may well experience the incomparable “peace of God.” (Phil. 4:6, 7) At times, we may say a silent prayer—as Nehemiah did—and come to realize that it is being answered. (Neh. 2:1-6) As we “persevere in prayer,” our love for God grows and so does our confidence that he will help us to cope with further tests of faith.—Rom. 12:12. w146/15 1:15, 16

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, July 6

Why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.—Rom. 14:10.

It would be wrong to entertain baseless suspicions about our brothers and sisters. (Rom. 14:11, 12; 1 Cor. 13:7) What is more, having a tendency to distrust the integrity of others in the congregation would be harmful to our own spirituality. Each Christian should “examine his own actions.” (Gal. 6:4) Because of our sinful inclinations, there is always the potential for inadvertently adopting traits that are less than sincere. (Heb. 3:12, 13) So from time to time, we might examine our motives for serving Jehovah. We may ask ourselves: ‘Do I worship Jehovah out of love for him and in recognition of his sovereignty? Or do I place more emphasis on the physical blessings I hope to enjoy in Paradise?’ (Rev. 4:11) Surely we can all benefit from examining our own actions and removing any vestiges of hypocrisy from our heart. w14 7/15 1:15, 16

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, July 7

I [Jehovah] will pour out my spirit on every sort of flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy.—Joel 2:28.

Jesus was very kind to women. For example, consider a woman who had a flow of blood for 12 years. From behind, she approached Jesus in a crowd and touched his garment. Instead of rebuking her, Jesus kindly said: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed from your grievous sickness.” (Mark 5:25-34) Some women who were Jesus’ disciples ministered to him and his apostles. (Luke 8:1-3) And at Pentecost 33 C.E., about 120 men as well as women received God’s spirit in a special way. (Acts 2:1-4) By means of that miraculous event on the day of Pentecost, God showed that he had transferred his backing from apostate Israel to “the Israel of God,” made up of both men and women. (Gal. 3:28; 6:15, 16) Among the Christian women who shared in the ministry in the first century were the four daughters of Philip the evangelizer.—Acts 21:8, 9. w14 8/15 1:16, 17

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, July 8

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 14:22.

At first, that statement might seem strange. After all, the prospect of going through “many tribulations” would seem distressing, not encouraging. How is it, then, that Paul and Barnabas “strengthened the disciples” with a message that pointed to more tribulation? We can find the answer if we look carefully at Paul’s words. He did not simply say: “We must endure many tribulations.” Rather, he said: “We mustenter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations.” So Paul strengthened the disciples by emphasizing the positive result of a faithful course. That reward was no mere illusion. Indeed, Jesus stated: “The one who has endured to the end will be saved.” (Matt. 10:22) If we endure, we will have a reward. As Paul noted, though, we will face many tribulations in the meantime. w14 9/15 2:4-6

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, July 9

You are a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek!—Ps. 110:4.

Why would Jesus be a priest “in the manner of Melchizedek”? Because long before any descendants of Abraham inherited the Promised Land, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, served as “priest of the Most High God.” (Heb. 7:1-3) He was directly appointed by Jehovah to do so. He is the only one mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures who served as both a king and a priest. Moreover, since he was without a recorded predecessor or successor, he can be called “a priest for all time,” or forever. Jesus is directly appointed to be a priest by means of a personal covenant that Jehovah made with him, and he will remain “a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek.” (Heb. 5:4-6) This clearly shows that Jehovah has legally bound himself to use the Messianic Kingdom to accomplish his original purpose concerning humans on earth.—Gen. 1:28. w14 10/15 1:16, 17

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, July 10

The one who exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life.—John 11:25.

That stunning statement will come true without fail. Jehovah has granted Jesus the power to restore to life not only those resurrected to spirit life in heaven but also the billions who will awaken to the prospect of everlasting life on earth. Jesus’ atoning sacrifice and his resurrection mean that death will be no more. Does that knowledge not strengthen you to endure any trial and even face death with courage? Moreover, belief in Jesus’ resurrection motivates us to do God’s will. Were it not for his sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection, we would remain under the condemnation of sin and death. (Rom. 5:12; 6:23) If Jesus was not resurrected, we might as well say: “Eat and drink, for tomorrow we are to die.” (1 Cor. 15:32) But we do not focus on life’s pleasures. Instead, we cherish the resurrection hope and have every reason to heed Jehovah’s direction in all things.w14 11/15 1:17, 19

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, July 11

Who has despised the day of small beginnings?—Zech. 4:10.

There is no need for us to be overly concerned about how the Kingdom message will reach the millions who have not yet heard it. Jehovah has everything under control. But what is our work? God’s Word answers: “Sow your seed in the morning and do not let your hand rest until the evening; for you do not know which will have success, whether this one or that one, or whether they will both do well.” (Eccl. 11:6) Of course, at the same time, we should never forget to pray for the success of the preaching work, especially in countries where the work is restricted. (Eph. 6:18-20) Additionally, we should not be discouraged if we do not at first see results from our work. We should never despise “the day of small beginnings.” The results may eventually turn out to be a lot greater and more wonderful than we had ever anticipated!—Ps. 40:5; Zech. 4:7. w14 12/15 1:14, 15

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, July 12

Let your petitions be made known to God.—Phil. 4:6.

When Super Typhoon Haiyan hit the central Philippines in late 2013, Sheryl, who was only 13 years old at the time, lost virtually everything. She said: “I lost my home, and I lost most of my family.” Her father, mother, and three siblings died in the powerful storm surge. What has helped Sheryl to get through this tragedy without becoming bitter? She has a grateful heart and remains conscious of the blessings she still has. “I saw all that the brothers and sisters did to bring relief and encouragement to those who needed help. I knew that brothers all around the world were praying for me.” She added: “I am very thankful that Jehovah is my God. He always gives us the things we need.” Yes, being conscious of our blessings is a powerful antidote to being swallowed up by grief. An appreciative heart helps us to go on despite any distressing events that we may face.—Eph. 5:20. w15 1/15 1:13

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, July 13

After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.—Matt. 25:19.

Jesus will come to settle accounts with his slaves toward the end of the great tribulation just ahead. What leads us to this conclusion? In his prophecy recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Jesus repeatedly mentioned his coming. Referring to the judgment during the great tribulation, he said that people “will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven.” He urged his followers living in the last days to be vigilant, saying: “You do not know on what day your Lord is coming” and “the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.” (Matt. 24:30, 42, 44) Hence, when Jesus said that “the master of those slaves came and settled accounts,” he was evidently referring to the time when he will come to execute judgment at the end of this system. w15 3/15 3:11

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, July 14

No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches.—Matt. 6:24.

Our Father, Jehovah, has committed himself to helping us obtain the things we really need if we put the Kingdom and his righteousness first in our lives. (Matt. 6:33) Thus, true Christians always have a choice. Jehovah promises to provide a “way out” that does not require compromising Bible principles, no matter what challenges we face. (1 Cor. 10:13) When we “wait expectantly” for Jehovah, when we “rely on him” by praying for his wisdom and direction and by following his commands and principles, then “he will act in [our] behalf.” (Ps. 37:5, 7) He will actively bless our sincere efforts to serve only him as the one true Master. If we put him first, he will make our lives “successful.”—Gen. 39:3. w14 4/15 3:17

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, July 15

Stop judging that you may not be judged.—Matt. 7:1.

Rather than being judgmental or suspicious, if a fellow believer has been weakened by personal problems, our priority should be to provide spiritual assistance. (1 Thess. 5:14) If we pause to reflect on our brothers’ circumstances, we may see their seeming frailty in a different light. Think of sisters who have been enduring family opposition for years. Some may be of humble appearance and look fragile, yet do they not demonstrate outstanding faith and inner strength? When you see a single mother regularly coming to meetings with her child or children, are you not impressed by her faith and determination? And what of teenagers who stick to the truth despite the bad influences in school? In all modesty, we recognize that such ones, who may seem to be weaker, may be as “rich in faith” as those among us who have more favorable circumstances.—Jas. 2:5. w14 6/15 3:9, 10

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, July 16

Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah.—Gen. 6:8.

Noah “was a righteous man” who “proved himself faultless among his contemporaries.” Because “Noah walked with the true God,” Jehovah instructed him to build a huge ark. (Gen. 6:9, 14-16) Its design was well-suited for the preservation of human and animal life. Obediently, “Noah did everything that Jehovah had commanded him,” and with the cooperation of his family, he completed the building work in an organized way. After living things were brought into the ark, “Jehovah shut the door.” (Gen. 7:5, 16) In 2370 B.C.E. when the Flood came, Jehovah “wiped every living thing from the surface of the earth,” but he kept faithful Noah and his family safe in the ark. (Gen. 7:23) Everyone on earth today is a descendant of Noah, his sons, and their wives. But all the faithless people outside the ark perished because they had refused to listen to Noah, “a preacher of righteousness.”—2 Pet. 2:5. w14 5/15 3:6, 7

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, July 17

For your sakes I will send to Babylon and bring down all the bars of the gates.—Isa. 43:14.

In line with that prophecy, a world-shaking event happened one night early in October 539 B.C.E. While Babylon’s king and his nobles were drinking wine from holy vessels captured from Jerusalem’s temple and were praising their man-made gods, the armies of Media and Persia conquered Babylon. In 538 or 537 B.C.E., Babylon’s conqueror, Cyrus, commanded the Jews to return and rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem. All of this was foretold by Isaiah, including Jehovah’s promise that he would provide for and protect his repentant people as they returned to Jerusalem. God called them “the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.” (Isa. 43:21; 44:26-28) Once these former exiles had returned and rebuilt Jehovah’s temple in Jerusalem, they became witnesses to the fact that Jehovah, the only true God, always fulfills his word. w14 7/15 3:10, 11

[Nobody]

Really shows how quick things can change.  

[timpin]

who knows what tomorrow or the next day will bring - get and be ready for anything at anytime anywhere!

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, July 18

Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.—Jas. 4:8.

Without the Bible, how would we have known that we can draw close to our Creator? Without it, how could we have learned about the ransom and about our being drawn to Jehovah through Jesus? By means of his spirit, Jehovah inspired the writing of the Bible, which reveals to us his appealing personality as well as his grand purposes. For example, at Exodus 34:6, 7, Jehovah described himself to Moses as “a God merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in loyal love and truth, showing loyal love to thousands, pardoning error and transgression and sin.” Who would not be drawn to someone like that? Jehovah knows that the more we learn about him through the pages of the Bible, the more real he will become to us and the closer we will feel to him. How thankful we can be, therefore, that Jehovah had his Word written in a way we humans can understand! w14 8/15 3:10, 11

[Omoyeme]

One of my very FAVORITE scriptures! 

[GrumpysWife]

It takes action on our part, but what blessings we get back. 

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, July 19

My son, do not forget my teaching, and may your heart observe my commandments.—Prov. 3:1.

In time, your children will have to make a personal decision as to whom they will serve. Do not think that they will simply absorb your faith through some sort of osmosis. They must make the truth their own. If it seems that a child has a problem doing that, why not go back to basics? Help him or her to reason on such questions as: “How do I know that God exists? What convinces me that Jehovah God really values me? Why do I believe that Jehovah’s standards are truly for my good?” Show yourself to be a good shepherd by patiently guiding your child or children in proving that Jehovah’s way is the best way of life. (Rom. 12:2) All true Christians want to be imitators of the Supreme Shepherd. (Eph. 5:1; 1 Pet. 2:25) Parents in particular need to know the appearance of their flock—their precious children—and do all they can to guide them toward the blessings Jehovah has for them. w14 9/15 3:17, 18

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, July 20

Better is the end of a matter than its beginning.—Eccl. 7:8.

In recent years, a number of branch offices have been merged with others. Though such changes require that the brothers and sisters serving at these branches make adjustments, before long the advantages of the changes become clear to all involved. What a joy it is for such willing workers to play a part in the ongoing history of Jehovah’s people! Because of branch mergers, some Bethelites have been reassigned to serve in the pioneer work. Among them were Florian and Anja, who said: “We view our new assignment as an exciting challenge. For us, it is wonderful to be used by Jehovah no matter where we serve.” Even though most of us may never have to make such adjustments, can we not imitate the willingness of these brothers and sisters to put Kingdom interests first? (Isa. 6:8) Jehovah always blesses those who cherish their privilege of working with him, wherever that work may be. w14 10/15 3:10, 15

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, July 21

People will hand you over to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations.—Matt. 24:9.

As followers of Christ and Witnesses of Jehovah, we are persecuted in nations around the world. This is to be expected. In the face of such hatred, however, we endure in the Kingdom-preaching work and continue to prove ourselves holy before Jehovah. Although we are honest, clean-living, and law-abiding citizens, why are we so hated? (Rom. 13:1-7) Because we have made Jehovah our Sovereign Lord! We render sacred service to “him alone” and will never compromise on his righteous laws and principles. (Matt. 4:10) We are also “no part of the world.” Therefore, we are neutral with regard to the world’s wars and political affairs. (John 15:18-21; Isa. 2:4) If we are focused on God’s sovereignty and we trust in him, nobody can cause us to compromise and be ensnared by cowardly fear.—Prov. 29:25. w14 11/15 3:8-10

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, July 22

You wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as it is becoming in the Lord.—Col. 3:18.

One important way that a submissive wife shows respect for Jehovah’s authority is by being cooperative and supportive within the family circle. Realistically, not all of a husband’s decisions will be to his wife’s liking. Yet, if his decisions do not conflict with God’s laws, a submissive wife is willing to yield. (1 Pet. 3:1) A wife has an honorable place as her husband’s “partner.” (Mal. 2:14) She provides valuable input concerning family decisions by respectfully expressing her thoughts and feelings yet remaining submissive. A wise husband will listen carefully to his wife’s expressions. (Prov. 31:10-31) Loving submission, in turn, promotes joy, peace, and harmony within the family and gives husbands and wives the satisfaction that comes from knowing that they are pleasing God.—Eph. 5:22. w15 1/15 3:9, 10