Examining the Scriptures Daily - 2016

[GrumpysWife]

Speak with boldness!

[dilip kumar]

Fear Jehovah's authority

Sent from my LG-E988 using Tapatalk

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, December 14

Keep on the watch.—Matt. 25:13.

Because Jesus directed the parable of the ten virgins to his anointed followers, should we conclude that this passage contains no benefit for Christ’s “other sheep”? (John 10:16; Matt. 25:1-13) Far from it! Remember, the message of the parable is simple: “Keep on the watch.” Does that apply only to the anointed? Jesus once said: “What I say to you, I say to all: Keep on the watch.” (Mark 13:37) Jesus requires all his followers to prepare their hearts for faithful service and to meet the same standard of watchfulness. So all Christians follow the lead set by the anointed in this regard, imitating their good example and putting the ministry first in life. The vain request of the foolish virgins to have the discreet ones give up some of their oil reminds us that no one can be faithful for us, can stay in the truth for us, or can keep on the watch for us. Each of us will answer to the righteous Judge whom Jehovah has appointed. w15 3/15 2:14

[Alexa]

Not just anointed  

[GrumpysWife]

Prepare your heart!

[katielou]

I l ike the point that 'no one can keep on the watch for us'.  It is our personal responsibility to stay alert.

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, December 15

Sin is crouching at the door . . . Will you get the mastery over it?—Gen. 4:7.

Jehovah wanted Cain to respond to the warning and to “be restored to favor.” Having divine favor would preserve a good relationship with God. What about us today? Jehovah’s eyes penetrate our heart; we cannot conceal our true inclinations and motivations from him. Our loving Father wants us to follow the pathways of righteousness; yet, he does not force us to change the course we are on. Through his Word, the Bible, he warns us when we are headed in the wrong direction. How? In our daily Bible reading, we often come across a passage that helps us to overcome bad tendencies and unwholesome inclinations. In addition, our Christian publications may shed light on a problem with which we may have been struggling and show us how we can overcome it. And at our congregation meetings, all of us receive counsel that comes at just the right time! w14 4/15 5:4, 5

[Alexa]

Study makes strong

[GrumpysWife]

Daily Bible Reading.

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, December 16

The word of Jehovah kept growing and prevailing.—Acts 19:20.

Christianity flourished in the first century. To fare well spiritually, each Christian had to put forth personal effort. Diligent study of the Scriptures, regular attendance at meetings for worship, and zealous activity in the Kingdom-preaching work were essential. Such activities contributed to the spiritual health and unity of Jehovah’s people at that time, even as they do today. Those associated with the well-organized early congregations benefited greatly from the willing and helpful efforts of overseers and ministerial servants. (Phil. 1:1; 1 Pet. 5:1-4) And what a delight it must have been when traveling elders, such as Paul, visited the congregations! (Acts 15:36, 40, 41) The similarities between our worship and that of the first-century Christians are remarkable. How grateful we are that Jehovah organized his servants then as well as now! w14 5/15 3:15, 16

[Alexa]

How to organize  

[timpin]

something I noticed   ...   don't shoot me (may I kindly express my thoughts and feelings) but this trend lately of expressing the daily text in 'just three words' was first requested as a memory aid - however each text is already a compressed version of a paragraph or two in a study article, any further compression seems to dilute or reduce its benefit   ...  again thank you for allowing me to express my view that had me concerned.   *I'm probably wrong   ...  

 

[trottigy]

Tim, thanks for your opinion.

 

God's Word prevails

[GrumpysWife]

Keeps on prevailing!

[timpin]

I guess the confusion I noticed is that some use the 3 word crunch to condense the scripture, while others crunch the text thought  (I don't like to crunch/reduce Gods Word)

 

... text crunch  - personal effort essential

Edited December 16, 2016 by timpin

[Shawnster]

 

Keep on PASS (Prayer, Association, Study, Service)

 

2 hours ago, timpin said:

I guess the confusion I noticed is that some use the 3 word crunch to condense the scripture, while others crunch the text thought  (I don't like to crunch/reduce Gods Word)

 

... text crunch  - personal effort essential

 

Again, thank you for your opinion.  Others disagree.  There is no need to keep belaboring the point, is there?  

 

Edited December 16, 2016 by Shawnster

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, December 17

Jehovah is with you, you mighty warrior.—Judg. 6:12.

At the time the angel said this, Gideon felt anything but “mighty.” He acknowledged his doubts and his own sense of insignificance. But as the ensuing conversation revealed, Jehovah certainly had a much more positive view of his servant than Gideon had of himself. (Judg. 6:11-16) Jehovah trusted Gideon to deliver Israel because He had observed his skills. For one thing, Jehovah’s angel had noticed how Gideon threshed wheat with all his might. Something else had caught the angel’s attention. In Bible times, farmers usually beat out grain in an open area to take advantage of the wind, which would blow away the chaff. Surprisingly, Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a winepress in order to conceal his meager harvest from the Midianites. What a clever strategy! No wonder that in Jehovah’s eyes, Gideon was more than a cautious farmer—he was a shrewd man. Yes, Jehovah saw his potential and worked with him. w14 6/15 4:4, 5

[trottigy]

Jehovah sees potential 

[GrumpysWife]

Jerry got mine.

[Miss Bea]

Mine, too. Back to drawing board. 

Jehovah appreciates humility.

Not as good as Jerry's, but got my brain going! 

 

[Alexa]

Gideon is human  

[Miss Bea]

I didn't even get to use Jerry's three words with my three sisters! When my phone announced a text was in a little before 7 AM, I knew...and, I was right! Early bird...

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, December 18

You will be witnesses of me . . . to the most distant part of the earth.—Acts 1:8.

Why did Jesus say: “You will be witnesses of me,” not of Jehovah? Jesus could have said the latter, but the ones whom he addressed were Israelites and as such were already witnesses of Jehovah. Now Jesus’ disciples would have to make known a new feature of Jehovah’s purpose—something far grander than Israel’s deliverances from slavery in Egypt and later from captivity in Babylon. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provided the basis for freedom from the worst form of captivity, namely, slavery to sin and death. At Pentecost 33 C.E., Jesus’ newly anointed disciples made known to the people “the magnificent things of God,” and many who heard responded. Thus, from his Father’s right hand in heaven, Jesus began to see his name take on greater meaning as thousands repented and put faith in him as Jehovah’s means of salvation.—Acts 2:5, 11, 37-41. w14 7/15 4:5, 6

[Alexa]

Jesus have 144k 

[katielou]

Quote

Jehovah trusts his servants and so should we

 

Edited December 17, 2016 by katielou