Examining the Scriptures Daily - 2017

[Alexa]

Knowledge strengthens faith  

[Miss Bea]

Knowledge, experience =faith

[LeslieDean]

Knowledge, wisdom, love, , obedience, faith .

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, May 6

Look! Jehovah’s slave girl! May it happen to me according to your declaration.—Luke 1:38.

Mary was to conceive, give birth to, and raise the only-begotten Son of God! It is easy to think only of Mary’s wonderful privilege and fail to consider some of the practical concerns that might have seemed daunting. God’s angel Gabriel told her that she would become pregnant miraculously—without having relations with a man. Gabriel did not offer to go to Mary’s family and neighbors to explain the cause of her pregnancy. What would they think? Mary must have been concerned about her fiancé, Joseph. How could she convince him that, although she was pregnant, she had remained faithful to him? Moreover, what a responsibility it would be to raise, care for, and train the only-begotten Son of the Most High! We cannot know all the concerns that may have raced through Mary’s mind when Gabriel spoke to her. However, we do know that she answered with the words of today’s text.—Luke 1:26-37. w16.02 2:13, 14

[Miss Bea]

Wonderful example, faith.

[well]

Don't judge appearance!

[Alexa]

Make things happen  

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, May 7

Hushai the Archite was there to meet him, with his robe ripped apart and dirt on his head.—2 Sam. 15:32.

A man named Hushai needed courage to be loyal to God. Hushai was a loyal friend of King David. However, his loyalty was tested when David’s son Absalom won the heart of many and sought to take Jerusalem and the throne. (2 Sam. 15:13; 16:15) David fled the city, but what would Hushai do? Would he switch his loyalty to Absalom, or would he follow the elderly king who was fleeing for his life? Resolved to be loyal to the king appointed by God, Hushai met David on the Mount of Olives. (2 Sam. 15:30) David asked Hushai to go back to Jerusalem, to pretend to be Absalom’s friend, and to frustrate the advice of Ahithophel. Risking his very life, Hushai proved loyal to Jehovah and did what David asked him to do. Just as David had prayed, the counsel of courageous Hushai did frustrate that of Ahithophel.—2 Sam. 15:31; 17:14. w16.02 4:15, 16

[Alexa]

Hushai frustrated Ahithopel  

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, May 8

All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, because you keep listening to the voice of Jehovah your God.—Deut. 28:2.

As Christians, we can benefit from the guidelines that were given in the Law to the nation of Israel. How so? We can stop and look at the underlying principles of the Law. Even though we are not under those laws, we can view many of them as trustworthy guides in our daily lives and our worship of our holy God, Jehovah. He had those laws recorded in the Bible so that we could learn from them, be guided by the principles, and appreciate the higher moral standards for Christians. Listen to what Jesus said: “You heard that it was said: ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Thus, we need to avoid not only the act of adultery but also the sexual craving to share in immorality.—Matt. 5:27, 28. w16.03 4:6, 8

[Alexa]

Shun sexual desires

[Miss Bea]

Respect Law's principles

[dilip kumar]

Ignored thoughts "Die"

Sent from my LG-E988 using Tapatalk

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, May 9

Appoint for us a king to judge us.—1 Sam. 8:5.

Samuel was so reluctant to do what the people demanded that Jehovah three times saw the need to tell him to listen to them. (1 Sam. 8:7, 9, 22) Even so, Samuel did not allow bitterness or resentment against the man who would replace him to take root in his heart. When Jehovah told him to anoint Saul, the prophet obeyed, not reluctantly out of mere duty, but willingly out of love. Like Samuel, experienced elders today show a kind disposition toward those whom they train. (1 Pet. 5:2) Such elders do not hold back from training others for fear of having to relinquish certain congregation privileges to the learners. Bighearted teachers view willing learners, not as competitors, but as “fellow workers”—as precious gifts to the congregation. (2 Cor. 1:24; Heb. 13:16) And what satisfaction such unselfish teachers experience as they observe how the learners use their abilities to benefit the congregation!—Acts 20:35. w15 4/15 1:16, 17

[katielou]

Training: everyone benefits

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[Miss Bea]

Unselfishly training, refreshing! 

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, May 10

I will discipline you to the proper degree.—Jer. 30:11.

King Azariah “continued to do what was right in Jehovah’s eyes.” Yet, “Jehovah afflicted the king, and he remained a leper until the day of his death.” (2 Ki. 15:1-5) Why? The account does not say. Should this disturb us or cause us to wonder whether Jehovah punished Azariah without due cause? Not if we have an intimate knowledge of Jehovah’s ways. King Azariah was also known as King Uzziah. (2 Ki. 15:7, 32) In the parallel account at 2 Chronicles 26:3-5, 16-21, we learn that although Uzziah did what was right in Jehovah’s eyes for a time, later in life “his heart became haughty to his own ruin.” Presumptuously, he attempted to perform priestly duties that were outside the scope of his authority. Eighty-one priests confronted him and endeavored to correct him. How did Uzziah respond? He demonstrated how proud he had become. He “became enraged” against the priests. No wonder Jehovah struck him with leprosy! w15 4/15 3:8, 9

[Miss Bea]

Enemy within, heart!

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, May 11

Down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth.—Rev. 12:9.

As noted above, Satan is called Devil, meaning “Slanderer.” This reminds us that Satan has defamed Jehovah by calling him a liar. The words “the original serpent” bring to mind that tragic day in Eden when Satan used a snake to deceive Eve. The expression “the great dragon” brings to mind thoughts of a terrifying monster and aptly fits Satan’s savage craving to obstruct Jehovah’s purpose and destroy His people. Clearly, Satan poses the greatest threat to our integrity. For good reason, the Bible admonishes us: “Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.” (1 Pet. 5:8) Satan no doubt rejoices when one of God’s servants becomes stained with serious sin and may use such victories to taunt Jehovah.—Prov. 27:11. w15 5/15 1:3, 4, 10

[katielou]

Guard against presumptuousness

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[katielou]

Fight Satan's taunts

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[Vinnie]

Here is something I do and don't understand.   Satan and his demons corrupt the human race. We are the victims of their abuse. Then Jehovah allows the abuser to continue  their abuse on now imperfect humans and cause untold suffering, then the abuser Satan and his demons are  forced to live with the victims. 

 

We praise you Jehovah, because only you can figure this mess-up so that we the  Victims come out more victorious and stronger and better for it, than from the start.

 

LOL -the one thing we don't have to do in all of this is to forgive Satan.  Lol, are we allowed to hold a grudge against him?

[Alexa]

Samuel supported Saul

[Alexa]

Bible context helps

[Alexa]

Satan's name shown