Examining the Scriptures Daily - 2017

[Colleen Mansfield-Joiner]

Our Russian Oryol brothers and sisters as well as brother Christensen are doing exactly this and setting a great example for us to follow in our upcoming time of distress.


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[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, June 28

The harvest is great, but the workers are few.—Matt. 9:37.

God’s people have used a variety of methods in order to reach as many as possible with the good news. This was especially important when ‘the workers were few.’ In the early 20th century, newspapers were used to reach large audiences in areas where Jehovah’s people were few in number. Each week, Charles Taze Russell would telegraph a sermon to a newspaper syndicate. In turn, the syndicate retelegraphed the sermon to newspapers in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It is estimated that by 1913, Brother Russell’s sermons were reaching 15,000,000 readers by means of 2,000 newspapers! After Brother Russell died, another effective method of spreading the good news began to be used. On April 16, 1922, Joseph F. Rutherford made one of his first radio broadcasts, speaking to an estimated 50,000 people. Then, on February 24, 1924, the organization’s first radio station, WBBR, began broadcasting. w15 11/15 5:10, 11

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, June 29

I Will Become What I Choose to Become.—Ex. 3:14.

Jehovah also causes his creation to become whatever he chooses. In line with the meaning of his name, God caused Noah to be an ark builder, Bezalel to be a master craftsman, Gideon to be a victorious warrior, and Paul to be an apostle to the nations. Yes, God’s name has great meaning to his people. And the New World Bible Translation Committee would never undermine the name’s significance by omitting it from the Bible. Over 130 language editions of the New World Translation honor God’s name by including it where it belongs in the sacred text. (Mal. 3:16) In contrast, the current trend in Bible translation is to omit the divine name, substituting a title such as “Lord” or the name of a local god. This is a prime reason why the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has given priority to making available to as many people as possible a Bible that honors God’s name. w15 12/15 2:7-9

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, June 30

No resident will say: “I am sick.”—Isa. 33:24.

There is no doubt that God has the power to affect someone’s health. The Bible confirms that. At times, he punished individuals with sickness, such as the Pharaoh in Abraham’s day and later Moses’ sister, Miriam. (Gen. 12:17; Num. 12:9, 10; 2 Sam. 24:15) God warned that if the Israelites proved unfaithful, he would afflict them with “every sickness or plague.” (Deut. 28:58-61) On the other hand, Jehovah could remove diseases or prevent sickness. (Ex. 23:25; Deut. 7:15) Also, he could heal people. After Job had been so sick that he longed to die, God healed him! (Job 2:7; 3:11-13; 42:10, 16) Yes, God definitely has the power to intervene and heal a sick person. It is similar with his Son. We read that Jesus miraculously cured lepers, epileptics, and blind or paralyzed ones. (Matt. 4:23, 24; John 9:1-7) How strengthening it is to think that the healings Jesus performed are a foregleam of what he will do on a grand scale in the new world. w15 12/15 4:3, 4

[Colleen Mansfield-Joiner]

Each human on earth suffers due to our inherent imperfection, therefore we are all 'sick' in the flesh, in the mind, in our souls.  However, in the new system, initially we'll go to bed feeling unwell, we can look forward to each new morning, feeling better and better!  In addition, those we've lost to the enemy death will be resurrected in a new body where imperfection in a physical sense won't reside again.  Then it's our privilege (those of us who survive the system's end) to teach these ones about what we've experienced and how they can join us for evermore.

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, July 1

Do not forget hospitality.—Heb. 13:2.

The original-language expression translated “hospitality” means “kindness to strangers.” This phrase may remind us of the examples of Abraham and Lot. Both men showed kindness to visitors whom they did not know. These visitors turned out to be angels. (Gen. 18:2-5; 19:1-3) Do we too extend hospitality to others by inviting them to our home for a meal or for some association and encouragement? We would not need to make elaborate or expensive arrangements to be considered hospitable; nor would we want to invite only those who might repay us in some way. (Luke 10:42; 14:12-14) Our goal should be to encourage, not to impress! Even though we may not know our circuit overseer and his wife very well, do we eagerly show them hospitality? (3 John 5-8) With our busy schedules as well as the stresses of daily living, how important it is that we “do not forget hospitality”! w16.01 1:11, 12

[Miss Bea]

Hospitality, don't forget. 

[Woodland]

Hospitality helps to generate real warmth and love in a congregation. 

[Colleen Mansfield-Joiner]

I really love getting to know others on our congregation better by hosting them in our home.  These times afford us opportunities to know others well enough to assist them in times of need as well as in times of joy.  Making pre-arrangements for field service or hosting a young or older single to join us for 'family' worship strengthens each one in a unique way and helps us all to maintain our joy.

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, July 2

You were sealed by means of him with the promised holy spirit, which is a token in advance of our inheritance.—Eph. 1:13, 14.

This special operation of holy spirit becomes like a down payment, a guarantee (or, a pledge) of what is to come. An anointed Christian gains an inner conviction because of this token. (2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 5:5) That person is sure of his invitation. But whether he finally receives his reward in heaven or not depends on his proving faithful to his calling. Peter explained it this way: “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure for yourselves, for if you keep on doing these things, you will by no means ever fail. In fact, in this way you will be richly granted entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 1:10, 11) Each anointed Christian must, therefore, struggle to remain faithful. If he does not, his heavenly calling, or invitation, will be of no value to him.—Heb. 3:1; Rev. 2:10. w16.01 3:6, 7

[dove]

Endure faithful until the end...

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, July 3

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.—Matt. 23:12.

It would be wrong to exalt individuals, even if they are anointed brothers of Christ. Speaking about Christian elders, the Bible encourages us to imitate the faith of those who take the lead, but it never commands us to elevate any human as our leader. (Heb. 13:7) True, the Scriptures speak of some as being “considered worthy of double honor.” However, such ones are worthy of honor, not because they are anointed, but because they “preside in a fine way” and “work hard in speaking and teaching.” (1 Tim. 5:17) Therefore, it would be embarrassing for those with a heavenly calling if others were to give them undue praise or attention. Worse still, if they received special treatment, anointed Christians might find it difficult to remain humble. (Rom. 12:3) None of us would want to cause one of Christ’s brothers to stumble!—Luke 17:2. w16.01 4:9

[katielou]

All need humility

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[katielou]

Faithful receive reward

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[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, July 4

A true friend shows love at all times.—Prov. 17:17.

A friendship can be a precious treasure. However, friendship is not like an inanimate thing that we might purchase and then store somewhere to gather dust. Friendship is more like a living thing that needs care and sustenance if it is to thrive and flourish. Abraham cherished and maintained his friendship with Jehovah. How did he do so? Abraham never came to feel that his past record of godly fear and obedience was enough. As he and his large household traveled into Canaan, he continued to let Jehovah guide him in making decisions, from the small to the great. A year before Isaac was born, when Abraham was 99 years old, Jehovah required that all males of Abraham’s household be circumcised. Did Abraham question that command or look for some way out of complying with it? No, he trusted in God and obeyed “on that very day.”—Gen. 17:10-14, 23. w16.02 1:9, 10

[katielou]

True friends: priceless

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[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, July 5

Even a child is known by his actions, whether his behavior is pure and right.—Prov. 20:11.

One who is somewhat younger can realize what it means to do what is right and to be dedicated to his Creator. Thus, baptism is an important and appropriate step for a young person who has manifested considerable maturity and has made a dedication to Jehovah. (Prov. 20:7) What does it mean to be mature? Maturity involves more than physical growth. The Bible says that mature people “have their powers of discernment trained to distinguish both right and wrong.” (Heb. 5:14) Thus, mature people know what is right in Jehovah’s eyes and are resolved in their heart to stick to it. As a result, they are not easily swayed to do what is wrong; nor do they always have to be prodded to do what is right. Really, it is only reasonable to expect that a young person who gets baptized will uphold God’s standards even when parents or other adults are not present.—Phil. 2:12. w16.03 1:4, 5

[Colleen Mansfield-Joiner]

I was doing Metro with a couple new to me this morning and realized that we'd had all come out of the world as adults. In this regard, we are young adults in the truth, though now in our 'middle' years. When we learned the truth, we started to spiritually mature and still are on this path. "No one comes to the father unless he draws them" 1st. So glad our potential was seen by Jehovah.


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[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, July 6

Do not be afraid . . . ; you will be king over Israel, and I will become second to you.—1 Sam. 23:17.

Jonathan must have been astonished by the way young David faced the giant Goliath. Now David stood before Jonathan’s father, King Saul of Israel, “with the head of the Philistine in his hand.” (1 Sam. 17:57) Jonathan probably admired David for his courage. It was clear that God was with David, and “Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship.” In fact, they “made a covenant because [Jonathan] loved [David] as himself.” (1 Sam. 18:1-3) For the rest of his life, he was loyal to David. Jonathan’s attachment to David endured, even though God had chosen David to be Israel’s next king. Jonathan became concerned about David when Saul was seeking to kill him. To encourage his friend, Jonathan traveled into the Judean wilderness at Horesh. There, Jonathan helped David “find strength in Jehovah,” saying the words of today’s text.—1 Sam. 23:16. w16.02 3:1, 2

[dove]

Prov. 18:24..   'There is a friend sticking closer than a brother'.

 

Jonathan also showed selflessness and true obedience without reservation for Jehovah's arrangement..

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, July 7

I was beside [Jehovah] as a master worker. I was the one he was especially fond of day by day.—Prov. 8:30.

From the beginning of creation, unity of purpose was evident. Father and Son collaborated, and they produced the variety of life we observe today. Cooperation continued to mark God’s works. We see this quality in the building of the ark in Noah’s day; the erecting, dismantling, and moving of the tabernacle as God’s people journeyed in the wilderness; and even in the playing of music and blending of voices in harmonious praise to Jehovah at his temple. All those endeavors depended on cooperation. (Gen. 6:14-16, 22; Num. 4:4-32; 1 Chron. 25:1-8) This pattern of working together characterized the early Christian congregation under its head, Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul explained that, even though individual anointed Christians had “different gifts” and shared in “different ministries” and “different activities,” all were part of “one body.”—1 Cor. 12:4-6, 12. w16.03 3:1, 2

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, July 8

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

Consider the preaching of the good news that Jesus would have his followers do. The method and the scope of the preaching work were new. In earlier centuries, people of the nations were welcomed when they came to Israel to serve Jehovah. (1 Ki. 8:41-43) That was before Jesus gave the command found in today’s text. Jesus’ disciples were told to “go” to all people. On the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., there was an early evidence of Jehovah’s changed strategy—that of a global evangelizing work. His holy spirit empowered about 120 members of the new congregation to speak miraculously in different tongues to Jews and proselytes. (Acts 2:4-11) Next, the territory expanded to the Samaritans. Then, in the year 36 C.E., it was further expanded to include the world of uncircumcised Gentiles. You might say that the field of preaching enlarged from a “pond” of Jews to an “ocean” of mankind. w16.03 4:12

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, July 9

The things you heard from me . . . , entrust to faithful men.—2 Tim. 2:2.

God’s servants have long understood that training contributes to success. The patriarch Abram “mobilized his trained men” to rescue Lot—and the men succeeded. (Gen. 14:14-16) In King David’s day, the singers for God’s house “were trained in song to Jehovah” and brought praise to God. (1 Chron. 25:7) Today, we are fighting a spiritual war against Satan and his followers. (Eph. 6:11-13) Also, we are exerting ourselves in our effort to bring praise to Jehovah. (Heb. 13:15, 16) Hence, like God’s servants in the past, to be successful we need to be trained. In the congregation, Jehovah entrusts the elders with the responsibility of training others. Before teaching a less experienced brother a set of skills, an elder may discern the need to share some nourishing Scriptural thoughts with him so as to make his heart more responsive to the training he will receive.—1 Tim. 4:6. w15 4/15 2:1, 2

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, July 10

[Jesus will] bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil.—Heb. 2:14.

This does not mean that the Devil kills all people directly. However, his murderous spirit has permeated this world. Moreover, because Eve believed Satan’s lie and Adam disobeyed God, sin and death spread to all mankind. (Rom. 5:12) In that sense, the Devil has had “the means to cause death.” He is what Jesus called him—“a murderer.” (John 8:44) What a powerful enemy we have in Satan! When we oppose Satan, we align ourselves against not only him but all those who side with him in the issue of universal sovereignty. That number includes a sizable group of other spirit rebels, or demons. (Rev. 12:3, 4) Time and again, the demons have demonstrated their superhuman strength, causing great misery to those whom they have tormented. (Matt. 8:28-32;Mark 5:1-5) Never underestimate the power of such wicked angels or that of “the ruler of the demons.” (Matt. 9:34) Without help from Jehovah, we could never win our fight against Satan. w15 5/15 1:6, 7

[Colleen Mansfield-Joiner]

Yes, we should never think we are beyond the reach of Satan or his demons. While we do our utmost to stay in Jehovah's love, Jehovah does expect us to do our part. This includes good associates, frequent prayer, meaningful Bible study and meditation. Then we can fully trust Jehovah will do his protective part.


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