Examining the Scriptures Daily - 2017

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, August 2

May Jehovah be between you and me and between your offspring and my offspring forever.—1 Sam. 20:42.

Loyalty is almost universally admired. However, we would miss a vital lesson if we were to admire Jonathan’s loyalty to David without taking into account his loyalty to God. Why did Jonathan view David as a friend rather than a rival? Loyalty to God had first place in Jonathan’s heart. Indeed, loyalty to Jehovah was the very basis for his loyalty to David. And both men loyally lived up to their sworn oath. As Christians, we do not merely admire loyalty in others; we ourselves are loyal to family members, friends, and fellow worshippers. (1 Thess. 2:10, 11) But what loyalty should take first place in our heart? Why, it is loyalty to the One who gave us life! (Rev. 4:11) Maintaining that loyalty gives us true joy and satisfaction. But if we are to prove loyal to God, we must stick to him even through difficult trials. w16.02 3:3, 4

[Tbs77]

Nun ya!

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[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, August 3

Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself.—Dan. 1:8.

A mature young person is stable in his convictions. He does not act like a friend of God at the Kingdom Hall but a friend of the world at school. He remains unmovable even during tests of faith. (Eph. 4:14, 15) Of course, no one is perfect; young people as well as adults make mistakes from time to time. (Eccl. 7:20) Still, as you are considering baptism, it would be wise to analyze to what extent you are resolved in your heart to stick to Jehovah’s standards. Ask yourself, ‘What is my track record of adhering to God’s standards?’ Give thought to the way you have reacted to recent tests of faith. Have you demonstrated that you have the discernment needed to distinguish right from wrong? What if, like Daniel, you are treated as special by someone in Satan’s world? Are you able to “keep perceiving what the will of Jehovah is” even when God’s will conflicts with what you are tempted to do?—Eph. 5:17. w16.03 1:7-9

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, August 4

Those days will be days of a tribulation such as has not occurred from the beginning of the creation that God created until that time.—Mark 13:19.

We are living in what the Bible calls “the last days,” and straight ahead is a tribulation like nothing that has occurred before. (2 Tim. 3:1) Furthermore, Satan and his demons have been cast out of heaven and are confined to the vicinity of the earth, resulting in intense woe for earth’s inhabitants. (Rev. 12:9, 12) We have been commissioned to carry out a historic and unprecedented preaching campaign that is reaching peoples and language groups as never before! To keep receiving God’s blessing, we need to pay attention to all the directions provided through the Christian congregation. Having an obedient spirit now will help us to follow directions during the “great tribulation,” which will eliminate Satan’s entire evil system. (Matt. 24:21) Thereafter, we will need new directions for new world living. w16.03 4:16, 18

[CourageousMan]

What do we learn from today's daily text?

[moosic]

53 minutes ago, propy12 said:

What do we learn from today's daily text?

Listen to all, and every,  direction from Jehovah through his organisation! 

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, August 5

Locusts came out of the smoke.—Rev. 9:3.

Toward the end of the first century C.E., the apostle John received a vision of seven angels, each of whom sounded a trumpet blast. When the fifth angel blew his trumpet, John saw “a star” fall from heaven to earth. The “star” had a key in his hand with which he opened the shaft of an abyss. Thick smoke poured out, and from this came a plague of locusts. Rather than ravage vegetation, the symbolic locusts swarm against “those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” (Rev. 9:1-4) John no doubt knew how devastating a locust swarm could be. Had not locusts plagued ancient Egypt in Moses’ day? (Ex. 10:12-15) The figurative locusts that John saw well illustrate anointed Christians proclaiming Jehovah’s powerful judgment messages. They are joined now by millions of companions with an earthly hope. Little wonder that our united preaching undermines the authority Satan exercises through his worldwide empire of false religion! w16.03 3:3

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, August 6

Open my eyes so that I may see clearly the wonderful things from your law.—Ps. 119:18.

To determine to what extent a less experienced brother’s thoughts and actions are influenced by Kingdom truth, an elder might ask him, ‘How has your dedication to Jehovah changed the way you use your life?’ That question can lead to a meaningful conversation about what makes our sacred service whole-souled. (Mark 12:29, 30) Perhaps at the end of such a conversation, he might say a prayer, asking Jehovah to give the brother the holy spirit he needs to complete his training. How upbuilding it will be for the brother to hear the elder’s heartfelt prayer in his behalf! In the initial phase of training, an elder could consider some Bible accounts that might help the learner to see the need to be willing, reliable, and humble. (1 Ki. 19:19-21; Neh. 7:2; 13:13;Acts 18:24-26) Such qualities are as essential to the learner as nutrients are to the soil. They quicken his spiritual growth and serve to ‘open his eyes’ to “the wonderful things” in God’s Word. w15 4/15 2:3, 4

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, August 7

Draw close to God.—Jas. 4:8.

Having regular communication with Jehovah is a vital part of drawing close to him. How can you communicate with God? You talk to Jehovah by means of your frequent prayers to him. (Ps. 142:2) And you allow Jehovah to talk to you, as it were, when you regularly read his written Word and meditate on it. (Isa. 30:20, 21) When you are specific in your prayers, you become more keenly aware of Jehovah’s answers, even though they may be subtle. Answered prayers will make Jehovah more real to you. In addition, the more you express your innermost concerns to Jehovah, the closer he will draw to you. Developing a closer relationship with Jehovah is a lifetime pursuit. We must take steps to draw close to God if we want him to take corresponding action toward us. By all means, then, let us remain in regular communication with our God by means of Bible study and prayer. As a result, our ever-growing relationship with Jehovah will enable us to meet our trials successfully. w15 4/15 3:3, 14, 16

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, August 8

Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.—1 Pet. 5:8.

How well this text describes Satan’s vicious disposition! Although the whole world already lies in his power, Satan is hungry for more victims. Satan is intent on devouring Jehovah’s people. The waves of persecution he has unleashed against Jesus’ followers from the first century until now give evidence of his vicious spirit. A famished lion feels no pity for its prey. It feels no compassion before the kill and experiences no remorse afterward. In a similar way, Satan has shown no pity for those whom he tries to devour. For example, think about how often Satan the Devil must have been lurking somewhere when the Israelites succumbed to such sins as sexual immorality and greed. When you read about the tragic consequences that befell immoral Zimri and greedy Gehazi, for instance, can you “see” the roaring lion reveling in his conquest?—Num. 25:6-8, 14, 15;2 Ki. 5:20-27. w15 5/15 1:8, 9

[Antz12]

A good reminder that Satan never has pity for his prey, his had none whatsoever. We must be careful not to fooled.


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[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, August 9

Oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you.—Jas. 4:7.

How can we fight Satan and win? Jesus told his disciples: “By your endurance you will preserve your lives.” (Luke 21:19) Nothing that any human can do will cause us permanent harm. Nobody can take away our precious friendship with God unless we allow that to happen. (Rom. 8:38, 39) Even the death of Jehovah’s servants does not score a victory for Satan, for Jehovah will see to it that they are resurrected! (John 5:28, 29) On the other hand, Satan’s prospects are bleak indeed. After the destruction of his ungodly system, Satan will be abyssed for 1,000 years. (Rev. 20:1-3) At the end of Jesus’ Thousand Year Reign, Satan will be “released from his prison” for a short time to make a final attempt to mislead perfect mankind. After that, the Devil will be destroyed. (Rev. 20:7-10) Satan faces certain doom, but that is not true of you! Take your stand against Satan, firm in the faith. (1 Pet. 5:9) You can fight Satan and win! w15 5/15 2:1, 18

[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, August 10

The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself, but the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.—Prov. 22:3.

A shrewd person realizes that contemplation can be like a fire. If fire is handled properly, it can be useful, such as when it cooks our food. But fire is deadly when it is uncontrolled and burns down a house and kills its occupants. Similarly, contemplation is useful when it helps us to imitate Jehovah. However, it can be harmful when it feeds immoral desires. For example, if we make it a practice to think about sinful actions, this could lead to our acting out such fantasies. Indeed, indulging in immoral reverie can be spiritually deadly! (Jas. 1:14, 15) Jesus warned against entertaining mental images of immoral conduct. He said: “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.”—Matt. 5:28. w15 5/15 4:11, 12, 14

[katielou]

Immoral fantasies harmful

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[GrumpysWife]

Friday, August 11

I was especially fond of the sons of men.—Prov. 8:31.

Woven throughout the fabric of Jesus’ preaching tours were evidences of his genuine concern for the human family. In one instance, Jesus encountered a pitiful sight. (Mark 1:39, 40) Right in front of him was a man with a frightful disease, leprosy. Testifying to the advanced stage of the man’s illness, physician Luke describes him as being “full of leprosy.” (Luke 5:12) “When he caught sight of Jesus, [the leper] fell facedown and begged him: ‘Lord, if you just want to, you can make me clean.’” The man had no doubt that Jesus possessed the power to heal him, but what he needed to know was, did Jesus have the desire to do so? How would Jesus respond to this heartfelt request? Jesus stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and with a voice reflecting both strength and tenderness, he said: “I want to! Be made clean.” Then “the leprosy vanished from him.” (Luke 5:13) Yes, Jesus demonstrated how much he loved people.—Luke 5:17. w15 6/15 2:3-5

[Colleen Mansfield-Joiner]

How perfectly Jesus mirrors his father Jehovah. Though both can read hearts, they see in each individual the need for confirmation. How loving this expression of Jesus was toward this very ill man. And how that must have drawn him to Jesus all the more! Further, what a witness he likely gave to any of this contemporaries thereafter!


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[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, August 12

Whoever isolates himself . . . rejects all practical wisdom.—Prov. 18:1.

Courageously placing ourselves under the kindly scrutiny of a mature Christian may prevent us from rationalizing any wrong desires. (Heb. 3:12, 13) Talking about our weakness with a mature, spiritually qualified Christian may help us to identify blind spots. This can help us to make the necessary adjustments in order to remain in Jehovah’s love. Christian elders are especially qualified to help us. (Jas. 5:13-15) Seeking assistance is essential if the source of any immoral desires is the unclean habit of viewing pornography. The longer the delay in seeking help, the greater the risk that unclean desires will ‘become fertile and give birth to sin’ that will hurt others and bring reproach on Jehovah’s name. The desire to please Jehovah and to remain in the Christian congregation has moved many of his servants to accept loving help.—Jas. 1:15; Ps. 141:5; Heb. 12:5, 6. w15 6/15 3:15-17

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, August 13

In that day each of the prophets will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; and they will not wear an official garment of hair in order to deceive.—Zech. 13:4.

Will the destruction of the religions of Babylon the Great result in the death of all the former members of those religions? Apparently not. Some of the clergy will abandon their religious course and deny that they were ever part of those false religions. (Zech. 13:5, 6) How will God’s people fare at that time? Jesus explains: “In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.” (Matt. 24:22) In 66 C.E., the tribulation was “cut short.” This allowed “the chosen ones,” anointed Christians, to flee the city and its environs. Likewise, the initial part of the future great tribulation will be “cut short” because of “the chosen ones.” The political “ten horns” will not be allowed to annihilate God’s people. (Rev. 17:16) Rather, there will be a brief respite. w15 7/15 2:5, 6

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, August 14

The Tempter approached.—Matt. 4:3.

It is up to each individual whether he will allow himself to be brought into temptation or not. (Matt. 6:13; Jas. 1:13-15) For his part, Jesus immediately rejected each temptation from the Devil by the use of a relevant quotation from God’s Word. Thus, Jesus upheld God’s rightful sovereignty. But Satan did not give up. He waited “until another convenient time.” (Luke 4:13) Jesus continued to resist all of Satan’s efforts to break his integrity. However, Satan attempts to ensnare Jesus’ followers, including you. Because of the ongoing issue regarding God’s sovereignty, Jehovah allows the Tempter to use this world to tempt us. God is not bringing us into temptation. On the contrary, he has confidence in us and he wants to help us. Out of respect for our free will, though, Jehovah does not automatically prevent us from falling into temptation. We have to do two things—remain spiritually awake and persist in prayer. w15 6/15 5:13, 14

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, August 15

In no way are we giving any cause for stumbling, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.—2 Cor. 6:3.

Christians have to train their mind and conscience to respond appropriately when neutrality-related issues arise. (Rom. 14:19) Take, for example, Mirjeta from a region of the former Yugoslavia. She was raised to hate Serbians. On learning that Jehovah is impartial and that Satan is responsible for inciting ethnic problems, she strove to rid herself of nationalistic sentiments. Yet, when ethnic violence broke out in her area, old hatreds began to resurface in her, causing Mirjeta to find it difficult to preach to Serbs. She realized, though, that she could not just sit back and hope that such unwholesome feelings would go away. She begged Jehovah for help to overcome this challenge. “I have found that focusing on the ministry is the best help ever,” she says. “In the ministry, I try to imitate Jehovah’s loving personality, and I have seen my negative feelings melt away.” w15 7/15 3:11-13

[Antz12]

We need to remember satan is always watching, just waiting for an opportunity. Try to never give him one. Don't give up.


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[Paa Yaw]

Personality traits, cultural mindsets and prejudices can all be deeply entrenched in us....a disease that t is difficult to overcome even though we know Jah disapproves of such thoughts n behaviours. In my country for Instance I know of brothers n sisters who are still against their children marrying from certain tribes. When something takes over our mind...it becomes very difficult to take it out. How happy to know that Jehovah is ready to help us root out these thoughts n behaviours.

[Tbs77]

Clay not mixing with clay... Let alone not with iron... Fight the fine fight brothers and sisters in Charlottesville, VA and the rest of the world!

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[Tia]

Brother Tracey,

 

My sentiments exactly!

[NSSewer]

This is a timely text in light of what's happening around the world and in the southern states in the US. I always love when Jehovah uses his foreknowledge in our behalf.  It is wonderful because it gives you a kind of physical hope that we have not been abandoned and he is working diligently for all issues concerning his name.