Examining the Scriptures Daily - 2017

[Colleen Mansfield-Joiner]

I've heard that our current Bible (guidelines for this system) will also be available for reference in conjunction with the new scrolls which will specifically meant for life in the new system. I love that Jehovah never leaves us guessing about anything. However, as we learn and apply new things then and reference lessons learned from our past, let's never forget to remember from our heart so that we may pass the test of obedience at the end of the thousand year reign of Christ and forever continue to experience the reason for Jehovah's sovereinty!


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[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, September 6

You are my hope, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah; I have trusted in you since my youth.—Ps. 71:5.

Experienced elders stress the importance of beginning to train brothers when they are young—in their early teens—by giving them assignments in the congregation that fit their age. Such early training will help young ones to keep their eyes on spiritual goals when they reach the late teens and are bombarded with many distractions. (Ps. 71:17) An elder will also stimulate a learner’s desire to serve by explaining to him not only what to do but also why to do it. By giving reasons, elders will be imitating the Great Teacher, Jesus. For example, before giving his apostles the commission to make disciples, Jesus gave them a reason why they should obey. He stated: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.” Then he added: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations.”—Matt. 28:18, 19. w15 4/15 2:5, 6

[Sophy]

Yes. It is not just about telling them what to do but also includes telling them WHY they should. Instructions and training stick better into the subconscious when reasons are given. 

[Colleen Mansfield-Joiner]

While today's text speaks primarily about younger brothers being trained to serve the congregation (and I wholeheartedly agree that this is necessary), we can all encourage all young and other ones - male and female - to serve the congregation with joy. When we invite various ones to work with us in the field ministry, for example, and share our experiences at the doors with others in our car group afterwards, this can be a real source of encouragement for all. This was my delightful experience in service this morning.


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[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, September 7

The Lord stood near me and infused power into me, . . . and I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.—2 Tim. 4:17.

It was a dangerous time to be a Christian in Rome. Blamed for setting fire to the city in 64 C.E., Christ’s followers were objects of intense hostility. It was likely in this volatile situation that the apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome for the second time. Would other Christians come to his aid? Paul may have had some initial concerns in that regard, for he wrote to Timothy: “In my first defense no one came to my side, but they all forsook me.” (2 Tim. 4:16) Even so, Paul acknowledged that he had not been entirely without help. He trusted that Jehovah would fortify him to endure his present trials and any future difficulties that might arise. In fact, he immediately went on to say: “The Lord will rescue me from every wicked work.” (2 Tim. 4:18) Yes, Paul had learned that even when human assistance is limited, the help that Jehovah and his Son provide is real! w15 4/15 4:1-3

[garryspicer]

Nothing has changed regarding Satan's efforts plus our own human weaknesses. However there is Jehovah and Jesus his son, our king, 2 Chronicles 16:9  For the eyes of Jehovah are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him................................

What comfort the word of Jehovah can give us.

[Colleen Mansfield-Joiner]

I wholeheartedly agree that Jehovah's reliable support is comforting in times of distress and, in fact, always! However, this is a sobering reminder that we need to consider each other to maintain our strength of faith as well.


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[GrumpysWife]

Friday, September 8

He will crush your head.—Gen. 3:15.

When Jesus was born, Satan knew that this newborn child would grow up to become the promised Messiah. Would Satan reason that taking the life of a baby was going too far? Satan has no noble code of ethics. And with regard to the child Jesus, Satan did not hesitate to act. How? King Herod was greatly upset when astrologers inquired about “the one born king of the Jews,” and he was determined to kill him. (Matt. 2:1-3,13) To make sure that the job was done, he ordered the execution of all boys two years of age and younger who were living in Bethlehem and its districts. (Matt. 2:13-18) Jesus escaped death in that unimaginable slaughter, but what does this tell us about our enemy Satan? It is evident that the Devil places no value on human life. He certainly does not have a soft spot for children. Satan truly is “a roaring lion.” (1 Pet. 5:8) Never underestimate his vicious disposition! w15 5/15 1:10, 12, 13

[Kristian]

We sure should never underestimate him, but neither should we fear him

[Spechellekaye]

We are all on Satan's radar, especially our young ones. He will take every set back or struggle we have, to take the opportunity to chew us up and spit us out. That's why we must heed the fine counsel in God's Word and the direction from our elders, given by the faithful and discreet slave without hesitation. Why? Because we want to be obedient to Jehovah's arrangement and it could cost us our lives. We know that SOON, in his time, Jehovah will solve this problem. 
Have a great day!❤️

[Spechellekaye]

We may at times feel that we are alone when we are facing certain situations. As humans, we can only offer and give each other so much. If we have faith and trust in Jehovah and Jesus, we will realize there is no greater support and strength that we can get than from our loving Father. Jehovah will not forsake his faithful servants. 
Have a great day!❤️

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, September 9

They did not receive the fulfillment of the promises; but they saw them from a distance.—Heb. 11:13.

Our ability to form mental pictures of things we have not seen is a gift from God. It allows us to make wise plans and to look forward to good things. Jehovah can foresee future events, and in the Scriptures he often tells us ahead of time what will happen. We may be able to form mental pictures of what will occur. In fact, our ability to conceive of unseen things helps us to exercise faith. (2 Cor. 4:18) When Hannah spent time thinking about what it would be like when she took her son Samuel to serve at the tabernacle, she had a basis for her mental picture. It was based on what she had resolved to do, and this helped her to focus on her objective. (1 Sam. 1:22) If we visualize what God has promised to do, we are thinking about something that will definitely happen. (2 Pet. 1:19-21) No doubt, many faithful people of Bible times formed mental pictures of things God had promised. w15 5/15 3:1-3

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, September 10

The wealth of the rich . . . is like a protective wall in his imagination.—Prov. 18:11.

It is a dangerous fantasy to imagine oneself becoming very wealthy while paying little attention to God. Jesus related a story to illustrate the sad state of a person “who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21) Jehovah rejoices when we do things that please him. (Prov. 27:11) How happy we are when we have his approval because we have stored up “treasures in heaven”! (Matt. 6:20) And a good relationship with Jehovah is unquestionably the most valuable treasure we can have. Imagine the extent of our anxiety if we were consumed by efforts to store up “treasures on the earth.” (Matt. 6:19) Jesus used an illustration to show that “the anxiety of this system of things and the deceptive power of riches” can choke the word of the Kingdom.—Matt. 13:18, 19, 22. w15 5/15 4:15, 16

[dove]

The recent disasters, indeed, any disasters where people lose all their possessions, shows how little these treasures on earth mean in contrast with our life. And if we didn't then have treasures stored up in heaven, really what are we left with? This is going to be the situation in the near future. Jehovah is giving us time now to store up treasures with him, by gaining his approval..

 

I like the sentence, 'and a good relationship with Jehovah is unquestionably the most valuable treasure we can have'.

 

[GrumpysWife]

Monday, September 11

The crowd felt amazement as they saw the speechless speaking and the maimed being made sound and the lame walking and the blind seeing.—Matt. 15:31.

God’s power enabled Jesus Christ to perform a wide variety of astounding miracles. He cured not only leprosy but also every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity among the people. To perform such acts of compassion, Jesus needed no organ donors for transplants. He healed the very organs or body parts that were afflicted! And he healed people instantly, sometimes even from a distance. (John 4:46-54) What do these amazing examples show? That Jesus, now enthroned as heavenly King, has not only the power but also the desire to bring about permanent healing. Learning about the way Jesus treated people gives us confidence that in the new world, the Bible prophecy will be fulfilled: “He will have pity on the lowly and the poor.” (Ps. 72:13) Yes, Jesus will then act on his heart’s desire to help all afflicted ones. w15 6/15 2:6

[Spechellekaye]

When Jesus performed these miracles it demonstrated what he will do in the future for obedient mankind. Soon, Jesus will use his power as King to bring an end to all suffering. So if we exercise faith in him by obeying him, we can enjoy life in a paradise on earth. Have a great day!❤️DGU

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, September 12

Let your name be sanctified.—Matt. 6:9.

Many people can recite the Lord’s Prayer from memory. In our door-to-door ministry, we often refer to this prayer to help householders understand that God’s Kingdom is a real government that is going to bring wonderful changes to our earth. Or we may refer to the first request in the prayer to show that God has a personal name, which is to be sanctified, or “treated as holy.” (Matt. 6:9, ftn.) Did Jesus intend that this prayer be repeated word for word every time we pray, as is done by many in Christendom? No. Just before Jesus provided this prayer as a pattern, he said: “When praying, do not say the same things over and over again.” (Matt. 6:7) On a later occasion, he restated this prayer but used different wording. (Luke 11:1-4) Thus Jesus helped us know what sort of things we need to ask for and in what order of importance. Hence, it is fitting to call it the model prayer. w15 6/15 4:1, 2

[GrumpysWife]

Wednesday, September 13

Let the one who thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.—1 Cor. 10:12.

Jehovah gives us his powerful holy spirit, which can strengthen us and help us to resist temptation. God also forewarns us through his Word and the congregation about situations that we must avoid, such as spending excessive time, money, and energy on nonessential material things. Former pioneers Espen and Janne have two children to care for. “We often pray to Jehovah,” says Espen, “that we may not fall into temptation now that we are unable to spend as much time as we previously did in theocratic activities. We ask Jehovah to help us maintain our spirituality and zeal for the ministry.” Another temptation that has come to the fore in modern times is the viewing of pornography. Some have given in to this temptation by allowing their minds to dwell on what is bad. But we can resist, even as thousands of our brothers have done.—1 Cor. 10:13. w15 6/15 5:15, 16

[Antz12]

Wednesday, September 13

Let the one who thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.—1 Cor. 10:12.

Former pioneers Espen and Janne have two children to care for. “We often pray to Jehovah,” says Espen, “that we may not fall into temptation now that we are unable to spend as much time as we previously did in theocratic activities. We ask Jehovah to help us maintain our spirituality and zeal for the ministry.” 1 Cor. 10:13. w15 6/15 5:15, 16

Gosh that is such good real practice advice. Thank you Jehovah.


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[GrumpysWife]

Thursday, September 14

The kings of the earth, the high officials, the military commanders, the rich, the strong, every slave, and every free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.—Rev. 6:15.

What will happen after the destruction of false religious organizations? It will be a time to reveal what is really in our heart. The majority of mankind will seek refuge in human organizations that are likened to “the rocks of the mountains.” Figuratively speaking, however, God’s people will flee to the refuge that Jehovah provides. In the first century, the interval was not a time for a mass conversion of Jews to Christianity. It was a time for action and obedience on the part of those who were already Christians. Similarly, we cannot expect that the future interruption in the great tribulation will result in an influx of new believers. Rather, it will be an opportunity for all true believers to prove their love for Jehovah and give their support to Christ’s brothers.—Matt. 25:34-40. w15 7/15 2:7

[Spechellekaye]

After the destruction of false religion then time for preaching will have passed. It will be time to reveal what's in our heart. We must be willing to leave behind possessions and endure hardships in order to survive and maintain our loyalty to Jehovah. That's why it's so important now for us to build our faith and be obedient to those taking the lead. 

 

[GrumpysWife]

Friday, September 15

It is agreeable when someone endures hardship and suffers unjustly because of conscience toward God.—1 Pet. 2:19.

Has your upbringing or environment exposed you to national or regional loyalties? Do any such feelings still linger in your heart? Christians should not allow nationalistic fervor to taint their view of others. But what if you realize that you do have negative thoughts toward people of other nations, cultures, languages, or races? Then it would certainly be profitable to meditate on how Jehovah views nationalism and prejudice. Researching these and related topics may prove to be a worthwhile project. Then petition Jehovah for help to embrace his point of view on these matters. (Rom. 12:2) We should do this because sooner or later, all of Jehovah’s servants will find themselves in situations in which their conscience obliges them to stand out as different from those around them—whether colleagues, classmates, neighbors, relatives, or others. Yet, stand out we must! w15 7/15 3:14, 15

[Milele]

We always need reminders don't we friends?  In this case we're reminded that nationalism, prejudice and other forms of exclusionary behavior/attitude has no place in Jehovah's organization.  Yet, here's a reminder. Why?  Because as imperfect humans, these traits can manifest themselves even as we strive to serve and please Jehovah.  However, Jehovah always provides a way to address our imperfections.  In this case providing the Bible-based publication to better understand these maladies and, of course, asking for Jehovah's help by way of supplication.

 

This is a model to address our sinful human condition.  It helps us better understand our particular issue(s) by research and builds our faith in Jehovah as we ask for his help to "embrace " his direction through prayer.

 

These reminders helps us appreciate that we are very far from perfection.  It also affords us a faith-strengthening opportunity to "be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Rom 12:2).

 

I am so very grateful that we have Jehovah's guidance by-way-of the faithful slave that, when the time comes,  I trust that I will be able to "stand-up and stand out!

 

Milele

 

 

 

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, September 16

Jonah prayed to Jehovah his God from the belly of the fish.—Jonah 2:1.

Jehovah hears our pleas and understands us even when no one else does. His response to our prayers is a beautiful expression of his enduring love for us. We can learn much from prayers recorded in God’s Word. At times, therefore, we may find it very beneficial to consider such prayers during family worship. Reflecting on how Jehovah’s servants of the past expressed their deepest thoughts to God may help us to enrich our own prayers. For instance, consider Jonah’s contrite prayer from the belly of a huge fish. (Jonah 1:17–2:10) Review Solomon’s heartfelt prayer to Jehovah at the inauguration of the temple. (1 Ki. 8:22-53) Meditate on the model prayer that Jesus offered for our benefit. (Matt. 6:9-13) Above all, regularly “let your petitions be made known to God.” As a result, “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers.”—Phil. 4:6, 7. w15 8/15 1:11, 12

[GrumpysWife]

Sunday, September 17

Be submissive.—Heb. 13:17.

It will be a pleasure to be under Jehovah’s arrangements in the new world as we work toward beautifying the earth, teaching resurrected ones, and doing Jehovah’s will for mankind. But what if we were directed to perform a particular aspect of the work that did not appeal to us? Would we submit to that direction by doing our best to carry out and even enjoy our assignment? Most of us would answer yes! Consistently, then, are we submitting to theocratic direction now? If we are doing so, we are preparing for everlasting life under Jehovah’s rulership. We can prepare for life in the new world not only by submitting to Jehovah’s present-day arrangements but also by working now to cultivate contentment and a spirit of cooperation. If we cooperate with those taking the lead today, perhaps finding contentment and joy in new assignments of service, we are likely to have the same attitude in the new world. w15 8/15 3:6, 7