Saturday, October 20 You are . . . “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies” of the One who called you out of darkness.​—1 Pet. 2:9.

[GrumpysWife]

Saturday, October 20

You are . . . “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies” of the One who called you out of darkness.—1 Pet. 2:9.

 

For the first few centuries of our Common Era, many people could read the Bible in either Greek or Latin. They were thus in a position to compare the teachings of God’s Word with the dogmas of the church. On the basis of what they read in the Bible, some among them rejected the unscriptural creeds of the church, but it was dangerous—even fatal—to express such opinions openly. In time, Bible languages fell into disuse by the masses, and the church opposed efforts to translate God’s Word into the common tongues. Any dissent from what the church taught was severely punished. Faithful anointed servants of God had to meet together in discreet groups—if they could meet at all. The anointed “royal priesthood” could not function in an organized way. Babylon the Great held the people in a viselike grip! w16.11 4:8, 10, 11

[LeslieDean]

I appreciate more and more how many ways there actually are that “BtheG” holds people in a viselike grip.  Fear, unscriptural practices, politics, tickeling  of the ears.  But yet Jehovah can still draw people out of these contrary practices. His statement of ‘ Get out of her my people’ shows there are still some of Jehovah’s children, our brothers and sisters, who need help getting out of this viselike grip.  Although I was never involved in church the world and it’s ways held a viselike grip on me.  Still have to fight it.  Easy to trick ourselfs into thinking we have succeeded and let our guard down. Constantly need to hold on to Jehovah’s hand.