Monday, December 28 As the clay in the hand of the potter, so you are in my hand, O house of Israel.—Jer. 18:6. What if humans stubbornly refuse to be molded by the Great Potter? Think about what happens to the clay if it becomes unsuited for the intended purpose. Why, the potter can make another type of vessel out of it or simply discard it! When the [...]
Sunday, December 27 He will appoint him over all his belongings.—Matt. 24:47. Those who make up the faithful slave will get this appointment when they receive their heavenly reward, becoming corulers with Christ. Does the faithful slave receive a greater reward in heaven than the rest of the anointed? No. A reward promised to a small group in one setting may ultimately be shared by others. For [...]
Saturday, December 26 The woman saw that the tree was good for food.—Gen. 3:6. Satan may try to appeal to the natural desire for food in an effort to turn us away from doing God’s will. For example, Satan told Eve that she could eat of the fruit of “the tree of the knowledge of good and bad” without having to die, saying that on the day [...]
Friday, December 25 To you, O Jehovah, I raise my very soul. O my God, in you have I put my trust.—Ps. 25:1, 2. What helped David to develop such trust in his heavenly Father? Many people pray to God only when they are in sore straits. David, however, was not like that. His relationship with Jehovah reflected his faith in and love for his God throughout his life—in good [...]
Thursday, December 24 Father, glorify me alongside yourself with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was.—John 17:5. Jesus talks late into the night, imparting to his disciples precious knowledge from God. Then he raises his eyes to heaven and prays: “Father, the hour has come; glorify your son, that your son may glorify you, according as you have given him authority over all [...]
Wednesday, December 23 The twelve were with him.—Luke 8:1. Taking the lead in field service is an area in which overseers set a fine example for their fellow Christians. In this regard, Jesus set the example for overseers. Preaching the good news of the Kingdom was an important part of Jesus’ earthly activity. He showed his disciples how this work was to be done. In our day, [...]
Tuesday, December 22 He is guarding all the bones of that one; not one of them has been broken.—Ps. 34:20. When the lamb was slaughtered for the Passover meal, the Israelites were not to break any of its bones. What of “the Lamb of God” who came to provide the ransom? He was impaled with a criminal on each side. The Jews asked Pilate that the bones [...]
Sunday, December 20 You are my refuge and my stronghold.—Ps. 91:2. Think of the many occasions when God has safeguarded our brothers who were maintaining their Christian neutrality. For example, this was the case during the Nazi era in Germany and other countries in the 1930’s and early 1940’s. Reading and reflecting on life stories and Yearbook accounts of God’s protection during times of persecution will strengthen [...]
This episode considers a varity of questions. What is the significance of the "justaposition" between resurrection of life and resurrection of judgment? Also, questions based upon August 15, 2015, Watchtower article entitled: Keep in Expectation. Paragraph seven states: But how bad do you expect conditions to become before “the great tribulation”? For example, do you expect that there [...]
Friday, December 18 Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord.—Eph. 5:10. Because of our imperfect flesh and the efforts of Satan and this wicked world, we are constantly battling negative influences in our lives. Some of you dear brothers and sisters have a hard fight every day to maintain your relationship with Jehovah. That endears you greatly to him. Do not give up! [...]
