Friday, February 19 The word of God is alive and exerts power.—Heb. 4:12. You never know how people will react to a well-chosen scripture. For instance, two Witnesses in Australia knocked on a young woman’s door. One of them asked her, “Do you know God’s name?” and then read one scripture—Psalm 83:18. “I was floored!” the woman says. “After they left, I drove 35 miles (56 km) to a [...]
Thursday, February 18 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.—2 Chron. 16:9. Before becoming a Witness, one brother enjoyed the immoral atmosphere of the dance parties he frequented. But after learning the truth, he has completely avoided dancing even at Witness gatherings for fear of awakening improper desires or [...]
Wednesday, February 17 Love never fails.—1 Cor. 13:8. Genuine love is not easily provoked and “does not keep account of the injury.” Were we to hold a grudge, we would not be pleasing God and would, in effect, be tending a smoldering fire that could flare up, harming us and others. Love makes us rejoice with the truth, but it will not allow us to “rejoice over unrighteousness,” [...]
Sunday, February 14 Well done, good and faithful slave!—Matt. 25:21. In the four illustrations recorded at Matthew 24:45 to 25:46, Jesus highlights traits that would distinguish his true followers in these last days. In the illustration involving the faithful slave, Jesus highlights the need for the small group of anointed ones entrusted with feeding his domestics during the last days to be faithful and discreet. In the [...]
Saturday, February 13 The crowds were astounded at his way of teaching.—Matt. 7:28. Jesus used good judgment when he preached the good news, choosing “gracious words” that amazed his listeners. He often let God’s Word speak for him—reading, quoting, or referring to just the right scriptures to make his point. Jesus also explained the Scriptures, doing so in ways that moved the hearts of his listeners. After his resurrection, [...]
Thursday, February 11 He was raised up.—Matt. 28:6. That the dead could live again was not a new concept to Jesus’ apostles; resurrections had occurred before they were born. They knew that God had empowered the prophets Elijah and Elisha to perform such miracles. A dead man had even come to life when his body was thrown into a grave and it touched the bones of Elisha. Very [...]
Wednesday, February 10 Happy are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear.—Matt. 13:16. Why were Jesus’ disciples able to understand when others were not? Because they were willing to search for the real meaning behind Jesus’ words, build on what they had already accepted, and use what they had heard in their personal lives and in helping others. If we want to [...]
Tuesday, February 9 Did God really say that you must not eat from every tree?—Gen. 3:1. After preparing our beautiful planet for human habitation, Jehovah issued three decrees regarding humans: Our God would create mankind in his image, humans were to expand Paradise globally and fill the earth with righteous offspring, and humans were prohibited from eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and bad. After [...]
Monday, February 8 We do not wage warfare according to what we are in the flesh.—2 Cor. 10:3. True Christians, who have their conscience trained by the Bible, do not learn war or participate in warfare. As a result of holding to this Christian position, thousands of Witnesses, young and old, male and female, have been persecuted. Many have suffered in forced-labor camps and prisons. During the Nazi [...]
Sunday, February 7 Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin.—Rom. 5:12. Both Adam and Eve sinned, but Adam was held responsible for their wrongdoing. The first human pair were led to think that they did not need Jehovah as their Ruler. That raised this vital question of sovereignty: Who has the right to rule? To provide an answer for all eternity, God [...]
Daily commentary on examining the Scriptures.