Monday, December 7 The heart is more treacherous than anything else.—Jer. 17:9. The spirit of a sound mind does not mean just going by what we or others think or feel is reasonable or expedient. Our imperfect mind and heart can be like a watch that is going either too fast or too slow. Being guided by it could bring us serious trouble. We need to calibrate [...]
Sunday, December 6 The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.—1 John 5:19. As he did in Eden, Satan also today targets the inexperienced. Young people are a particular favorite for attack. Satan is not happy when a young person, or indeed anyone, volunteers to slave for Jehovah. God’s enemy wants all who dedicate their lives to Jehovah to fail in their devotion and [...]
Saturday, December 5 They will not lift up sword, nation against nation.—Mic. 4:3. Earth wide today, true worshippers of Jehovah have beaten “their swords into plowshares,” and they refuse to “learn war anymore.” Understandably, we want Jehovah to bring an end to this wicked system soon. If we are to wait patiently, though, we need to view matters from Jehovah’s perspective. He has set a day when he [...]
Monday, November 30 Your murmurings are not against us, but against Jehovah.—Ex. 16:8. Jehovah and Jesus are perfect Shepherds. The human undershepherds to whom they entrust the care of the congregations are not. This reality may make it challenging for some to follow the elders’ lead. Such individuals may reason: ‘They are imperfect humans just like us. Why should we listen to their counsel?’ However, we need [...]
Saturday, November 28 This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf.—Luke 22:20. The end was soon coming to the old Law covenant between God and natural-born Israelites. It would be replaced by a new covenant between Jehovah and Jesus’ anointed followers. Jesus was deeply concerned about the welfare of this new spiritual nation. Natural Israel [...]
Friday, November 27 By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one.—Eph. 1:7. Memorializing the Jewish Passover was part of the Mosaic Law, and we are not under the Law. Instead, we hold dear another event, the death of God’s Son. Still, there are features of the Passover observance that was instituted back in Egypt that have meaning for [...]
Wednesday, November 25 Let me tell the next generation about your power and about your mightiness.—Ps. 71:18. As an experienced Christian, you have opportunities that are not open to others. You can pass on to younger ones what you have learned from Jehovah. You can strengthen others by relating experiences you have enjoyed while serving God. King David prayed for opportunities to do so, as shown in [...]
Tuesday, November 24 [Abraham] came to be called Jehovah’s friend.—Jas. 2:23. Jehovah referred to the patriarch and ancestor of the Israelites as “Abraham my friend.” Second Chronicles 20:7 also calls Abraham a friend of God. What was the basis for that faithful man’s enduring friendship with his Creator? It was Abraham’s faith.Like Abraham, the more you learn about Jehovah, the stronger your faith in [...]
Saturday, November 21 O Jehovah, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are our Potter; and all of us are the work of your hand.—Isa. 64:8. A potter has full authority to mold the clay into the type of vessel he wants to make. The clay has no control over the matter. So it is with man and God. The man cannot [...]
Thursday, November 19 The desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin.—Jas. 1:15. In an attempt to break our attachment to God, Satan targets the source of our desires—our heart. By what means does Satan make our heart his target? Satan’s weapons include “the things in the world.” Over thousands of years, the Devil has carefully crafted the environment surrounding us. Since we live in this [...]
Daily commentary on examining the Scriptures.