Friday, September 11 Do not loiter at your business. Be aglow with the spirit. Slave for Jehovah.—Rom. 12:11. From the Law that God gave to Israel, we learn about the sort of slavery that Jehovah requires of us. A Hebrew slave was to be granted his freedom in the seventh year of his servitude. However, for a slave who really loved his master and who wished [...]
Thursday, September 10 Their best one is like a brier, their most upright one is worse than a thorn hedge.—Mic. 7:4. Jehovah’s prophet Micah saw conditions in Israel deteriorate spiritually until they became appalling under the rulership of wicked King Ahaz. Micah likens the unfaithful Israelites to “a brier” and “a thorn hedge.” Just as a brier or a thorn hedge injures anyone who walks [...]
Tuesday, September 8 God . . . will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.—Dan. 2:44. The Bible Students spent decades pointing out that the year 1914 would be significant. Many people at that time were optimistic. As one writer states: “The world of 1914 was full of hope and promise.” With the outbreak of World War I later that year, however, Bible prophecy came [...]
Monday, September 7 There is no righteous man on earth who always does good and never sins.—Eccl. 7:20. When we look carefully at ourselves in the mirror of God’s Word and see flaws, even evidences of selfishness, we might become discouraged. If that ever happens to you, reflect on the successful man in James’ illustration. James did not stress how quickly the man fixed the [...]
Sunday, September 6 The armies in heaven were following him on white horses.—Rev. 19:14. Who will be Christ’s fellow warriors making up the heavenly “armies” that follow him into battle? When he first girded on his sword to expel Satan and his demons from heaven, Jesus was accompanied by “his angels.” It seems logical to conclude that at the war of Armageddon, Christ’s armies will include the [...]
Saturday, September 5 Let us not give up in doing what is fine, for in due season we shall reap if we do not tire out.—Gal. 6:9. Do we periodically take the time to reflect on the workings of Jehovah’s organization? Some have chosen to include time in their family worship or personal study to do research on these matters and to meditate on them. The book [...]
Friday, September 4 The very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.—Isa. 9:7. Those words refer to what the rulership of God’s Son will accomplish. They emphasize our heavenly Father’s active interest in the salvation of mankind. Jehovah’s example of zeal clearly indicates that our God-given work as Kingdom proclaimers deserves our wholehearted support, our enthusiasm, our zeal. Our burning desire to help people get to [...]
Monday, August 31 Love, not in word or with the tongue, but in deed and truth.—1 John 3:18. It can be heart-wrenching to realize that your parents, once strong and self-sufficient, are no longer able to look after themselves. Perhaps Mom or Dad has fallen and broken a hip, has become disoriented and wandered off, or has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition. Then there is the [...]
Sunday, August 30 He that is walking with wise persons will become wise.—Prov. 13:20. Working alongside good associates in the ministry builds us up spiritually. For example, most pioneers spend considerable time in the ministry with fellow evangelizers. This provides more opportunities for “an interchange of encouragement.” A pioneer named Lisa observes: “In the workplace, there is often a spirit of competition and jealousy. Daily you are [...]
Saturday, August 29 They lacked nothing. Their very garments did not wear out, and their feet themselves did not become swollen.—Neh. 9:21. Today, Jehovah provides us with everything we need to serve him faithfully. May we never be like the thousands of Israelites who died in the wilderness because of their disobedience and lack of faith. In fact, those things “were written for a warning to us [...]
Daily commentary on examining the Scriptures.