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Post by iris89 on May 6, 2010 20:52:39 GMT -5
Do not throw me away in the time of old age; just when my power is failing, do not leave me.—Psalms 71:9.
Showing consideration for the feelings of older ones is essential. It is not unusual for the elderly to be deeply grieved by their inability to accomplish all that they were able to when they were younger and healthier. If you are an older person, have you had such painful feelings? Or are there times when you feel that Jehovah may have abandoned you? The psalmist may have had similar feelings in his later years, for he petitioned Jehovah: “Even until old age and gray-headedness, O God, do not leave me.” (Ps. 71:18) Of course, Jehovah was not about to abandon the composer of that psalm, and He will not abandon you. In another psalm, David expressed his confidence in God’s support. (Ps. 68:19) Rest assured that if you are a faithful elderly Christian, Jehovah is with you and will continue to sustain you day by day.
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Post by iris89 on May 8, 2010 8:21:40 GMT -5
[God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.—Revelation 21:4.
When God’s will is done on earth, people will not get sick or die because of inherited sin and imperfection. The dead in God’s memory will have the opportunity to live forever, for the Bible promises: “There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Acts 24:15) There will be no more war, illness, or hunger, and the earth will be transformed into a paradise. Even animals that are now dangerous will be at peace with humans and with one another. (Ps. 46:9; 72:16; Isa. 11:6-9; 33:24; Luke 23:43) With such marvelous blessings resulting from Kingdom rule, it is no wonder that Bible prophecy speaks of life at that time in these comforting words: “The meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”—Ps. 37:11.
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Post by iris89 on May 9, 2010 9:16:06 GMT -5
Know how you ought to give an answer.—Colossians 4:6.
When Jewish religious leaders interrogated Jesus about the resurrection, he directed their attention to a scripture that they had not taken into account. (Ex. 3:6; Matt. 22:23, 31-33) When a scribe asked him which was the greatest commandment, Jesus quoted appropriate Bible verses to him. (Lev. 19:18; Deut. 6:5; Mark 12:28-34) Jesus’ use of the Scriptures and his way of speaking caused “a division over him . . . among the crowd,” and his opposers could not bring harm to him. (John 7:32-46) When you answer questions about your faith, use the Bible and respond “with a mild temper and deep respect.” (1 Pet. 3:15) If you do not know the answer to a question, admit that fact and offer to do research.
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Post by iris89 on May 10, 2010 7:54:20 GMT -5
And YOU people will again certainly see [the distinction] between a righteous one and a wicked one, between one serving God and one who has not served him. Malachi 3:18.
As you reflect on those words, ask yourself: 'Do I blend in with the world, or do I stand out as different? Do I always strive to fit in with my secular associates, whether at school or at work, or do I remain firm for Bible principles, even speaking up when appropriate?' (1 Peter 3:16). Of course if we are genuine true followers of Jesus (Yeshua), we do not want to appear self-righteous, but we should stand out as different from those who do not love and serve Almighty God (YHWH).
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Post by iris89 on May 10, 2010 7:54:56 GMT -5
And YOU people will again certainly see [the distinction] between a righteous one and a wicked one, between one serving God and one who has not served him. Malachi 3:18.
As you reflect on those words, ask yourself: 'Do I blend in with the world, or do I stand out as different? Do I always strive to fit in with my secular associates, whether at school or at work, or do I remain firm for Bible principles, even speaking up when appropriate?' (1 Peter 3:16). Of course if we are genuine true followers of Jesus (Yeshua), we do not want to appear self-righteous, but we should stand out as different from those who do not love and serve Almighty God (YHWH).
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Post by iris89 on May 11, 2010 9:12:46 GMT -5
Quickly they forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.—Psalms 106:13.
Some may have left God’s flock because they did not agree with some Scriptural teaching. It may be helpful to remind an inactive one that “the faithful and discreet slave” is dispensing excellent spiritual food. (Matt. 24:45) That is how the person originally learned the truth. So why should he not be determined to walk in the truth again? (2 John 4) When endeavoring to help those who have strayed from God’s flock, the elder might refer to the disciples who abandoned Jesus because of rejecting one of his teachings. (John 6:53, 66) By cutting off association with Christ and his faithful followers, they lost their spirituality and their joy. Have those who stopped associating with the Christian congregation found another place where there is rich spiritual food? No, for there is none!
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Post by iris89 on May 11, 2010 9:16:24 GMT -5
Quickly they forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.—Psalms 106:13.
Some may have left God’s flock because they did not agree with some Scriptural teaching. It may be helpful to remind an inactive one that “the faithful and discreet slave” is dispensing excellent spiritual food. (Matt. 24:45) That is how the person originally learned the truth. So why should he not be determined to walk in the truth again? (2 John 4) When endeavoring to help those who have strayed from God’s flock, the elder might refer to the disciples who abandoned Jesus because of rejecting one of his teachings. (John 6:53, 66) By cutting off association with Christ and his faithful followers, they lost their spirituality and their joy. Have those who stopped associating with the Christian congregation found another place where there is rich spiritual food? No, for there is none!
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Post by iris89 on May 12, 2010 11:11:17 GMT -5
An answer, when mild, turns away rage, but a word causing pain makes anger to come up.—Proverbs 15:1.
It takes great strength to be mild when dealing with unjust criticism. Jesus Christ set a perfect example in this. “When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the one who judges righteously.” (1 Pet. 2:23) We cannot expect to do as well as Jesus did in this regard, but can we work at improving the extent to which we show mildness of temper? In imitation of Jesus, may we be “always ready to make a defense” of our beliefs, “doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect.” (1 Pet. 3:15) Yes, our having mildness of temper can prevent differences of opinion from escalating into heated arguments, both with people we meet in our ministry and with fellow believers.—2 Tim. 2:24, 25.
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Post by iris89 on May 13, 2010 7:39:13 GMT -5
Your law is within my inward parts.—Psalms 40:8.
If God’s law is truly within our inward parts, such qualities as faith, hope, and love will be displayed and will help to nourish the marriage bond. (1 Cor. 13:13) A Christian named Sandra, who has been married for 50 years, says: “What I most value in my husband are his spiritual guidance and advice and his love for Jehovah, which is stronger than his love for me.” Husbands, could similar comments be made about you? As a couple, do you keep spiritual matters and Kingdom interests to the fore in life? Moreover, do you truly view your mate as your partner in serving Jehovah? (Gen. 2:24) Wise King Solomon wrote: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their hard work.” (Eccl. 4:9) Indeed, a husband and wife must work hard in order to obtain “a good reward” in the form of a loving and lasting union that has God’s blessing.
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Post by iris89 on May 14, 2010 7:55:10 GMT -5
“You have brought something torn away, and the lame one, and the sick one; yes, you have brought it as a gift. Can I take pleasure in it at your hand?” Jehovah has said.—Malachi 1:13.
Paul admonished fellow believers: “Present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason.” (Rom. 12:1) Those words may have reminded Jewish Christians of the sacrifices that were a feature of their worship before they became followers of Jesus. They would have known that under the Mosaic Law, animals offered on Jehovah’s altar had to be the best available. Anything inferior was unacceptable. (Mal. 1:8) The same is true when we present our bodies ‘a living sacrifice.’ We give Jehovah our best, not merely what is left after we have satisfied all our personal desires. When we dedicate ourselves to God, we unreservedly give him our “souls,” our lives—including our strength, assets, and abilities.—Col. 3:23.
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Post by iris89 on May 15, 2010 11:57:40 GMT -5
Man has dominated man to his injury.—Ecclesiastes 8:9.
Oppression and injustices abound today. Greedy commerce and corrupt rulership may result in harsh economic conditions. Leaders in government, business, and religion often set a poor moral example. Like righteous Lot, therefore, God’s loyal ones today are “greatly distressed by the indulgence of the law-defying people in loose conduct.” (2 Pet. 2:7) Moreover, as we quietly strive to live by godly standards, we often become the target of persecution by arrogant rulers. (2 Tim. 3:1-5, 12) We can be certain, though, of this fundamental truth: Jehovah will not leave his loyal ones! Whatever trials we may face at present, we can be confident that Jehovah will protect us from spiritual harm. (Ps. 97:10) Moreover, Psalm 116:15 assures us: “Precious in the eyes of Jehovah is the death of his loyal ones.” Jehovah’s servants are so precious to him that he will not allow them to perish as a group.
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Post by iris89 on May 16, 2010 7:17:13 GMT -5
O Jehovah our Lord, how majestic your name is in all the earth, you whose dignity is recounted above the heavens!—Psalms 8:1.
In a song that contrasts God’s greatness with man’s littleness, the psalmist David sang the above. From before the creation of “the heavens and the earth” to beyond the grand fulfillment of God’s purpose to make the earth a paradise and raise the human family to perfection—from eternity to eternity—Jehovah God is the most majestic and dignified Personage in the universe. (Gen. 1:1; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 21:1-5) How the God-fearing psalmist must have been touched when he beheld the quiet grandeur of the starry night sky, studded with glistening “jewels”! Filled with wonder at how God ‘has stretched out the heavens like a tent cloth,’ the psalmist represented Jehovah as clothed in dignity because of His magnificent creative skill. (Ps. 104:1, 2) The dignity and splendor of the invisible, almighty Creator are evident in his visible works.
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Post by iris89 on May 17, 2010 7:46:45 GMT -5
But he said to them: "Also to other cities I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this I was sent forth." Luke 4:43.
Why did Jesus make Almighty God's (YHWH's) the main theme of his ministry? He knew that he himself as King of that Kingdom, along with his resurrected spirit-begottne brothers, would deal with the root causes of mankind's woes - sin and the Devil. (Romans 5:12, Revelation 20:10). Hence, he commanded his followers to proclaim that Kingdom until the culmination of the present system of things. (Matthew 24:14). People who merely profess to be followers of Christ do not engage in this work - in fact, they cannot. Why? For at least three reasons: First, they cannot preach what they do not understand. Second, most of them lack the humility and courage needed to face the ridicule and opposition that may result from sharing the Kingdom message. (Matthew 24:9, 1 Peter 2:23). And third, false Christians do not have God's spirit. - John 14:16-17.
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Post by iris89 on May 18, 2010 11:32:58 GMT -5
Search through me, O God, and know my heart. Examine me, and know my disquieting thoughts, and see whether there is in me any painful way, and lead me in the way of time indefinite.—Psalms 139:23, 24.
On a day-to-day basis, people think about their appearance, their health, the challenges of making a living, the ups and downs of their friendships, perhaps even romance. We may give such concerns considerable attention. What, though, particularly matters to Jehovah as he searches through our heart? It is our integrity. Jehovah, the Giver of “every good gift and every perfect present,” has bestowed on each of us a variety of gifts. (Jas. 1:17) Thanks to him, we have such gifts as a body, a mind, a measure of health, and various abilities. (1 Cor. 4:7) However, Jehovah does not simply force us to display integrity. He lets us choose for ourselves whether we will develop this quality.—Deut. 30:19.
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Post by iris89 on May 19, 2010 5:43:38 GMT -5
"But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36
In the above scripture, Messiah declares that only the father knows the day or hour. Trinitarian's have difficulty explaining this particular verse, since this verse would propose that the other two persons within the trinity wouldn't know the day or hour. What this infers is that one part of God has more knowledge than the other two parts. Since the trinity teaches that the three persons within the Godhead are equal in knowledge, their doctrine is shattered just by this verse alone.
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