Scripture of the Day:

[iris89]

John 10:36 can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, "I am God's Son'?

The Father sent Jesus (Yeshua)into the world. How can the Father send his son into the world if he was from only the world? It is clear Jesus (Yeshua) was in heaven with the Father as his own individual. The Father sent his Son to the world to lead us to righteousness and to die for us, and many other reasons.

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A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented it in signs through him to his slave John.—Revelation 1:1.

The apostle John is a fine example of faithfulness despite changed circumstances and advanced age. After serving God for close to 70 years, John was exiled to the isle of Patmos “for speaking about God and bearing witness to Jesus.” (Rev. 1:9) Yet, his work was not finished. In fact, all the writings in the Bible that were penned by John were written in the final years of his life. While on Patmos, he was given the awe-inspiring vision of Revelation, which he carefully put down in writing. (Rev. 1:2) It is generally thought that he was released from exile during the reign of Roman Emperor Nerva. Thereafter, by about 98 C.E., when he was probably 90 or 100 years of age, John wrote the Gospel and the three epistles bearing his name.

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They must become one flesh.—Genesis 2:24.

When a man marries, he leaves his father and his mother, and much the same can be said of a woman. Still, the divine guidance to honor one’s father and mother comes with no time limit. So even after a couple marry, they will likely spend some time with their parents and in-laws. One husband, married for 25 years, notes: “At times, it is difficult to balance the various wishes and needs of one’s mate with those of one’s parents, siblings, and in-laws. In deciding how best to act, I have found Genesis 2:24 helpful. One owes loyalty to and has responsibilities toward other family members, yet this verse showed me that loyalty to my spouse takes precedence.” Accordingly, Christian parents who are yielding will respect that their married children are now in a family unit in which the husband is principally responsible for guiding that family.

[iris89]

God is for us a refuge and strength, a help that is readily to be found during distresses.—Psalms 46:1.

How does God provide that help? Jehovah may maneuver matters to remove our adversity, or he may give us the strength we need to endure it. (1 Cor. 10:13) Either way, we are helped. How can we avail ourselves of that help? Notice what we are counseled to do: “Throw all your anxiety upon him.” This means that we figuratively hand over to Jehovah the responsibility for all our cares and concerns. We try to stop worrying and patiently trust in him to care for our needs. (1 Pet. 5:7; Matt. 6:25-32) Such trust requires humility, not relying on our own strength or wisdom. By humbling ourselves “under the mighty hand of God,” we acknowledge our lowly position. (1 Pet. 5:6) In turn, this helps us to cope with whatever God permits. We may yearn for immediate relief, but we trust that Jehovah knows precisely when and how to act in our behalf.—Ps. 54:7; Isa. 41:10.

[iris89]

The wisdom from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, not making partial distinctions, not hypocritical.—James 3:17.

James included being reasonable in the description of what reflects the wisdom from above. Are we known for being inclined to give in to others when no Scriptural principle is involved, not being quick to insist that our own personal standards be followed? Do we have a reputation for being gentle and easy to talk to? These are indications that we have learned to be reasonable. What delightful conditions can exist in a congregation as brothers and sisters work at displaying ever more the godly qualities about which James wrote! (Ps. 133:1-3) Being mild, peaceable, and reasonable with one another will surely result in improved relationships and will make it evident that we have “the wisdom from above.”

[iris89]

Clothe yourselves with love.—Colossians 3:14.

Do we ever catch ourselves saying something like “I am not prejudiced, but . . .” and then recounting some negative characteristics that we consider to be common among members of a certain ethnic group? Such feelings may reveal the need for us to rid ourselves of prejudice that we still harbor deep down. We might ask ourselves, ‘Do I make a regular effort to get to know people of a culture different from my own?’ Such self-examination may help us make improvements in accepting and appreciating our international brotherhood. The apostles Peter and Paul are fine examples of those who did adjust. (Acts 10:9-35; Gal. 1:13-20) There is no doubt that we too can make adjustments in our attitude with the help of Jehovah’s spirit. If we find that there are hidden traces of prejudice in us, let us work to root them out and to “observe the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace.”—Eph. 4:3-6.

[iris89]

I do not speak of my own originality.—John 14:10.

When we compare Jesus’ instruction with that of the Jewish religious leaders, we clearly see the superiority of Jesus’ way of teaching. The scribes and Pharisees ‘made God’s word invalid because of their tradition.’ In contrast, what Jesus spoke was not of his own originality; he stuck to God’s word, or message. (Matt. 15:6) That is also what we need to do. Jesus practiced what he taught. For example, Jesus urged his disciples to “store up . . . treasures in heaven.” (Matt. 6:19-21) Did Jesus himself live in accord with that admonition? Yes, for he lived simply. (Luke 9:58) He was primarily occupied with proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he demonstrated what it meant to be free of the anxieties that come from storing up treasures on earth. Are you following Jesus’ admonition to store up treasures in heaven?

[iris89]

He stood up to read.—Luke 4:16.

Scriptural teaching and earnest effort are very effective. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Consider the case of Saulo in Guatemala. He was born with a slight mental disability. One of his teachers told his mother that she should not force the boy to learn to read, so Saulo left school without learning how. However, a genuine follower of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ taught Saulo to read, using the brochure Apply Yourself to Reading and Writing. Eventually, Saulo advanced to the point of giving talks in the Theocratic Ministry School. Saulo’s mother later met his teacher in the house-to-house ministry. Upon hearing that Saulo had learned to read, the teacher asked her to bring him along the following week. At that time, the teacher asked Saulo, “What are you going to teach me?” Saulo started to read a paragraph from the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? “I cannot believe that you are now teaching me,” said the teacher. Unable to hold back her tears, she embraced Saulo.

[iris89]

John 6:57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.

Jesus (Yeshua) says again the Father sent him. Jesus (Yeshua) came from the Father, the Father sent him to earth. Jesus (Yeshua) says he lives because of the Father.

[iris89]

1st Thess 1:9-10 For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus (Yeshua), who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

The living true God raised up Jesus (Yeshua) from the dead. Jesus (Yeshua) is the son of God, still in the heaven.

[iris89]

John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye may love one another.

During his final night on earth, Jesus (Yeshua) encouraged his loyal disciples to remain friends with one another. Earlier in the evening, he said that the love they displayed for one another would identify them as his followers. (John 13:35) The apostles needed to remain close friends if they were to endure the trials that lay ahead and to accomplish the work that Jesus would soon assign them. Indeed, first-century Christians became known for their unbreakable devotion to Almighty God (YHWH) and to one another.

[iris89]

If errors were what you watch, O Jah, O Jehovah, who could stand? For there is the true forgiveness with you.—Psalms 130:3, 4.

The extent of Jehovah’s forgiveness is illustrated in the case of King Manasseh of Judah. He did what was bad in Jehovah’s eyes. Manasseh set up altars to Baal, worshipped “all the army of the heavens,” and even built altars to false gods in two temple courtyards. He made his sons pass through the fire and encouraged spiritistic practices. Later, while in captivity, Manasseh repented and humbly kept praying to God, who forgave him and restored him to the kingship in Jerusalem, where he promoted true worship. (2 Chron. 33:2-17) Centuries later, the apostle Peter sinned grievously by denying Jesus. (Mark 14:30, 66-72) However, Jehovah forgave Peter because he was genuinely repentant. (Luke 22:62; Acts 2:14-36) Is there any reason to believe that God would be less forgiving toward truly repentant Christians today?

[iris89]

Woe to those who are saying that good is bad and bad is good, those who are putting darkness for light and light for darkness, those who are putting bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!—Isaiah 5:20.

A tactic of Satan is to undermine people’s natural sense of what is good or bad. A mentality similar to that found in Sodom and Gomorrah has come to control much of the entertainment industry. Even news reports on television and in periodicals highlight violence and pander to a lurid interest in sex. Much of what appears as entertainment in the media blurs people’s ability “to distinguish both right and wrong.” (Heb. 5:14) Recall, however, Jehovah’s words through the prophet Isaiah as found in today’s text: “Woe to those who are saying that good is bad and bad is good!” Has Satan insidiously affected your thinking with such unwholesome entertainment? Self-examination is essential.—2 Cor. 13:5.

[iris89]

Be wrathful, and yet do not sin; let the sun not set with you in a provoked state.—Ephesians 4:26.

When applied, these words can help us to solve or to avoid marital discord. But what if you entered into a marriage arrangement unwisely? You may now find yourself in a relationship that may not seem as romantic as others enjoy. Still, your remembering the Creator’s view of the marriage bond will help you. Under inspiration, Paul counseled Christians: “Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.” (Heb. 13:4) It certainly is possible for Christians to find joy in marriage. To do so takes effort and the displaying of Christian qualities, one of which is being yielding. Today, in the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses around the globe, there are countless married couples who prove that it can be done.