Scripture of the Day:

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Taste and see that Jehovah is good.—Psalms 34:8.

When King David of ancient Israel was a shepherd boy, Jehovah saved him from the attacks of wild animals. God supported him in his fight with Goliath and rescued him from many other calamities. (1 Sam. 17:32-51; Ps. 18, superscription) David was moved to write: “Many things you yourself have done, O Jehovah my God, even your wonderful works and your thoughts toward us; there is none to be compared to you.” (Ps. 40:5) David came to love Jehovah deeply and wanted to praise Him with his whole heart and mind. (Ps. 40:8-10) As the years passed, David never regretted spending his life worshipping the true God. Living with godly devotion was his greatest treasure—a source of happiness without equal. In old age, David said: “You are my hope, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah, my confidence from my youth.” (Ps. 71:5) David’s trust in Jehovah and friendship with Him became stronger, even though his physical strength had waned.

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What God has yoked together let no man put apart.—Matthew 19:6.

Nowadays, divorce has become easy and widespread, and the divorce rate in many countries is climbing. However, we should keep clearly in mind that Jehovah God expects those who are married to remain faithful to their marriage vow. When he united the first man and woman in marriage, Jehovah stated that “a man . . . must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh.” Jesus Christ later repeated that statement and added: “Whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication, and marries another commits adultery.” (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:9) Hence, Jehovah and Jesus view marriage as a lifelong bond that ends only when one partner dies. (1 Cor. 7:39) Since marriage is a sacred arrangement, divorce is not to be taken lightly. In fact, God’s Word states that Jehovah hates a divorce that has no Scriptural basis.—Mal. 2:13-16; 3:6.

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Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.—Matthew 5:7.
“The merciful” have tender compassion and show kind consideration, even pity, for the disadvantaged. Jesus miraculously relieved suffering because he “felt pity,” or was “moved with pity.” (Matt. 14:14; 20:34) Pity and consideration should therefore prompt us to be merciful. (Jas. 2:13) When a crowd met Jesus on his way to get some rest, “he was moved with pity for them, because they were as sheep without a shepherd.” Consequently, “he started to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34) What joy we experience as we similarly share the Kingdom message with others and tell them about God’s great mercy! When we treat people mercifully, they usually respond in a similar way. (Luke 6:38) Moreover, Jesus said: “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matt. 6:14) Only the merciful know the happiness that results from forgiveness of sins and divine approval.

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The very haughtiness of earthling man will humble him, but he that is humble in spirit will take hold of glory.—Proverbs 29:23.

The example of Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant, demonstrates the role of humility in following Jehovah’s guidance. When Sarah continued childless, she gave Hagar to Abraham, and Hagar became pregnant with Abraham’s child. Then, Hagar became arrogant toward her barren mistress. As a result, Sarah “began to humiliate her,” and Hagar ran away. An angel of Jehovah met Hagar and told her: “Return to your mistress and humble yourself under her hand.” (Gen. 16:2, 6, 8, 9) Perhaps Hagar would have preferred some other guidance. To act according to the angel’s direction, she would have to abandon her arrogant attitude. Nevertheless, Hagar humbly did as the angel said, and her son, Ishmael, was born in the security of his father’s encampment. Following Jehovah’s guidance might mean that we too have to humble ourselves.

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Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life.—John 6:68.

In accepting Jehovah’s authority, we need to guard against an independent spirit. A haughty attitude can cause us to feel that we do not need guidance from anyone. Accepting Jehovah’s authority also involves responding to counsel based on his Word. We must “stay awake and keep our senses.” (1 Thess. 5:6) Such counsel is very appropriate during these last days in which many are “lovers of themselves, lovers of money.” (2 Tim. 3:1, 2) Could we be affected by such prevailing attitudes? Yes. Nonspiritual goals could lull us into spiritual sleep, or we might adopt a materialistic attitude. (Luke 12:16-21) Hence, how wise it is to accept the Bible’s counsel and avoid the self-serving lifestyle that is so prevalent in Satan’s world!—1 John 2:16.

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Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and [God’s] righteousness.—Matthew 6:33.

Jesus assures us that if we do this, the things we really need will be added to us. How can we show that we believe this promise? One way is to abide by God’s standard of what is right as regards financial matters. For instance, we refuse to falsify our tax returns or to tell even “little” lies in our business dealings. We do all within our power to honor our financial commitments, letting our “Yes mean Yes” when it comes to paying off debts. (Matt. 5:37; Ps. 37:21) Such honesty may not make a person rich, but it brings God’s approval, produces a clean conscience, and greatly reduces anxiety. Seeking first the Kingdom involves having our priorities in order, so that possessions and pleasure are not our masters, but are tools that help us worship Jehovah. And the more active we are in work that supports God’s Kingdom, the less likely we are to be overcome by the spirit of the world.

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He that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.—Matthew 10:22.

Pursuing the goal of everlasting life requires endurance. Jesus showed how his disciples could get the needed strength to endure. In one illustration, he likened rocky soil to individuals who “receive [God’s] word with joy” but fall away when faced with tests of faith. However, he likened his faithful followers to fine soil in that they “retain” the word of God and “bear fruit with endurance.” (Luke 8:13, 15) Did you notice the secret to endurance? We must “retain” God’s word, keeping it alive in our hearts and minds. Our meditating on a portion of God’s Word every day will help us to find the needed strength to keep on bearing fruit “with endurance.”—Ps. 1:1, 2.

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Continue to love your enemies.—Matthew 5:44.

Why show love for our enemies? “That you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens,” said Jesus. (Matt. 5:45) If we heed that counsel, we become “sons” of God in that we imitate Jehovah, who “makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous.” Stressing how important it was for his disciples to ‘continue loving their enemies,’ Jesus said: “If you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing?” (Matt. 5:46, 47) If we were to limit our love to those who reciprocate, this would not merit any “reward,” or favor, from God.

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You are the light of the world.—Matthew 5:14.

Jesus told his disciples that they were “the light of the world” and urged them to let their light shine so that people might see their “fine works,” or good deeds to others. This would result in spiritual illumination “before men,” or for the benefit of mankind. (Matt. 5:16) Today, we let our light shine by doing good to our neighbors and by sharing in the work of preaching the good news “in all the world,” that is, “in all the nations.” (Matt. 26:13; Mark 13:10) What a privilege we enjoy! Jesus did not want his disciples to hide their spiritual light under a figurative measuring basket. (Matt. 5:15) So we must let our light shine, never permitting opposition or persecution to make us hide Scriptural truth or keep it to ourselves.

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This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13.

Yes, it is imperative to keep the commandments of Almighty God (YHWH) as this is the whole duty of man, but today many are seeking to override this duty on the basis of so called life style. However, this is no justification for doing wrong in violation of the specific commandments of Almighty God (YHWH) given at Romans 1:19-28 and many other places in the Bible.

To wit, In the beginning, Almighty God (YHWH), said at Genesis 2:23-24, “And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” And so it has been for many thousands of years, but now in the time of the culmination of the end times as prophesized at 2 Timothy 4:1-6, many are straying from Almighty God’s (YHWH’s) and supporting activities directly in contradiction to Almighty God’s (YHWH’s) commandments; to wit, they are now even supporting same sex marriages, living together without being married, and other wrong practices. They justify these wrongs by saying it is just a different life style, but of course they fail to mention it is a wrong life style, and that their arguments could also be used to justify pedophilism, bestiality, and other acts against the The Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible.

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If one member suffers, all the other members suffer with it.—1 Corinthians 12:26.

In many congregations, the elderly are being cared for in an exemplary manner. Loving brothers and sisters help them with shopping, cooking, and cleaning. They help the elderly to study, to get ready for meetings, and to remain regular in the ministry. If older ones are unable to leave home, they are tied in to meetings by telephone or recordings are made for them. Whenever possible, elders make sure that practical arrangements are implemented in order to meet the needs of older ones in the congregation. Individual Christians too can visit them, especially when they are sick or confined. Moreover, you can and should always treat them as mature adults. As long as they are mentally able, older Christians should be included in all decision-making that affects them. Even those who have lost much of their mental ability can sense whether their dignity is being respected

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No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. - John 6:44.

Almighty God (YHWH) does NOT draw all men to him, and this fact reminds one of an all important truth expressed at 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” This illustrates the fact that there is no increase with regard the true followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ unless the Father, Almighty God (YHWH), draws the individual to his Son.

As Jesus (Yeshua) said at John 6:65, “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” Which drives home the point that no one can become a genuine true follower of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ unless his Father wills it. All anyone can do is plant the truth by making known the word of Almighty God (YHWH), but only Almighty God (YHWH) can make it grow.

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However, the things proceeding out of the mouth come out of the heart, and those things defile a man. 19 For example, out of the heart come wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, fornications, thieveries, false testimonies, blasphemies. Matthew 15:18-19.

Those individuals who are fed falsehoods produce 'worthless fruit,' whereas those who are taught spiritual truths produce 'fine fruit.'

The two kinds of fruits have become clearly manifest during the culmination of the end times as Daniel 12:3 brings out on those producing good fruits, "And the ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse; and those who are bringing the many to righteousness, like the stars to time indefinite, even forever." ; whereas, Daniel 12:10 brings out with regard to those producing bad fruits, "Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined. And the wicked ones will certainly act wickedly, and no wicked ones at all will understand; but the ones having insight will understand." False Christians have a distorted view of Almighty God (YHWH) and often a hypocritical form of godly devotion; whereas those having spiritual insight worship Almighty God (YHWH) "with spirit and truth." (John 4:24, 2 Timothy 3:1-5).

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Those knowing your name will trust in you, for you will certainly not leave those looking for you, O Jehovah.—Psalms 9:10.

If we truly know Jehovah and look to his name with respect for what it stands for, we will trust in him. Note how God’s Word makes a connection between trusting in Jehovah and respecting him. When ancient Israel failed to trust in Him, Jehovah asked Moses: “How long will this people treat me without respect, and how long will they not put faith in me for all the signs that I performed in among them?” (Num. 14:11) By trusting in Jehovah to protect and sustain us even during trials, we show that we respect him. Jesus indicated that respect for Jehovah must come from the inner person. Speaking to those whose worship was not sincere, Jesus quoted Jehovah as saying: “This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me.” (Matt. 15:8) Sincere respect for Jehovah springs from heartfelt love for him.—1 John 5:3.

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You have blocked approach to yourself.—Laminations 3:44.

When faced with a health problem, each adult Christian must “carry his own load” of responsibility in choosing treatment. (Gal. 6:5) But we should remember that our choice of therapy matters to Jehovah. Just as respect for Bible principles moves us to “abstain . . . from blood,” so our deep regard for God’s Word should impel us to avoid resorting to therapies that could harm us spiritually or affect our relationship with Jehovah. (Acts 15:20) Some diagnostic and therapeutic procedures border on the use of the uncanny. Jehovah disapproved of apostate Israelites who resorted to “uncanny power,” or spiritistic practices. He declared: “Stop bringing in any more valueless grain offerings. . . . I cannot put up with the use of uncanny power along with the solemn assembly.” (Isa. 1:13) A period of illness surely is no time to do something that might hinder our prayers and jeopardize our relationship with God.