30 January 2013

30 January 2013 - Matthew 6: 32

Wednesday, January 30

Your heavenly Father knows you need all these things.—Matt. 6:32.

This implies that our heavenly Father, Jehovah, will do his part to take care of our needs. To be sure, “all these things” may be different from what we personally are inclined to like or want. Still, we are told not to be anxious about “the things the nations are eagerly pursuing.” Why? Jesus later advised his listeners: “Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you as a snare.” (Luke 21:34, 35) The finish line is just ahead. What a pity it would be if we allowed ourselves to be burdened down with unnecessary weights that could impede us when we are so close to the end! The apostle Paul’s counsel, therefore, is truly wise: “It is a means of great gain, this godly devotion along with self-sufficiency.” (1 Tim. 6:6) Our taking Paul’s words to heart will greatly enhance our prospects of attaining the prize. w11 9/15 4:6-8

29 January 2013

29 January 2013 - 1 Timothy 2: 6

Tuesday, January 29

[Jesus] gave himself a corresponding ransom for all.—1 Tim. 2:6.

Adam brought imperfection and death to billions, his descendants. It is true that Jesus, as a perfect man, could have been the source of billions of perfect descendants. Hence, it was understood that a combination of Jesus’ life plus that of all his potential perfect descendants formed a sacrifice equivalent to that of Adam and his imperfect descendants. However, the Bible does not say that any potential offspring of Jesus formed part of the ransom. Romans 5:15-19 makes the point that the death of just “one man” provided the release. Yes, Jesus’ perfect life corresponded to Adam’s. The focus is, and should be, on Jesus Christ alone. It became possible for men of all sorts to receive the free gift and life because of Jesus’ “one act of justification,” his course of obedience and integrity even to death. — 2 Cor. 5:14, 15; 1 Pet. 3:18 w11 6/15 2:11

28 January 2013

28 January 2013 - 1 Corinthians 7: 39

Monday, January 28

She is free to be married to whom she wants, only in the Lord.—1 Cor. 7:39.

If you hope to marry someone who shares your desire to serve Jehovah whole-souled, keep this matter before Him in prayer. (Phil. 4:6, 7) Regardless of how long you may need to wait, do not despair. Trust in our loving God as your Helper, and he will support you emotionally in harmony with your need. (Heb. 13:6) A single Christian desiring to get married may receive a proposal from someone of doubtful spirituality or even from an unbeliever. If that happens to you, remember that the heartache that results from making a bad choice in a marriage mate can cause greater pain by far than the longing that a person feels while single. And once married, for better or for worse, you are bound to your mate for life. (1 Cor. 7:27) Do not out of desperation make a decision to marry that you will later regret. w11 10/15 2:10-12

15 January 2013

16 January 2013 - 1 Thessalonians 5: 6

Wednesday, January 16

Let us stay awake and keep our senses. — 1 Thess. 5:6

Referring to “the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah,” the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica: “Brothers, you are not in darkness, so that that day should overtake you as it would thieves, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night nor to darkness.” Paul added: “So, then, let us not sleep on as the rest do, but let us stay awake and keep our senses.” (Joel 2:31; 1 Thess. 5:4-6) Paul’s counsel to the Thessalonians is especially fitting for Christians living in “the time of the end.” (Dan. 12:4) As the end of his wicked system of things nears, Satan is bent on turning as many true worshippers as he can away from serving God. We are therefore wise to take to heart Paul’s admonition to remain spiritually vigilant. If a Christian family is to succeed in staying awake, it is important that each member shoulder his or her Scriptural responsibility. w11 5/15 1:1, 2

15 January 2013 - Philipians 4: 8

Tuesday, January 15

Whatever things are of serious concern, . . . continue considering these things. — Phil. 4:8

We live in a world that is experiencing some of the most difficult and tragic times in human history. For people who do not have a sound spiritual foundation, coping with these “critical times hard to deal with” can be nearly impossible. (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Only their own fortitude gets them through each day—with limited success. In an effort to avoid taking life too seriously, many turn to the constant flow of amusements of the entertainment world. Needless to say, this world places undue importance on ‘love of pleasure.’ (2 Tim. 3:4) Its emphasis on having a good time can be a threat to our spirituality. (Prov. 21:17) Thus, for good reason the apostle Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus also include counsel regarding the subject of seriousness. Applying that counsel will help us to counteract the world’s frivolous view of life. — 1 Tim. 2:1, 2; Titus 2:2-8 w11 4/15 1:1, 3

14 January 2013

14 January 2013

Monday, January 14

Those who [marry] will have tribulation in their flesh. — 1 Cor. 7:28

Many newlyweds are surprised, even disappointed, when their mates differ with them on important issues. The two may find themselves at odds on how they should spend money and leisure time, where they will live, and how often they should visit the in-laws. And each one has personality flaws that can irritate the other. During courtship, it is easy to make light of the importance of such matters, but they can later put great strain on a marriage. A couple do well to resolve areas of concern before they marry. To be successful and happy, a couple must face their challenges unitedly. They should agree on how to discipline their children and how to care for aging parents. The pressure caused by family difficulties should not push the two apart. By applying Bible counsel, they will solve many problems, endure those that remain, and stay happy together. — 1 Cor. 7:10, 11 w11 10/15 2:14-16

13 January 2013

13 January 2013

Sunday, January 13

Put off . . . the sin that easily entangles us. — Heb. 12:1

When a runner’s legs get entangled with his garment, almost unavoidably he falls. The risk of entanglement is particularly great if the runner ignores the danger of wearing certain clothing while running. What might cause him to ignore the danger? Perhaps carelessness or overconfidence or some distraction. What lesson can we draw from Paul’s counsel? We should bear in mind that loss of faith is the end result of what we might do over the course of time. Regarding “the sin that easily entangles us,” a scholar notes that it is “the sin that has the greatest advantage against us, by the circumstances we are in, our constitution, our company.” The idea is that our environment, our personal weaknesses, and our associations can all exert a powerful influence on us. They can cause a weakening of our faith or even the loss of it. — Matt. 13:3-9 w11 9/15 4:2, 10, 11

12 January 2013

12 January 2013 - Psalms 104:14,15

Saturday, January 12

[Jehovah] is making . . . wine that makes the heart of mortal man rejoice. — Ps. 104:14, 15

Throughout the Bible, we find statements indicating that Jehovah wants us not only to live but also to enjoy life. Indeed, Jehovah makes crops grow to yield grain, oil, and wine for our sustenance. But wine also ‘makes the heart rejoice.’ It goes beyond what is strictly necessary to maintain life and adds to our joy. (Eccl. 9:7; 10:19) Yes, Jehovah wants us to be joyful, our hearts filled with “good cheer.” (Acts 14:16, 17) There is, therefore, no reason to feel guilty when we once in a while schedule some time to “observe intently the birds of heaven” and “the lilies of the field” or to enjoy some other activities that refresh us and enrich our life. (Matt. 6:26, 28; Ps. 8:3, 4) A wholesome life is a “gift of God.” (Eccl. 3:12, 13) Viewing leisure time as part of that gift will move us to use it in a way that will bring pleasure to the Giver. w11 10/15 1:1, 2

11 January 2013

11 January 2013 - 2 Corinthians 11:14

Friday, January 11

Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light.—2 Cor. 11:14.

Satan has promoted many lies that could mislead us if we are not careful. Consider some examples.Anything goes—right or wrong. It is determined by how you feel. This idea is promoted in the media and in entertainment. Such a distorted view of God’s standards exerts pressure on us to cast aside all moral restraint. The truth is that we have a desperate need for moral guidance that only God can fill. (Jer. 10:23) God will not intervene in earth’s affairs. Being influenced by such a live-for-today spirit could cause us to become “inactive or unfruitful.” (2 Pet. 1:8) The truth is that Jehovah’s day is fast approaching, and we must keep in expectation of it. (Matt. 24:44) God does not care about you as an individual. Believing this satanic lie could cause us to give up, feeling that we could never be worthy of God’s love. The truth is that Jehovah loves and values his worshipers as individuals. — Matt. 10:29-31w11 7/15 2:11, 12

08 January 2013

8 January 2013 - Acts 15:29

Tuesday, January 8

If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper.—Acts 15:29.

Not all who want to make decisions for us mean us harm. Well-intentioned friends might insist that we follow their advice. If we are living away from home, our relatives likely still have deep concern for our well-being and may feel compelled to continue to involve themselves in important decisions we face. For instance, consider the matter of medical treatment. The Bible clearly condemns the misuse of blood. (Acts 15:28, 29) Other matters that have to do with health care, though, are not clear-cut and require that each of us make a personal decision as to what treatment we will accept or reject. Our loved ones may have strong opinions on these issues. However, when deciding about those matters, each dedicated baptized Christian needs to carry “his own load” of responsibility. (Gal. 6:4, 5) Our primary concern is to maintain a good conscience before God, not men.—1 Tim. 1:5. w11 4/15 2:4

07 January 2013

7 January 2013 - 1 John 4:7

Monday, January 7

Beloved ones, let us continue loving one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born from God and gains the knowledge of God.—1 John 4:7.

The apostle Paul noted one manifestation of God’s love for people when he described Jehovah as “the God of all comfort.” (2 Cor. 1:3) Jesus demonstrated such love when he did what was foretold in Isaiah’s prophecy. (Isa. 61:1, 2) During his entire ministry, Jesus lovingly comforted mourning ones, bringing them encouragement and peace of mind. All followers of Jesus need to imitate him by comforting those who mourn. (1 Cor. 11:1) Paul said: “Keep comforting one another and building one another up.” (1 Thess. 5:11) Especially do we need to comfort others, since mankind now faces “critical times hard to deal with.” (2 Tim. 3:1) More and more, honesthearted people throughout the world are being confronted by some whose words and actions cause grief, heartache, and sadness. w11 10/15 4:1, 2

05 January 2013

5 January 2013 - Romans 14:13

Saturday, January 5

Let us not be judging one another any longer, but rather make this your decision, not to put before a brother a stumbling block or a cause for tripping.—Rom. 14:13.
Some Christians in Rome were improperly judging others on purely personal matters. (Rom. 14:1-6) Paul counseled individuals on both sides of the dispute. (Rom. 14:10, 14, 15, 20, 21) He told ‘everyone there among them not to think more of himself than it was necessary to think.’ (Rom. 12:3) After counseling them all, Paul wrote: “So, then, let us pursue the things making for peace and the things that are upbuilding to one another.” (Rom. 14:19) When differences among fellow Christians occur today, should we not likewise settle disputes graciously by humbly seeking and applying Scriptural counsel? As was the case with the Romans, today those on both sides of the controversy may need to make adjustments in order to “keep peace between one another.” — Mark 9:50 w11 8/15 4:8-10