Galatians 2:4 - Christian Liberty and Sectarian Bondage

Numbers 20:7 -- Jehovah's Reproval of Moses.

Proverbs 25:8 - Rulership Over One's Spirit

Joshua 24:15 - We Will Serve Jehovah

{Joshua 24:15} If it seems evil to you to serve Jehovah, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah. -- RLIV.

LET others reverence whom and what they will; we, who have tasted that Jehovah is gracious, we, who have come to know Him through the power of the spirit by which we are begotten again to newness of life--we can do naught else than reverence our God; and reverencing Him we must trust Him implicitly; and trusting Him implicitly we will gladly walk in whatever way He may mark out for us; and thus trusting and thus walking we are content, whatever lot we see, since 'tis His hand that leads us. And let us be assured that, following the true Shepherd after this manner, we shall ultimately reach the heavenly fold. In these assurances we have joy and peace and blessing of heart, even in the house of our pilgrimage, before we reach the heavenly city. -- Based on excerpt from "Quarterly Review", ZWT, 09/01/1901.

********

Today, the idol gods of ancient Egypt may not have much appeal, but there are figurative idols that the world esteems very highly, which many place above God in their lives. Strictly, idolatry refers to the worship of images made by the hands of man. In the broader sense, idolatry can include anything that takes precedence over our lives that is placed above the worship of Jehovah, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. In other words, it is the worship of the creation rather than the Creator. Sadly, many claim to worship God, but have others things in their heart that they love more than God. The heart is easily deceived along this line, and each should do a self-examination of all motives, desires, etc., closely to either avoid an form of idolatry. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

********

Having knowledge of God and Jesus presents a choice; we can either worship the God of Jesus, or we can continue in the pursuits of the idols that prevail in the world. Those who consecrate their lives make a choice as did Joshua to serve Jehovah, and all the things of the world are brought into subjection to that service. Satan will, however,  always be looking for some way to tempt our desires away from that service, and thus, through faith, we need to always be on guard. We are promised that if we resist Satan, he will flee from us. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

********

Jesus is the only way that we have access to our Heavenly Father, Jehovah. Thus, we should certainly love the one whom Jehovah sent, but even here our love for Jesus should not be greater than our love for Jesus' God, Jehovah. Nevertheless, we should love Jesus more than anything that exists in the world that is corrupted due to Adam's sin. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

================
Related Scriptures: Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 6:5; 11:13,22; 13:3; 19:9; Joshua 24:16-18; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Kings 18:21; Ezekiel 20:39; Matthew 19:16-22; 22:27; 26:33,35; Mark 12:30,33; Luke 16:13; 20:27; John 6:67-69; 21:15; Romans 1:25; 6:16; James 1:27; 4:7; 1 John 5:3. . 

Psalm 31:15 - Our Times in God's Hand

Matthew 10:8 - Freely Giving

Proverbs 16:5 - Proud in Heart

1 Corinthians 1:30 - Christ - Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption

But out of him, you are united in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. -- 1 Corinthians 1:30, RLIV.

HE who redeemed us, or bought us with the sacrifice of His own life, gives us, as our Prophet or Teacher, wisdom by His Gospel, to see our fallen state and Himself as our helper; as our Priest, He first justifies us and then sanctifies or consecrates us, as His under priesthood; and finally, as King, He will fully deliver the faithful from the dominion of sin and death, to the glory, honor and immortality of the divine nature; -- for "God will raise up [from the dead] us also, by Jesus." "Hallelujah! What a Savior!" Truly He is able and willing to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him.-- Excerpt from "Hallelujah! What a Savior", ZWT, December 1, 1903. 

<><><><><><>

We should first note that verse 30 is a continuation of verse 29, and thus begins by referring back to "God" of verse 29. All is from God through Christ (1 Corinthians 8:6), and God unites his people in Christ. This refers to a fellowship with Christ and all who belong to Christ. Sadly, many who belong to Christ adopt the childish attitude of seeking to separate themselves from other Christians over this or that viewpoint regarding various scriptures. This comes by believing that one's viewpoint is true and that all others have to accept that viewpoint in order to be accepted in fellowship. The apostle Paul called such carnal thinking and those Christians who think this way as babes in Christ. Nevertheless, the unity of the Lord's people from his standpoint is greater than all of our petty differences and viewpoints. -- RRD.

<><><><><><>

The union of God's people is not that of being united with this or that external denomination, organization, movement, sect, association, etc. Many profess to belong to Christ who do not actually belong to Christ. Jesus spoke of this mixed condition within the church in his parable of the wheat and the tares. (Matthew 13:24-23) It is God, however, who does the calling, and we do not call ourselves. Some have sought to separate the wheat from the tares along carnal, fleshly lines, but Jesus told us that tares are to be separated from the wheat, not by humans, but by angels. Nevertheless, Jesus knows those who are truly his (John 10:25-29), irrespective of any sectarian or denominational ties. -- RRD.

<><><><><><>

God has made Jesus to be wisdom to us. Jesus came to declare his God to us (John 1:18; 1 John 5:20), and he came to declare the words of wisdom from his God. Thus Jesus said that the words he spoke were not his own, but those of his Father who had sent him. (John 7:16; 8:28,40; 12:49; 14:10,24) We have those words of wisdom, not only in the Gospels, but also in the entire New Testament, since that which has been revealed through Jesus' apostles is also from Jesus, who, in turn, delivered the words of wisdom from God. (1 Corinthians 2:6,7,13) James refers to this wisdom as being from above. -- James 3:17.

<><><><><><>

God has made Jesus to be our righteousness. God sent Jesus to die for our sins. What crooked man could not do (Ecclesiastes 1:15; 7:13), God did by providing a body for his Son that is not sinful (Hebrews 10:5), not condemned in Adam's sin. (Romans 5:12-19) By his faithfulness until death, Jesus' sacrificial death offset what Adam did, thus providing the basis for righteousness apart from the Law. -- Romans 3:21; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22; Philippians 2:8; 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:5,6.

<><><><><><>

God has made Jesus to be our sanctification. Because God sent Jesus as his Anointed One (Christ, Messiah), and Jesus proved himself faithful to death and thus died for our sins, Jesus is the only way that we can be reconciled to God. Such reconciliation results in our being sanctified, consecrated, dedicated, and thus set apart in the midst of a world that is alienated from God due to sin. As new creatures in Christ, we are no longer of this world that is corrupted through sin.

More to follow, God willing.

* Exodus 33:14 - Jehovah's Presence With His People

1 Chronicles 29:17 - Offer Willingly

 Offer Willingly

I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, that are present here, offer willingly to you. -- 1 Chronicles 29:17, World English.

* Luke 14:27 - Bearing One's Own Cross

Whoever does not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. -- Luke 14:27.

1 John 4:18 - No Fear in Love

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts off fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. -- John 4:18, Restoration Light Improved Version.

* Psalm 66:9 -- He Keeps Our Soul

Kneel before our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard, who keeps our soul among the living, and does not permit our feet to be moved. -- Psalm 66:8,9, RLIV.

Romans 10:9 - Jesus is Lord

If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. -- Romans 10:9, RLIV.

Psalm 103:2 - Do Not Forget His Benefits

Praise Jehovah, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits. -- Psalm 103:2, RLIV.

05-17 - John 16:2 - Persecution for Christ's Sake

DAILY HEAVENLY MANNA for MAY 17

(Holy Name Edition)

They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time will come that any who kills you will think that he is doing a service to God. -- John 16:2, RLIV.

05-16 -- Isaiah 62:2,3 - The Nations Will See Your Righteousness

DAILY HEAVENLY MANNA - May 16

(Holy Name Edition)

The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory, and you will be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah will name. You will also be a crown of glory in the hand of Jehovah, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. -- Isaiah 62:2,3, RLIV.

05-15 -- Habakkuk 3:17,18 - Rejoicing in Jehovah Amidst Adversity

DAILY HEAVENLY MANNA - May 15
(Holy Name Edition)

Habakkuk 3:17 - For though the fig tree doesn't flourish, Nor fruit be in the vines; The labor of the olive fails, The fields yield no food; The flocks are cut off from the fold, And there is no herd in the stalls:
Habakkuk 3:18 - Yet I will rejoice in Jehovah. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

-- World English, with the Holy Name presented as "Jehovah".

WE see that God permits evil in the world so that the world may learn certain lessons of bitter experience as to the natural rewards of evil doing, but we see also a ministry of evil in respect to the saints -- in their testing and polishing and refining; making them ready, and proving them worthy, as overcomers, to inherit the wonderful things which God has in reservation for the faithful. -- Adapted from excerpt from "Able to Comprehned With All The Saints" ZWT, March 15, 1903; R3168:2.

<><><><><><>

The fig tree in our text may figuratively be referring to promises given, such promises as those in Genesis 3:15 and Genesis 18:18; 22:18; 26:24, etc. Many do not look for all nations to be blessed, or they have come to believe that only a few people of the nations who accept Christ in this age are blessed. The reality is that the nations still have not been blessed as promised. To many, it seems hopeless to look for such a blessing, but to those who belong to Christ and are enlightened concerning God's plan, the promise brings rejoicing and a joyful heart, since they understand why there is a delay and that the blessing of all people is yet to come.

We should not, however, overlook the more practical application of the verses of our text. If you are a farmer, you may know how disheartening it can be to see your crops destroyed or non-productive. The experience could leave one devastated, but for one who has Jehovah as his God, that person will not give up but continue rejoicing in Jehovah.

Likewise, with all who belong to Christ. Life's experiences can be challenging, and many times our faith is tried by "adverse" ordeals. Our plans in this world may not materialize, and bring us disappointment. It may seem that all our efforts to help others understand what we know of God and Jesus are fruitless. We should constantly go to the Heavenly Father in prayer, and look to his holy spirit to help us and sustain us. We should continue, however, to have faith in our Heavenly Father, knowing that we can firmly trust Him, come what may!

Ronald R. Day, Sr. (ResLigh0

"YET WILL I REJOICE IN JEHOVAH"

THOUGH the fig tree shall not blossom,

Though no fruit be in the vines,

Though the fields shall yield no fruitage,

Of the herd there be no signs— 

Yet I'll joy in God's salvation,

As my faith in Him reclines.

While the nations reel and stagger,

And the Dove of Peace has fled,

While the land and sea are groaning

'Neath the burden of their dead— 

Yet, amid the awful tumult,

I rejoice and lift my head!

Though the vision seem to tarry,

And the waiting time prolong,

Though my faith be sorely tested

In the conflict fierce and strong,

Yet His grace will be sufficient,

And the burden of my song!

Though He slay me, I will trust Him,

Though my very heart He break,

For I know with loving wisdom

He has planned the way I take— ​

Thus my dying breath shall bless Him,

And I'll praise Him when I wake!

04-04 - Romans 13:13 - Let Us Walk Honestly

Romans 13:13 - Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. -- King James Version.

Romans 13: 13 - Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. -- American Standard Version.

The Greek word translated as "honestly" in the King James version is transliterated as euschēmonōs. This is Strong's Greek #2156. Some translations render this word as "becomingly", "decorously", or "decently", or somthing similar.  According to HELPS Word-Studies, this word is from Strong's #2158, "eusxēmōn, which is literally 'having good form'... i.e. what is respectable, honorable (modest, noble). The precise nuance of having 'good form' is only determined by the context". 

Paul is obviously referring to the Christian's conduct, which would certainly include honesty. But it includes more than just honesty, as reflected by the context. We are to walk as in the day. The "day" could be referring to the coming day, the age to come, as spoken of in Hebrews 6:4,5. The new creature in Christ is counted as already in that time of the new heavens and new earth, as though the present heavens and earth had already passed away. (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-5) Thus, the righteousness of that age should be seen in the conduct of the child of God in this age.