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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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.

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

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. 

2 Timothy 2:3 - Enduring as a Soldier of Christ

2 Timothy 2:3 - You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. -- World English

Every Christian as a soldier of Jesus is in a war. His warfare is, however, spiritual, not with physical weapons often associated with being a soldier. A good soldier obeys his commanding officer. Unlike the hatred that often prevails with soldiers fighting carnal battles, Jesus tells his soldiers to love their human enemies in this world, and to do good to those who hate them.

The Christian has several things he must battle: 1) sin and evil in his own flesh, 2) allurements of the world to sin and evil, and (3) the deceptive attacks of Satan and his demons that would lead us away from what is right to what is sinful and evil in God's sight. The common element in all three is sin and evil. What the world considers to be good, may, in fact, be evil from God's standpoint, so the good soldier of Christ should endeavor to come to know what is evil according to God's standards, not by the world's standards.

As a soldier in an army of the world must believe and have faith in the cause for which he is fighting, so the soldier of Jesus must be convinced in his own heart of the righteousness of his cause. This involves the heart loyalty of the Christian soldier in submission to Jesus and his God. 

One of the commands of our commanding officer is to let our light shine in the world and to preach the Gospel, the Good News, to others. To let our light shine does not mean to flaunt what we might deem to our own righteous acts before others, or to condemn others, but rather to simply and humble be obedient to Jesus' commands as we are able, so that others may see our faith and love for what is right in Christ. The goal is let Christ be seen in us, not that others may see our own righteousness. To preach the Good News is to present the truth from the Bible about Christ to the best of our ability and knowledge.

We are assured, however, that obedience to Christ will bring persecution. Thus, the need for endurance while facing the opposition of a world that does not love or care for God's righteousness. -- Ronald R. Day

Some Related scriptures: Isaiah 5:20; Mathew 5:44; Matthew 26:4; Luke 6:27; Luke 6:35; John 12:25; John 15:19;  Romans 7:14-25; Romans 8:12,13; Romans 12:17; Romans 13:14; Ephesians 6:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9; James 4:7, and many more. List other scriptures or present comments below.

Alternate:

Being a soldier of Christ means have heart loyalty to Jesus, but if our heart is actually in submission to someone else other than Jesus and his God, we fall short of true obedience to the one whom we profess as our "commanding officer." There have been and still are many who would seek to bind us to themselves, or to some man, or group of man, other than Jesus and his apostles, so as to claim all must be obedient to and/or in agreement with what such men may say. Some even make such an agreement as a basis for salvation. I do not believe that our Lord Jesus approves of such a bondage to leaders.

Related:

Soldiers of Jesus Christ

Psalm 37:4 - Delight in Jehovah

Psalms 37:4 - And delight yourself in Jehovah, that He may give you your heart's desire.

-- Green's Literal.

Psalms 40:8 - I delight to do Your will, O My God; and Your Law is within My inmost soul.

John 5:30 - I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don't seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.

John 6:40 - This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

To delight in Jehovah means to have a will of heart that conforms to His will in our life. Thus our heart's desire, our ambitions, is to do His will. His eternal law written in our hearts is not an outward obedience to the letter of the written Law given to Israel; it is having a geniuine love for the righteousness that is expressed in the Law Covenant, but even more importantly, as given to us in the example of Jesus, the one whom Jehovah anointed and sent. (Isaiah 61:1; John 17:1,3) Due to Adam's sin (Romans 5:12-19), we need to realize that by nature (Ephesians 2:2,3), in our sinful flesh (Romans 8:3), we can never be fully in harmony with God's righteous standard; and thus we need to realize that Jesus is the only means by which we may be reconciled with God. -- John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:24; 5:1; 1 Corinthians 5:18-20; Galatians 2:16,17; 5:4.

John 6:58 - Bread From Heaven

John 6:58 - This is the bread which came down out of heaven -- not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever."

Jesus said his flesh figuratively came down from heaven, as did the manna that fed Israel actually came down from heaven. (John 6:31) It was the Heavenly Father who prepared the body of flesh and blood for Jesus. (Hebrews 10:5) Thus, Jesus' flesh was without the condemnation that is upon mankind through Adam. (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22) His flesh was therefore sinless, as was Adam's before Adam sinned. If Jesus remained faithful while in the days of his flesh (Hebrews 5:7), he could offer his body of flesh with its blood for all who are dying in Adam, and that is what he did. The condemnation upon Adam would have been eternal had not Jesus paid the price to bring mankind out of that condemnation. (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22; 1 Timothy 2:5,6) Jesus thus eternally sacrificed his body of flesh with its blood for our sins. (Luke 22:19; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 2:24) Consequently, anyone who figuratively eats of the figurative bread through faith in Christ, will live forever in the age to come. -- John 17:3; Mark 10:30; Luke 18:30; Romans 3:25,26; 5:1,21; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 John 5:13.

Romans 8:17

{Romans 8:17} and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ if indeed we Jointly suffer with him, that we may also be jointly glorified with him. -- Restoration Light Improved Version.

It appears that Paul is referring to two levels of relationship in this verse. The first is that of sonship, which makes one a general heir of God, but the second is that of being joint-heirs with Christ, which calls for more than that which is required to be a son. To be joint-heirs with Christ means one receives the highest reward, receiving a glory that is even greater than that of the angels. Such a high reward, however, requires suffering that is of the same level that Jesus himself suffered. Indeed, very, very few of God's children actually obtain this highest reward.

Titus 3:5 - Saved Through Mercy

Not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. -- Titus 3:5

The term, “works of righteousness” in our text, appears to reflect works under the Law Covenant, or possibly by works of conscience by which some would seek to justify themselves. Jewish believers in Christ, before they became believers, were seeking justification according to Law. Paul reported of the Gentiles, although without the Law, have a law to themselves, by which many sought justification by their works. (Romans 2:13-15) Paul later says, however, that neither the Jew or the Gentile was justified by their works. (Romans 3:9) No one was actually justified, made straight, declared righteous, by means trying to keep the Law Covenant. (Ecclesiastes 1:15; 7:13; Acts 13:39; Romans 3:20,28; Galatians 2:16; 3:11,24; 5:4) The Law, being, weak due to sinful flesh, never, of itself, effected justification for anyone. (Romans 8:3) It is only as one is justified, regenerated, renewed by the Holy Spirit, that one, as a new creature in Christ, is made sinless, straight, just. For such, it is reckoned, or counted, that the old creation has passed away, and all things have been made new; by partaking of the powers of the age to come, it is as though the present age has already passed away. –  2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 6:5; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-5.

Related:

The Right Foundation of Faith

Psalm 149:5 -- Let the Godly Rejoice

 {Psalm 149:5} Let the godly rejoice in glory. Let them sing for joy on their beds. -- RLIV.

"The godly" above in the Hebrew signifies ones with piety, having devotion to God. It is these that the Psalmist addresses with a call to rejoice in being honored to have the privilege of such devotion, as well as any special rewards that may eventually come those with such devotion.

A bed signifies a place to rest. The rest of those who belong to Christ is, of course, his faith in God and in the Lord Jesus. It is not, however, a passive rest but the Psalmist tells us to "sing" while upon our beds; this, we believe, refers to actively telling others about God and His Son, what they have done and will do for us and the whole world of mankind.

Psalm 18:3 -- I will call upon Jehovah

1 Timothy 3:13; Isaiah 2:3 - Evil Grows Worse But Soon to Be Removed

2 Timothy 3:13 - But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. -- World English.

Isaiah 2:3 - And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. -- American Standard Version.

It is often observed how the prevalence of sin continues to increase, and sin is often presented as being good. The tendency of this course of man into greater darkness confirms the teaching of the Bible that the tendency of sin is downward toward deeper degradation and departure from the ways of Jehovah. Ever since the sin of Adam, mankind has been living in what the Bible calls "the present evil age." (Galatians 1:4) The Bible speaks of the world before the flood of Noah's day, how it had become corrupted, and how that world was destroyed. (Genesis 6:11,12;  2 Peter 3:6) The same has been true of the long dispensation since the flood -- the dispensation in which we are now living, which is also to pass away. (2 Peter 3:7,10) Jehovah, however, foreknew the predominance of evil. Jehovah, therefore in His Word has foretold the prosperity of sin for a time, and that "evil doers shall wax worse and worse" (2 Timothy 3:13) until the due time should come when a third dispensation set in the Divine Plan for Messiah's Kingdom shall be inaugurated. Only the powers of the age (dispensation) to come will be sufficient to grapple with and suppress the powers of evil so long entrenched in the earth. And thus it is written, the Messiah shall rule the nations "with a rod of iron" (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27) and then his kingdom will become "the desire of all nations." (Haggai 2:7) At that time, all nations shall learn the ways of Jehovah. -- Isaiah 2:2-4. 

Psalm 121:8 - Jehovah Will Keep Your Way

Psalms 121:8 - Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in From this time forth and for evermore. -- American Standard Version.

As applied to those who belong to Christ in this age, we should understand the application of the above to be to the new creature, not to the sinful flesh. Jehovah will keep the way of His sons throughout the time in this present evil age, as well as throughout eternity, whether at home, outside of the home, on land or on sea, indeed, even while in the oblivious condition of sheol. God, through His spirit, is ever with His people, and thus the new creature, as long as he earnestly seeks Jehovah through Jesus, will always be under Jehovah's protection, in this life, while in the death condition, and after being rescued in last day from death into all eternity.

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1 Corinthians 9:24 - Run That You May Win

{1 Corinthians 9:24} Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run even so, that you may win. -- American Standard Improved Version.

Paul is using the races of his day as an example of the effort needed for a Christian to win the prize of joint-heirship with Christ. He is not speaking of obtaining life through Jesus, or of justification through faith by means of faith in Jesus, etc. He is not speaking of becoming a child of God. Through faith, we become reckoned as justified and become begotten (of the spirit) again as new creatures in Christ. (John 3:3; Romans 3:28; 5:1; 8:14; 2 Corinthians 5:17) Having become a child of God, we are later given a place (Romans 8:23; Galatians 4:5 - adoption in many translations) in the kingdom, receiving rewards based on what we have done while in the present body. (2 Corinthians 5:10) The goal set before us is to become, not just heirs of God as sons, but also joint-heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17) Sadly, I believe that, while many consecrate themselves to God, very few actually attain the prize of their high calling. (Philippians 3:14) Paul likens the effort needed to obtain that prize to a runner in a race, in which many run, but only one wins. The same kind of vigilance and resolution is needed to attain the prize of joint heirship.

Nevertheless, I do not believe that any will actually be allowed to live for eternity who do not prove themselves fully in harmony with God and Jesus. Thus, I believe that the Bible shows that even if one does not attain the prize of joint-heirship with Christ, such will still eventually need to attain the same kind of integrity towards God and Jesus as demonstrated by those who do attain the prize of joint-heirship. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

See also:

Daily Heavenly Manna for April 9

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Isaiah 58:1 - Awake, Zion

Isaiah 52:1 - Awake, awake, put on your strength, Zion; put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.  -- World English Bible version.

Isaiah 52 is variously applied. Some apply this to Israel returning from the Babylonian exile; some to the Millennial age, and some to the church in this age or to the resurrection and glorification of the church.

I believe it is basically referring to the full restoration of Israel in the age to come. The prophetic call for the Holy City to awake does provide a picture of the Kingdom Age when the Holy City will be loosed from the shackles that now hold Jerusalem in blindness to their Messiah and the time when "all Israel will be saved." (Romans 11:25) I believe that eventually, through Jesus' ruling over Jerusalem all nations of the earth will be blessed with the knowledge of Jehovah and will learn Jehovah's ways, and then there will be healing for all nations and peace all over the earth. This is all part of the Gospel, the Good News concerning our Lord Jesus and what he is yet to do. -- Psalm 46:9; Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14; Revelation 22:2.

Nevertheless, the command to awake is similar to the command given to Christians in Romans 13:11 and Ephesians 5:14. An application could also be seen to the eventual glorification of the church. --  Ronald R. Day, Sr.

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