"Do not become righteous overmuch, nor show yourself excessively wise."
Ecclesiastes 7:16
A few become “righteous overmuch” and resent changes or refinements in our understanding of the Scriptures. Pride may play a role, and some fall into the trap of independent thinking. Whatever the reason, such an attitude is hazardous, since it can draw us back into the world and its ways. What if we are tempted to murmur because of having doubts about certain teachings that Jehovah’s people hold in common? Then let us not be impatient. The ‘faithful slave’ may eventually publish something that answers our questions and clears up our doubts. (Matt. 24:45) Prayer, personal study, and association with spiritually-minded fellow believers can also help to remove doubts and can deepen our appreciation for the faith-strengthening Bible truths we have learned through Jehovah’s channel of communication. w 7/15/06 14, 16a
going to california today!!!! So I'll post the rest of the daily text for this weekend today, since I'm gone for the whole weekend!
"To do your will, O my God, I have delighted."
Psalms 40:8
Jehovah expects those who serve him to show willing submission to his will. Prophetically, the psalmist sang: “Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your military force. In the splendors of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, you have your company of young men just like dewdrops.” (Ps. 110:3) Jehovah’s entire organization, both the heavenly and the earthly parts, functions on the basis of loving submission to God’s will. So you young ones should understand that neither your parents nor the Christian elders in the congregation are going to force you to get baptized. The desire to serve Jehovah must come from you. Joshua of old told the Israelites: “Serve [Jehovah] in faultlessness and in truth . . . Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve.” (Josh. 24:14-22) Similarly, it must be of your own accord that you choose to dedicate yourselves to Jehovah. w 7/1/06 9-11a
"He delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love."
Colossians 1:13
At Pentecost 33 C.E., God “made [Christ] head over all things to the congregation.” (Eph. 1:20-22; Acts 2:32-36) Christ thus began to rule but in a limited sense. His initial subjects were spirit-anointed Christians, who made up spiritual Israel, “the Israel of God.” (Gal. 6:16) Almost 30 years later, the apostle Paul confirmed that Christ had not yet taken full Kingdom power, but he was “at the right hand of God, from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.” (Heb. 10:12, 13) Then, near the end of the first century C.E., the aged apostle John foresaw in a vision the Universal Sovereign, Jehovah, installing Christ Jesus as King of the newborn heavenly Kingdom. (Rev. 11:15; 12:1-5) Today, we have overwhelming evidence confirming that Christ began to rule as Messianic King in heaven in 1914. w 5/1/06 1, 2b
"Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need."
Matthew 5:3
Mankind was created with a number of needs. Food, drink, and shelter, for example, are essential if a person is to remain in good physical health. Yet, man also has to care for his “spiritual need.” He will not be truly happy unless he does that. Jehovah considered the satisfying of this innate need to be so fundamental that he commanded his people to interrupt their normal activities for one whole day each week in order to give attention to spiritual matters. That was the Sabbath arrangement. The first occurrence of the word “sabbath” in the Bible is in connection with the provision of manna in the wilderness. The Israelites were told that they should collect this miraculous bread for six days. On the sixth day, they were to collect “the bread of two days,” for on the seventh, none would be provided. The seventh day would be “a holy sabbath to Jehovah.”—Ex. 16:13-30. w 6/15/06 6, 7
