Tag Archives: faith

Isaiah, Chapters 11-16

“With rejoicing you will draw water
From the springs of salvation.”
~Isaiah 12:3

In some Bible passages, water is a metaphor for knowledge of the true God. (Is. 11:9; Re. 22:17)
An accurate knowledge of Bible teachings can strengthen our faith in God the way streams nourish a leafy tree. (Ps. 1:1-3)
Unlike trees, however, most of us do not have an innate inclination to enjoy Bible reading in and of itself.
A rejoicing attitude toward Bible reading is something that must be conscientiously nurtured.
When we do not read God’s Word regularly, or read it but do not take the time to analyze how it affects our relationship with our heavenly Father, we can begin to depend more on ourselves or on material assets.
In time, spiritual matters may become tedious and cumbersome.
In contrast, the more we get to know Jehovah, the more we perceive his loyal love and we are inclined to rely on him through anxious times.
Then we can share in the prophet’s joyous conviction:

“Look! God is my salvation.I will trust and feel no dread;
For Jah Jehovah is my strength and my might, And he has become my salvation.”
~Is. 12:2

Isaiah, Chapters 6-10

“Look! The true Lord, Jehovah of armies, Is chopping off branches with a terrible crash; The tallest trees are being cut down, And the lofty are brought low.”
~Isaiah 10:33

God has the power to bring down whomever he chooses.
Although he has for the most part left humanity to follow its own course, there are times when he has decided to remove or limit power from certain governors. (Eccl. 8:9)
For example, in ancient Israel, God’s angel put to death the Assyrian regime that had camped outside of Jerusalem. (2 Chron. 32:21; Is. 37:36)
God’s Word states that in the future, he will do away with all imperfect governments and only Christ will rule the earth from heaven. (Is. 9:6,7; Da. 2:44)
It does not matter how powerful a ruler thinks he is; in God’s eyes he is just a person who will eventually be put in his place. (Is. 7:9b; 8:12,13)

Isaiah, Chapters 1-5

​”Jehovah will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people.”
~Isaiah 3:14

Are you tired of seeing religious hypocrisy?
It is relieving to know that God Himself certainly is tired of it and he will call into account insincere ministers using his name to harm others.
In Isaiah’s day, the priests were ‘stealing from the poor’ and ‘crushing God’s people.’ (Is. 3:14,15)
Today, some religious leaders profit from their congregations’ donations. Others use the trust members of their faith have placed in them to exploit them in commercial transactions.
Jehovah God promises to bring back their heartless deeds upon their own heads. (Is. 3:11)
However, we cannot conclude that all organized religion is evil as a result of the misconduct of some.
The prophet compares true worship to a mountain to which peace-lovers turn to in order learn about the true God. (Is. 2:3,4)

Ecclesiastes, chapters 7-12

“There is hope for whoever is among the living […]”
~Ecclesiastes 9:4

We should never give up hope on people, because even the most haughty can change for the better.
People’s circumstances change throughout their lives.
Some become more hard-hearted while others are softened as they recognize a higher power.
No one knows for certain the individual future of any other person, nor do we control our own.
“Time and unexpected events overtake them all” therefore “men cannot be certain of anything that will happen to them in the future.” (Ec. 7:14; 9:11)
Tragic events happen to everyone, whether they do good or bad things.
Blessings also happen to everyone.
In this imperfect world in which we live in, some things are only a matter of chance.
So is there any advantage to doing the right thing, even when it comes at a personal cost?
“It will turn out well for those who fear the true God, because they fear him.” (Ec. 8:12)
Those who have faith can be optimistic about their own long-term future and hopeful about that of others.

Ecclesiastes, chapters 1-6

“Do not allow your mouth to cause you to sin, and do not say before the angel that it was a mistake. Why make the true God indignant over what you say so that he has to destroy the work of your hands?”
~Ecclesiastes 5:6

Young people who resolve on a life of service to God must make considerable sacrifices to reach their goal. (1 Tim. 4:12-16)
While their friends may focus on making money or partying, they set aside time to regularly read God’s Word and keep up-to-date with Biblical study aids.
They commit to a more rigurous preaching schedule, often getting up before 6 AM to talk to early risers on the street, or conduct Bible studies after a hard day at work. (Eccl. 11:6)
They look for part time jobs and try to live within a modest budget. (Matt. 6:22,31,33)
Sometimes, they learn new languages and move to new cities that don’t have as many volunteers, leaving behind their families and childhood friends. (Matt. 24:14; 28:19,20)
They consider their volunteer ministry work to be their career and leave behind other desires that are not a priority.
As they get older, they may end up starting families or having to care for aging parents.
This might limit how much time they can dedicate to the field ministry and they may feel the burden of having a lower income upon them.
When hard times hit, God’s servants should never regret all they have sacrificed to get the kingdom message out there.
They will never know how many lives they’ve touched or how many people they’ve really helped.
It is impossible to regret doing the right thing.
A young life in God’s service should be appreciated from God’s point of view- He was given the first and best part of that person’s life. (Prov. 3:9; Eccl. 12:1)
And God promises to care for His own. (Ps. 37:25)

Proverbs, chapters 27-31

“[…] Those who seek Jehovah can understand everything.”
~Proverbs 28:5

Some of the problems we face, such as accidents, poor health, crimes, betrayal or unemployment, may lead us to ask, Why me?
Other times, we face problems that adversely affect a general portion of the population, such as natural disasters, war or a corrupt government.
When we are in stressful, unfair situations, it is important to remind ourselves of where we stand in relation to God’s purpose.
Another proverb reads:
“Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice,
So that I can make a reply to him who taunts me.”
(Prov. 27:11)
Who taunts God?
The Bible explains: “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19)
God’s enemies try to distract us spiritually by blaming our problems on God or suggesting that he does not care about us, or saying that his promise of a paradise earth is just a dream. (2 Pet. 3:3,4; Rev. 21:1-5)
Still, it is God’s will that these people repent, and he is giving them time to do so. (2 Pet. 3:9)
If we do not lose sight of what is at stake every time we are tempted to give up, we are able to see things from Jehovah’s point of view and endure trials with a joyful attitude. (Matt. 24:13; Jas. 1:2,3)

Proverbs, chapters 22-26

​”Like a silver glazing over a piece of earthenware are affectionate words from an evil heart.”
~Proverbs 26:23

Christians should be wary of people who try to hit on them with bad intentions.
In a world of moral decadence in which most single adults try to have as many sexual experiences as possible, a kind, friendly Christian’s virginity or integrity may be seen as an attractive barrier that can be challenged and overcome (Gal. 5:16,17,19-21).
Like in first-century Christian times, the practices of the world are not the practices of God’s people (1 John 2:15-17).
Christians should therefore check their associations periodically to make sure they are not lending themselves to be used by an immoral person’s fleshly desires (1 Cor. 10:12; 15:33).
When that person’s true intentions are manifest, a true Christian will have to face the consequences of having deserted his or her faith (Rom. 14:12; Gal. 6:7-9).

Proverbs, chapters 17-21

“The breath of a man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching through his innermost being.”

~Proverbs 20:27

God has given us life, free will and the opportunity to prove what kind of persons we are (De. 30:19).

Like the loving father that He is, he assumes the best in us and sees our potential (1 Chron. 28:9; 1 Ki. 14:13).


There is nothing we can hide from him, and he can dissect even our subconscious thoughts and motivations (Heb. 4:13).
When we pray about the decisions we take and consider his guiding principles found in the Scriptures, we invite him into our life.

Then we can fully reflect the light he is trying to shine through us (2 Cor. 3:18).

Proverbs, chapters 12-16

“[…] ​A faithful envoy brings healing,”
~Proverbs 13:17

Christians have been commissioned to declare the good news of God’s kingdom (Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 13:10).
We should cherish the privilege of sharing hope with others through dispersing knowledge of God’s Word (1 Tim. 2:3-6).
It is exciting to take part in a living prophecy (Dan. 12:4; Matt. 24:14).
Still, we are not immune to apathy, opposition, negative responses or the daily pressures of life.
It is important to meditate on the benefits God’s message brings and to not undermine what it accomplishes.
While most will respond unfavorably, the meek will truly experience healing upon learning of God’s will for them (Isa. 52:7).

Proverbs, chapters 7-11

“[…] The desire of the righteous will be granted.”
(Prov. 10:24)

God promises that he will answer our prayers provided they are in accordance with his will (1 John 5:14).
Why does it seem, then, that some prayers go unanswered?
For example, when we lose a loved one…
Is it not God’s will that the person should live?
Like a loving father, God wants what is best for us (De. 30:19).
Jehovah is the Lord of Time, and while he does not control our individual choices, he does control the final results (Isa. 46:10).
If the current system deprives us of something or someone valuable, we can trust that God will fulfill his promise to answer our prayers in due time (Hab. 2:3).
Even so, the more we line up our desires with his will, the more we will discern that he has immediately listened to us and is shaping our outcome.