Tag Archives: godly devotion

Ezekiel, chapters 15-17

“This was the error of Sodom your sister: She and her daughters were proud and had an abundance of food and carefree tranquility; yet they did not support the afflicted and the poor.”
~Ezekiel 16:49

Why was Jerusalem, the Holy City, compared to Sodom?
Sodom had been notorious not only for its immoral practices, which Judeans now surpassed, but also for its hardheartedness. (Eze. 16:47,48,50)
Over a hundred years before Ezekiel, the prophet Isaiah had also compared the inhabitants of Jerusalem to Sodom and Gomorrah, which led to his execution (Isa. 1:10; Isaiah’s Prophecy I: “Let Us Set Matters Straight; footnote)
Jesus, referring to the inhabitants of his day who ignored the signs that he was the messiah, stated: “It will be more endurable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on Judgment Day than for that city.” (Matt. 10:11-15)
What about ourselves?
Do we respond to the Bible’s message with pride and hardheartedness?
As Christians, does our moral lifestyle include giving more of ourselves toward those who are spiritually, emotionally and physically in need? (Jas. 1:27)

Jeremiah, chapters 32-34

“[…] I will put the fear of me in their hearts, so that they will not turn away from me.”
~Jeremiah 32:40

Fear of God is not a morbid fear.
It refers to the fear of displeasing him, just like we would not want to let down someone who loves and trusts us.
It involves having a healthy positive attitude toward spiritual matters. (Matt. 5:3; Acts 13:48)
Jehovah God attracts people to him through Bible truths. (John 6:44)
When we have the right heart condition, we respond to his truths by learning more and drawing closer to him. (Ps. 25:9)
Jehovah thus allows a strong relationship to develop and with it, a healthy fear of displeasing him.
Many of us have found that cultivating such a relationship with our Maker has given life authentic purpose. (Eccl. 12:13)

Jeremiah, chapters 25-28

“‘You would not listen to me,’ declares Jehovah. ‘Instead you offended me with the work of your hands, to your own calamity.’”
~Jeremiah 25:7

When someone decides to take it upon him or herself to oppose God’s written will, they are doing so to their own detriment.
The day comes when God ‘makes his voice heard,’ and he will personally pass judgment on everyone of us. (Jer. 25:30,31)
But God does not come like a merciless executioner.
Jehovah is now teaching us and guiding us through his written word for our own benefit. (Isa. 48:17,18)
Like Jeremiah, our resolve to obey God may subject us to temporary persecution and suffering, but we faithfully continue to share God’s message knowing he gives even the evildoer a chance to repent. (Jer. 26:3,13,15)
Nevertheless, the day will come when God will realize his vision of justice. (Hab. 2:3,4)
It is not as one religious leader proclaimed- that God’s mercy “never runs out.”
Jehovah is a judge of justice and action; not an indulging authority figure who is only bluffing.

Jeremiah, chapters 1-4

“Why have these, my people, said, ‘We roam freely.
We will come to you no more’?”
~Jeremiah 2:31(b)

God was asking his People why they had forsaken him and turned to worshipping material idols. (Jer. 2:11)
Although God gives us freedom of choice, to assert that freedom to pursue “what is useless” would be to waste the precious gifts of life, time and energy he has given us.
Today’s equivalent of useless idols may not necessarily be a stone, ceramic or wood sculpture one kneels to.
It may be selfish conduct that is in direct conflict with God’s norms, or maybe even a vain hobby that consumes valuable time we could otherwise be using to help others. (Eph. 5:15,16,18; Php. 3:19)
Or perhaps we are obsessed with achieving something like a social status that is beyond our means of living and which forces us to spend so much time at work, we end up neglecting family life, sacrificing Bible study or meditation time. (1 Tim. 6:9,10)
Whatever internal or external “god” may be rivaling our one True God, if we let our worship be derailed, we will reap the bitter consequences of that choice. (Jer. 2:19)

Isaiah, chapters 63-66

“But you are among those forsaking Jehovah, {…}
Those setting a table for the god of Good Luck,
And those filling up cups of mixed wine for the god of Destiny.”
~Isaiah 65:11

What is luck?
Some dictionaries define it as a force that operates for good or ill, or chance considered as a force that causes good or bad to happen.
Is the belief in a supernatural force that affects our circumstances in line with God’s way of thinking, as outlined in the Bible?
In ancient times, Luck and Destiny were pagan gods.
Their worshippers traditionally celebrated a party for them on the last day of the last month of the year, where they feasted and drank wine in their honor. (Insight on the Scriptures, vol. I, “God of Luck”)
For a dedicated servant of Jehovah to request a favor, or blessing, from a force other than Jehovah himself, is a form of betrayal. (De. 10:20; Luke 4:8)
The reliance on luck through customs or charms is a superstitious form of Spiritism, a belief that encompasses the practices used to invoke forces or spirits other than Jehovah (demons).
This belief is in direct conflict with true worship. (De. 18:10,11; Is. 8:19,20; Gal. 5:19-21)
Although it seems inoffensive and even polite to wish someone “good luck,” those pleasing Jehovah adjust their thinking to his point of view and take into account his feelings on the matter, knowing all blessings come from him alone in due time. (Is. 65:16,17,24)

Isaiah, chapters 34-37

“‘We trust in Jehovah our God,’ is he not the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed […]?”
Isaiah 36:7

Hezekiah’s father, apostate King Ahaz, had littered Judah with pagan altars and had closed the doors of the temple in Jerusalem. (2 Ch. 28:23-25)
Upon coming to the throne at age 25, Hezekiah reinstated divine worship according to Mosaic Law, celebrated a Passover to which even people from the northern tribes of Israel attended, and reorganized the Levite priesthood. (2 Ch. 29:1-5; 30:1-5)
The “high places and altars” Hezekiah had removed were not places of worship to his God, Jehovah, but to pagan deities.
The king of Assyria sent a messenger threatening Hezekiah to submit his people to Assyrian rule.
That messenger publicly accused Hezekiah of bringing down Jehovah’s altars, questioning whether Jehovah would save Jerusalem after the king’s recklessness.
It was unbeknownst to him that Hezekiah had actually been doing God’s will during his entire kingship and had no reason to fear Assyrian conquest.
We may sometimes experience similar accusations from our loved ones when we do something that is in line with Biblical principles but in conflict with what the world generally considers to be “good.”
For example, a woman studying the Bible may feel inclined to leave the man she is living with, although he may be a “good” man by the world’s standards, if he has no intention of legalizing their union.
She might receive severe criticism from her family or coworkers even though she is in fact doing the right thing. (1 Co. 7:39; 2 Co. 6:14)
Or a Christian man who abstains from celebrating holidays of pagan origin with his extended family may be accused of isolating himself and being intolerant of others, even though he is only trying to practice Christianity as it was originally practiced by first century Christians. (2 Co. 6:16,17)
There are many cases in which the stance of those trying to carry out God’s will may be misinterpreted.
We do well to avoid arguing and find solace in the satisfaction of having obeyed our conscience. (Is. 36:21)
Such a strong relationship with God gives us joy and the reassurance that he will never desert us. (Is. 35:10)
If you would like to view a (completely free) film reenacting the greatest trial of King Hezekiah’s faith, follow this link: https://tv.jw.org/#en/video/VODMovies/pub-tiy_x_VIDEO
You can toggle the language setting in the top right corner of the screen.

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 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).

Psalm 119

“I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Search for your servant,
For I have not forgotten your commandments.”
~Psalm 119:176

Who wrote Psalm 119?
Though the writer’s name is unknown, we can form a portrait of where he (or she) was in life by some of his expressions.
Although verse one affirms: “Happy are those who are blameless in their way […]” the psalmist is not applying these words to himself, for verses five and six explain: “If only I could remain steadfast so as to observe your regulations! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commandments.”
The psalmist is evidently undergoing some type of affliction as a consequence of past mistakes.
Even though he no longer ‘goes astray,’ he is still an object of “scorn and contempt,” targeted by insensitive, presumptuous liars (Ps. 119:22,67,69,70).
Although the psalmist does suffer sleeplessness and grief, this allows him to find comfort in his knowledge of Jehovah God (Ps. 119:28,52,55).
The psalmist goes so far as to say that his spiritual heritage is the ‘joy of his heart,’ (Ps. 119:111).
What fueled his strength?
Verses 92-95 read:

If I had not been fond of your law,
I would have perished in my affliction. […]
I belong to you; save me […]. The wicked wait to destroy me,
But I give close attention to your reminders.”

Time and again, the psalmist references his bond with God and love for God’s Word as the reasons he can bear his affliction and carry on.
Undefeated, he resolves to fulfill his vows to God and rely on His justice and loyal love (Ps. 119:106,149).