"Apply Your Hearts" To God's Word
When admonishing the sons of Israel gathered on the Plains of the Moab prior to entering the Promised Land, Moses said: " Apply your hearts to all the words that I am speaking in warning to you today, that you may command your sons to take care to do all the words of this law." (Deuteronomy 32:46) The Israelites were to "pay good heed." Only by being throughly familiar with God's commands could they inculcate them in their offspring. - Deuteronomy 6:6-8.
A key requirement for acquiring a pure heart is that of gaining accurate knowledge of God's will and purposes. There is only one source of that knowledge, the inspired Word of God. (2Timothy 3:16,17) Head knowledge alone, though, is not going to help us acquire a heart that pleases Jehovah. For knowledge to affect what we really are inside, we must 'apply our heart' to, or "take to heart," what we are learning. (Deuteronomy 32:46, An American Translation) How is this done? The psalmist David explains: " I have remembered days of long ago; I have meditated on all your activity; I willingly kept myself concerned with the work of your own hands." - Psalm 143:5.
We too should appreciatively meditate on Jehovah's activity. When reading the Bible or Bible-based publications, we need to ponder over such questions as: 'What does this teach me about Jehovah? What attributes of Jehovah do I see displayed here? What does this account teach me about what Jehovah likes and dislikes? What are the consequences of following a course that Jehovah loves as compared with following one that he hates? How does this information connect wiht what I already know?'
Next time: Continue with the rest of this subject.
5.30.2006
5.26.2006
The Secret Person Of The Heart
The word "heart" occurs about a thousand times in the Holy Scriptures. In most cases it is used in a figurative sense. For example, Jehovah told the prophet Moses: "Speak to the sons of Israel, that they may take up a contribution for me: From every man whose heart incites him you people are to take up the contribution of mine." And those making contributions "came, everyone whose heart impelled him." (Exodus 25:2; 35:21) Clearly, one aspect of the figurative heart is motivation - the inner force that urges us to action. Our figurative heart also reflects our emotions and feelings, our desires and affections. A heart can be consumed with anger or filled with fear, torn by grief or elated with joy. (Psalm 27:3; 39:3; John 16:22; Romans 9:2) It can be proud or humble, loving or hateful. - Proverbs 16; Matthew 11:29; 1Peter 1:22.
Accordingly, "heart" is often associated with motivation and emotions, whereas "mind" particularly has to do with intellect. This is how these terms are to be understood when they occur in the same context in the Scriptures. (Matthew 22:37 Philippians 4:7) But the heart and the mind are not mutually exclusive. For instance, Moses urged the Israelites: " You must call back to your heart [or, "must recall to your mind, ] that Jehovah is the true God." (Deuteronomy 4:39) To the scribes scheming against him, Jesus said: " Why are you thinking wicked things in your hearts?" (Matthew 9:4) "Understanding," "knowledge, and "reasoning" can also be associated with the heart. (1Kings 3:12; Proverbs 15:14; Mark 2:6) The figurative heart, therefore, can also involve our intellect - our thoughts or our understanding.
According to one reference work, the figurative heart stands for "the central part in general, the inside, and so for the interior man as manifesting himself in all his various activiities, in his desires, affections, emotions, passions, purposes, his thoughts, perceptions, imaginations, his wisdom, knowledge, skill, his beliefs and his reasonings, his memory and his consciousness." It represents what we really are on the inside, " the secret person of the heart." (1Peter 3:4) That is what Jehovah sees and examines. Hence, David could pray: "Create in me even a pure heart, O God, and put within me a new spirit, a steadfast one." (Psalm 51:10) How may we acquire a pure heart?
Next time: "Apply Your Hearts" To God's Word
The word "heart" occurs about a thousand times in the Holy Scriptures. In most cases it is used in a figurative sense. For example, Jehovah told the prophet Moses: "Speak to the sons of Israel, that they may take up a contribution for me: From every man whose heart incites him you people are to take up the contribution of mine." And those making contributions "came, everyone whose heart impelled him." (Exodus 25:2; 35:21) Clearly, one aspect of the figurative heart is motivation - the inner force that urges us to action. Our figurative heart also reflects our emotions and feelings, our desires and affections. A heart can be consumed with anger or filled with fear, torn by grief or elated with joy. (Psalm 27:3; 39:3; John 16:22; Romans 9:2) It can be proud or humble, loving or hateful. - Proverbs 16; Matthew 11:29; 1Peter 1:22.
Accordingly, "heart" is often associated with motivation and emotions, whereas "mind" particularly has to do with intellect. This is how these terms are to be understood when they occur in the same context in the Scriptures. (Matthew 22:37 Philippians 4:7) But the heart and the mind are not mutually exclusive. For instance, Moses urged the Israelites: " You must call back to your heart [or, "must recall to your mind, ] that Jehovah is the true God." (Deuteronomy 4:39) To the scribes scheming against him, Jesus said: " Why are you thinking wicked things in your hearts?" (Matthew 9:4) "Understanding," "knowledge, and "reasoning" can also be associated with the heart. (1Kings 3:12; Proverbs 15:14; Mark 2:6) The figurative heart, therefore, can also involve our intellect - our thoughts or our understanding.
According to one reference work, the figurative heart stands for "the central part in general, the inside, and so for the interior man as manifesting himself in all his various activiities, in his desires, affections, emotions, passions, purposes, his thoughts, perceptions, imaginations, his wisdom, knowledge, skill, his beliefs and his reasonings, his memory and his consciousness." It represents what we really are on the inside, " the secret person of the heart." (1Peter 3:4) That is what Jehovah sees and examines. Hence, David could pray: "Create in me even a pure heart, O God, and put within me a new spirit, a steadfast one." (Psalm 51:10) How may we acquire a pure heart?
Next time: "Apply Your Hearts" To God's Word
5.19.2006
Aquire A Heart Agreeable To Jehovah
He was tall in stature and attractive in appearance. Upon seeing him, the prophet Samuel was so impressed that he concluded that his eldest son of Jesse was the one God has chosen to be king after Saul. But Jehovah declared : "Do not look at [that son's] appearance and at the height of his stature,for I have rejected him...Mere man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is." Jehovah's choice proved to be Jesse's youngest son, David - "a man agreeable to his heart." - 1 Samuel 13:14; 19:7.
God can read the human heart, as he later made clear: " I, Jehovah, am searching the heart, examining the kidneys, even to give to each one according to his ways, according to the fruitage of his dealings." (Jeremiah 17:10) Yes, " Jehovah is the examiner of hearts." (Proverbs 17:3) What though, is the heart in a man that Jehovah examines? And what can we to to aquire a heart agreeable to him?
He was tall in stature and attractive in appearance. Upon seeing him, the prophet Samuel was so impressed that he concluded that his eldest son of Jesse was the one God has chosen to be king after Saul. But Jehovah declared : "Do not look at [that son's] appearance and at the height of his stature,for I have rejected him...Mere man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is." Jehovah's choice proved to be Jesse's youngest son, David - "a man agreeable to his heart." - 1 Samuel 13:14; 19:7.
God can read the human heart, as he later made clear: " I, Jehovah, am searching the heart, examining the kidneys, even to give to each one according to his ways, according to the fruitage of his dealings." (Jeremiah 17:10) Yes, " Jehovah is the examiner of hearts." (Proverbs 17:3) What though, is the heart in a man that Jehovah examines? And what can we to to aquire a heart agreeable to him?
5.13.2006
Blessings For Kingdom Subjects
Jesus always did things God's way. Hence, instead of choosing an independent course and trying to prop up or improve the existing system of things by political means, he worked hard to advance the interests of God's Kingdom, the only solution to the world's ills. For his loyalty he was rewarded with a glorious throne in heaven as the very King of that Kingdom. What a wonderful prize for his submission to God! - Daniel 7:13, 14.
Millions today who imitate Jesus in putting God's Kingdom first and in submitting to God's will also enjoy a wonderful gift - the privilege of being earthly subjects of God's Kingdom. ( Matthew 6:33) Under its loving rule, they will be raised to human perfection, with the prospect of everlasting life. (Revelation 21:3 ,4) Says 1 John 2:17: "The world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever." With Satan and his followers swept away and the earth transformed into a global paradise free of divisive nationalism, corrupt commercial systems and false religion, what an exquisite joy it will be to remain here forever! - Psalm 37:29; 72:16.
Yes, God's Kingdom is the real key to a truly happy world, and the message announcing it is rightly described as good news.
Jesus always did things God's way. Hence, instead of choosing an independent course and trying to prop up or improve the existing system of things by political means, he worked hard to advance the interests of God's Kingdom, the only solution to the world's ills. For his loyalty he was rewarded with a glorious throne in heaven as the very King of that Kingdom. What a wonderful prize for his submission to God! - Daniel 7:13, 14.
Millions today who imitate Jesus in putting God's Kingdom first and in submitting to God's will also enjoy a wonderful gift - the privilege of being earthly subjects of God's Kingdom. ( Matthew 6:33) Under its loving rule, they will be raised to human perfection, with the prospect of everlasting life. (Revelation 21:3 ,4) Says 1 John 2:17: "The world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever." With Satan and his followers swept away and the earth transformed into a global paradise free of divisive nationalism, corrupt commercial systems and false religion, what an exquisite joy it will be to remain here forever! - Psalm 37:29; 72:16.
Yes, God's Kingdom is the real key to a truly happy world, and the message announcing it is rightly described as good news.
5.06.2006
A Government To Bring Happiness
A third reason why Jesus stayed out of politics is that he knew that at a future set time, God would establish a heavenly government to rule over the earth. The Bible calls this government God's Kingdom, and it was the main theme of Jesus' teaching. (Luke 4:43; Revelation 11:15) Jesus taught his disciples to pray for that Kingdom to come, for only under its rule will 'God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' (Matthew 6:9, 10) You may wonder, 'if this Kingdom is going to rule over the entire earth, what will happen to man-made governments?'
The answer is in Daniel 2:44: " In the days of those kings [ruling at the end of the present system] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin.
And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these [man-made] kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite." Why will God's Kingdom have to "crush" earthly rulerships? Because these insist on perpetuating the God-defying spirit of self-determintaion promoted by Satan back in the garden of Eden. In addition to working against mankind's best interests, those who strive to perpetuate that spirit put themselves on a collision course with the Creator. (Psalm 2:6-12; Revelation 16:14, 16) Hence, we must ask ourselves, 'Are we for or against rule by God?
Whose Sovereignty Will You Choose?
In order to help people make an informed decision about rulership, Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach the "good news of the kingdom...in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all nations" before the end of the present system comes. (Matthew 24:14) Who today are known worldwide for preaching God's Kingdom? Jehovah's Witnesses are .
This journal, in fact, has long carried on its front cover the words "Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom." Today, some six million Witnesses in over 230 lands are helping people to gain an accurate knowledge of that Kingdom.
Next time: Blessings For Kingdom Subjects
A third reason why Jesus stayed out of politics is that he knew that at a future set time, God would establish a heavenly government to rule over the earth. The Bible calls this government God's Kingdom, and it was the main theme of Jesus' teaching. (Luke 4:43; Revelation 11:15) Jesus taught his disciples to pray for that Kingdom to come, for only under its rule will 'God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' (Matthew 6:9, 10) You may wonder, 'if this Kingdom is going to rule over the entire earth, what will happen to man-made governments?'
The answer is in Daniel 2:44: " In the days of those kings [ruling at the end of the present system] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin.
And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these [man-made] kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite." Why will God's Kingdom have to "crush" earthly rulerships? Because these insist on perpetuating the God-defying spirit of self-determintaion promoted by Satan back in the garden of Eden. In addition to working against mankind's best interests, those who strive to perpetuate that spirit put themselves on a collision course with the Creator. (Psalm 2:6-12; Revelation 16:14, 16) Hence, we must ask ourselves, 'Are we for or against rule by God?
Whose Sovereignty Will You Choose?
In order to help people make an informed decision about rulership, Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach the "good news of the kingdom...in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all nations" before the end of the present system comes. (Matthew 24:14) Who today are known worldwide for preaching God's Kingdom? Jehovah's Witnesses are .
This journal, in fact, has long carried on its front cover the words "Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom." Today, some six million Witnesses in over 230 lands are helping people to gain an accurate knowledge of that Kingdom.
Next time: Blessings For Kingdom Subjects
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