DAILY TEXT, From today Saturday April 15, 2023, Get your acts of evil out of my sight; stop doing bad things (Is. 1:16).

DAILY TEXT, Saturday April 15, 2023, Get your acts of evil out of my sight; stop doing bad things (Is. 1:16).

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2023

Saturday April 15

Get your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing bad things (Is. 1:16).

The apostle Paul used a very powerful image to help us understand that making the necessary changes is a very serious matter. He said that we must nail the old personality to the stake (Rom. 6:6). Jesus was willing to be nailed to the tree because he wanted to please Jehovah. Similarly, if we want to please God, we must be willing to break with attitudes and customs that he hates. Only if we do this will we have a clean conscience and the hope of living forever (John 17:3; 1 Pet. 3:21). Jehovah will not change his standards to please us. Rather, it is we who must change to conform to his standards (Is. 1:17, 18; 55:9). Even after you are baptized, you will still have to fight evil desires. Ask Jehovah for help and lean on the holy spirit, not on your own strength (Gal. 5:22; Philip. 4: 6). In order to take off the old personality and not put it back on, you have to try very hard. w22.03 6 pars. 15-17.

What can the Word of God help you do?

Use the Bible for a good self-exam. God's Word is like a mirror, so it can help you examine how you think, speak, and act (James 1:22-25). His teacher and other experienced brothers can guide him. How? Using the Bible to help him identify his strengths and weaknesses, and teaching him to look for Biblical information to help him overcome bad habits. And Jehovah is always ready to lend a helping hand. No one better than him to help him, because he knows what is in his heart (Prov. 14:10; 15:11). Therefore, he adopts the habit of praying to him and studying his Word every day.

What do you learn from Elie's experience?

Convince yourself that Jehovah's standards are the best. Everything Jehovah tells us is for our good. Those who respect his standards improve their self-esteem and achieve a life with meaning and true happiness (Ps. 19: 7-11). On the other hand, those who ignore them suffer the consequences of letting themselves be carried away by the works of the flesh. Take a look at what a man named Elie has to say about what happens when God's standards are rejected. Although his parents loved Jehovah, as a teenager he left with bad friends. He began to use drugs, lead an immoral life, and steal. He says that his character worsened and he became more and more violent. He confesses: "In short, he did everything that I had been taught that a Christian should not do." But he did not forget what his parents had taught him as a child. So he eventually went back to studying the Bible. He worked hard to give up his vices and was baptized in the year 2000. How has following Jehovah's standards benefited you in your life? He says: “I have peace of mind and a clear conscience.”c As Elie's case shows, those who reject Jehovah's standards do harm to themselves. But he is willing to help them change.

What things does Jehovah hate?

Learn to hate what Jehovah hates (Ps. 97:10). The Bible says that Jehovah hates “proud eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.”—Prov. 6:16, 17. He also “hates violent and deceitful people” (Ps. 5:6). Jehovah is so repulsed by these attitudes and actions that he put an end to all the wicked of Noah's day because they had filled the earth with violence (Gen. 6:13). Another thing that Jehovah hates is what he mentioned through the prophet Malachi: someone betraying his innocent spouse so that the marriage ends in divorce. God rejects the worship of those who do this and will hold them accountable (Mal. 2:13-16; Heb. 13:4).

What does it mean to hate what is bad?

Jehovah commands us: “Hate what is bad” (Rom. 12:9). The word hate suggests a strong emotional reaction. It implies feeling aversion, disgust or rejection for something. Imagine how we would react if we were asked to eat a plate of rotten food. Just thinking about it would turn our stomachs. We should feel the same way just thinking about doing something that Jehovah says is wrong.

Why should we be careful what we think?

Be careful what you think. What we think influences what we do. That is why Jesus taught that we should reject any thought that could lead us to commit serious sin (Matt. 5:21, 22, 28, 29). Don't we want to please our heavenly Father? In that case, it is very important that we immediately reject any bad thoughts.

What do our words say about us, and what questions should we ask ourselves?

Control your words. Jesus said, "The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart" (Matt. 15:18). That's how it is. Our words say a lot about who we are inside. Ask yourself: “Do I always tell the truth, even if it hurts me to do so? If I'm married, am I careful not to flirt with other people? Do I completely avoid immoral conversations? Do I respond calmly when someone annoys me?" Spend time thinking about these questions. Words are in our personality like the seams in a garment. If we strive to avoid name-calling, lies, and immoral talk, the old personality will no longer have "seams" to hold it up.

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