Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The Precious Jewel of Thankfulness

Isaiah 21:14 They brought water to him who was thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their bread.

It wasn't long ago we experienced a massive hurricane that devastated parts of the Gulf Coast. I remember having to pack-up a few things, uncertain where I was headed, but knowing I had to evaluate.

Thankfully most did evaluate because the storm was devastating, it not only had high winds, but spawned an number of tornado's that were in some cases worst than the hurricane. I didn't give it much thought knowing that I would have nothing to come home to so I fully planned on starting a new life somewhere else.

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Over the next month or so reports started coming in from neighbor's and friends that my place had survived, but none were sure of the condition? So I would need to go back at some point, but once I got the complete report I knew I needed to return to take care of things and help others.

The first sight was stunning! I could have never imagined the horrific damage? However, what was worst then all the damage was the sadness I felt for my friends and neighbor's and their loss. I had known many of them worked with them over the years, and now many did even have a home, let alone a place to go with their families. Entire building imploded where nothing was left, but sticks and debris, all the trees were gone or they had no leafs on them.

What mixed emotions, I was thankful there was no real damage done to my place while at same times right next to me my neighbor's home was gone!

It was to say the least a very humbling experience, of both joy and tears.

Still there is so much more to this story then destruction, the overwhelming support of people not even from our area pouring in ton's of supplies, food and water, how beautiful and amazing the sacrifices people made for that we didn't even know?

Some families filled up their cars spent days serving free meals from their own money in the very hot Sun, from early morning until late at night tirelessly The power of that outpouring of love from others I will never forget.

There were many heart felt thank you's with tears and hugs. I remember thinking this must be what God is about, this is the best of the human race, both the giver and receiver had such deep appreciation for each others circumstances.
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Sadly, over the months to come the appreciation for those sacrifice faded away into irritation, waiting in long lines for a meal. Sometime the food would run short, human nature started raring its ugly head. The gift of love and kindness became demands within days after the storm had past, and now people started expecting things for free, and those free thing were to be gotten fast and greedily at the cost of others.

The volunteer workers lost their joy, their job became a job, most wanting to go home. A beautiful gifts became an entitlement demanded from people that were giving freely of their time, money and love, the spirit of thankfulness was lost.

A History Replete with Inexplicables

King Solomon the wises of all kings once said: “There is nothing new under the Sun.” Many educated dummies have mocked his profound truth overlooking the facts of human nature, that is, what is in mankind is common in all of us throughout the history of humans race on earth, in every generation.

Proverbs 3:3 Don't let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Israel God's own people enslaved themselves time and again by their own lack of appreciation for the many good thing of God. It is stated in the history of the United States of America that the pilgrims all most perished because they set up a community where no one owned any property everything from fields to crops belonged to all in the community to each family, so all must voluntary their time and labor to contribute to the good of all in the community.

Such freedom to chose to work or not almost caused the pilgrims to perish without food when the winter came.
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Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;

Proverbs 13:24 One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

We see it in families where parents make huge loving sacrifice to give a good life to their children and the child views the parents as little more than a handmaid to cater to their every need on earth having no appreciation for their parents hard works.

Proverbs 29:15 The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

We also find it within marriage couples love and kindness turning into needs and wants, enslaving both them into complaining about their lot in this life forgetting about all they have that others don't have! It seems, it's only when a person looses their freedom, the things they don't appreciate that they start appreciating what they should have been thankful for in the first place.

Jude1:16 These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaks proud things), showing respect of persons to gain advantage.

This conduct is inexplicable, it is contrary to common sense to what we teach our own children, and what we resent in others, but it is as though in each one of us there is a switch that goes off until we enslave ourselves to demanding entitlements from others, and start lacking appreciation for them, and even God!

Jesus Shocked His Apostles

Why shouldn't I have what others have? Ultimately, we can judge each other pretty good, we can see the good and evil in each other.
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Thus, why can't I have what that person has they are no better than me?

James.4:1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members?
4:2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.
4:3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.

That is what Christ disciples thought when they lacked faith, why can't I have more, why shouldn't I have more I love God as much as the other apostles do?

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

Luke 9:46 There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.

Luke 22:24 There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.

You see, that thought happens because the apostle lacked in faith to remove some demon, and/or forgive each other, they witnesses the powerful works that Christ was doing which caused them to feel a lack in themselves (inferior) of not being as good as Christ, which ultimately, caused in them a lack of appreciation for what they had. There own wants clouded their hearts and mind into an unreality. In other words, they became discontented with their spiritual lives while amazingly standing right next to whom? God's, Son, the living Word of God!
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They found their own inadequacies when their faith was put to the test over forgiving each other, rather then admitting they couldn't they want more of what they thought they were entitled to.

They thought the power of their faith was their own treasure they thought they had earned it the that the power of their faith was coming from their own personal goodness. Obviously! Because they were chosen of God by Christ as his disciples.

What else could it be? They were above others, and were special, but now they looked weak in faith because they could not forgive the sins of others 70-times a day, they missed the point that it wasn't about them but about some else gift to them, someone else power beyond what is human, that is, under sin.

It wasn't about their own their own goodness. Now they found the truth about their real nature up to this point they had judged themselves good/worthy enough to have enough faith, at least as much as the next guy! But their self goodness was actually lacking which caused them fear, driving them into themselves further, into selfishness to where they cried out what?

They cry, given me! Give me! Give me More! OK, give me more faith! The demand, the entitlement spirit flood their human nature, the appreciation was gone after seeing all the gift given Christ by his Father YHWY by association with God's own Son. They were seeing the wonders and marvels done by God's power through him, but it quickly fade when their own selfish prided for needs and wants not to feel any inadequacies, but equal with Christ.

Proverbs 30:15 "The leach has two daughters: 'Give, give.' "There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don't say, 'Enough:'

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Ezekiel 4:17 that they may want bread and water, and be dismayed one with another, and pine away in their iniquity.

Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.

Proverbs 14:30 The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.

Proverbs 11:29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

In other words, if we look bad and its not handed to us with no effort, we are being punished, correct, its not fair! God is unrighteous he doesn't appreciate me enough as he does others that is just not fair. I judge, I am as worthy as they the next guy but why do they have more than me? They aren't any better then I am!

Rom. 9:19 You will say then to me, "Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?" 9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"{Isaiah 29:16; 45:9}
9:21 Or hasn't the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?
9:22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction, 9:23 and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory,

However, what they got back from Christ was not what they thought they deserved, now listen to Christ reproof for their lack of appreciation for the precious things of God!

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Matt.17:4 If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
17:6 The Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, 'Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

Matt.17:7 But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say, when he comes in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down at the table,' 17:8 and will not rather tell him, 'Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink'? 17:9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not. 17:10 Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.'"

If A Man Does Not Work Neither Let Him Eat

the inexplicable human nature of sin in all of us is not at all to God, that is, inexplicable. He knows that unless a person works, because they have to, and are expected to, they can't imagine how much someone gives to them until they test themselves against themselves by hard labor, then they will find have appreciate for the hard work of others, the sacrifice they have made of help them and give them things for free!

2 Thessalonians 3:12 Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you;

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You see the greatest event of all times was in the mist of the apostles, the very glory of God the light of the world, but that didn't matter, they had made it all about themselves!

2 Corinthians 13:5 Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don't you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.

It didn't dawn on them that Christ was dying for all mankind, and would suffer ruthlessly at the hands of others, who were lyingly slandering his good name, while carrying their sins, and if that wasn't bad enough the very sins of his apostles, no big deal, right?

Christ coming to earth was for Christ to be their handmaid to wait upon them in their every need and whim of their heart, to make them happy! To bless them with kind thankful words to make them feel good about being a sinners!

Isa.53:1 Who has believed our message? To whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed? 53:2 For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form nor comeliness. When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 53:3 He was despised, and rejected by men; a man of suffering, and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn't respect him.
53:4 Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted.
53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

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Nothing Christ was doing was anymore important then Christ making them feel and look good and be successful, so they could feel God's loved, by the blessing, never allowing them to have a bad feeling. They wanted the faith to push mountain's away of feeling or looking bad in their flesh, allowing them to cast them into the seas and get more rewards and recognition for forgiving others like Christ did, but with no effort, Christ made it look easy, we want easy and glory with no effort.

Isa. 53:7 He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn't open his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he didn't open his mouth.
53:8 He was taken away by oppression and judgment; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living and stricken for the disobedience of my people?

We don't want to suffer in bleeding tears of blood, being hanged on a torture stake. We can't imagine we deserved that treatment we are better then all that, we are chosen of God by Christ himself.

We deserve better treatment and respect like a king on earth that all minister to our needs that we so love. We want only words the smooth words telling us how much God love for us, not his discipline!

Heb.5:7 He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,
5:8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered. 5:9 Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation.

Some of the older translation of the bible uses a much harsh tone, “good for nothing slave”!

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Mark 10:18 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one--God.

The Good For Nothing Slave?

What a put down by Christ, but they probably took it because they knew they could not compete against the Son of God and his powerful works, but not so much when it came from an equal, like another apostles, correct?

Good for nothing, unworthy slave/servant, wow! How could that be, being they were chosen of God? Rich people know that if they want their children to become a good adults, giving back to other, having appreciation for others; don't give them anything for free, make then earn their own way, and suffer the joys and defeats of working.

Heb.12:7 It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn't discipline? 12:8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children.

God was to give them the greatest gift every given on earth or in heaven, but did they deserved it, did they appreciate the pain and suffering a person that never had an evil thought from sin would have to go through to save them? Christ never sinned he would be treated as a evil outcast from society for one thing loving his Father YHWH?

Conversely, they needed to ask were they going to make it all about themselves? About their self importance, about them seeing more than others in Christ, was it about some personal goodness that cause them lack of appreciation for God love?

Were they going to be become givers of God's glory or takers of God's glory as deserving of it?
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Could they suffer not having the glory of men, or the things others have, and be thankful, as unworthy of God undeserved kindness, that is, God's grace, his unmerited kindness, and walk and live in that appreciation all the days of their testing in the flesh on this earth? Yes, could they actually endure to the end rejected by all but God?

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action,{literally, "gird up the waist of your mind"} be sober and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ--

Well, if they wanted to prove faithful, they must have a mind set of an unworthy servant that should not even be given the privilege of working in Master home. A home they did not build, they did nothing worthy of being in Christ by some work they had done, they were invited in b y undeserved love and kindness as an enemy of God found in death and sin, and fighting against all that is of God.

1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1 Peter 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you.

Titus. 3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

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Titus.3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
3:6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior;

There was no obligation on God's part to save them, help them, he did it out of his love, before they even knew him or cared about him. How could they ever have enough faith to forgive anyone when they did even appreciate how unworthy they themselves were?

A disaster does not mean we will maintain an unworthy slave attitude, its either we need help at the moment, or we are seeking the truth, the love of truth so we might honor God. One is about me, the other is about God, and what he had to give up and work so hard at to provide for us so we can come into his household. How much untold human suffering to make a new heavens and earth?

Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

What road do we seeking, the easy one, or the life long hard one? Well, frankly we won't know that until we are tested in our flesh, and if we love God our flesh will fail us, because the faith the apostles were wanted by demands of their selfish flesh was not theirs own, even if they didn't fully realize it? It was the faith of Christ, which they hadn't even understood it wasn't the power of their flesh not even in Christ flesh it was instead the power of God do thing we could never do, or would ever do, in our unworthy flesh.

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
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John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

It was God's power doing powerful works, not Christ, not Christ flesh, not his teachings, not his feeling, not how good or bad he felt carrying the sins of others, but God's power for his glory!

That is why there is nothing new under the Sun in human nature found in sin, that is, the flesh, it always fail short, it always fades in loving kindness, and appreciation, and then it lies about it, and gets angry when being exposed. He hates knowing it no better than others it looks down on. In the Spirit we find out we are all just like all other sinner, no matter what evaluation we have of ourselves.

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Romans 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Conclusion Coming to The Light

We come to the light because we know we fall far short of God's glory we are happy for the discipline that God gives us in our fallen flesh as a child of God.

False religion does not come to the light for God's discipline, it runs from it, and hates it. False religion takes all the good from God's word rewards itself with flattery and lies to other about the truth of it own fallen flesh, a flesh that is corrupted and not of God or in Christ. That does not work in the word for any real success but lying does by falsely boast in our flesh!

Those in false religion spent ever waking moment judging their flesh against others of their faith to justify they have an excuse in not coming to Christ the light for lasting reproof.

They become salesman of words that allows them to hide the truth of their own condition in sin, a flesh that has no good thing dwelling in it for the power to look like a good Christian's. That is the unfettered definition of a weed Christian's not of the light, were every work not in the light is reproved and removed by the light of Christ in us.

Do we love the light, or hate it? If chose to judge the flesh of others to dismiss our own fleshes corruption we are not in the light or in God's unmerited kindness.

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We have made ourselves the problem that can only find darkness of the many plagues found in the power of false religion false god, false religion the lurking place of the demons in the god of the flesh.

John 3:19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.

John 3:20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.

John 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God."

Completed: August 12, 2018

by: Daniel a Slave of Christ Jesus

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