Living Stone Spiritual House

09/12/2021

Avoid Being Deceived
Deception is one of the first events in recorded history. That was when Satan deceived Eve in the garden of Eden. - Genesis 3:13; 1 Timothy 2:14.
Deception is particularly prevalent in the earth today. The Bible warned: "Wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled." - 2 Timothy 3:13.
People are deceived for all kinds of reasons. Tricksters and confidence men (con men) deceive victims to get their money. Some politicians deceive their constituents, determined to stay in power at any cost. People even deceive themselves. Rather than face unpleasant truths, they convince themselves that there is no harm in pursuing dangerous practices, such as smoking, drug abuse, or sexual immorality.
Then there is deception in religious matters. The religious leaders of Jesus' day deceived the people. Jesus said of them:"Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. Let them be. Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." - Matthew 15:13,14.
Moreover, people deceive themselves in religious matters. Proverbs 14:12 states:" There exists a way that is upright before a man, but the ways of death are the end of it afterward."
As in Jesus' time, many today are deceived in religious matters. That is why the apostle Paul said that Satan "has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through." - 2 Corinthians 4:4.
If we are deceived by a swindler (419), we lose our money. If a politician deceives us, we may lose some of our freedom at a result. But if Satan deceives us so that we reject the truth about Jesus Christ, we lose out on everlasting life! So avoid being deceived. Open your mind and heart to the one indisputable source of religious truth, the Bible. - John 17:3.

24/11/2021

24/11/2021

If you face challenges that sap you of joy in life, you may find Hannah's story particularly motivating. - 1 Samuel 1:1-28.
Hannah was deeply troubled by her barrenness, and Peninnah, her rival wife, did everything she could to make Hannah feel worse.
In the face of unkind treatment at home, Hannah turned to Jehovah for comfort. 1 Samuel 1:10,11.
As the months passed, Jehovah answered her prayer; she was pregnant, and gave birth to Samuel.
Hannah then uttered a thanksgiving prayer recorded at 1 Samuel 2:1-10.
She praised Jehovah for his marvelous use of power - his unmatched ability to humble the haughty, to bless the oppressed, and to end life or even save it from death. She praised him for his unique holiness, his justice, and his faithfulness. With good reason Hannah could say: "There is no rock like our God." Jehovah is completely reliable and unchanging, a refuge for all the oppressed and downtrodden who turn to him for help.
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time." - 1 Peter 5:6.

17/11/2021

GAINING TREASURES - By A Lying Tongue
These days, lying and cheating are often viewed as legitimate and eminently successful business tactics.
This was true in Bible times.The Psalmist Asaph wrote of those who "have increased their means of maintenance," evidently by fraudulent schemes. Such ones can appear to be "at ease indefinitely" because of the wealth their dishonesty has brought them. - Psalm 73:8,12.
Christians today, however, must avoid "loving dishonest gain and resorting to shady or dishonest business maneuvers. - 1 Peter 5:2.
Proverbs 21:6, warns:"Getting treasures by a lying tongue is like a vanishing v***r, a deadly trap." Yes, any "treasures" obtained by lying and fraud are bound to be temporary as "a vanishing v***r." The treasures of the wicked one will be of no benefit" in the long run. - Proverbs 10:2.
Really, the lying one is "seeking death" by pursuing a death - dealing course. His life could be cut short prematurely as his lying schemes backfire. - Esther 7:10.
Or at the very latest, his life will be terminated on God's day of judgement.

17/11/2021

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. - John 10:9.

15/11/2021

Hope in Jehovah; be courageous and strong of heart. Yes, hope in Jehovah. - Psalm 27:14.

15/11/2021

COURAGE
To face any serious challenge, you need courage. If you feel that you lack that quality, what can you do?
Remember that courage does not depend on your size, strength, or ability. Consider the example of young David when he faced Goliath. Compared with that giant, David was smaller, weaker, and poorly armed. David did not even have a sword. Yet, he was full of courage. David boldly ran to fight that arrogant giant. Why was David so courageous? He strongly believed that Jehovah was with him. 1 Samuel 17:37,45-47.
David did not concentrate on how big Goliath was compared with him. Instead, he focused on how tiny Goliath was compared with Jehovah.
What do we learn from this account? We will feel courageous if we are confident that Jehovah is with us and if we are certain that our enemies are tiny in comparison to Almighty God. - 2 Chronicles 20:15; Psalm 16:8.

15/11/2021

In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage!I have conquered the world. - John 16:33.

10/11/2021

As you come to him, a Living Stone rejected by men but chosen, precious to God. You yourselves as living stones are being built up into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, in order to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. - 1Peter 2:4,5.
So you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the holy ones and are members of the household of God, and you have been built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, while Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone. In union with him the whole building, being harmoniously joined together, is growing into a holy temple for Jehovah.
In union with him you too are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit. - Ephesians 2:19-22.

10/11/2021

Jesus is Lord. - Romans 10:9.