MON UPDATE (09:05,25,50am; 10:01am; 11:33,37am) Hello! Added to (6) Eternal Express, words from the letter from James! This is EE (3) titled Maintain Faithfulness to God, Needing His Support and includes an explanation of James 4:4. Update to EE (3), under "FAITH ESSENTIAL...".

WED (UPDATE 10:33,56) Hi! Added Deuteronomy 04G, under (5) Mosaic Law Highlights. I've also added now another Eternal Express post, on 2Timothy!

_______(5) Mosaic Law Highlights

DEUTERONOMY 04F

After declaring that Jehovah GOD would not neglect His purpose for the human family, Moses continues with how He confirmed to Israel His identity as "the true God":

“Ask, now, about the former days before your time, from the day when God created man on the earth; search from one end of the heavens to the other end of the heavens. Has anything so great ever happened or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33 Have any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of the fire the way you have heard it and kept on living? 34 Or has God ever attempted to take for himself a nation out of the midst of another nation along with judgments, with signs, with miracles, with war, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with terrifying deeds, as Jehovah your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? 35 You yourselves have been shown these things so you will know that Jehovah is the true God; there is no other besides him. 36 He made you hear his voice from the heavens to correct you, and on the earth he made you see his great fire, and his words you heard from out of the fire."

TRUST IN "THE TRUE GOD." The indication may be taken in verse 32 that the search "from one end of the heavens to the other end" suggests a unique privilege for those on planet Earth--that Jehovah GOD has dealt with humans here like no other people in the Universe. The evidence is declared that should be seen as indicative of God's authority as Universal ruler. Jehovah's judgments as brought upon Egypt for enslaving His people, and even having their newborn males killed by the king's order by the hands of Egyptians. (Exodus 1:22). No wonder the final plague involved their own firstborn, requiring obedience to God's explicit instructions for each one's salvation. A great crowd of Egyptians chose to leave Egypt along with Israel, to worship this "true God," after signs and miracles proved the gods of Egypt to be false, unable to save. Thus Jehovah proved Himself "with judgments, with signs, with miracles, with war, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with terrifying deeds." May we likewise place trust in Jehovah, loving Him, this awesome Creator and God, the one alone for man to worship, who loves His human creation deeply, and is pained by mistreatment, especially of those loving and serving Him in truth. Isaiah 12:2 says: "Look! God is my salvation. I will trust and feel no dread; For Jah Jehovah is my strength and my might, And he has become my salvation.”

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DEUTERONOMY 04G

Last time, we considered Moses' compilation of evidence that Jehovah provided to Israel that they and others might know that He is "the true God." Moses now again re-emphasizes this, explaining why Israel experienced all of this:

“Because he loved your forefathers and has chosen their offspring after them, you were brought out of Egypt in his presence by his great power. 38 From before you he drove away nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in and give you their land as an inheritance, as it is today. 39 Know, therefore, on this day, and take it to heart that Jehovah is the true God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. There is no other."

"HE LOVED YOUR FOREFATHERS." Notice the primary reason: "He loved your forefathers." Genesis outlines, with some detail, the lives of Abraham, also his miraculously born son Isaac (a birth that only Jehovah could have caused, in their old age), and Jacob, becoming known as Israel, and his children, primarily sons, including his beloved son Joseph, who was sold into slavery in Egypt, and eventually became great in power there, to provide provisions during the time of a prolonged famine. These men loved Jehovah greatly, had faith, or deep trust in Him, and demonstrated this by their loyalty and obedience. Jehovah thus came to love them dearly,  and made the promises that their offspring would multiply like the stars of the heavens, and the grains of sand on the seashore for multitude. (Genesis 22:17). Also, the chosen seed to restore God's purpose for earth would come through their lineage. The next verse reminds Israel of what all this should move them to do:

"You must keep his instructions and his commandments that I am commanding you today, in order that it may go well with you and your sons after you, so that you may long remain in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you.”

SIMILAR LOYAL OBEDIENCE. Thus their, and our, endless life in peace and happiness is dependent upon Jehovah and our personal loyalty and obedience to Him. Jehovah is "the happy God," and only gives us such loving guidance and instruction out of His great love for us--we show our appreciation to Him, loving Him in return, by heeding such instruction (1TImo 1:11).We should also acknowledge His son, having provided a ransom for man's forgiveness, and setting an example in loyal devotion to God, offering helpful counsel to godly obedience. As 1John 5:3 states: "For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome." Thus, God's commands and standards as set forth in His word are realistic, reasonable, reliable, and rewarding. Encouraging deep trust in God, Hebrews 11:6 says "Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." Thus may we come to treasure God's loving instruction leading to our peace and happiness endlessly, strengthening our loyalty and integrity to God--holding true to Him--which involves the training and keeping of an honest conscience before God, trained by His trustworthy word, the Bible.

_______(6) Eternal Express

TRUTHFUL DOCTRINE, WITH LOVE AS THE OBJECTIVE. 1Timothy 1:3-5 The apostle Paul writes against teaching false doctrine, paying attention to false stories, and such things. Notice the counsel and it's purpose, or objective: "Just as I encouraged you to stay in Ephʹe·sus when I was about to go to Mac·e·doʹni·a, so I do now, in order for you to command certain ones not to teach different doctrine, 4 nor to pay attention to false stories and to genealogies. Such things end up in nothing useful but merely give rise to speculations rather than providing anything from God in connection with faith. 5 Really, the objective of this instruction is love out of a clean heart and out of a good conscience and out of faith without hypocrisy." What a fine aim! To avoid confusion, Paul's reference to genealogies did not mean we can't be interested in our family history--but this shouldn't become an obsession, as if our self-worth depends upon it. God loves each of us, and wants to bring back our loved ones where we can welcome them into God's Paradisaic new world of peace and righteousness!

BECOMING UNITED SPIRITUALLY. May our hearts be willing to embrace the truth of God as we come to see and appreciate it, as there were not many different Christian denominations in the first century. Rather, as Paul writes at 1Corinthians 1:10, "Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you should all speak in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you may be completely united in the same mind and in the same line of thought." It follows, then, that even 12 tribes of Christianity can become united spiritually. Thus there is a truth of God's word, inspired by Him, that we can embrace, treasure, and teach. (2Timo 3:16-17). The goal is true love in purity, holding a properly trained conscience, and genuine trust in God and other faithful ones, with due sincerity and faithfulness. May these lead us to true happiness, serving God whole-souled, if possible now alongside a loyal marriage partner, and other loved ones and friends, into an eternal Paradise.

EVERY FAMILY. 1Timothy 5:1,2 say: “5 Do not severely criticize an older man. On the contrary, appeal to him as a father, to younger men as brothers, 2 to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters, with all chasteness.” Thus, the relatively young man Timothy was to treat all in the congregation with respect, as toward family members, treating younger women “as sisters, with all chasteness.” Genuine obedience to God along with such respectful treatment of one another with purity of heart and motives makes possible a truly united loving brotherhood worldwide as members of God’s family of worshippers. Of course, every family owes it's name to "the Father," Jehovah. Ephesians 3:14-15 says: "For this reason I bend my knees to the Father, 15 to whom every family in heaven and on earth owes its name." But how much more God embraces as His children those loving Him and accepting His guidance in life (2Cori 6:16-18). Psalm 133:1 says: “133 Look! How good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!” And 1Peter 1:22 agrees, saying “22 Now that you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth with unhypocritical brotherly affection as the result, love one another intensely from the heart."

DEVOTION TO GOD. 1Timothy 6 mentions that the genuine teaching of true Christianity accords with "godly devotion," which involves a close personal attachment to God, sincerely drawn to Him and therefore submissive and obedient to His loving guidance and word. v.3: "If any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, he is puffed up [with pride], not understanding anything,...thinking that godly devotion is a means of gain. To be sure, it is a means of great gain, [this] godly devotion along with contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out. So having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things."

KEEP MONEY IN IT'S PLACE. As we come to have true love in our hearts for God and others, we realize this is more important than loving money or the things money can buy, not that there's anything wrong with having material possessions, those in agreement with God's will, and especially those that assist us in pursuing the will of God, such as those enabling us to communicate with loved ones and friends. Also, for instance, family heads should be determined to rely upon God to provide for all the needs of his family. Having an inordinate love for money, however, leads to calamity, as God's inspired word continues in v.9-10: "But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains."

Thus, let's keep money in it's place, and treasure the relationships we can have with God and others, as among the most important things in life.

___Eternal Express (2)

CHRISTIAN SMALL LETTER SELECTION

GENUINE LOVE AND AFFECTION. 2Timothy 1:1-5 reveals the brotherly affection that is possible between faithful Christian servants of God, as Paul had with Timothy, loved like a son. Notice Paul’s expressions of affection and love for Timothy: “1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will according to the promise of the life that is through Christ Jesus, 2 to Timothy, a beloved child: May you have undeserved kindness, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.3 I am grateful to God, to whom I am rendering sacred service as my forefathers did, and with a clean conscience, never ceasing to remember you in my supplications night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I am longing to see you, so that I may get filled with joy. 5 For I recall your unhypocritical faith, which dwelled first in your grandmother Loʹis and your mother Euʹnice, but which I am confident is also in you.”

AN UNHYPOCRITICAL FAITH. May we likewise come to have an unhypocritical faith, sincerely applying our hearts to all the guidance we receive from God and Christ, treasuring purity of heart, having upright motives in our dealings with others. What a privilege to serve the true God among His clean Christian servants earth-wide! As we change from a past sinful course, may we ever appreciate God’s mercy to allow us a place with His people. May we never take this for granted! As 1Peter 1:14-16 says “14 As obedient children, stop being molded by the desires you formerly had in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all your conduct, 16 for it is written: “You must be holy, because I am holy.”” God’s holiness means He is never abusive or mistreating humans,  but dealing with the utmost love and interest in the welfare of all humanity, doing what benefits all the most. May we appreciate and imitate God’s purity of heart, humbly representing God well before others, upholding His great name, or reputation, as the loving and just Father that He is.

COURAGEOUS LOVE, INTEGRITY. 2Timothy 1:7 says "For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but one of power and of love and of soundness of mind." Paul continues to Timothy, "So do not become ashamed either of the witness about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but take your part in suffering adversity for the good news by relying on the power of God." For a time, Paul was a prisoner because he refused to offer a bribe to the Roman official in charge of him. As Paul says in Hebrews 13:18, "we trust we have an honest conscience, as we wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things." God will bless and reward such integrity.

GENUINE LOVE FOR GOD. 2Timothy 3:1-5 reads like a newspaper, of the attitudes of people that would become prominent in "the last days" during "critical times hard to deal with." These would include men that would be "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty,...having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power." We are to guard our associations with such persons, while still loving them and seeking to help them spiritually. Jesus said the greatest commandment of the Law was to love God with our whole heart, soul (life), mind, and strength, and then our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:36-40) We should love God first, who can supply us with the things we need and even things we enjoy, but especially the things that enable us to live in harmony with His will, caring for our loved ones, friends, and neighbors, encouraging them. God wants us to enjoy life, but not to love money or possessions more than Him.

LOVE FOR GOD'S WORD. 2Timothy 3:16-17 says "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." Reproving involves strong correction in a matter, and "setting things straight" is putting things in good order again. Another translation puts it this way: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work." (NLT).

___Eternal Express (3)

CHRISTIAN SMALL LETTER SELECTION

LOOK TO GOD TO ENDURE TRIALS FAITHFULLY. James 1 opens with encouragement not to view our trials negatively. Remember that God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, but makes the way out for us to be able to endure it. (1Cor 10:13). So we can have a measure of happiness in our trials, trusting God for the strength and wisdom to endure faithfully, to cope with it until it has passed. This view allows us to grow in endurance, a vital quality en route to the gaining of true Christian love and adulthood. Trust and plea to God if the truth is not yet being understood. According to James 1:5, if we're lacking wisdom, keep asking God, for He gives generously to all. We need godly wisdom to cope with the many trials we may experience in this life. As Jesus said, "Keep asking and you will receive."

TRUSTING GOD, NEEDING HIS GUIDANCE. James 4:4 shows we need to be cautious not to be merely pleasers of men, concerned only with what people think, ignoring God's guidance. James called some Christians "adulteresses" for seeking friendship with the part of the world that's faith-deprived, affected by wrong thinking, largely those believing in no God. Congregations of true Christians, or even individuals, were not to align themselves with any corrupting practice, influence, or system. James 4:4 says "Adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is making himself an enemy of God." What a serious warning! Those ignoring the evidence of God's love in His creative works are not only mistaken, but missing the benefits of His law for themselves and others. Drawing close to those who refuse to consider such evidence can corrupt our thinking, lead to serious sin, and will not have God's blessing, although we may still lovingly seek to encourage such ones to consider changing their view. As Paul illustrated at Hebrews 3:4: "Of course, every house is constructed by someone, but the one who constructed all things is God." (For further explanation, see the article "The Divine Gift of God's Word" elsewhere on this website, or listen to the podcast on Spotify.com, though the article there is not yet complete. It might be found with the keyword "flasep")

FAITH ESSENTIAL FOR GOD'S BLESSING. They are missing the essential faith, or thankful trust, in God and His Son that is vital to pleasing God and receiving His blessing and approval. As Hebrews 11:6 says, "Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." Recall the bad report that 10 of the 12 spies of Israel came back with when sent to spy out the Promised Land. Only two faithfully trusted in Jehovah, and gave a good report, Joshua and Caleb, seeking to encourage Israel to trust in Jehovah to give them the victory over their enemies. Because all Israel largely failed to trust in Jehovah, and accepted the faithless negative report of the 10, they lost out on entrance into the Promised Land, and, died in the Wilderness before being able to enter. We have these lessons now to learn from, as Joshua and Caleb did enter the Promised Land afterward. The truth is not always the most popular view, although it can be and we hope it becomes so! Let's be determined to trust in Jehovah and do things His way, that we can look forward to His many blessings, both now and everlastingly.

LOYALLY ENDURE TRIALS, HOPING IN GOD. James 5:10-11 says "Brothers, take as a pattern of the suffering of evil and the exercising of patience the prophets who spoke in the name of Jehovah. 11 Look! We consider happy those who have endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome Jehovah gave, that Jehovah is very tender in affection and merciful."

Thus we may have to suffer evil at times, enduring hurtful speech from unkind or disobedient ones, but if we maintain self-control, our mild gentle responses may quiet such things, and be blessed by God. We want to maintain love in our hearts, for God and all others. May we endure our trials faithfully, trusting in God's favor and the joy set before us, just as Jesus, God's firstborn Son, whose death ransomed mankind, endured faithfully by hoping in the joy "set before HIM" to be and remain the one chosen by God to rule God's Kingdom, and restore humans to spiritual completeness, true peace and happiness, and eternal life! Hebrews 12:2 says: "as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured [impalement], despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." It is hoped that this instruction truly encourages you!