‘Keep Awake’

“The north wind brings a downpour,
And a gossiping tongue brings an angry face.” Prov. 25:23.

***

“Do not associate with one who loves to gossip.”
Revealing confidential talk”. “A slanderer” Prov. 20:19.

spewing words not ought.
To everyone’s disgrace…

“The trustworthy person*
keeps a confidence.*” Prov. 11:13.

Peace, unity, brotherly affection,
yes, love its ensuing evidence…

To finish the race:

“Brothers, I do not yet consider myself
as having taken hold of it;

but one thing is certain:

Forgetting the things behind
and stretching forward

to the things ahead”. Phil. 3:13.

Endeavoring to assist each other
to keep apace… not lay abed.

***

“‘Man must live,
not on bread alone,

but on every word
that comes from Jehovah’s mouth.’” Matt. 4:4.

Be daily fed…

So: ““‘You must not go around
spreading slander

among your people.

You must not stand up against the life*
of your fellow man.*

I am Jehovah.” Lev. 19:16.

***

“O you who love Jehovah,
hate what is bad.

He is guarding the lives*
of his loyal ones;

He rescues them from the hand*

of the wicked.” Ps. 97:10.

***

“Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar then declared:

“Praised be the God of Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach,
and A·bedʹne·go,

who sent his angel and rescued his servants.

They trusted in him
and went against the command of the king

and were willing to die*

rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God.” Dan. 3:28.

***

Therefore: “Pay attention to yourselves
that your hearts never become weighed down

with overeating and heavy drinking
and anxieties of life,*

and suddenly that day be instantly upon you
as a snare.

For it will come upon all those dwelling
on the face of the whole earth.

Keep awake, then,

all the time making supplication

that you may succeed in escaping
all these things that must occur

and in standing before the Son of man.”” Luke 21:34-36.

***

““Therefore, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing
that causes desolation, as spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place

(let the reader use discernment),

then let those in Ju·deʹa
begin fleeing to the mountains.” Matt. 24:15, 16.

“And arms* will stand up,
proceeding from him;

and they will profane the sanctuary, the fortress,
and remove the constant feature.*

“And they will put in place the disgusting thing that causes desolation.” Dan. 11:31.

““And from the time that the constant feature*
has been removed

and the disgusting thing that causes desolation
has been put in place,

there will be 1, 290 days.

“Happy is the one who keeps in expectation*
and who arrives at the 1, 335 days!” Dan. 12:11, 12.

The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself.​—Prov. 22:3.

Some dangers that we must avoid include flirting, heavy drinking, overeating, engaging in hurtful speech, as well as viewing violent entertainment, pornography, and similar things. (Ps. 101:3) The Devil is constantly looking for opportunities to damage our friendship with Jehovah. (1 Pet. 5:8) If we are not watchful, Satan can plant in our mind and heart seeds of envy, dishonesty, greed, hatred, haughtiness, and resentment. (Gal. 5:19-21) If we do not take immediate steps to uproot them, they will continue to grow like a poisonous plant and cause trouble. (Jas. 1:14, 15) One subtle danger is bad association. We must remember that we will be strongly influenced by those with whom we choose to spend our time. (1 Cor. 15:33) If we pay attention to ourselves, we will avoid unnecessary association with those who do not live by Jehovah’s standards. (Luke 21:34; 2 Cor. 6:15) We will see the danger and steer clear of it.

Photo credit:  © 49 mins ago, Lucretia McCloud    society • sad • teen • spiritual • hope • love