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[Paul] reasoned with them from the Scriptures.—Acts 17:2.
No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him.—John 6:44.
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Consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.—2 Pet. 3:15.
Jehovah’s
qualities of patience and long-suffering would scarcely have come so
prominently to the fore had it not become necessary for him to deal
with human imperfections, sins, and shortcomings. Jehovah’s
willingness to do so for thousands of years demonstrates that he
possesses these marvelous qualities to a perfect degree, and for that
we should be most grateful. We are all sinners, and we all stumble
many times. (Jas. 3:2; 1 John 1:8, 9) How grateful we
should be that Jehovah is willing to forgive “in a large way”!
(Isa. 55:7) Consider also this fact: Having been born as imperfect
sinners, we are in a position to experience the profound joy we feel
when God forgives us our errors. (Ps. 51:5, 9, 17) Personally
experiencing that heartwarming characteristic of Jehovah strengthens
our love for him and encourages us to follow his example in our
dealings with others.—Col. 3:13. w10
1/15 4:15, 16
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.—Matt. 12:34.
How
can we demonstrate our love of God in response to all that he has
done for us? The inspired answer is significant: “This is what the
love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his
commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) Yes, love of
Jehovah God motivates us to observe his commandments. That is one
reason we bear witness about his name and Kingdom, which benefits
others. Doing that out of our heart’s abundance is an evidence that
we observe God’s commandments with a pure motive. Our brothers
around the globe persevere in observing God’s commandments despite
facing apathy and outright rejection of the Kingdom message. They do
not let up in their efforts to accomplish their ministry fully.
(2 Tim. 4:5) Likewise, we are moved to share knowledge of God
with others as well as to observe all his other commands. w09
12/15 4:7, 8
Keep testing whether you are in the faith, keep proving what you yourselves are.—2 Cor. 13:5.
By
being “on fire with the Spirit,” we can demonstrate increased
boldness in our house-to-house ministry and when witnessing
informally. (Rom. 12:11, The
Bible—An
American
Translation)
What if we have lost our zeal for the ministry or our fervor for it
is not what it used to be? Then an honest self-examination is in
order. Ask yourself: ‘Am I still aglow with the spirit? Do I pray
to Jehovah for his spirit? Do my prayers show that I rely upon him to
do his will? Do they contain words of appreciation for the ministry
entrusted to us? How are my personal study habits? How much time do I
take to meditate on what I read and hear? How involved am I in
congregation meetings?’ Reflecting on questions such as these can
help you identify areas of weakness and take corrective measures. w10
2/15 1:14, 16
His enemy came and oversowed weeds in among the wheat.—Matt. 13:25.
Jesus
tells us that the enemy “is the Devil.” The weeds are described
as “the sons of the wicked one.” (Matt. 13:38, 39) In a
literal sense, the weeds that Jesus referred to were probably the
bearded darnel. This poisonous plant closely resembles wheat in its
early stages before it reaches maturity. What a fitting picture of
imitation Christians, those who claim to be sons of the Kingdom but
do not produce genuine fruitage! These hypocritical Christians who
claim to be followers of Christ are really part of the “seed” of
Satan the Devil. (Gen. 3:15) Jesus did not say that the wheat would
become weeds. So this illustration does not portray genuine
Christians who fall away from the truth. Rather, it points to a
deliberate effort on the part of Satan to corrupt the Christian
congregation by introducing wicked people into it. By the time that
the last apostle, John, was old, this apostasy was clearly
evident.—2 Pet. 2:1-3; 1 John 2:18. w10
3/15 3:5, 7
Let your utterance be always with graciousness, seasoned with salt.—Col. 4:6.
Paul
was specifically referring to the way we should talk to those “on
the outside,” that is, those who are not our Christian brothers.
(Col. 4:5) Surely, if nonbelievers deserve respect when we speak to
them, how much more so do our friends inside the congregation! Good
friends value each other’s opinion, so communication between them
needs to be both gracious and forthright. Wise King Solomon wrote:
“Oil and incense are what make the heart rejoice, also the
sweetness of one’s companion due to the counsel of the soul.”
(Prov. 27:9) Is that how you view any counsel you receive from a
friend? (Ps. 141:5) If a friend expresses concern about some course
of action that you are taking, how do you react? Do you view the
comments as an act of loving-kindness, or do you take offense? w09
10/15 4:17, 18
They with one accord raised their voices to God.—Acts 4:24.
Think
about your own prayers. Do they reflect your keen interest in
Jehovah’s Kingdom, in the doing of his will, and in the
sanctification of his holy name? (Matt. 6:9, 10) They should.
Because of persecution or other trials, prayer often includes pleas
for help to serve Jehovah with courage. When the Sanhedrin ordered
Peter and John to stop ‘teaching upon the basis of Jesus’ name,’
those apostles courageously refused to quit. (Acts 4:18-20) After
being released, they told fellow believers what had happened. Then
all those present petitioned God for help in speaking his word with
boldness. How thrilling it must have been when that prayer was
answered, for they were “filled with the holy spirit and were
speaking the word of God with boldness”! (Acts 4:24-31) As a
result, multitudes became worshippers of Jehovah. Prayer can also
strengthen you to declare the good news boldly. w09
11/15 2:21, 22
Your father and your mother will rejoice.—Prov. 23:25.
The
value of training our children to be well-mannered cannot be
overestimated. To get along well as adults, young ones need to learn
the proper way to greet visitors, to answer the telephone, and to eat
a meal with others. They should be helped to understand why they
ought to hold doors for people, show kindness to the elderly and
sick, and offer to help those carrying heavy packages. They need to
understand the importance of sincerely saying “please,” “thank
you,” “you are welcome,” “may I help you?,” and “I am
sorry.” The best way to train children to be courteous is by
setting a good example. Thus, children will be able to make friends
and will maintain peace with others. They will be well-equipped to
work with employers and coworkers. Moreover, children who are
courteous, mannerly, and upright will bring their parents joy and
satisfaction.—Prov. 23:24. w09
11/15 5:16-18
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.—Rom. 3:23.
Jehovah
has the entire universe under his authority. He lacks nothing and
needs no one. However, Jehovah must have felt some disappointment
when one of his spirit sons rebelled and became Satan. God must have
been affected later when some other angels joined in the rebellion.
Think, too, of the pain felt by God when Adam and Eve, the
masterpieces of his physical creation, turned their backs on him.
Since then, billions of their descendants have rejected Jehovah’s
authority. For some 6,000 years, Jehovah has observed acts of
idolatry, violence, murder, and sexual perversion. (Gen. 6:5, 6,
11, 12) Furthermore, he has heard despicable lies and
blasphemies. Even God’s own true worshippers have on occasion hurt
his feelings. (Ps. 78:40, 41) The pain that Jehovah feels when
his people reject him is certainly great. (Jer. 3:1-10) Clearly, bad
things happen, and Jehovah feels deeply distressed when they do.—Isa.
63:9, 10. w09
12/15 2:4, 5
Any weapon whatever that will be formed against you will have no success.—Isa. 54:17.
Just
as we constantly have to protect ourselves from physical dangers,
such as accidents, criminals, or infections, so we must act
continuously to protect ourselves from spiritual dangers. Hence, we
should regularly take advantage of the guidance that Jehovah provides
for us in our publications and at congregation meetings and
assemblies. We seek the advice of the elders. And do we not benefit
from the variety of qualities displayed by our Christian brothers and
sisters? Indeed, our association with the congregation helps us to
become wise. (Prov. 13:20; 1 Pet. 4:10) We have no reason to
doubt that Jehovah can protect us from anything that could cause us
to lose his approval. (Rom. 8:38, 39) He has protected the
congregation from powerful religious and political enemies whose aim
has usually been, not to kill us, but to separate us from our holy
God. w10
1/15 2:14, 15
Accept . . . the sword of the spirit, that is, God’s word.—Eph. 6:17.
Applying
the principles found in God’s Word makes it possible for us to get
along well with others. (Matt. 7:12; Phil. 2:3, 4) With the road
ahead figuratively well-lit, we are able to take into consideration
the long-term effects of our decisions. (1 Tim. 6:9) The
Scriptures also foretell God’s purpose for the future, helping us
to pursue a lifestyle that is consistent with that purpose. (Matt.
6:33; 1 John 2:17, 18) What a meaningful life a person can
enjoy if he allows godly principles to guide his life! Think, too, of
what a powerful weapon the Bible is in our spiritual warfare. (Eph.
6:12) Paul called God’s word “the sword of the spirit.” When
presented effectively, the Bible’s message can free people from
spiritual bondage to Satan. It is a sword that is saving lives
instead of destroying them. Should we not strive to wield it
skillfully? w10
2/15 2:5, 6
May the God who gives hope fill you with all joy and peace by your believing, that you may abound in hope with power of holy spirit.—Rom. 15:13.
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It is not you whom they have rejected, but it is I whom they have rejected from being king over them.—1 Sam. 8:7.
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If you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!—Luke 11:13.
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Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.—Rom. 10:13
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Are you proud to bear the name of your heavenly Father? Do you help others to come to know that holy name? A woman in Paris, France, heard that Jehovah’s Witnesses knew the name of God, so she asked the next Witness she met to show her that name in her Bible. When she read Psalm 83:18, the impact was profound. She began to study the Bible and is now a faithful sister serving in another land. So be proud to bear God’s name and, in imitation of Jesus, to make that precious name manifest to all. w10 1/15 3:13, 14
Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will render an account; that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you.—Heb. 13:17.
A way that all of us can prove that we are friends of Christ is by cooperating with the direction provided by congregation elders. These men are appointed by holy spirit under Christ’s direction. (Eph. 5:23) At times, we may find it a challenge to obey the Bible-based direction given to us by the local elders. We are likely aware of their imperfections, and this may distort our view of their counsel. Still, Christ, the Head of the congregation, is pleased to use these imperfect men. Therefore, the way we react to their authority directly influences our friendship with Christ. When we overlook the faults of the elders and joyfully follow their direction, we prove our love for Christ. w09 10/15 3:18
Humble yourselves in the eyes of Jehovah, and he will exalt you.—Jas. 4:10.
The Bible contains excellent counsel on resolving conflicts. (Matt. 5:23, 24; 18:15-17; Eph. 4:26, 27) Unless we humbly apply that counsel, however, making peace will be difficult. Waiting for the other person to show humility is not the solution when we too are holding the key of humility in our hand. If our initial attempts to make peace seem unfruitful for some reason, we should not give up hope. The other person may need time to sort out his feelings. Joseph’s brothers dealt treacherously with Joseph. It was a long time before they faced him as prime minister of Egypt. Finally, however, they had a change of heart and begged for forgiveness. Joseph pardoned them, and Jacob’s sons became a nation that had the privilege of bearing the name of Jehovah. (Gen. 50:15-21) By maintaining peace with our brothers and sisters, we contribute to the unity and joy of the congregation.—Col. 3:12-14. w09 11/15 4:16, 18, 19
Come to me, . . . and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart.—Matt. 11:28, 29.
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