June

We are already benefiting from Christ’s ransom sacrifice. For example, on the basis of the ransom, Jehovah forgives our sins. He is not obligated to forgive us. But he wants to. (Ps. 103:3, 10-13) Some may feel unworthy of Jehovah’s forgiveness. Actually, we are all unworthy. The apostle Paul understood that he was “not worthy of being called an apostle.” And yet, he added: “By God’s undeserved kindness I am what I am.” (1 Cor. 15:9, 10) When we repent of our sins, Jehovah forgives us. Why? Not because we deserve it, but because he loves us. If you are disturbed by feelings of unworthiness, remember that Jehovah provided the ransom, not for sinless people, but for repentant sinners.​—Luke 5:32; 1 Tim. 1:15. w25.01 26-27 ¶3-4

We cannot control what others say or do to us, but we can try to control our response. And often the best response is to forgive. Why? Because we love Jehovah, and he wants us to be forgiving. If we remain angry and do not forgive, we are likely to act foolishly and perhaps suffer physically. (Prov. 14:17, 29, 30) When we let go of resentment, we prevent our heart from becoming damaged by bitterness. We also give ourselves a gift​—we can start to move on and enjoy our life once again. How can you overcome hurt feelings? One way is by giving yourself time to heal. After receiving medical care, a person who has been severely injured needs time to heal physically. In a similar way, we may need time to heal emotionally before we are ready to forgive someone from the heart. (Eccl. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:22) Pray, asking Jehovah to help you to be forgiving. w25.02 16-17 ¶8-11

Examples of basic teachings include repentance, faith, baptism, and the resurrection. (Heb. 6:1, 2) Such teachings form the foundation of Christianity. For this reason, the apostle Peter spoke of them when preaching to the crowd at Pentecost. (Acts 2:32-35, 38) We must accept these primary teachings to become disciples of Christ. For example, Paul warned that any who deny the teaching of the resurrection reject the entire Christian faith. (1 Cor. 15:12-14) However, we must not be satisfied with just a basic knowledge of the truth. In contrast to the primary doctrine, solid spiritual food includes not only Jehovah’s laws but also his principles, which help us to understand his thinking. To benefit from such food, we must study, meditate on, and carefully apply God’s Word. As we do so, we train ourselves to make decisions that please Jehovah. w24.04 5 ¶12-13

God reminded Jonah that the Ninevites did “not even know right from wrong.” (Jonah 1:1, 2; 3:10; 4:9-11) Later, Jesus used that example to teach about Jehovah’s justice and mercy. In what “judgment” would the Ninevites “rise up”? Jesus taught about a future “resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:29) He was referring to his Thousand Year Reign, during which both “the righteous and the unrighteous” will be resurrected. (Acts 24:15) For the unrighteous, this will be “a resurrection of judgment.” That is, Jehovah and Jesus will observe and evaluate their behavior and how they respond to divine teaching. If a resurrected Ninevite refuses to join in pure worship, his judgment will be one of condemnation. (Isa. 65:20) But for all those who choose to worship Jehovah faithfully, their judgment will be favorable. They will have the prospect of living forever!​—Dan. 12:2. w24.05 5 ¶13-14

Jesus provided a perfect, living picture of his Father’s mercy. (John 14:9) By word and deed, he showed that his compassionate, merciful Father loves people and wants to help each of them to win the fight against sin. Jesus helped sinful people to want to change their ways and to follow him. (Luke 5:27, 28) Jesus knew what lay ahead of him. More than once, he told his followers that he would be betrayed and executed on a stake. (Matt. 17:22; 20:18, 19) He knew that his sacrifice would take away the sin of the world. Jesus also taught that after offering his life, he would “draw all sorts of men” to himself. (John 12:32) Sinful humans could please Jehovah by accepting Jesus as their Lord and by following in his steps. If they did so, they would finally be “set free from sin.” (Rom. 6:14, 18, 22; John 8:32) So Jesus willingly and courageously faced his terrible death.​—John 10:17, 18. w24.08 5 ¶11-12

Think back to how you felt when you first learned the truth from God’s Word. You discovered that your heavenly Father loves you, that he wants you to be part of his family of worshippers, that he has promised to end pain and suffering, that you can hope to see your dead loved ones come back to life in a new world​—and much more. (Mark 10:29, 30; John 5:28, 29; Rom. 8:38, 39; Rev. 21:3, 4) Those truths warmed your heart. (Luke 24:32) You loved what you were learning, and you could not keep those precious truths to yourself! (Compare Jeremiah 20:9.) When love for Bible truth takes root in our heart, we cannot keep silent. (Luke 6:45) We feel like the first-century disciples of Jesus who said: “We cannot stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20) We love the truth so much that we want to share it with as many as possible. w24.05 15 ¶5; 16 ¶7

As Jehovah’s people, we preach to others because we love our heavenly Father and we want to help our neighbors come to know him. But others struggle to find pleasure in the preaching work. Why? Some may be very shy and lack confidence. Some feel uncomfortable going to people’s homes uninvited. Some may fear being rejected. Some may have been taught to avoid conflict with others. These brothers and sisters find it hard to approach strangers with the good news. Do you sometimes struggle to find joy in the ministry because of such feelings? If so, do not be discouraged. Your lack of confidence may indicate that you humbly want to avoid drawing attention to yourself and do not want to be in the middle of controversy. And no one wants to be rejected, especially when he is trying to do good for others. Your heavenly Father is well-aware of the challenges you face and wants to give you the help you need.​—Isa. 41:13. w24.04 14 ¶1-2

As you read the Bible, instead of trying to apply everything you read all at once, set a modest number of goals. You might try this approach: Keep a list of the things you need to work on, and then select one or two of these to work on first, leaving the other items to be pursued in time. Where should you start? You may decide to start with a goal that is easier for you to reach. Or you might choose to work on an area that you feel needs the most improvement. Once you have identified your goal, do research in our publications. Pray about your goal, asking Jehovah for “both the desire and the power to act.” (Phil. 2:13) Then put into practice what you have learned. Having made progress on your first goal, you will likely feel more motivated to work on another one. In fact, when you improve in one aspect of Christian living or on one Christian quality, you will probably find it easier to do so in other areas. w24.09 6 ¶13-14

You may be troubled by some of your past actions that have hurt others. What can help? Do what you can to repair the damage, including offering a sincere apology. Ask Jehovah to come to the aid of those affected by your actions. He can help you and those you have hurt to endure and to regain peace. Learn from past mistakes, and be willing to let Jehovah use you in whatever way he chooses. Note the example of the prophet Jonah. Instead of traveling to Nineveh as God had commanded, Jonah fled in the opposite direction. Jehovah disciplined Jonah, and he learned from his mistake. (Jonah 1:1-4, 15-17; 2:7-10) Jehovah did not give up on Jonah. God gave him another opportunity to go to Nineveh, and this time Jonah promptly obeyed. He did not let regret over his past mistake prevent him from accepting this assignment from Jehovah.​—Jonah 3:1-3. w24.10 8-9 ¶10-11

Jehovah does not simply cancel our debts, or sins; he blots them out. When a debt is canceled, we might imagine a large X being drawn across the account. However, the numbers beneath that X may still be legible. But to blot something out is different. To understand this word picture, we need to remember that in ancient times the ink used was a mixture that included carbon, gum, and water. A person could take a wet sponge and wipe the writing away. So when a debt was “blotted out,” it vanished completely. Traces of what was written before were not visible to the naked eye. The record became nonexistent. How it warms our heart to know that Jehovah not only cancels our sins but also blots them out completely!​—Ps. 51:9. w25.02 10 ¶11

When others misjudge us or mistreat us, we trust that Jehovah knows the truth. That confidence can help us to endure unfair treatment because we know that ultimately Jehovah will correct matters. By leaving things with Jehovah, we prevent anger or resentment from festering in our heart. Those emotions can cause us to overreact, can destroy our joy, and can damage our relationship with Jehovah. Of course, we will never be able to follow Jesus’ example perfectly. At times, we may do or say things that we later regret. (Jas. 3:2) And some injustices may leave us with emotional and physical scars that can be hard to bear. If that is true of you, be assured that Jehovah knows what you are going through. And Jesus, who also suffered unjustly, can sympathize with your feelings. (Heb. 4:15, 16) How happy we are that Jehovah gives us practical counsel that helps us to deal with injustice. w24.11 6 ¶12-13

Exercising faith in Jesus is needed in order to “have everlasting life.” (John 3:16-18, 36; 17:3) Many Jews did not accept Jesus’ teaching about a new “work of God.” They asked him: “What are you performing as a sign, so that we may see it and believe you?” (John 6:30) They mentioned that their ancestors in Moses’ day had received manna, which could be likened to bread. (Neh. 9:15; Ps. 78:24, 25) Clearly, their minds were still centered on being satisfied with literal bread. They even failed to press Jesus for clarification when he next spoke of “the true bread from heaven,” which was like life-giving manna from heaven. (John 6:32) They were so focused on their physical needs that they ignored the spiritual truths that Jesus was trying to share with them. w24.12 5-6 ¶10-11

As your child learns more in science class at school, he will discover that laws govern the shape of many things. For example, each snowflake is formed according to geometric patterns known as fractals. Fractal patterns are also found in other things in nature. But who made the laws that result in these beautiful patterns? Who is behind the order and careful design we see in nature? The more your child thinks about such questions, the more likely it is that he will be able to develop a strong belief that God created all things. At some point, you could ask him this question, “If God created us, would it not be reasonable to conclude that he has also given us moral guidance on how to be happy?” You can then point out that such valuable guidance is found in the Bible. w24.12 16 ¶8

Under divine inspiration, the apostle Paul wrote a letter directing that an unrepentant sinner be removed from the congregation. (1 Cor. 5:13) How were faithful Christians to treat him? Paul told them “to stop keeping company” with him. What did that mean? Paul explained that this command included “not even eating with such a man.” (1 Cor. 5:11) Sitting down to a meal with someone can easily lead to having further association with him. Clearly, then, Paul meant that the congregation should not socialize with that man. This would protect the congregation from his corrupting influence. (1 Cor. 5:5-7) Additionally, their avoiding close contact with the man might cause him to realize how far he had strayed from Jehovah’s ways, and he might feel shame and be moved to repent. w24.08 15 ¶4-5

In Israel, Atonement Day was observed annually. On that day, the high priest would offer animal sacrifices on behalf of the people. Of course, animal sacrifices could not completely atone for anyone’s sins because animals are inferior to humans. But as long as the repentant Israelites offered the sacrifices that Jehovah required, he was willing to forgive their sins. (Heb. 10:1-4) That arrangement impressed on the minds of the Israelites the seriousness of their sinful state. However, Jehovah had a permanent arrangement in mind for the forgiveness of sins. He arranged for his beloved Son to be “offered once for all time to bear the sins of many.” (Heb. 9:28) Jesus gave “his life as a ransom in exchange for many.”​—Matt. 20:28. w25.02 4 ¶9-10

“The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41b) With those words, Jesus showed that he understood our imperfect condition. But his words also included a warning: Beware of overconfidence. Earlier that very night, the disciples had confidently expressed their determination to stick by their Master. (Matt. 26:35) Their motives were good. Still, they did not realize how quickly they could weaken under pressure. Thus, Jesus cautioned them with the words found in today’s text. Sadly, the disciples failed to keep on the watch. When Jesus was arrested, did they stick by him or did they give in to the temptation to flee? Caught off guard, the disciples did exactly what they said that they would never do​—they abandoned Jesus.​—Matt. 26:56. w24.07 14 ¶1-2

Adam and Eve lost their precious relationship with their Father, Jehovah. Originally, Adam and Eve were part of God’s family. (Luke 3:38) But when they disobeyed Jehovah, they were expelled from his family before they started to have children. (Gen. 3:23, 24; 4:1) As their descendants, we therefore need to be reconciled to Jehovah. (Rom. 5:10, 11) In other words, we need to develop a good relationship with him. According to one reference work, the Greek word used here for “reconcile” can mean to “make a friend out of an enemy.” Amazingly, Jehovah is the one who took the initiative to make this possible. How? By means of the atonement arrangement, which Jehovah put in place for restoring a good relationship between him and sinful humans. It involves exchanging one thing for another of equal value. In this way, something that is lost or destroyed can be regained or replaced. w25.02 3-4 ¶7-8

The apostle Paul noted that the “rebuke given by the majority [was] sufficient for such a man.” (2 Cor. 2:5-8) In other words, the discipline had served its purpose toward the man who previously had sexual relations with his stepmother. (1 Cor. 5:1) What purpose? To lead him to repentance. (Heb. 12:11) Paul therefore directed the congregation: “Kindly forgive and comfort” the erring brother, and “confirm your love for him.” Note that Paul wanted the congregation to do more than merely allow the man back among Jehovah’s people. Paul wanted them to assure the repentant man by their words, manner, and actions that they truly forgave him and loved him. They would thus make it clear that they welcomed his return to the congregation. w24.08 15 ¶4; 16-17 ¶6-8

The apostle Paul could speak with conviction about what it takes to endure. He reminded Christians that when enduring trials, they needed to rely not on themselves but on Jehovah. Paul could say with courage: “Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid.” (Heb. 13:6) Some of our brothers are enduring persecution right now. We can loyally support them by means of our prayers and, at times, in practical ways. The Bible clearly says, however, that “all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted.” (2 Tim. 3:12) For that reason, all of us need to prepare for what lies ahead. Let us continue to trust fully in Jehovah, confident that he will help us to endure any trial that may come our way. In due time, he will bring relief to all his faithful worshippers.​—2 Thess. 1:7, 8. w24.09 13 ¶17-18

What helped the Corinthians to get baptized? (2 Cor. 10:4, 5) God’s Word and his powerful holy spirit helped them to make drastic changes in their life. (Heb. 4:12) Those in Corinth who accepted the good news about Christ were able to abandon such habits and practices as drunkenness, thievery, and homosexuality. (1 Cor. 6:9-11) Note that although some in Corinth had deeply entrenched habits to overcome, they did not conclude that it would be too difficult for them to become Christians. They put forth diligent effort to get on the cramped road leading to everlasting life. (Matt. 7:13, 14) Are you struggling to overcome a bad habit or a wrong practice in order to get baptized? Never give up the fight! Beg Jehovah for his holy spirit to help you to resist craving what is bad. w25.03 6 ¶15-17

Jehovah promises to give us the wisdom to discern whether a certain path will please him. He gives such wisdom “generously to all and without reproaching.” Once you have prayed for Jehovah’s direction, pay careful attention to his answer. To illustrate: If you got lost while traveling, you might ask a local resident for help. But would you then walk away before he had a chance to reply? Of course not. You would listen carefully to his directions. Similarly, after you ask Jehovah for wisdom, try to discern his answer by finding out which Bible laws and principles apply to your situation. For example, when deciding whether to attend a social gathering, you might consider what the Bible says about wild parties, bad associations, and the need to put Kingdom interests ahead of your personal preferences.​—Matt. 6:33; Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 15:33. w25.01 16 ¶6-7

Isaiah’s prophecy draws a vivid contrast between what life is like for those inside the spiritual paradise and what life is like for those outside. Jehovah abundantly satisfies the spiritual needs of his worshippers. We have his holy spirit, his written Word, and ample spiritual food so that we can “eat, . . . drink, . . . [and] rejoice.” (Compare Revelation 22:17.) In sharp contrast, those who are outside the spiritual paradise “go hungry . . . , go thirsty . . . , [and] suffer shame.” Their spiritual needs are not being satisfied. (Amos 8:11) Jehovah generously supplies His people with what they need, including spiritual food. (Joel 2:21-24) He does so through the Bible and our Bible-based publications, our website, as well as our meetings, assemblies, and conventions. We can partake of spiritual provisions every day, and as a result, we feel healthier and more refreshed. w24.04 21 ¶5-6

If you would like to begin a courtship with someone, you could arrange to have a conversation with that person, either in a public setting or by telephone. Clearly express your intentions. (1 Cor. 14:9) If needed, give the person time to think about how to respond. (Prov. 15:28) And if the person is not interested in pursuing a relationship, respect his feelings. What if someone expresses interest in you? It likely took courage for that person to approach you, so be kind and respectful. If you need time to consider whether you agree to start a courtship, say so. However, try to provide a response as soon as possible. (Prov. 13:12) If you are not interested, express that fact kindly and clearly. If you are interested, discuss your feelings and expectations regarding courtship. Your expectations may differ from the other person’s. w24.05 23-24 ¶12-13

Likely while he was still a teenager, David visited the army camp of the Israelites. He found that the soldiers were terrified because a giant Philistine named Goliath had come out to “taunt the battle line of Israel.” (1 Sam. 17:10, 11) The soldiers’ fear was a result of their focusing on the giant and the taunts they heard on the battlefield. (1 Sam. 17:24, 25) David, however, viewed the situation from a different perspective. He viewed what was happening as a challenge, not merely against the battle line of Israel but against “the battle line of the living God.” (1 Sam. 17:26) David had Jehovah foremost in mind. David trusted that the God who had helped him when he was a shepherd would help him again in this situation. Certain of God’s backing, David faced Goliath and, of course, he won!​—1 Sam. 17:45-51. w24.06 21 ¶7

Consider how our life would be if we were not serving Jehovah. Doing so can help us to stick to a faithful course and conclude as did the psalmist: “As for me, drawing near to God is good for me.” (Ps. 73:28) We can face whatever challenges come our way during these last days because we “slave for a living and true God.” (1 Thess. 1:9) Our God is a real Person who acts in behalf of those who worship him. He proved to be with his servants in the past, and he is with us today. We will soon face the greatest tribulation to occur on earth. But we will not face it alone. May we all “be of good courage and say: ‘Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid.’”​—Heb. 13:5, 6. w24.06 25 ¶17-18

The Bible names more than 40 men who ruled as kings of Israel. The good kings did some bad things. Consider good King David. Jehovah said: “My servant David . . . walked after me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes.” (1 Ki. 14:8) Yet, that man committed sexual immorality with a married woman and conspired to have her husband killed in battle. (2 Sam. 11:4, 14, 15) On the other hand, many of the unfaithful kings did some good things. Consider Rehoboam. In Jehovah’s eyes, he “did what was bad.” (2 Chron. 12:14) Yet, Rehoboam obeyed God’s order to have ten tribes break away from his kingdom. He also benefited his nation by fortifying its cities. (1 Ki. 12:21-24; 2 Chron. 11:5-12) How did Jehovah determine whether a king was faithful in His eyes? Evidently, He took into consideration his heart condition, his repentance, and his adherence to true worship. w24.07 20 ¶1-3

What about baptized minors​—those under 18 years of age—​who engage in serious wrongdoing? The body of elders will arrange for two elders to meet with the minor and his Christian parents. The elders will find out what steps the parents have already taken to help their child come to repentance. If the minor has a good attitude and the parents are reaching him, the two elders might decide that it is not necessary to take the matter any further. After all, it is the parents’ God-given responsibility to provide loving correction to their children. (Deut. 6:6, 7; Prov. 6:20; 22:6; Eph. 6:2-4) The elders will thereafter occasionally check with the parents to make sure that the minor is getting the help he needs. However, what if a baptized minor unrepentantly persists in a wrong course? In that case, a committee of elders will meet with him along with his Christian parents. w24.08 24 ¶18

We know from experience that we feel good when we receive a gift. Still, we feel even greater happiness when we are the giver. By creating us the way he did, Jehovah allows us to influence our happiness. We can increase our joy by looking for additional opportunities to give. Is that not a wonderful aspect of how we are made? (Ps. 139:14) The Scriptures assure us that giving brings happiness, so it is little wonder that the Bible describes Jehovah as “the happy God.” (1 Tim. 1:11) He is the original and greatest Giver. Because of him, “we have life and move and exist,” as the apostle Paul stated. (Acts 17:28) Indeed, “every good gift and every perfect present” comes from Jehovah. (Jas. 1:17) All of us would probably like to experience even more of the happiness that comes from giving. We can do so by imitating Jehovah’s generosity.​—Eph. 5:1. w24.09 26 ¶1-4

After reviewing the qualifications to serve as elders, some ministerial servants might feel that they could never qualify. But remember that neither Jehovah nor his organization expects you to display these qualities perfectly. (1 Pet. 2:21) And it is Jehovah’s powerful spirit that helps you to develop these qualifications. (Phil. 2:13) Is there a particular quality that you would like to improve on? Pray to Jehovah about it. Research the topic, and ask one of the elders for suggestions on how to improve. Reach out! Ask Jehovah to train and mold you to be even more useful in serving him and the congregation. (Isa. 64:8) May Jehovah richly bless your efforts to qualify to serve as an elder. w24.11 25 ¶17-18

None of us should feel that we are entitled to receive Jehovah’s mercy even if we have spent many years in his service. Of course, Jehovah appreciates our record of faithfulness. He gave us his Son as a free gift, not as payment for services rendered. If we were to claim that we have earned mercy or that we are entitled to special consideration, we would, in effect, be saying that Christ died for nothing. (Compare Galatians 2:21.) The apostle Paul knew that he could not earn God’s favor. Why, then, did he work so hard in Jehovah’s service? Not to prove himself deserving, but to show appreciation for Jehovah’s undeserved kindness. (Eph. 3:7) Like Paul, we continue to serve zealously, not to earn Jehovah’s mercy, but to show appreciation for it. w25.01 27 ¶5-6