studying the Bible with Jehovah’s witnesses. His associates ridiculed him, taunting: “You’re being brainwashed.” He aptly replied: “The shape our brains are in, they need a good washing.”

28. How do those following the Bible’s way have far better hope than those seeking escape through drugs?

²⁸ Yes, Jehovah’s witnesses have cleaned up their thinking. They hold to the truth of the Bible words: “Godly devotion is beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and that which is to come.” Also, they realize, as the apostle said, that their “labor is not in vain in connection with the Lord.”​—1 Tim. 4:8; 1 Cor. 15:58.

29. (a) How does Romans 14:17 show us that things such as drugs cannot help us to gain God’s blessing? (b) How will God view and use those who seek now to develop the fruits of his spirit?

²⁹ So it is not eating or drinking, or smoking “pot” or using drugs that opens the approach to God, but it is Bible knowledge and the doing of God’s will. It would be well always to think of what is written at Romans 14:17, when arguments such as drug users put forward are presented to us, because we know that it is not what we eat, drink, smoke or put into our bodies that makes us God’s servants or brings his favor. The apostle wrote: “The kingdom of God does not mean eating and drinking [and it might be added, using drugs], but means righteousness and peace and joy with holy spirit.” (Rom. 14:17) Pursuing the fruits of God’s spirit, we will be available for honorable use by Jehovah. He will provide a place for us in his new order.​—2 Tim. 2:21.

Fine Conduct​—a Powerful Witness

DEEP love for Jehovah God and fellow humans moves true Christians to conduct themselves in a laudable way. Their fine conduct ‘adorns the teaching of God.’ (Titus 2:10) It makes that teaching appealing to honest-hearted persons. In fact, many who are now associating with Jehovah’s Christian witnesses were initially attracted to the Bible’s message by observing the powerful witness given by commendable conduct.

● While working at the Customs Agency Service in Atlanta, Georgia, a woman met one of Jehovah’s witnesses. Regarding this Witness, she writes: “There was something outstandingly different about this woman. Her modesty and manner of conducting herself were unlike that of most businesswomen. We became friends and, during one conversation, she told me that she was one of Jehovah’s witnesses.

“Although at first this seemed rather strange to me, I was interested in hearing more about it. As she answered my barrage of questions, I realized that this was definitely the truth.”

Today this woman is also a dedicated, baptized witness of Jehovah.

● A manager of a large restaurant in the United States had his interest aroused when a Witness began working there. About twenty-five cooks and busboys and between fifty and seventy-five women worked in the restaurant. But it was the Witness who stood out from all the others. In a short period of time she became known as one of the better workers. She never cursed nor did she smoke, share in off-color stories or attend any of the after-hour parties. She also made good use of her ‘break’ periods to consider Biblical matters.

All this made a favorable impression on the manager. He tried to assist her by extending to her the opportunity to get off on religious holidays. But she would turn these opportunities down, always explaining Scripturally why she did not share in them.

Eventually the manager began to ask more questions. Discerning his interest, the Witness directed him to one of the male Witnesses, and a home Bible study was started with him.

Later, this manager married the Witness whose conduct had impressed him, quit his job as manager and, as a baptized witness of Jehovah, took up the full-time “pioneer” ministry. For some thirteen years now he has been serving as a traveling overseer.

● Relating her personal experience, a Witness from California says: “When most people think of Jehovah’s witnesses they think of their door-to-door activity. But this wasn’t the case with me. I was contacted by a Witness at school. We had no classes together or any friendship. But I observed her from a distance. I could tell that she was different and this attracted me.

“One day this Witness approached me and my twin sister and asked if we would like to study the Bible with her. I readily agreed, but my sister just ‘went along’ with it. During our studies, when I got to know this Witness better, I could see that her whole outlook on life was different. She was so secure, happy and satisfied. She had a clean moral life and was uninvolved in extracurricular school activities.

“After a while my twin sister quit studying but I continued. My sister always tried to discourage me and made it very hard for me. My brother also discouraged me, especially when he noticed how I started to change the way I dressed. Even my father tried to keep me from getting involved.

“As time went by I began to see more of a distinction between Jehovah’s witnesses and the world. For example, at my first district assembly I really started to notice the difference between the modest length of the Witnesses’ skirts and dresses and the length of my dresses, which were like the world’s. In fact, I was so embarrassed because of this that the whole last day of the assembly I wore an apron to hide my dress.”

Today this girl, along with the Witness whom she met in school, is sharing in the full-time ministry as a pioneer. She is very grateful for having found someone different in school, someone who reflected Christianity in every way.

Clearly fine Christian conduct gives a powerful witness and lends weight to the public proclamation of Bible truth. Should this not give true Christians added encouragement to let their love for God and neighbor prompt them to maintain fine conduct at all times?

Psalm 119 Magnifies Jehovah’s Word

“YOUR word is a light to my roadway.” Bible students are very familiar with, and quite fond of, this verse of sacred Scripture. Most fittingly these words are found in Psalm 119 (verse 105). Why most fittingly? Because from beginning to end this psalm magnifies God’s Word.

Among the interesting aspects of Psalm 119 is that it is an acrostic; but, unlike most other acrostic psalms in which each succeeding verse begins with a succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in this psalm eight verses at a time begin with each succeeding letter. There being twenty-two letters in the Hebrew alphabet, the psalm has 176 verses, making it by far the longest psalm.

But most striking of all is the way the writer has developed his theme of appreciation of God’s Word. Thus we find in it eight terms referring to God’s Word or doings, for an average of twenty-two times each​—a total of 176 times. These terms are “commandment(s),” “law,” “orders,” “regulations,” “reminder(s),” judicial decision(s),” “saying(s)” and “word.” Psalm 19 makes mention of five of these.​—Ps 19 Vss. 7 to 9.

The term COMMANDMENT(S) translates the Hebrew word mits·wahʹ. When a Jewish boy becomes of age, thirteen years according to Jewish law, his family celebrates with a bar mitzvah, because he has now become a ‘son of the commandment,’ that is, accountable to it. The Hebrew word mits·wahʹ occurs some 180 times in the Bible and with comparatively few exceptions