Saturday, August 9

If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake day after day and keep following me.​—Luke 9:23.

Perhaps you have faced opposition from family members, or perhaps you have sacrificed certain material pursuits to put Kingdom interests first. (Matt. 6:33) If so, you can be certain that Jehovah has noticed your faithful works. (Heb. 6:10) Likely, you have experienced the truthfulness of Jesus’ words: “No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news who will not get 100 times more now in this period of time​—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, with persecutions—​and in the coming system of things, everlasting life.” (Mark 10:29, 30) The blessings that you have received are truly greater than any sacrifices that you have made.​—Ps. 37:4. w24.03 10:5

Sunday, August 10

A true friend shows love at all times, and is a brother who is born for times of distress.​—Prov. 17:17.

When Christians in Judea experienced a great famine, the brothers in the congregation in Antioch were “determined, each according to what he could afford, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.” (Acts 11:27-30) Although the brothers affected by the famine lived some distance away, the Christians in Antioch were determined to help them. (1 John 3:17, 18) We too can show compassion today when we learn that fellow worshippers have been affected by a disaster. We readily respond​—perhaps by asking the elders if we can assist on a project, by donating to the worldwide work, or by praying for those affected by the disaster. Our brothers and sisters may also need help to meet their basic needs. When our King, Christ Jesus, comes to execute judgment, may he find us showing compassion and invite us to “inherit the Kingdom.”​—Matt. 25:34-40. w23.07 29:9-10, 12

Monday, August 11

Let your reasonableness become known to all men.​—Phil. 4:5.

Jesus imitated Jehovah’s reasonableness. He was sent to earth to preach to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But he showed reasonableness in carrying out that assignment. On one occasion, a non-Israelite woman begged him to heal her daughter who was “cruelly demon possessed.” Jesus compassionately did as the woman asked and healed her daughter. (Matt. 15:21-28) Consider another example. Earlier in his ministry, Jesus declared: “Whoever disowns me . . . , I will also disown him.” (Matt. 10:33) But did he disown Peter, who denied him three times? No. Jesus took into account Peter’s repentance and faith. After being resurrected, Jesus appeared to Peter and very likely assured him of his forgiveness and love. (Luke 24:33, 34) Both Jehovah God and Jesus Christ are reasonable. What about us? Jehovah expects us to be reasonable. w23.07 32:6-7