Helen Highwater

Friday, February 20 He will separate people one from another.—Matt. 25:32. Will all who die during the events of the great tribulation be destroyed forever with no hope of a resurrection? The Scriptures make it clear that outright opposers whom Jehovah and his forces will destroy at Armageddon will not be resurrected. (2 Thess. 1:6-10) But what about others, for example, who may die from natural causes, from accidents, or at the hand of other humans? (Eccl. 9:11; Zech. 14:13) Could some of these people be among the “unrighteous” who will be resurrected in the new world? (Acts 24:15) We simply do not know. But we do know several things about future events. For example, we know that at Armageddon, people will be dealt with on the basis of how they have treated Christ’s brothers. (Matt. 25:40) And those judged as sheep will have shown their support for the anointed and for Christ.—Rev. 12:17. w24.05 10-11 ¶9-11

Thursday, February 19 Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you.—Heb. 13:17. When receiving direction, elders need to read it carefully and then apply it to the best of their ability. They receive guidance not only on how to present meeting parts and how to offer prayers for the congregation but also on how to care for Christ’s sheep. Elders who follow organizational direction help those under their care to feel secure and loved. When we receive direction from the elders, we should follow it willingly. By doing so, we will make it easier for those taking the lead to do their work. The Bible encourages us to be obedient and submissive to those who take the lead. (Heb. 13:7, 17) That can be a challenge at times. Why? Because these men are imperfect. However, if we focus on their negative qualities rather than on their positive traits, we will, in effect, be aiding our enemies. In what way? We will be undermining trust in God’s organization. w24.04 10 ¶11-12

Wednesday, February 18 The way I am running is not aimlessly.—1 Cor. 9:26. Reading the Bible is a commendable goal. But more is needed if we are to benefit fully from reading God’s Word. Think of this comparison: Water, often in the form of rain, is essential to life. But if too much rain falls within a short amount of time, the ground may become oversaturated. When that happens, more rain will not be beneficial. The soil needs time to absorb the rain that has fallen and make it available to the vegetation. Likewise, we should avoid reading the Bible in a hurried manner, that is, so quickly that we fail to absorb and remember and use what we read. (Jas. 1:24) Have you found that on occasion you are merely speed-reading the Bible? What should you do? Slow down. Make the effort to think about what you are reading or have just read. You may decide to lengthen your study period to include time for such thinking, or meditation. w24.09 4 ¶7-9

Tuesday, February 17 [Saul] then got up and was baptized.—Acts 9:18. What helped Saul to get baptized? When the glorified Lord Jesus appeared to him, Saul was blinded. (Acts 9:3-9) For three days, he fasted and no doubt meditated on what he had just experienced. Yes, Saul became convinced that Jesus was the Messiah and that his followers practiced the true religion. There are lessons that we can learn from Saul. He could have allowed pride or fear of man to prevent him from getting baptized. But he did not allow that to happen. Saul was willing to become a Christian even though he knew that he would be persecuted. (Acts 9:15, 16; 20:22, 23) After his baptism, he continued relying on Jehovah to help him endure various trials. (2 Cor. 4:7-10) Your getting baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses may lead to tests of faith or trials, but you will have help. You can be confident of the unfailing support of God and of Christ.—Phil. 4:13. w25.034 ¶8-9

She means bring it on because hopefully it will take us closer to the GT

Monday, February 16 Forgive us our sins.—Luke 11:4. Is it possible for us to regain all that Adam and Eve lost? Not on our own merits. (Ps. 49:7-9) Without help, we would have no hope for a future life or a resurrection. In fact, our death would be just like that of animals. (Eccl. 3:19;2 Pet. 2:12) Our loving Father, Jehovah, has given us a gift that pays for the debt of sin that we have inherited from Adam. Jesus explained it this way: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Additionally, this same gift allows us the possibility of establishing a good relationship with Jehovah. We can benefit from this amazing gift and have our sins, or “debts,” forgiven. w25.02 3 ¶3-6

Sunday, February 15 Praise Jehovah your God.—1 Chron. 29:20. When Jesus was on earth, he glorified his Father by acknowledging Him as the Source of his miracles. (Mark 5:18-20) Jesus also brought glory to Jehovah by the way he spoke about his Father and the way he treated others. On one occasion, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue. Among those listening was a woman who had been possessed by a demon for 18 years. The demon had caused her body to be bent double so that she was unable to straighten up. How distressing! Moved by compassion, Jesus approached the woman and addressed her tenderly, saying: “Woman, you are released from your weakness.” He then laid his hands on her, and instantly she stood up straight and “began to glorify God,” her health and dignity fully restored! (Luke 13:10-13) That woman had good reason to give Jehovah glory, and so do we. w25.01 2-3 ¶3-4

Saturday, February 14 Give them something to eat.—Matt. 14:16. Jesus’ request to feed the crowd was a problem because there were about 5,000 men. And including women and children, there may have been 15,000 people to feed. (Matt. 14:21) Andrew spoke up: “Here is a little boy who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are these among so many?” (John 6:9) Barley loaves were commonly eaten by the poor and others, and the small fish may have been salted and dried. Still, the amount that the boy had would not be enough to feed so many—or would it? Wanting to be hospitable to the crowd, Jesus directed the people to recline in groups on the grass. (Mark 6:39, 40; John 6:11-13) We read that Jesus gave thanks to his Father for the bread and the fish. It was entirely fitting to thank God, who in reality was the Source of the food. What a good reminder for us to follow Jesus’ example by praying before a meal. Jesus then had the food distributed, and the people ate and were satisfied. w24.12 2-3 ¶3-4

Friday, February 13 Will not God cause justice to be done for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, while he is patient toward them? I tell you, he will cause justice to be done to them speedily.—Luke 18:7, 8. Jehovah cares deeply about the way we are treated. “Jehovah loves justice.” (Ps. 37:28) Jesus assures us that Jehovah will “cause justice to be done . . . speedily” when the time is right. And soon he will undo all the harm we have suffered and eliminate all forms of injustice. (Ps. 72:1, 2) While we await the time when righteousness will prevail, Jehovah helps us to cope with injustice. (2 Pet. 3:13) He teaches us how to avoid doing something unwise when we are treated unfairly. Through his Son, Jehovah provides us with the perfect example of the way we can deal with injustice. And he gives us practical counsel that we can apply when we are treated unjustly. w24.11 2-3 ¶3-4

Thursday, February 12 When anxieties overwhelmed me, you comforted and soothed me.—Ps. 94:19. What can you do if you have doubts about your worth? Read Bible verses that assure you of your value to Jehovah and meditate on them. If you have failed to reach a goal or are discouraged because you cannot do as much as others, do not judge yourself harshly. Jehovah has reasonable expectations. (Ps. 103:13, 14) If you suffered abuse in the past, do not blame yourself for what the abuser did. You did not deserve such treatment! Remember that Jehovah holds the wrongdoers accountable, not the victims. (1 Pet. 3:12) Never doubt that Jehovah can use you to help others. He has given you the honor of being his fellow worker in the Christian ministry. (1 Cor. 3:9) Your life experiences have likely given you empathy for others and insight into how they may feel. You can do much to help them. w24.10 7-8 ¶6-7

Wednesday, February 11 Each one will carry his own load.—Gal. 6:5. Does a mature Christian ever need help from anyone? Yes. Mature ones may need to ask for help at times. Someone who is immature may expect others to tell him what to do or to make a decision that he himself should make. A mature Christian, on the other hand, will draw on the wisdom and the experience of others while recognizing that Jehovah expects him to “carry his own load.” Just as adults differ in physical appearance, mature Christians differ in spiritual qualities, such as wisdom, courage, generosity, and empathy. Further, when two mature Christians face a similar situation, they might come to different conclusions that are both Scripturally acceptable. That is especially true in matters of conscience. Recognizing this, they avoid judging each other over such differences. Instead, they focus on remaining united.—Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 1:10. w24.04 4 ¶7-8

Tuesday, February 10 Make sure of the more important things.—Phil. 1:10. Most of Jehovah’s people lead very busy lives. We work secularly to provide for ourselves and for our families. (1 Tim. 5:8) Many Christians look after sick or elderly relatives. And all of us need to care for our own health, which takes time. In addition to these responsibilities, we have assignments in the congregation. A key responsibility is to have a zealous share in the preaching work. Bible reading is one of “the more important things” for us as Christians, so we need to make it a priority. In speaking of a happy man, the very first psalm says: “His delight is in the law of Jehovah, and he reads His law in an undertone day and night.” (Ps. 1:1, 2) Clearly, that suggests setting time aside for such reading. When is the best time to read the Bible? The answer may be different for each of us. But put simply, it would be a time when you can do so regularly. w24.09 3 ¶5-6

Monday, February 9 She began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward, she also gave some to her husband when he was with her, and he began eating it.—Gen. 3:6. Jehovah had that sad account recorded for our benefit. It helps us to understand why he hates sin so much. Sin separates us from our Father, and it leads to death. (Isa. 59:2) That is why Satan, the rebel spirit who instigated all this trouble, loves sin and seeks to promote it. He might have thought that he won a great victory in Eden. But he did not understand how loving Jehovah is. God never changed his purpose for the descendants of Adam and Eve. He loves the human family, so he immediately offered hope to all. (Rom. 8:20, 21) Jehovah knew that some of those descendants would choose to love him and would seek his help in fighting against sin. And as their Father and Creator, he would give them a way to be set free from sin and draw close to him. w24.08 3 ¶3-4

Sunday, February 8 We mustered up boldness by means of our God.—1 Thess. 2:2. As Jehovah’s people, we wholeheartedly support God’s Kingdom, but we often need courage to do so. (Matt. 6:33) For example, in this wicked world, we need courage to live by Jehovah’s standards and to preach the Kingdom good news. And it often takes courage to remain politically neutral in this increasingly divided system of things. (John 18:36) Many among Jehovah’s people have suffered financial loss, have been physically abused, or have been imprisoned because of refusing to participate in political or military activity. We gain strength and courage when we consider the examples of those who have courageously supported Jehovah’s rulership. Our King, Christ Jesus, firmly resisted pressure to become involved in Satan’s political system of things. (Matt. 4:8-11; John 6:14, 15) He always relied on Jehovah for strength. w24.07 3 ¶4; 4 ¶7

Saturday, February 7 O Jehovah, who may be a guest in your tent?—Ps. 15:1. For some time, God’s friendship was limited to those living in the spirit realm, where he dwells. Later, he extended his tent to include humans on earth. In time, among those favored ones were Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Job. Those true worshippers were described as God’s friends, or ones who walked “with the true God.” (Gen. 5:24;6:9; Job 29:4; Isa. 41:8) Throughout the centuries, Jehovah continued to invite his friends to be his guests. (Ezek. 37:26, 27) For example, from Ezekiel’s prophecy we learn that God truly wants his loyal worshippers to have a warm relationship with him. He promises to make “a covenant of peace with them.” That prophecy points to a time when those who have a heavenly hope and those who have an earthly hope will be united under his figurative tent as “one flock.” (John 10:16) That time is now! w24.062 ¶2, 4; 3 ¶5