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Monday, August 10 You husbands, . . . assign them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one.—1 Pet. 3:7. A recent report from the World Health Organization indicates that many husbands physically, verbally, or emotionally abuse their wife. A husband who does this might treat his wife respectfully in front of others but then mistreat her at home. What can cause some husbands to be abusive? They may have been raised by a violent father, so they think that abusive behavior is normal. Others are influenced by the culture around them, which may promote the wrong idea that “a real man” must use force to show his wife who is the boss. Other men were not taught to control their emotions, including their anger. Some men have developed a warped view of women and sex because of regularly viewing pornography. Additionally, reports indicate that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified these problems. Of course, none of these factors justify a husband’s abusive behavior. w25.01 8 ¶2-3

Sunday, August 9 Everyone who recognizes the Son and exercises faith in him [will] have everlasting life.—John 6:40. Many people watch what they eat and try to exercise regularly in order to stay healthy. Still, they do not expect to live forever. Hoping for that could seem unrealistic and undesirable because of the distress that comes with old age. Nevertheless, Jesus spoke in a positive way about “everlasting life,” as indicated at John 3:16 and 5:24. One day, Jesus miraculously fed bread and fish to a crowd of thousands. That was amazing, but what he said the next day was even more astounding. The crowd had followed him to Capernaum, near the shore of Galilee, where he told them that people could be resurrected and enjoy everlasting life. (John 6:39, 40) Jesus’ words indicate that many who have died can be resurrected and that both you and your loved ones can enjoy everlasting life. w24.12 8 ¶1-2

Saturday, August 8 They have become a source of great comfort to me.—Col. 4:11. When we are suffering, our brothers and sisters are truly a living expression of Jehovah’s love for us. Fellow believers can comfort us by listening empathetically, or they may support us with their presence. They may share a reassuring Bible verse or say a prayer with us. (Rom. 15:4) At times, a brother or a sister may remind us of Jehovah’s thinking and thus help us maintain our balance. Fellow Christians can also give us practical support, such as by providing a meal when we are in distress. To receive support from others, we may need to ask for it. (Prov. 17:17) They may not know how we feel or what we need. (Prov. 14:10) So be willing to share your feelings with mature friends. Let them know what would help you. You might choose to confide in one or two elders with whom you feel at ease. Some sisters have found it comforting to speak with another mature sister. w24.10 10 ¶15-16

Friday, August 7 Great persecution arose against the congregation that was in Jerusalem.—Acts 8:1. Hebrew Christians living in Jerusalem and Judea went through hard times in the years following Jesus’ death. Soon after the Christian congregation was formed, intense persecution arose against it. Then some 20 years later, Christ’s followers faced serious economic hardships, possibly caused by a famine that had previously afflicted the land. (Acts 11:27-30) However, about 61 C.E., Christians were experiencing a time of relative peace compared with what was to come. During that period, they received an inspired letter from the apostle Paul—a letter that would prove to be very timely. The letter to the Hebrews was timely because the peace that the Christians were experiencing would not last. Paul provided practical counsel that would help those Christians to endure the tribulation that they would soon face. w24.09 8 ¶1-2

Thursday, August 6 This commandment that I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it beyond your reach.—Deut. 30:11. When Jehovah organized the Israelites into a nation, he made a covenant, a formal agreement, with them. If they kept his laws, he would protect and bless them. But if they rebelled against him—for example, by choosing to worship other gods—he would withdraw his blessing, and they would suffer. Yet, even then, they could still regain God’s favor. They could “return to Jehovah [their] God and listen to his voice.” (Deut. 30:1-3, 17-20) In other words, they could repent. If they did so, Jehovah would draw close to them and bless them once more. Jehovah’s chosen people repeatedly rebelled against him. As a result, they suffered. But Jehovah did not give up on his wayward people. He sent prophets again and again to urge his people to repent and return to him.—2 Ki. 17:13, 14. w24.08 9 ¶4-5

Wednesday, August 5 Stand firm . . . with the belt of truth fastened around your waist.—Eph. 6:14. Jehovah’s people love the truth found in God’s Word. We have built our faith on it. (Rom. 10:17) We have come to believe that Jehovah set up the Christian congregation as “a pillar and support of the truth.” (1 Tim. 3:15) Satan would like nothing better than to cause us to lose confidence in the Bible or in the direction we receive from God’s organization. (Eph. 4:14) Soon the Devil will use powerful propaganda to mislead entire nations into taking sides against Jehovah. (Rev. 16:13, 14) We can also expect Satan to intensify his efforts to mislead Jehovah’s people. (Rev. 12:9) Consequently, it is important that we train ourselves to see the difference between truth and falsehood and to be obedient to the truth. (Rom. 6:17; 1 Pet. 1:22) Our survival during the great tribulation will depend on it! w24.07 8 ¶1-3

I remember it happening clearly, we drove past the site about a week later, it was very sad to see

Tuesday, August 4 They honor me with their lips, but their heart is far removed from me.—Isa. 29:13. Someone who wants to be approved by Jehovah must be “speaking the truth in his heart.” (Ps. 15:2) This means more than not lying. Jehovah wants us to be honest through and through. (Heb. 13:18) That is important, “for Jehovah detests a devious person, but his close friendship is with the upright.” (Prov. 3:32) Those who ‘speak the truth in their heart’ do not pretend to be obedient in public while breaking God’s laws in secret. They avoid acting deviously. A devious person may begin to doubt the wisdom of some of Jehovah’s regulations. (Jas. 1:5-8) He may disobey Jehovah on matters that seem to him to be of little importance. Then if there appear to be no consequences for his disobedience, he may be emboldened to violate God’s laws further, and his worship would become hypocritical. (Eccl. 8:11) We, however, want to be honest in all things. w24.06 10 ¶7-8

Monday, August 3 There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.—Acts 24:15. Ever since Adam and Eve joined Satan and rebelled against Jehovah God, billions of humans have died. What lies ahead for all those people? A limited number, 144,000 in all, of Christ’s faithful followers will receive a resurrection to immortal life in heaven. (Rev. 14:1) And a vast number of faithful men and women who loved Jehovah will be part of the “resurrection of . . . the righteous,” and they will live forever on earth if they remain righteous during Christ’s Millennial Reign and during the final test. (Dan. 12:13; Heb. 12:1) Also during the Millennium, “the unrighteous”—including those who never served Jehovah or who even “practiced vile things”—will be given an opportunity to change their ways and become faithful. (John 5:29; Luke 23:42, 43) However, some humans were so wicked that he has decided that there will be no resurrection for them at all.—Luke 12:4, 5. w24.05 2 ¶3; 5 ¶15; 6 ¶17

Sunday, August 2 Christ is the end of the Law.—Rom. 10:4. We learn a valuable lesson from what the apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrew Christians. Some had not continued to grow spiritually; they had actually “gone back to needing milk, not solid [spiritual] food.” (Heb. 5:12) They had failed to keep up with the truth, which was being progressively revealed through the congregation. (Prov. 4:18) For example, many Jewish believers were still promoting the Mosaic Law even though some 30 years earlier the Law had been done away with on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice. (Titus 1:10) Anyone who has read Paul’s inspired letter to the Hebrews can confirm that this book contains solid spiritual food. It was just what those Christians needed to strengthen their faith in the superiority of the Christian arrangement for worship and to give them the courage to keep preaching.—Heb. 10:19-23. w24.04 6 ¶15

Saturday, August 1 There will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now.—Matt. 24:21. We pray that as many as possible will respond to the warning message and join us in pure worship now. But what about those who do not heed the warning at this time? It may be Jehovah’s will to save people who have a change of heart when they see the destruction of Babylon the Great. If so, then it is all the more urgent that we keep sounding the warning. What we tell them now may give them something to remember then. (Compare Ezekiel 33:33.) Perhaps they will reflect back on the warning they heard from us and be moved to join us in pure worship before it is too late. Like the jailer in Philippi who had a change of heart only after “a great earthquake occurred,” perhaps some who do not respond now will have a change of heart after the world-shaking destruction of Babylon the Great.—Acts 16:25-34. w24.05 17 ¶9-10

Friday, July 31 Stand firm in the faith.—1 Cor. 16:13. You may have the urge to compare what you do with what others can do. Resist that urge! Why? Because Jehovah does not make such comparisons. (Gal. 6:4) For example, Mary gave Jesus a gift of costly perfumed oil. (John 12:3-5) In contrast, the needy widow contributed to the temple two small coins of very little monetary value. (Luke 21:1-4) Yet, Jesus saw both gifts as expressions of faith. His Father, Jehovah, truly values anything you do that is motivated by your devotion to him and love for him, however small it may seem to you. We all have doubts at times. However, God’s reliable Word of truth, the Bible, can help us to fight them off. Let confidence replace your concern. Jehovah certainly notices you as an individual. He appreciates your sacrifices and is committed to rewarding you. Jehovah views all his loyal servants as worthy of his love and attention. w24.10 25 ¶3; 29 ¶17-18

Thursday, July 30 God in his kindness is trying to lead you to repentance.—Rom. 2:4. Elders who serve on committees have a responsibility before Jehovah to keep the congregation clean. (1 Cor. 5:7) They also want wrongdoers to be moved to repentance if possible. To that end, elders maintain a positive, hopeful outlook. Why? Because they want to imitate Jehovah, who is “very tender in affection and merciful.” (Jas. 5:11) Note how the aged apostle John showed such a spirit. He wrote: “My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one.” (1 John 2:1) Sadly, there are times when a Christian refuses to repent. If so, he must be removed from the congregation. w24.08 25 ¶19-20

Wednesday, July 29 Wipe away all my errors.—Ps. 51:9. Jehovah uses a word picture to describe how he blots out sins. He declares: “I will blot out your transgressions as with a cloud and your sins as with a thick cloud.” (Isa. 44:22) When Jehovah forgives, it is as if he were using a thick cloud to hide our transgressions so that they disappear from sight altogether. What does this mean for us? When Jehovah forgives our sins, we should not feel that we will bear the stain of such sins for the rest of our life. By means of the blood of Jesus Christ, our debts are completely canceled. Even the record of those debts is no longer discernible. This is what the true forgiveness that comes from Jehovah means for us when we repent of our sins. Jehovah’s mercy also allows us to have a good relationship with him and helps us to avoid being overcome by feelings of guilt. w25.02 10 ¶11-14

Tuesday, July 28 Jehoshaphat . . . searched for Jehovah with all his heart.—2 Chron. 22:9. The kings of Israel who pleased Jehovah worshipped him with a complete heart. Speaking of Josiah, the inspired record says: “There was no king like him prior to him, who returned to Jehovah with all his heart.” (2 Ki. 23:25) What about Solomon, who in his later years did what was bad? “His heart was not complete.” (1 Ki. 11:4) And regarding Abijam, another unfaithful king, the Bible record states: “His heart was not complete with Jehovah.” (1 Ki. 15:3) The Bible often uses the word “heart” to describe the complete inner person, including one’s desires, thoughts, disposition, attitude, capabilities, motivations, and goals. What does it mean, then, to serve Jehovah with a complete heart? A person with a complete heart does not just go through the motions of worshipping God. Rather, he serves out of love and devotion throughout his life. w24.07 21 ¶4-5

Monday, July 27 Their rock is not like our Rock.—Deut. 32:31. We live in a world where unexpected challenges can disrupt—or even completely change—our lives. How thankful we are that we can turn to Jehovah God for help! When we receive his support, that experience reassures us that “Jehovah is alive!” (Ps. 18:46) However, right after making that declaration, David called God “my Rock.” Why would he liken Jehovah to an inanimate object—a rock? The Bible uses the term “rock” as a word picture to help us grasp qualities that Jehovah possesses. It often appears in passages that praise him as a God who is without equal. The first reference to Jehovah as “the Rock” is found at Deuteronomy 32:4. In prayer, Hannah said that “there is no rock like our God.” (1 Sam. 2:2) Habakkuk called Jehovah “my Rock.” (Hab. 1:12) The writer of Psalm 73 called God “the rock of my heart.” (Ps. 73:26) And even Jehovah referred to himself as a rock.—Isa. 44:8. w24.06 26 ¶1, 3

Sunday, July 26 Keep . . . building one another up.—1 Thess. 5:11. How can all of us support single Christians who want to get married? One way is by being careful about what we say. (Eph. 4:29) We could ask ourselves: ‘Do I tease those who want to get married? When I see a single brother and a single sister talking, do I assume that they have a romantic interest in each other?’ (1 Tim. 5:13) Additionally, we should never make single Christians feel that they are somehow incomplete because they are not married. How much better to look for opportunities to commend single Christians! What if we think that a certain brother and a certain sister would make a good couple? The Bible tells us to consider the feelings of others. (Rom. 15:2) Many single ones do not want others to introduce them to a potential mate, and we should respect their wishes. (2 Thess. 3:11) Others may appreciate some help, but we should not intervene without being asked.—Prov. 3:27. w24.05 24-25 ¶14-15

Saturday, July 25 My servants will shout joyfully.—Isa. 65:14. God’s people can “shout joyfully” because their heart overflows with appreciation. The upbuilding truths and comforting promises in God’s Word and our solid hope based on Christ’s ransom sacrifice give us a “good condition of the heart.” Talking about these things makes us truly happy! (Ps. 34:8; 133:1-3) The love and the unity among Jehovah’s people are two major characteristics of the spiritual paradise. This “bond of union” gives us an idea of what life will be like in the new world, where Jehovah’s servants will enjoy even greater love and unity than they do today. (Col. 3:14) Anyone who wants to be truly happy and content needs to experience our spiritual paradise. No matter what this world thinks of Jehovah’s servants, they have an honorable name, or reputation, with his universal family.—Isa. 65:15. w24.04 21 ¶7-8

Friday, July 24 The Lord stood near me and infused power into me.—2 Tim. 4:17. We need Jehovah’s help to keep zealously preaching in the face of opposition today. (Rev. 12:17) Why can you be certain that Jehovah will support you? Consider Jesus’ prayer recorded in John chapter 17. Jesus asked Jehovah to watch over the apostles, and Jehovah answered that request. The book of Acts reports how he helped the apostles to preach zealously despite persecution. In his prayer, Jesus also asked Jehovah to watch over those who would put faith in the apostles’ preaching. That includes you. Jehovah has not stopped answering Jesus’ prayer; He will help you just as He helped the apostles. (John 17:11, 15, 20) Even if it turns out to be more difficult to preach the good news with zeal as the end draws close, we will receive all the support we need.—Luke 21:12-15. w25.0318 ¶13-14

Thursday, July 23 Knowledge of the Most Holy One is understanding.—Prov. 9:10. True understanding comes from knowing Jehovah’s qualities, his purpose, and what he loves or hates. Ask yourself, ‘Knowing what I do about Jehovah, what decision can I make that will please him?’ (Eph. 5:17) In order to please Jehovah, we must at times disappoint those who are close to us. For example, some well-meaning parents may insist that their adult daughter marry a man who is financially well-off—or one who can pay them a large dowry—even though he is not spiritually strong. True, they want their daughter to be cared for materially, but who will help her to progress as a spiritual person? How does Jehovah view the matter? We find the answer at Matthew 6:33. There, Christians are urged to keep “seeking first the Kingdom.” Although we honor our parents and respect the people in our community, our main concern is to make Jehovah happy. w25.01 17 ¶9-10

Wednesday, July 22 I will forgive their error, and I will no longer remember their sin.—Jer. 31:34. The prophet Jeremiah quotes Jehovah as saying the words found in today’s text. When referring to these words, the apostle Paul used a similar expression, saying: “I will no longer call their sins to mind.” (Heb. 8:12) But what does that really mean? In the Bible, the expression “remember” does not always refer to someone recalling something or thinking about it. Rather, it can involve someone taking action. The criminal hanging on the stake next to Jesus requested: “Jesus, remember me when you get into your Kingdom.” (Luke 23:42, 43) He was not simply asking Jesus to think about him at that time. Jesus’ response indicated that he would take action to resurrect this criminal. So, then, when Jehovah says that he no longer remembers our sins, he means that he will not take action against us. He will not punish us sometime in the future for sins that he has forgiven. w25.02 10-11 ¶14-15

Tuesday, July 21 When he ascended on high . . . , he gave gifts in men.—Eph. 4:8. Christ Jesus gave the congregation “gifts in men” who serve in another way. Under his direction, the elders in Jerusalem sent out Paul, Barnabas, and others as traveling overseers. (Acts 11:22) Why? For the same reason that ministerial servants and elders were appointed: to build up the congregations. (Acts 15:40, 41) Circuit overseers are constantly on the move. Some travel hundreds of kilometers between congregations. Each week, a circuit overseer delivers several talks, goes on shepherding calls, and conducts a pioneer meeting, an elders’ meeting, and meetings for field service. He prepares talks and organizes circuit assemblies and conventions. He teaches pioneer schools, arranges for a special meeting with the pioneers in the circuit, and handles other—sometimes urgent—matters assigned to him by the branch office. w24.10 21 ¶12-13

Monday, July 20 Kindly forgive and comfort him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sadness.—2 Cor. 2:7. Imagine what could happen if the elders refused to allow a truly repentant man back into the congregation or if after his return, the congregation refused to show him love. He could be swallowed up by “excessive sadness.” He could easily feel that his situation was hopeless. He might even give up in his efforts to repair his relationship with God. Even worse, if the other brothers and sisters in the congregation refused to forgive the repentant sinner, they would put their own relationship with Jehovah in jeopardy. Why? Because they would reflect, not Jehovah’s forgiving attitude toward repentant wrongdoers, but Satan’s harsh and merciless attitude. They would, in effect, become tools that the Devil could use to destroy the man spiritually.—2 Cor. 2:10, 11; Eph. 4:27. w24.08 17 ¶7, 10-11

Sunday, July 19 Death spread to all men because they had all sinned.—Rom. 5:12. We may be determined to let nothing turn us away from Jehovah. Yet, we are imperfect and vulnerable to temptation. (Rom. 7:21-23) Without warning, we could find ourselves in circumstances that make the wrong course seem very appealing. To remain loyal to Jehovah and his Son, we need to follow Jesus’ counsel to keep on guard against the temptation to sin. All of us face temptation to sin. But each one of us has areas of vulnerability, whether it is to commit a serious sin, to engage in some form of unclean conduct, or to fall prey to worldly thinking. For example, one person may be fighting temptation to commit sexual immorality. Another might be strongly inclined toward unclean practices, such as masturbation or viewing pornography. Still another may be struggling with fear of man, independent thinking, a quick temper, or something else. w24.07 14 ¶3; 15 ¶5

Saturday, July 18 Jehovah is on my side; I will not be afraid.—Ps. 118:6. We can face trials successfully if we remember that the living God is ready to assist us. We can build our confidence in that fact by considering what he has done in the past. (Isa. 37:17, 33-37) Also, consider reports on our jw.org website that illustrate how Jehovah has supported our brothers and sisters in modern times. Furthermore, recall times when Jehovah has acted in your behalf. Do not worry if you cannot point to some spectacular experience. Why not? The fact is, Jehovah has been involved in your life! He has drawn you into a relationship with him. (John 6:44) Why not ask him to help you to remember moments when he answered your prayers, gave you support at just the right time, or sustained you through a difficult situation? Reflecting on such experiences will strengthen your conviction that Jehovah will continue to act in your behalf. w24.06 21 ¶8