Saturday, September 10 Formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man. Nevertheless, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance.​—1 Tim. 1:13.

[Áine]

Saturday, September 10

Formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man. Nevertheless, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance.—1 Tim. 1:13.

 

Before the apostle Paul became a disciple of Christ, he was an insolent young man who persecuted Jesus’ followers. (Acts 7:58) Jesus himself stopped Paul, then known as Saul, from terrorizing the Christian congregation. Jesus spoke to Paul from heaven and struck him blind. To recover his sight, Paul was forced to seek help from the very people he had been persecuting. He humbly accepted assistance from a disciple named Ananias who restored Paul’s sight. (Acts 9:3-9, 17, 18) Paul later became a prominent member of the Christian congregation, but he never forgot the lesson Jesus taught him on the road to Damascus. Paul remained humble, and he willingly accepted the help of his brothers and sisters. He acknowledged that they were “a strengthening aid” to him.—Col. 4:10, 11, ftn. w20.07 18-19 ¶16-17

[Wayne]

In today’s world modesty is anything but acclaimed, which is no surprise to Bible students. How so? When discussing “the last days,” the Bible foretold that humans, by and large, would be “greedy, boastful, . . . conceited . . . , and swollen with pride.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, GNT) In that social setting, people who flaunt their goods should feel perfectly at home. God, however, encourages us to “keep away from such people,” 

 

Then Jehovah's servants should strive to reach a stage of maturity. That maturity will be reflected by our humility. 1 Pet 5:3