Tuesday, November 18 By undeserved kindness you have been saved.​—Eph. 2:5.

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Tuesday, November 18

By undeserved kindness you have been saved.—Eph. 2:5.

 

The apostle Paul enjoyed a satisfying life in Jehovah’s service, but he had many challenges to overcome. Paul often traveled long distances, and travel was not easy in those days. On his journeys, Paul was sometimes “in dangers from rivers” and “in dangers from robbers.” He was also occasionally subjected to physical mistreatment from opposers. (2 Cor. 11:23-27) And Paul’s Christian brothers did not always show appreciation for his sincere efforts to help them. (2 Cor. 10:10; Phil. 4:15) What helped Paul to keep going in Jehovah’s service? Paul learned much about Jehovah’s personality from the Scriptures and from his own experiences. Paul became convinced that Jehovah God loved him. (Rom. 8:38, 39; Eph. 2:4, 5) And he came to love Jehovah very much. Paul showed his love for Jehovah “by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones.”—Heb. 6:10. w23.07 9 ¶5-6

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Paul’s road was not smooth, and we need to notice that. He faced danger, fatigue, violence, and even moments when his own brothers failed to see his worth. But none of that broke him. Why? Because he had done the hard work of learning Jehovah’s personality — not just on the page, but in real trials where Jehovah proved Himself faithful. Once Paul became convinced of Jehovah’s love, that conviction steadied him. And with that assurance, he kept ministering, kept serving, kept giving — not for applause, but because loyalty to Jehovah mattered more to him than comfort or recognition.