ARE YOU LIVING UP TO YOUR DEDICATION?

They Did Not Renounce Their Dedication

Jeremiah's prophetic ministry in Jerusalem spanned more than 40 years(647-607 B.C.E.), and it was no easy assignment. He was very aware of his limitations. (Jeremiah 1:2-6) He needed courage and endurance to face the hardheaded people of Judah on a daily basis. (Jeremiah 18:18; 38:4-6) However, Jeremiah trusted in Jehovah God, who strenghtened him so that he proved to be a truly dedicated servant of God. -Jeremiah 1:18, 19.

What about the faithful apostle John, who was exiled to the inhospitable island of Patmos in his old age for "speaking about God and bearing witness to Jesus"? (Revelation 1:9) He endured and kept true to his dedicated status as a Christian for about 60 years. He lived beyond the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Roman armies. he was privileged to write a Gospel, three inspired letters, and the book of Revelation, in which he foresaw the war of Armageddon. Did he quit when he learned that Armageddon would not come in his lifetime? Did he slump into apathy? No, John remained faithful to his death, knowing that although 'the appointed time was near,' the fulfillment of his visions was for a later date. -Revelation 1:3; Daniel 12:4.

Next time: Modern Examples of Dedication

Watchtower, 2001