HOW JESUS CHRIST CAN HELP US

Showing Appreciation for Christ's Help

More is involved than petitioning God through his Son.  With the value of his ransom sacrifice,  "Christ by purchase" became as it were, "the owner that bought" the human race.  (Galatians 3:13; 4:5; 2 Peter 2:1)  We  can show our gratitude for all that Christ does for us by acknowledging his ownership of us and gladly responding to his invitation:  "If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake day after day and follow me continually."  (Luke 9:23)  'Disowning oneself'  is not simply a verbal claim of change of ownership.  After all, Christ  "died for all that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them."  (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15)  Therefore, appreciation for the ransom will have a profound effect on our outlook, goals and life-style.  Our eternal indebtedness to "Christ Jesus who gave himself for us," should motivate us to learn more about him and his loving Father, Jehovah God.  We should also want to grow in faith, to live by God's beneficial standards, and to be "zealous for fine works." -Titus 2:13, 14; John 17:3.

The Christian congregation is the means whereby we receive timely spiritual food, encouragement and guidance.  (Matthew 24:45-47; Hebrews 10:21-25)  For instance, if any are spiritually sick, they can "call the older men [appointed elders] of the congregation." James adds  the assurance:  "And the prayer of Faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up.  Also, if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him." -James 5:13-15.

To illustrate: A man serving a prison sentence in South Africa wrote to a congregation elder expressing appreciation for "all of Jehovah's Witnesses who are carrying out the good work started by Jesus Christ in helping people strive toward God's Kingdom."  Then he wrote:  "I was overjoyed at having received your letter .  Your concern for my spiritual redemption has touche me deeply.  All the more reason for me to start heeding Jehovah God's call for repentance.  For 27 years I've been stumbling and losing my way in the darkness of sin, deceit, illicit affairs, immoral practices and dubious religions.  After my introduction to Jehovah's Witnesses, I feel that I have  at last found the way -the right way!  All I have to do is follow  it."

Next time: More Help in the Near Future

Watchtower, 2000