Happy Are Those Who Listen and Obey

As we establish a pattern of listening to 'the word behind us' - as it is provided through the Scriptures and the faithful and discreet slave-and as we heed the reminders of our Bible-trained conscience, Jehovah will bless us with his spirit.  The holy spirit will,in turn, enhance our ability to receive and understand what Jehovah tells us.

Jehovah's spirit will also embolden us to face difficult situations with wisdom and courage. As in the case of the apostles, God's spirit  can stimulate our mental powers and help us always to act and speak in harmony with Bible principles. (Matthew  10:18-20; John 14:26; Acts 4:5-8, 13,31; 15:28) The combination of Jehovah's spirit  and our own personal effort will bring us success as we make important decisions  in life, giving us the courage to follow through on those decisions.  For example, you may be considering adjusting your life-style to make more time for spiritual things. Or you  may be faced with important , life-changing choices, such as selecting a mate, weighing a job offer, or buying a house.  Rather than allowing our human emotions to be the sole factor in making our decisions, we should listen to what God's spirit has to say and act in harmony with its guidance.

We truly appreciate the kind reminders and the counsel we receive from fellow Christians, including the elders.  However, we need not always wait for others to bring matters to our attention.  if we know the wise course to follow and what adjustments we need to make in our attitude and conduct in order to please God, let us act.  Jesus said: "If you know these things, happy you are if you do them." -John 13:17.

Clearly, in order to know how to please God, Christians do not need to hear a literal voice from heaven, nor do they need  to receive an angelic visit.  They are blessed  with having God's written Word and loving guidance through his anointed class on earth.  If they carefully heed this 'word behind them ' and follow the guidance of their Bible-trained conscience, they will be successful in doing God's will. Then they will surely see the apostle  John's promise fulfilled: "He that does the will of God remains forever." -1 John 2:17.

Next time: Joyful Weddings THAT HONOR JEHOVAH

The Watchtower, 2000