NEVER CEASE GROWING IN YOUR APPRECIATION

Appreciate Being "Equipped for Every Good Work?

Jehovah always helps his servants to do his will.  Noah, for example, received clear, specific instructions on how to build the ark-a project that had to be just right the first time! And it was.  Why? Because Noah "proceeded to do according to all that God had commanded him. He did just so."  (Genesis 6:14-22)  Today, too, Jehovah fully equips his servants to do his will.  Of course, our primary workk is to preach the good news of God's established Kingdom and help deserving ones become disciples of Jesus Christ. And as was true of Noah, our success depends on obedience.  We must obediently follow the direction Jehovah provides through his Word and his organization. -Matthew 28:19, 20.

In order to accomplish that work, we must learn to "handle aright' our main tool-God's Word-which is "beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work."  (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17) As in the first century, Jehovah gives us valuable training through the Christian congregations worldwide, the Theocratic Ministry School and Service Meeting are held weekly to help us in the ministry.  Do you show your appreciation for these important meetings by regularly attending and by applying the things you learn?-Hebrews 10:24, 25.

Exerting themselves in the ministry, millions of God's people around the world are demonstrating their appreciation for the training they receive.  For example, during the 2006 service year, 6,741,444 Kingdom publishers spent a total of 1,333, 966, 199 hours in all facets of the work, which included the conducting of 6, 286,618 home Bible studies.  These are just some of  the encouraging details listed in the worldwide report.  We invite you to take a close look at this report and draw encouragement from it, just as our first-century brothers no doubt drew much encouragement from reports about the expansion of the preaching work in their time. -Acts 1:15; 2:5-11, 41, 47; 4:4;  6:7.

The tremendous shout of praise that ascends to God each year reflects the deep appreciation that Jehovah's servants have for the privilege of knowing Jehovah and bearing witness to him.  (Isaiah 43:10)  True, the sacrifice of praise that some of our aged, sick or infirm brothers and sisters offer can be compared to the widow's mite. But let us not forget that Jehovah and his Son truly appreciate  all who serve God whole-souled, as they do all that they are able to do. -Luke 21:1-4; Galatians 6:4.

Besides training us for the ministry, Jehovah through his organization, equips us with excellent teaching tools.  In recent decades, these have included the books The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, You Can Live Forever in  Paradise on Earth, Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life and currently, What Does the Bible Really Teach? Those who truly appreciate these provisions make good use of them in the ministry.

Next time: Make Good Use of the Bible Teach Book

The Watchtower, 2007