MAKE IT YOUR AIM TO SERVE JEHOVAH FOREVER

"LIVING UP TO YOUR DEDICATION AND BAPTISM
It is important to remember that baptism is not the end of your spiritual progress.  It marks the beginning of lifelong service to God as an ordained minister and one of Jehovah's Witnesses.  Although baptism is vitally important, it is not a guarantee of salvation.  Jesus did not say:  'Everyone baptized will be saved.' Instead, he said:  "He that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved." (Matthew 24:13)  Therefore, it is vital that you seek God's Kingdom first by making it the paramount concern in your life. -Matthew 6:25-34. 

To endure in your service to Jehovah, you will want to set spiritual goals for yourself.  One worthy goal is to further your knowledge of God through regular personals study of his Word. Plan for daily reading of the Bible.  (Psalm 1:1, 2) Attend Christian meetings regularly, for the association you find there will help to give you spiritual strength. For your part,why not make it your goal to comment at congregation meetings and thus praise Jehovah and seek to upbuild others?  (Romans 1:11, 12)  Another goal might be to improve the quality of your prayers. - Luke 11:2-4. 

If you are to live up to the meaning of your baptism, you need to pay constant attention to what you do, letting God's holy spirit produce in you such qualities as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22,23; 2 Peter 3:11) Remember, Jehovah gives his holy spirit to all who pray for it and obey him as his faithful servants.  (Luke 11:13; Acts 5:32)  So pray to God for his spirit and ask him for help in displaying qualities that please him.  Such qualities will become more evident in your speech and conduct as you respond to the influence of God's spirit. Of course, every individual in the Christian congregation is striving to develop "the new personality"  so as to become more like Christ.  (Colossians 3:9-14)  Each one of us faces different challenges in doing this because we are at varying stages of spiritual progress. Since you are imperfect, you must work hard to have a Christlike personality. But never despair in this regard, for it is possible with God's help. 

Next time: MAKE IT YOUR AIM TO SERVE JEHOVAH FOREVER/Conclusion of LIVING UP TO YOUR DEDICATION AND BAPTISM

From the book: KNOWLEDGE That Leads to Everlasting Life