Conclusion of PUT AWAY ANGER, ABUSIVE SPEECH, AND LYING

Consider the example of Hans, who serves as an elder in a congregation in Austria.  "He is one of the meekest brothers you could ever want to meet," says the coordinator of the body of elders in the congregation to which Hans belongs.  But Hans was not always meek.  While in his teens, he began to abuse alcohol and, as a result, turned aggressive.  In an alcohol-induced rage,he killed his girlfriend, for which he received a 20-year sentence.  At first, life in prison did not change Hans' aggressive personality.  In time, his mother arranged for an elder to contact her son in prison, and Hans began to study the Bible.  He explains:  "It was a struggle for me to strip off my old personality.  Bible texts that encouraged me were Isaiah 55:7, which says:  "Let the wicked man leave his way,' and 1 Corinthians 6:11, which says about those who abandoned sinful ways: 'And yet that is what some of you were.'  For many years, Jehovah patiently helped me by means of his holy spirit to put on the new personality."  After having served 17 1/2 years of his sentence, Hans was released from prison as a baptized Christian.  He states:  "I am grateful for Jehovah's overwhelming mercy and forgiveness."

Besides abusive speech, the practice of lying is also a trait of the old personality.  For example, it is common for people to lie on tax returns or to lie to avoid taking responsibility for their sins.  By contrast, Jehovah is "the God of truth."  (Psalms 31:5)  Therefore, he requires that "each one of his worshipers "speak truth with his neighbor" and "not lie." (Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9) Thus, we must tell the truth even if it may be embarrassing or inconvenient. -Proverbs 6:16-19. 

Next time: How We Strip Off and Keep Off the Old Personality - HOW THEY GAINED THE VICTORY

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