Whose Recognition Do You Seek? - STRENGTHEN YOUR DESIRE TO HAVE JEHOVAH'S RECOGNITION

How can our desire for Jehovah's recognition grow so strong that we will not want the world's recognition? We need to focus on two important truths:  First, Jehovah always gives recognition to those who serve him faithfully.  (Read Hebrews 6:10; 11:6)  Jehovah views every one of his faithful servants as precious, so he feels that it would be  "unrighteous" to ignore any of them. Jehovah always knows "those who belong to him." ( 2 Timothy 2:19) He is "aware of the way of the righteous" and knows how to save them. - PSALM 1:6; 2 PETER 2:9.

At times, Jehovah has shown his approval of his people in very special ways. (2 Chronicles 20:20, 29) For example, think about the way Jehovah saved his people at the Red Sea when Pharaoh's powerful army chased after them.  (Exodus 14:21-30; Psalm 106:9-11)  This event was so amazing that people in that part of the world was still talking about it 40 years later. (Joshua 2:9-11) It is really encouraging for us to remember how Jehovah loved his people and used his power to save them in the past, because soon Gog and Magog will attack us. (Ezekiel 38:8-12)  At that tie, we will be very happy that we looked for the approval of God and not of the world. 

The second truth we must focus on is that Jehovah may give us recognition in ways we may never expect. If people do good things just to be praised by others, Jehovah will not reward them.  Why not? Because, as Jesus said, when other praise them, this is their reward.  (Read (Matthew 6:1-5)  On the other hand, Jehovah "looks on in secret" at those who are not honored for the good they do to others. He notices what they do, and he rewards, or blesses them. And sometimes Jehovah rewards his servants in unexpected ways.  Let us discuss some examples. 

Next time: Whose Recognition Do You Seek? - JEHOVAH GAVE A HUMBLE WOMAN UNEXPECTED RECOGNITION

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