Love and Appreciation for Jehovah Lead to Baptism - Continue with THE MOST IMPORTANT LOVE

You need to be convinced that Jehovah cares for you personally.  Do you find it difficult to believe that the Creator of heaven and earth know that you exist and that he cares for you?  If so, remember that Jehovah is "not far off from each of us." (Acts 17:26-28)  He "searches through all hearts,"  and he promises you that, as David told Solomon,  "If you search for him, he will let himself be found by you." (1 Chronicles 28:9)  In fact, the reason you are now studying the Bible is that, as Jehovah says,  "I have drawn you to me." (Jeremiah 31:3) The more you appreciate all that Jehovah has done for you, the deeper your love for him will be.

One way to respond to Jehovah's love is by talking to him in prayer.  Your love for God will grow as you tell him about your concern and thank him for all that he does for you.  And the bond between you and Jehovah will be strengthened as you see how he answers you.  But to grow close to Jehovah, you need to understand his way of thinking.  And you  need to  know what he wants from you.  The will gain that knowledge is by studying his Word, the Bible.

Learn  to appreciate God's Word, the Bible. Only the Bible contains the truth about Jehovah and his purpose  for you. You show that you appreciate the Bible by reading it each day, by preparing for you personal Bible study session, and by applying what you learn.  (Psalm 119:97. 99; John 17:17) Do you  have a personal Bible schedule? Do you follow that schedule, making sure that you read the Bible each day? 

Next time: Love and Appreciation for Jehovah Lead to Baptism - Continue with THE MOST IMPORTANT LOVE

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Love and Appreciation for Jehovah Lead to Baptism - THE MOST IMPORTANT LOVE

You have many worthwhile things to love and appreciate.  For instance, even before studying with Jehovah's Witnesses, you may have formed a deep appreciation for the Bible. And you may have developed a love for Jesus. Now  that you have come to know Jehovah's  Witnesses, you might love to associate with them. But loving those good things will not necessarily make you want to dedicate yourself to Jehovah and get baptized.  The primary motivation that will lead you to baptism is love for Jehovah God himself.  When you love Jehovah more than all else, you will not let  anything or anyone prevent you from serving him. You could vies love for Jehovah as both the gateway  to baptism and the guardrail that helps you stay on the right path of serving God.

Jesus said that we must love Jehovah with our whole heart, soul, and mind, and strength. (Mark 12:30)  How can you learn to love and respect Jehovah that deeply?  Reflecting on Jehovah's love for us moves us to love him in return. (1 John 4:19)   What other feelings and actions will naturally follow once you develop that most important love?

Learn about Jehovah through his creation. (Read Romans 1:20; Revelation 4:11) Meditate on the wisdom evident in the designs of plants and animals.  Learn a little about  the wonderful way your body is made.  (Psalm 139:14)  And think about the power that Jehovah packed into our sun, realizing that it is just one of a billion stars. (Isaiah 40:26) As you do, your respect for Jehovah will deepen. However, knowing that Jehovah is wise and powerful is only part of the foundation of your relationship with him.  To build  a strong love for Jehovah, you need to know more about him.

Next time: Love and Appreciation for Jehovah Lead to Baptism - Continue with  THE MOST IMPORTANT LOVE

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Love and Appreciation for Jehovah Lead to Baptism - What Is in Your Heart?

Jesus likened the message found in the Bible to seed and human hearts to different types of soil.  (Luke 8:4-8)  Perhaps you have been studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses for some time. Why not read Luke 8:11-15 and ask yourself,  'My heart matches which kind of soil?

Trampled soil: This soil find little time to prepare for his Bible study session.  He often cancels his Bible study or misses meetings because he is busy doing others things.

Rocky soil: This person allows pressure or opposition from his peers or family to prevent him from obeying Jehovah and living by his standards.

Soil with thorns:  This person likes what he learns about Jehovah, but he feels that having money and possessions will make him feel happy and secure.  He often misses his personal Bible study sessions because he is working or is engaging in some kind of recreation.

Fine soil: This person regularly studies the Bible and tries to apply what he learns.  His priority in life is that of pleasing Jehovah.  Despite trials and opposition, he persists in telling others what he knows about Jehovah. 

You control what is in your heart.  Like the different types of  soil in Jesus' illustration,  your symbolic heart can be softened, weeded, and improved. Remember, you choose the type of soil that you are.

Next time: Love and Appreciation for Jehovah Lead to Baptism - THE MOST IMPORTANT LOVE

From the jw.org publications

Love and Appreciation for Jehovah Lead to Baptism

"What prevents me from getting baptized?" - ACTS 8:36.

DO YOU want to get baptized as a disciple of Christ?  Love and appreciation have motivated many to make the choice.  Consider the example of an official who served the queen of Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian acted immediately on what he had learned from the Scriptures. (Read Acts 8:27-31, 35-38)  What motivated him?  He obviously appreciated God's Word; he was reading a passage from the book of Isaiah as he rode in a chariot.  And when Philip spoke with him, the man developed an appreciation for what Jesus had done for him. But why had the official traveled to Jerusalem?  Because he had already developed a  love for Jehovah.  How do we know?  He had just been worshipping Jehovah in Jerusalem.  This man had apparently left the religion of his birth  and had joined the only nation that was dedicated to the true God. It was the same love for Jehovah that motivated him to take yet another vital step, that of getting  baptized ad becoming a disciple of Christ. - MATTHEW 28:19.

Love for Jehovah can motivate you to get baptized. But love might prevent you from doing so. How?  Note just some examples.  You may  love your unbelieving family and friends deeply, and you may worry that if you get baptized, they will hate you.  (Matthew 10:7)  Or you may love habits that you know God hates, and you may find it difficult to break free from their grip.  (Psalm 97:10)  OR you may have grown up celebrating customs that are associated with false religion. You may love the good memories associated with those celebrations. As a result, you may find it difficult to stop observing customs that displease Jehovah.  (1 Corinthians  10:20, 21) The question you face is., "What or whom do I love the most?" 

Next time: Love and Appreciation for Jehovah Lead to Baptism - What Is in Your Heart?

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Let Jehovah Soothe You - Conclusion of WHAT WE LEARN FROM DAVID

Be determined to avoid repeating the same mistakes.  King David knew that if he was going to avoid repeating  the same sins, he needed Jehovah's help. (Psalm 51:7, 10, 12) After receiving Jehovah's forgiveness, David was determined to avoid harmful thinking.  As a result, he regained his inner  peace. 

We show that we appreciate Jehovah's forgiveness when we pray for it, accept discipline, and work hard to avoid repeating our mistakes.  When we take these steps, we will regain our inner peace.  James,  a brother who committed a serious sin, found this to be true.  He says:  "When I confessed my sin to the elders, I felt that a heavy weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  I began to regain my inner peace of mind."  How encouraging it is to know that "Jehovah is close to the brokenhearted; he saves those who are crushed in spirit."! - PSALM 34:18. 


As these last days come to a close, the causes of anxiety are likely to increase.  When you have anxious thoughts, do not delay in seeking Jehovah's help.  Study the Bible diligently. Learn from the examples set by Hannah, Paul, and David.  Ask your heavenly Father to help you identify the cause of your anxiety.  (Psalm 139:23) Let him carry your burdens, especially those over which you have little or no control. if you do, you can be like the psalmist who sang to Jehovah: "When anxieties overwhelmed me, you comforted and soothed me." - PSALM 94:19.

Next time: Love and Appreciation for Jehovah Lead to Baptism

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Let Jehovah Soothe You - WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE APOSTLE DAVID

David had reason to be troubled by a guilty conscience. He had committed adultery with Bath-sheba, arranged  for the murder of her husband, and for a time tried to cover up the crimes. (2 Samuel 12:9)  At  first, David ignored his conscience.  As a result, he suffered not only spiritually, but also mentally and physically.  (Psalm 32:3, 4)  What helped David to deal with the anxiety he had brought on himself, and what can help us if we make a serious mistake? 

Pray for forgiveness. David eventually turned to Jehovah.  With heartfelt repentance, confessed to his sins. (Read Psalm 51:1-4) And what relief that finally brought him. (Psalm 32:1, 2,4, 5) If you commit a serious sin, do not try to cover the error. Instead openly confess your sin to Jehovah in prayer. You will then begin to feel some relief from the anxiety caused by a guilty conscience.  But if you want to restore your friendship with Jehovah, you need to do more than pray. 

Accept discipline.  When Jehovah sent the prophet Nathan to expose David's sin, David did not justify himself or try to minimize the sin.  He immediately acknowledged that he had sinned not only against Bath-sheba's husband, but above all, against Jehovah.  David accepted the discipline from Jehovah and Jehovah forgave him.  (2 Samuel 12:10-14)  If we have committed a serious sin, we need to talk to those whom Jehovah has appointed to shepherd us.  (James 5:14. 15)  And we must avoid the urge to justify ourselves.  The sooner we accept and apply whatever discipline we receive, the sooner we will regain our peace and joy. 

Next time: Let Jehovah Soothe You - Conclusion of WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE APOSTLE DAVID

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Let Jehovah Soothe You - WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL

Paul had many reasons for feeling anxious.  For instance, because he loved is brothers and sisters, the  problem they faced weighted heavily on his mind.  (2 Corinthians 2:4; 11:28)  In his assignment as an apostle, Paul had to deal with opposers who beat  him and threw him in prison. He also had to endure hardships that caused anxiety, such as being "low on provisions." (Philippians 4:12)  And reconsidering that he had been shipwrecked at least three times at that point in his life, we can only imagine the anxiety he experienced when traveling by boat.  (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) How did Paul deal with the anxiety?

Paul felt anxious for his brothers and sisters  when they faced challenges, but he did not try to fix all their problems by himself. Paul was modest.  He arranged for others to help in caring for the congregation.  For example,  he delegated authority to trustworthy men as Timothy and Titus.  The work those brothers did no doubt helped to reduce Paul's anxiety. - PHILIPPIANS 2:19, 20; TITUS 1:1. 

Ask others to help you.  Like Paul, many empathetic elders today feel anxious for those in the congregation who are facing trials.  But an elder can only do so much. Modesty will move him to share the load with other qualified young men to help them to take care of God's flock. - 2 TIMOTHY 2:2. 

Acknowledge your need to be comforted.   Paul was humble, so he sought and received encouragement from his friends.  He obviously did not worry about being viewed  as a weak person if he acknowledged that he had been comforted by others.  In writing to Philemon, Paul said:  "I received much joy and comfort on hearing of your love." (Philemon 7)  Paul mentioned several other fellow workers who had greatly encouraged him during times of distress. (Colossians 4:7, 11)  When we humbly acknowledge that we need encouragement, our brothers and sisters will gladly give us the support we need.

Rely on God's Word. Paul knew that the Scriptures would comfort him.  (Romans 15:4)  They would also give him wisdom to face any trial.  (2 Timothy 3:15, 16)  When imprisoned in Rome for the second time, Paul felt that his death was near. In the face of that distressing situation, what did Paul do? He asked Timothy to come to him quickly and to bring "the scrolls."  (2 Timothy  4:6, 7, 9, 13) Why? Because those scrolls were likely portions of the Hebrew Scriptures that Paul could use in his personal Bible study.  When we imitate Paul by regularly studying God's Word, Jehovah will use the Scriptures to soothe us-no matter what trials we face. 

Next time: Let Jehovah Soothe You - WHAT WE LEARN FROM KING DAVID

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Let Jehovah Soothe You - WHAT WE LEARN FROM FAITHFUL HANNAH

Despite her problems, Hannah went regularly with her husband to Jehovah's place of worship in Shiloh.  (1 Samuel 1:1-5)  It was while Hannah was the tabernacle that the High Priest Eli encouraged her by saying that Jehovah was respond in prayer. - 1 SAMUEL 1:9, 17.

We can regain peace if we continue attending congregation meetings.  The opening prayer at our meetings often includes a request for God's spirit to be with us. Peace is part of the fruitage of that spirit.  (Galatians 5:22) When we attend our meetings even though we are under stress, we give Jehovah and our brothers and sisters the opportunity to encourage us and to help us regain peace of mind and heart.  Prayer and meetings  are key ways that Jehovah uses to soothe us.  (Hebrews 10:24, 25)  Note another lesson we can learn from Hannah's experience.

The cause of Hannah's anxiety did not go away immediately.  When Hannah returned home from worshipping at the tabernacle, she had to live in the same household  as Peninnah did.  And the Bible does not indicate that Peninnah's  attitude changed.  So Hannah likely had to continue enduring her rival's stabbing words.  But Hanna was able to  regain and maintain her inner peace. Recall that after leaving the matter in Jehovah's hands, Hannah no longer felt overwhelmed by worry. She allowed Jehovah to comfort and soothe her.  Sometime later, Hannah was even blessed when children of her own! - 1 SAMUEL 1:19, 20; 2:21. 

We can regain our peace even if the cause of our anxiety remains.  Even though we pray intensely and attend meetings regularly, some problems may persist. But from Hannah's example, we learn that nothing can stop Jehovah from soothing our troubled heart. Jehovah will never forget us, and sooner or later he will reward our faithfulness.  - HEBREWS 11:6.

Next time: Let Jehovah Soothe You - WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL

From the jw.org publications

Let Jehovah Soothe You - Continue with WHAT WE LEARN FROM FAITHFUL HANNAH

When others speak harshly or act unkindly, we may feel anxious.  That is especially true if the one who hurt us is a close friend or relative.  We may worry that our friendship  with that individual is ruined. At times,  the person who hurt us may speak thoughtlessly, and we may feel as if we were stabbed with a sword!  (Proverbs 12:18)  Or someone may even deliberately choose to use words as a weapon.  A young sister had to deal with this challenge.  "A few years ago," she says,  "somebody I thought was a good friend started spreading rumors about me online. I felt hurt and anxious.  I just could not understand why she would stab me in the back like that."  If you have been hurt by a close friend or relative, you can learn much from Hannah.

Hannah had to deal with some difficult problems.  For many years she was unable to have children.  (1 Samuel 1:2)  In Israel culture,  a woman who was barren was believed to be cursed.  This left her feeling humiliated.  (Genesis 30:1, 2)  To make matters worse  for Hannah, her husband had another wife, Peninnah, who bore him children.  Peninnah  viewed Hannah as  a rival and "taunted her relentlessly in order to upset her."  (1 Samuel 1:6)  At first, Hannah did not cope well with these difficult challenges.  She was so upset that "she would weep and not eat." She became "extremely bitter at heart.  (1 Samuel 1:7, 10) How did Hannah find comfort?

Hannah poured out her feelings to Jehovah in prayer. After she prayed, she explained her situation to High Priest Eli.  He then told her: ""Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition." What was the result?  Hannah "went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer downcast."  (1 Samuel 1:17, 18)  Prayer helped Hanna to regain peace. 

We can regain our peace if we persevere in prayer.  Hannah spent a long time talking to her heavenly Father.  (1 Samuel 1:12)  We too can talk at length to Jehovah about our anxieties, our fears, and our shortcomings.  Our prayers do not have to be poetic or perfectly structured.  We may even find ourselves expressing bitter words that are interrupted by sobs of grief. Even so, Jehovah will never get tired of listening to us.  In addition to praying about our problems, we need to remember the advice given at Philippians 4:6, 7.  Paul specifically mentioned that we should offer prayer of thanksgiving, or gratitude. We have so many reasons to thank Jehovah.  For example, we can thank  him for the gift of life, for his creative works, for his loyal love, and for the wonderful hope that he has given us. What else can we learn from Hannah? 

Next time: Let Jehovah Soothe You - Conclusion of  WHAT WE LEARN FROM FAITHFUL HANNAH

From the jw.org publications

Let Jehovah Soothe You

"When anxieties overwhelmed me, you comforted and soothed me." - PSALM 94:19.

HAVE you ever been plagued by anxiety? Perhaps you feel anxious because you have been hurt by what others have said or done. Or you may be anxious about you have said or done.  For example, you may have made a mistake, and you worry that Jehovah will never forgive you.  To make matters worse, You may believe that because you are overwhelmed by anxiety, you must lack faith-you must be a bad person. But is that true?

Consider a few Scriptural examples.  Hannah, who became the mother of the prophet Samuel, was a woman was great faith.  Yet, she was overcome by anxiety when a member of her household treated her badly. (1 Samuel 1:7)  The apostle Paul had strong faith, but he was overwhelmed with anxiety for the congregations." (2 Corinthians 11:28)  King David had such strong faith that Jehovah developed a fondness for him.  (Acts 13:22)  Even so, David made mistakes that caused him to suffer bouts of crushing anxiety.  (Psalm 38:4) Jehovah comforted and soothed each one of them. Let us examine what we can learn from their examples. 

Next time: Let Jehovah Soothe You - WHAT WE LEARN FROM FAITHFUL HANNAH

From the jw.org publications

Pursue Peace by Fighting Envy - "PURSUE THE THINGS MAKING FOR PEACE"

Peace cannot survive if envy is allowed to thrive. We need to weed out envy from our own heart and avoid planting feelings of envy in others.  We must take these important steps if we are to obey Jehovah's command to "pursue the things making for peace and the things that build one another up." (Romans 14:19)  What specifically can we  do to help others fight envy, and how can we promoted peace? 

Our attitude and actions can have a big influence on others.  The world wants us to make a "showy display" of the things we own.  (1 John 2:16) But that attitude promotes envy.  We can avoid nurturing envy in others if we choose not to talk about the things we own or plan to buy,  Another way we can avoid  promoting envy is by being modest about the privileges we have in the congregation.  If we draw attention to the privileges that we have, we create fertile ground in which envy can grow.  By contrast, when we show genuine personal interest in others and acknowledge the good that they do, we help them  feel content and we promote unity and peace in the congregation.

We can win the battle against envy! Consider again  the example of Joseph's brothers. Years after they had mistreated Joseph, they met him in Egypt.  Before Joseph revealed his real identity to his brothers, he tested them to find out if they had changed.  He arranged a meal at which he gave the youngest brother,  Benjamin, significantly more attention than he gave to the others.  (Genesis 43:33, 34)  Yet, there is no indication that his brothers became envious of Benjamin. Instead, they showed genuine concern for their brother and for their father, Jacob.  (Genesis 44:30, 34)  Because Joseph's brothers had let go of envy, they were able to help restore peace in their family.  (Genesis 45:4, 15)  Similarly, if we uproot any feelings of envy, we will help to keep our family and our congregation peaceful.

 Jehovah wants us to fight envy and to pursue peace.  We must work hard to do both of those things.  As discussed in this article, we have a tendency to envy. (James 4:5) And we are surrounded   by a world that promotes envy.  But if we cultivate humility, contentment, and appreciation, we will leave no room for envy.  Instead, we will help to create a peaceful environment in which righteous fruit can grow. - JAMES  3:17, 18.

Next time:Let Jehovah Soothe You

From the jw,org publications

Pursue Peace by Fighting Envy - Conclusion of CULTIVATE HUMILITY AND CONTENTMENT

Consider another situation that many older brothers are facing. For several decades, they have served as coordinators  of the bodies of elders.  But when they turn 80, they willingly give up their assignment. Circuit overseers who reach 70 years of age humbly give up that privilege and accept their reassignment  to a different form of service. And in recent years, many Bethel family members around the world have begun new assignments in the field.  These faithful brothers and sisters do not resent those who may now care for the assignments that they once had,

The apostle Paul is another good example of someone who cultivated contentment and humility. Paul did not allow envy to develop.  He worked hard in the ministry, but he humbly said: "I am the least of the apostles, and I am not worthy of being called an apostle." (1 Corinthians 15:9, 10)  The 12 apostles followed Jesus during his earthly ministry, but Paul did not become a Christian until after Jesus' death and resurrection. Although he was  eventually appointed to be "an apostle to the nations," Paul did not qualify for the special privilege of becoming one of the 12 apostles.  (Romans 11:13; Acts 1:21-26)  Rather than envying those 12 men and the close association they had enjoyed with Jesus, Paul remained content with what he had. 

If we are content and humble, we will be like Paul and show respect for the authority that Jehovah has given to others.  (Acts 21:20-26)  He has arranged for appointed men to take the lead in the Christian congregation.  Despite their imperfections, Jehovah considers  them "gifts in men." (Ephesians 4:8-11) When we respect these appointed men and humbly follow their direction, we stay close to Jehovah and enjoy peace with our fellow Christians.

Next time: Pursue Peace by Fighting Envy - "PURSUE THE THINGS MAKING FOR PEACE"

From the jw,org publications

Pursue Peace by Fighting Envy - CULTIVATE HUMILITY AND CONTENTMENT

We can fight envy by cultivating humility and contentment.  When our heart is full of these good qualities, envy will have no room to grow.  Humility will help us not to think too highly of ourselves. A humble person does not feel that he deserves more  than everyone else. (Galatians 6:3, 4)  Someone who is content is satisfied with what he has and does not compare  himself with others.. (1 Timothy 6:7, 8)   When a person who is humble and content sees someone receive something good, he is happy for him. 

We need the help of God's holy spirit if we are avoid the fleshly trait of envy and instead cultivate humility and contentment. (Read Galatians 5:16; Philippians 2:3, 4) Jehovah's holy spirit can help us to examine our innermost thoughts and motives.  With God's help, we can replace harmful thoughts and feelings with up-building ones. (Psalm 26:2; 51:10)  Consider the examples of Moses and Paul, men who successfully fought the tendency to envy. 

Moses had a lot authority over God's people, but he did not jealously guard that privilege.  For example, on one occasion, Jehovah took away some of his holy spirit from Moses and gave it to a group of Israelite elders who were standing near the tent of meeting.  Shortly thereafter, Moses heard that two elders who had not gone out to the tent of meeting had also received holy spirit and had begun to behave as prophets.  How did he react when Joshua asked him to restrain the two elders? Moses did not become envious of the attention these two men were getting from Jehovah.  Instead, he humbly rejoiced with them in their privilege.  (Numbers 11:24-29) What lesson can we learn from Moses?

If you are an elder, have you ever been asked to train someone else to care for a privilege in the congregation that you truly love?   For example, you might love the privilege  of conducting the Watchtower Study each week. But if you are humble like Moses, you will not feel threatened if you are asked to train another brother so that, in time, he will able to handle this privilege.  Instead you will happy to help your brother.

Next time: Pursue Peach by Fighting Envy- Conclusion of  CULTIVATE HUMILITY AND CONTENTMENT

From the jw.org publications 

Pursue Peace by Fighting Envy - WHAT CAN CAUSE ENVY?

Material prosperity.  Isaac was a wealthy man, and the Philistines envied Isaac's prosperity. (Genesis 26:12-14)  They even stopped up the wells that Isaac depended on in order to water his flocks and herds.  (Genesis 26:15, 16, 27) Like the Philistines, some people today become envious of those who have more material possessions than they do.   They not only want the things others have but also want to deprive them of what they have. 

Being appreciated.  The Jewish religious leaders envied Jesus because he was much appreciated to the common people.  (Matthew 7:28, 29) Jesus was God's representative, and he was teaching the truth. Even so, these religious leaders spread wicked lies  and slander to ruin Jesus' good name.  (Mark 15:10; John 11:47, 48; 12:12m 13, 19) What warning lesson can we learn from this account?  We must fight any tendency to envy those who have qualities that endear them to the congregation.  Instead, we should try to imitate their loving ways. - 1 CORINTHIANS 11:1, 3 John 11.

Theocratic privileges.  In the first century, Diotrephes envied those who took the land in the Christian congregation.  He wanted "to have the first place" among the congregation members, so he spread malicious talk to discredit the apostle John and other responsible brothers.  (3 John 9, 10) Although not going as far as Diotrephes, we too could begin to envy a  fellow Christian who receives an assignment that we had hoped to get-especially if we feel that we are just as qualified as he is to care for that responsibility.

Envy is like a poisonous weed.  Once the seed of envy takes root in our heart, it can be difficult to destroy.  Envy feeds on other negative feelings, such as improper jealousy, pride, and selfishness.  Envy can choke the development of good qualities, such as love, compassion, and kindness.  As soon as we see envy starting to sprout, we need to uproot it from our heart. How can we fight envy?

Next time: Pursue Peace by Fighting Envy - CULTIVATE HUMILITY AND CONTENTMENT

From the jw.org publications

Pursue Peace by Fighting Envy

"Let us pursue the things making for peace and the things that build one another up. - ROMANS 14:19.

JACOB loved all his sons, but he had special affection for 17-year-old Joseph. How did Joseph's brothers react?  They became envious of him, and that envy made them bitter.  Joseph had done nothing to deserve the hatred his brothers felt toward him.  Even so, they sold Joseph into slavery and lied to their father, saying that a wild animal had killed his favorite son. Envy caused them to disrupt the peace of the family and to break their father's heart. - GENESIS 37:3, 4, 27-34. 

In the Scriptures, envy is listed among the death-dealing "works of the flesh" that can disqualify a person from inheriting God's Kingdom.  (Read Galatians 5:19-21)  Envy is often the root cause of such poisonous fruit as hostility, strife, and fits of anger. 


The example of Joseph's brothers shows how envy can damage relationships and disturb the peace that once existed in a  family.  Although we would never do what Joseph's brothers did,we all have an imperfect and treacherous heart.  (Jeremiah 17:9) Little wonder, then, that we may at times struggle with feelings of envy.  Let us review some warning examples in the Bible that help us identify reasons why feelings of envy may take root in our heart. We will then consider some practical ways to fight envy and promote peace.

Next time:Pursue Peace by Fighting Envy - WHAT CAN CAUSE ENVY?  

From the jw.org publications

We Love Jehovah, Our Father, Dearly - LOVE OUR FATHER AND BE HAPPY

Jehovah is a loving parent, so he wants his family to be happy. (Isaiah 65:14)  There are many reasons why we can be cheerful right now,even though we may be facing difficulties.  For example, we are certain that our heavenly Father loves us dearly.  We have an accurate knowledge of God's Word, the Bible.  (Jeremiah 15:16) And we are part of the unique family made up of people who love Jehovah, love his high moral standards, and love one another. - PSALM 106:4, 5.

We can remain happy because we have the sure hope that life will get even better in the future. We know that soon Jehovah will remove all the wicked and that under the direction of his Kingdom, the earth will be restored to Paradise.  We also have the wonderful hope that those who have died will be raised to life and reunited with their loved ones.  (John 5:28, 29) What a joy that will be!  And most important, we are that soon everyone in heaven and on earth will give our loving Father the honor, praise, and devotion that he deserve.

Next time: Pursue Peace by Fighting Envy

From the jw.org publications

We Love Jehovah, Our Father, Dearly - HELP OTHERS TO LOVE OUR FATHER

Read Ephesians 5:1. As Jehovah's "beloved children," we do our best to imitate him.  We imitate his qualities by being loving, kind, and forgiving in our dealings with others.  When those who do not know God see our fine conduct, they may be motivated to learn more about him. (1 Peter 2:12) Christian parents have good reason to  imitate Jehovah in the way they treat their children. When  they do, their children may want to form their own friendship with our loving Father.

A young child is proud of his father and is happy to talk to him.  Likewise, we are proud of our heavenly Father, Jehovah, and want others to come to know him. In our heart, we all feel as King David, who wrote; "I will boast in Jehovah." (Psalm 34:2) What, though, if we are timid:  How can become bold?  We grow bold when we focus on how happy we can make Jehovah and how much others will benefit from learning about him.  Jehovah will give us the courage we need.  He helped our first-century brothers to become  bold, and he will help us too. - 1 THESSALONIANS 2:2.

Jehovah is not partial, and he is happy when he sees us show love to others, no matter what their background may be.  (Acts 10:34, 35)  One of the best ways we can show love to others is by sharing the good news with them. (Matthew 28:19, 20) What can this work accomplish? Those who listen to us can improve their lives now and gain the prospect of enjoying everlasting life in the future. - 1 TIMOTHY 4:16.

Next time: We Love Jehovah, Our Father, Dearly - LOVE OUR FATHER AND BE HAPPY

From the jw.org publications

We Love Jehovah, Our Father, Dearly - SHOW YOUR LOVE BY BEING OBEDIEN

Jehovah expects children to obey their parents, and he expects us to obey him.  (Ephesians 6:1) He observes our obedience  because he is our Creator, the Sustainer of our life, and the wisest of all parents. However, the primary reason why we obey Jehovah is that we love him. (Read 1 John 5:3)  Although there are many reasons why  we should obey Jehovah, he does not force us to do so. Jehovah gave us the gift of free will, so he is happy when we choose to obey him out of love for him.

Parents want their  children to be safe.  That is why they establish standards of behavior, which benefit their children.  When children obey those guidelines, they show that they put trust in their parents and respect them.  How much more important it is, then, that we know our heavenly Father's standards, and live by them.  When we do, we show Jehovah that we love and respect him and we also benefit ourselves.  (Isaiah 48:17, 18) By contrast, those who reject Jehovah and his standards end up hurting themselves. - GALATIANS 6:7, 8.

When we live in a way that pleases Jehovah, we are protected from physical, emotional, and spiritual harm. Jehovah knows what is best for us. Aurora, who lives in the United States, says. "I know that obeying Jehovah always results in the best life possible."  That is true for all of us.  How have you benefited from obeying Jehovah's loving direction? 

Prayer helps us to be obedient, even when doing so is difficult.  At times, we will struggle to obey Jehovah, but we must constantly fight our tendency to sin. The psalmist plead with God: "Stir within me a willingness to obey you." (Psalm 51:12) Denise, who is a regular pioneer, says, "If I find it  difficult to obey one of Jehovah's commands, I pray for strength to do what is right."  We can be certain that Jehovah will always answer that type of request. - LUKE 11:9-13. 

Next time: We Love Jehovah, Our Father, Dearly - HELPS OTHERS TO LOVE OUR FATHER

From the jw.org publications

We Love Jehovah, Our Father, Dearly - STAY CLOSE TO JEHOVAH

Jehovah wants us to draw close to him and to communicate with him.  (Read James 4:8)  He urges us to "persevere in prayer," and he makes himself available at all times.  (Romans 12:12)  He is never too busy or too tired to listen to us.  In turn, we listen to him by reading his Word, the Bible, along with publications that help us to understand it.  We also listen to him by paying close attention at Christian meetings.  Just as good communication helps children stay close to our parents, regular communication with Jehovah helps us remain close to him.

Think about the quality of your communication with God. Jehovah wants  us to pour out our hearts to him in prayer.  (Psalm 62:8) We do well to ask ourselves this question: 'Do my prayers tend to be superficial, reprinted messages, or are they like heartfelt, handwritten letters?  No doubt you love Jehovah deeply, and you want to keep your relationship with him strong. To do that, you must communicate with him regularly.  Confide in him. Share your joys and your pains with him. Be confident that you can go to him for help.

 To stay close to our heavenly Father, we must maintain a grateful attitude.  We agree with the psalmist who wrote: " How many things you have done, O Jehovah my God, your wonderful works and your thoughts toward us. None can compare to you; if I were to tell and speak of them, they would be too numerous to recount!"  (Psalm 40:5) We do more than feel appreciative; we express our appreciation to Jehovah by words and actions.  This makes us stand out as different from many today. We live in a world where people do not appreciate all that God does for them.  In fact, one indication that we are living in "the last days" is that people are unthankful/ungrateful. (2 Timothy 3:1, 2)  May we never adopt that attitude! 

Parents do not want their children to squabble but to be friends.  Similarly, Jehovah wants all his children to get along with one another. In fact, the love we have for one another identifies us as being true Christians.  (John 13:35)  We agree with the psalmist who wrote:  "How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity!"  (Psalm 133:1)  When we love our brothers and sisters, we prove to Jehovah  that we love him. (1 John 4:20) How pleasant it is to be part of a family of brothers and sisters who are "kind to one another, tenderly compassionate"! - EPHESIANS 4:32.

Next time: We Love Jehovah, Our Father, Dearly - SHOW YOUR LOVE BY BEING OBEDIENT

From the jw.org publications

We Love Jehovah, Our Father, Dearly -Does Jehovah Notice Me?

 "O Jehovah, what is man that you should notice him, the son of mortal man that you should pay attention to him?"  (Psalm 144:3)  David was confident that Jehovah knew him well. (1 Chronicles 17:16-18)   And through his Word and his organization, Jehovah reassures you that he notices the love that you show for him.  Consider some statements in God's Word that can help you be certain of the fact: 

* Jehovah noticed you before you were born. - PSALM 139:16.

* Jehovah knows what is in your heart, and he knows what you are thinking. - 1 CHRONICLES  28:9.

* Jehovah personally listens to each one of your prayers. - PSALM 65:2 .

* Your actions affect Jehovah's feelings. - PROVERBS 27:11.

* Jehovah has personally drawn you to him. - JOHN 6:44. 

* If you die, Jehovah knows you so well that he will be able to resurrect your body and restore your mind along with your memories and other unique aspects of your personality. - JOHN 11:21-26, 39-44; ACTS 24:15.

Next time: We Love Jehovah, Our Father, Dearly - STAY CLOSE TO JEHOVAH

From the jw.org publications