Keep Walking in the Truth - HELP ONE ANOTHER TO REMAIN IN THE TRUTH

To help our brothers and sisters to remain in the truth, we must show compassion. (1 John 3:10, 11, 16-18)  We need to love one another not only when things are going well but also when  problems arise.  For example, do you know someone who has lost a loved one death and needs to be comforted or helped in practical ways?  Or have you heard that fellow believers suffered loss from a nautical disaster and need help to rebuild their Kingdom Halls or homes?  We show the depth of our love and compassion for our brothers and sisters not only by what we say but, more important, by what we do.

We imitate our loving heavenly Father when we show love for one another.  (Read 1 John 4:7, 8.) An important  way that we show love is by forgiving one another.  For example, someone might hurt us but then apologize.  We  show love by forgiving him and putting his error behind us.  (Colossians 3:13)  A brother named Aldo faced this test when he heard a brother whom he respected make a hurtful comment about his ethnic background. Aldo says, "I constantly prayed to Jehovah to help me not have negative feelings toward this  brother."  But Aldo did something else. He decided to ask the brother to go out in services with him.  As they worked together, Aldo explained  how he was affected by the remark.  "When the brother heard how I felt about his hurtful comment," says Aldo, "he apologized.  From the tone of his voice, I could sense how much he regretted what he had said.  We parted as friends and put the problem behind us." 

The apostle John felt a deep, loving concern for the spiritual welfare of his brothers, and that feeling is clearly reflected in the counsel he gave in his three inspired letters.  How encouraging it is to know that men and women, like him, are anointed to be co-rulers with Christ! - 1 JOHN 2:27. 

We may take to heart the counsel we  have discussed.  Let us be determined to walk in the truth, obeying Jehovah in all respects of our life.  Study his Word, and put your trust in it. Build strong faith in Jesus.  Reject human philosophies and apostate teachings.  Resist the pressure to live in a double life and to give in to sin. Live by Jehovah's high moral standards. And let us help our brothers remain strong by forgiving those who hurt us and helping those in need.  Then, despite the struggles we face, we will keep walking in the truth. 

Next time: Life Story: I Have Done What I Ought to Have Done - As Told By Don Ridley

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