Keep Cultivating Tender Affection - HOW CAN WE SHOW TENDER AFFECTION TODAY?

 

When we show tender affection for one another, we protect the congregation from a spirit of competition.  Recall that Jonathan did not try to compete with David, viewing him as a rival to the throne.  All of us can imitate Jonathan's example.  Do not view your fellow workers as rivals because of their abilities, "bu  with humility consider others superior to you." (Read Philippians 2:3)  Keep in mind that each person in the congregation has something to contribute. By keeping a humble view of ourselves, we see the good in our brother and sisters and benefit from their faithful example. - 1 CORINTHIANS 12:21-25.

When we face unexpected trials, Jehovah comforts us through the tender affection and practical help that we receive from our brothers and sisrters.  Consider what happened to one family after attending the Saturday program at one of the 2019  "Love Never Fails" International Conventions in the United States.  "We were driving back to our hotel," relates Tanya, a mother of three,  "when another vehicle lost control and veered into our land and crashed into us.  No was hurt, but we got out of the car and stood on the freeway, stunned.  Somone on the side of the road was waving us over to the safety of his car. It was one of our brothers who had also just left the convention.  Ad he wasn't the only one who stopped.  Five delegates from Sweden also stopped.  The sisters gave my daugther and me the warmest hugs, which we desperatel needed !  I assured them that we would be Ok, but they would not leave us even after the paramedics arrived, and they made sure we had everything we needed.  Though every step of this ordeal, we felt Jehovah's love.  This experience intensified our love for our brothers and sisters, and it deepened our love and appreciation for Jehovah."  Can you recall a time when you were in need and a fellow believer showed you tender affection? 

Consider what results when we show tender affection for one another. We comfort our brothers and sisters in their time of need. We strengthen the unity among God's people.  We prove that we are Jesus' disciples, and this attacts honesthearted ones to true worship. Above all, we glorify  "the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort," Jehovah. (2 Corinthians 1:3) May all of us continue cultivating and showing tender affection! 

Next time: Life Story/ We Learned Never to Say No to Jehovah-AS TOLD BY KATHLEEN LOGAN

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