DAILY TEXT, Today's Sunday, October 24, 2021, It does not depend on a person's desire or efforts, but on God (Rom. 9:16).

DAILY TEXT, Today's Sunday, October 24, 2021

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2021

Sunday, October 24, 2021

It does not depend on a person's desire or efforts, but on God (Rom. 9:16).

Jehovah is the one who decides when he calls his anointed (Rom. 8: 28-30). He began to choose the anointed after the resurrection of Jesus. Apparently, in the first century, all true Christians were anointed. But, in later centuries, most of those who claimed to be Christians were actually not. Still, during that time, Jehovah anointed the few true Christians there were. They were like the wheat that Jesus said would grow among the weeds (Matt. 13: 24-30). During the last days, Jehovah has continued to choose those who will be among the 144,000. So if God calls some anointed ones just before the end, who are we to question his decision? (Rom. 9:11). We don't want to react like the workers Jesus spoke of in a parable, that they questioned the owner of the vineyard what he had done with those who had started working in the last hour (Matt. 20: 8-15). w20.01 30 par. 14

Why should we be careful how we treat the anointed? (See also note).

How should we treat anointed brothers and sisters? It is wrong to admire too much someone, even an anointed one, a brother of Christ (Matt. 23: 8-12). When speaking of elders, the Bible says, "They imitate their faith," but it does not say that we become followers of some human being (Heb. 13: 7). True, it also says that some Christians are "worthy of double honor." But it is not because they are anointed, but because they “lead the congregation well” and “work hard speaking and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17). If we give too much praise or attention to the anointed, we could make them uncomfortable * or, worse still, make the fact of being anointed go to their heads (Rom. 12: 3). And is it true that we do not want to contribute to an anointed one making such a serious mistake? (Luke 17: 2).

How can we show respect to the anointed?

How can we show respect to those Jehovah has anointed? To begin with, we will not ask you how you received the heavenly call. It is a very personal matter that we do not have to know (1 Thess 4:11; 2 Thess 3:11). Nor will we assume that your spouse, parents, or other family members are also anointed. The heavenly call is not inherited; it is received from God (1 Thess. 2:12). Also, we will not ask questions that may make others feel bad. For example, we will never ask the wife of an anointed one how it feels to think about living forever on Earth without her husband. After all, we are convinced that in the new world Jehovah will satisfy the desire of all living beings (Ps. 145: 16).

Why should we not admire personalities?

On the other hand, when we don't treat the anointed as if they are more important than others, we protect ourselves. How? According to the Bible, some anointed ones could become unfaithful (Matt. 25: 10-12; 2 Pet. 2:20, 21). But if we are one of those who do not “admire personalities,” we will never be followers of men, even if they are anointed, well-known, or have served Jehovah for many years (Jud. 16, note). Thus, if they become unfaithful or leave the congregation, we will not lose faith or abandon Jehovah.

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