DAILY TEXT, Monday November 28, 2022, Difficulties produce endurance (Rom. 5:3).

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Monday, November 28

Difficulties produce endurance (Rom. 5:3).

Love for God has always helped Jehovah's servants endure persecution. For example, when the powerful Jewish high court ordered the apostles to stop preaching, love for God prompted them to “obey God as ruler rather than men” (Acts 5:29; 1 John 5:3 ). That same unwavering love for God also helps to remain faithful to our brothers who are being persecuted by powerful and cruel governments. When the world hates us, we are not discouraged, but happy (Acts 5:41; Rom. 5:4, 5). Perhaps one of the most difficult trials to endure is family opposition. When they realize that we want to know Jehovah, some relatives may think that we have been deceived or even that we have gone crazy (compare Mark 3:21). They may even become aggressive with us. But none of this should surprise us, for Jesus said that "every man's enemies will be those of his own house" (Matt. 10:36). w21.03 21 pars. 6, 7.

What helped a sister stand strong in the face of fierce opposition?

Georgina, mentioned in paragraph 1, managed to hold her own in the face of fierce opposition from her mother. She explains: “We both started studying the Bible with the Witnesses. But six months later, when she wanted to attend the meetings, she made a radical change. I found out that she was in contact with apostates, and she was using their arguments when she talked to me. In addition, she insulted me, pulled my hair, grabbed me by the neck, and threw my publications in the trash. When I turned 15, I was baptized. To try to stop me from serving Jehovah, she put me in a reformatory where there were other young people. Some used drugs and committed crimes. It is much more difficult to face opposition when it comes from someone who is supposed to love you and take care of you.

Georgina recounts what helped her endure: “When my mom turned against me, just that day I had finished reading the entire Bible. She had convinced me that she had found the truth and I felt very close to Jehovah. She often prayed to him, and he listened to me. While I was living in reform school, a sister invited me to come to her house, and we studied the Bible together. During all that time, the brothers strengthened me. They made me feel part of their families. I could see that Jehovah is stronger than our opponents, whoever they are.”

What can we be sure of?

The apostle Paul wrote that nothing can ever "separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:38, 39). Although we sometimes suffer, Jehovah will never fail us. He will always give us comfort and strength. And, as Georgina's experience shows, he will also help us through our dear brothers and sisters.

How would the love Jesus described in John 15:12, 13 help the disciples? Give an example.

The night before he died, Jesus reminded his disciples to love one another (see John 15:12, 13). He knew it would help them stick together and endure the world's hatred. Let us think of the Thessalonian congregation, which was persecuted from the beginning. Those Christians became examples of love and faithful endurance (1 Thess. 1:3, 6, 7). Paul encouraged them to continue to show “even more” love (1 Thess. 4:9, 10). Love would motivate them to comfort the depressed and support the weak (1 Thess. 5:14). And they listened to him, for Paul told them a year later in his second letter: "The love that each and every one of you feel for one another is increasing" (2 Thess. 1: 3-5). His love helped them endure trouble and persecution.

How did the brothers of a country show love in times of war?

Let's see what happened to Danilo, mentioned in the first paragraph, and his wife. When their city was affected by a war in their country, they continued to attend the meetings, doing all they could in the preaching work, and sharing the food they had with their brothers. One day, some armed soldiers came to Danilo's house. He explains: “I was ordered to renounce my faith. When I refused, they beat me and pretended they were going to shoot me, but they shot over my head. Before they left, they threatened to come back to rape my wife. Immediately our dear brothers sent us by train to another city. I will never forget the love they showed us. When we arrived, the brothers from the new city gave us food and helped me find a job and a house. Thanks to that, some time later we were able to welcome other brothers who were fleeing the war”. Experiences like these prove that Christian love can help us endure hate.

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