DAILY TEXT, From today  Saturday, September 16, 2023,  You have benefited from the work of others (John 4:38).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2023

Saturday September 16

You have benefited from the work of others (John 4:38).

What if you can no longer preach and teach as much as before because your health fails? Still, you can feel happy about what you can do at harvest. Let's see what happened when King David and his men defeated a band of Amalekite raiders and recovered their families and everything they had stolen from them. Two hundred men were too tired to go fight, so they stayed guarding the belongings. After the battle, David said that the spoils would be divided equally among all (1 Sam. 30:21-25). Today, something similar happens with our worldwide work of making disciples. All of us who give Jehovah the best we have, including you, can equally rejoice every time a person is helped to enter the path that leads to life. Jehovah notices our hard work and the love we put into it, and rewards us for it. He also teaches us to be happy with what we can do in the great harvest (John 14:12). Let us not doubt it: God will give us his approval if we do not give up. w21.10 28 paras. 15-17.

What does people's reaction to our message depend on?

People's reaction depends mainly on what is in their hearts. Jesus explained this truth in the parable of the sower. In this story, a man sowed seeds in different types of soil, but only those that fell on the good soil bore fruit (Luke 8:5-8). Jesus said that different types of soil represent people's hearts, which respond in different ways to “the word of God” (Luke 8:11-15). Just like the sower, we have no control over the fruit of our work, since it depends on what kind of heart the people who listen to us have. Our duty is to continue sowing the seed of the message of the Kingdom. As the apostle Paul said, “each person will receive his reward according to his work,” not according to the results of his work (1 Cor. 3:8).

Why can we say that Noah was successful as a “preacher of righteousness”? (See cover drawing).

Throughout history, many of Jehovah's servants have preached to people who have not heard their message. For example, Noah was a “preacher of righteousness,” probably for several decades (2 Pet. 2:5). No doubt he hoped that people would listen to him, but Jehovah did not let him know that this would happen. On the contrary, when he gave him instructions to make the ark, he commanded him: “You must enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your daughters-in-law” (Gen. 6:18). And, when he told him how big the ark would be, Noah may have realized that very few would listen to him (Gen. 6:15). So it was. Not a single person in that violent world heeded his message (Gen. 7:7). Did Jehovah think Noah was a failure? Not at all. For him, Noah was very successful because he faithfully did what he had commanded him to do (Gen. 6:22).

What did Jeremiah do to enjoy preaching despite the people's indifference and opposition?

The prophet Jeremiah also preached for decades despite the indifference and opposition of the people. The insults and mockery so discouraged him that he even considered giving up his assignment (Jer. 20:8, 9). But he didn't give up. What helped you fight his negative thoughts and enjoy his preaching? Focus on two important issues. First, that the divine message he brought to people could give them “a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11). And, second, that Jehovah had chosen him to bear his name (Jer. 15:16). We also carry a message of hope in a world that is in darkness and we bear the name of Jehovah because we are his Witnesses. When we focus on these two important issues, we enjoy preaching regardless of how people react.

What does Jesus' parable that we read in Mark 4:26-29 teach us?

Spiritual growth takes time. Jesus taught this truth in the parable of the sleeping sower (read Mark 4:26-29). The sower saw the fruit of his efforts little by little and could do nothing to make the seeds grow faster. Similarly, it may take time for us to see a student apply what he learns, as progress occurs little by little. Just as a planter cannot make his crops grow at the speed he wants, we cannot force students to progress at the speed we want. So let's not get discouraged or give up if your progress is taking longer than we expected. Both cultivating and making disciples require patience (James 5:7, 8).

What example shows that it can take a while before people start listening to us?

In some territories, years pass and no one responds to our message. Let's look at the experience of Gladys and Ruby Allen, two full sisters from Canada. In 1959, they were sent as regular pioneers to a city in the province of Quebec.c The people were afraid of the priests of the Catholic Church and the opinions of the people, so they did not listen to them. Gladys remembers: “We preached door to door for eight hours a day for two years without anyone responding. People simply saw us through the door window and closed the blinds. But we didn't give up." Over time, the attitude of the people softened and the territory became more productive. Today, there are three congregations there (Is. 60:22).

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