DAILY TEXT, Today Wednesday, November 8, “Neither by military force nor by power, but by my spirit,” says Jehovah (Zech. 4:6).

DAILY TEXT, From Wednesday, November 8, 2023, “Neither by military force nor by power, but by my spirit,” says Jehovah (Zech. 4:6).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2023

Wednesday, November 8

“Neither by military force nor by power, but by my spirit,” says Jehovah (Zech. 4:6).

Many of Jehovah's servants today face opposition. Some live in places where our work is restricted. They can be arrested and “brought before governors and kings,” and this serves as a testimony to them (Matt. 10:17, 18). Other Witnesses face a different type of opposition. They live in a country where there is freedom to worship Jehovah, but they have relatives who try in every way to prevent them from doing so (Matt. 10:32-36). In many cases, when these family members realize that their efforts are of no use, they stop opposing them. And some who were previously violently opposed eventually become enthusiastic Witnesses. Therefore, do not give in to the opposition. Be brave. You have Jehovah and his powerful holy spirit, so you have nothing to fear! w22.03 16 para. 8.

Why were some Jews sad when the foundation of the new temple was laid?

When the foundation of the new temple was laid, some of the older Jews began to cry (Ezra 3:12). As they had seen the great temple built by Solomon, they were overcome with great sadness because it seemed to them that the new one was insignificant compared to the other (Haggai 2:2, 3). How could Zechariah's vision help them regain their joy?

How did the angel's words in Zechariah 4:8-10 help the Jews regain their joy?

(Read Zechariah 4:8-10). What did the angel mean when he said that the Jews would be overjoyed and see the plumb line in the hand of the Jewish governor Zerubbabel? The plumb line is a construction tool that lets you know if something is completely vertical. Therefore, the angel was assuring God's people that, no matter how simple the temple seemed to some, it would be completed and meet Jehovah's requirements. And, if Jehovah was going to be happy with him, why wouldn't they be happy? For God, the important thing was that in the new temple they worshiped him as he wanted. So if the Jews focused on worshiping him as he wanted and gaining his approval, they would regain his joy.

What changes do some of Jehovah's servants find difficult to face?

For many of us, it is difficult to face changes. Some who had long been in one facet of the full-time special service have received a change of assignment. Others may have had to give up a responsibility that they really enjoyed due to age. In these cases it is natural to feel sad. Perhaps at first we do not understand the reason for the decision or agree with it. Maybe we miss how things were before. And we may become discouraged, thinking that we will be less useful to Jehovah.​—Prov. 24:10. Let's see how Zechariah's vision can help us continue giving God the best of us.

How does Zechariah's vision help us not to become discouraged by changing circumstances?

Something that will help us cope better with changes is to see things as Jehovah sees them. He is doing great things today, and we have the great honor of working with him (1 Cor. 3:9). Our responsibilities may change, but Jehovah's love for us does not. So if a change in the organization affects you personally, don't dwell on why you made the change. Instead of missing “the old days,” ask God to help you see the positive aspects of the new situation (Eccl. 7:10). Don't think about what you can no longer do, but about all the things you can do. Zechariah's vision teaches us how important it is to maintain a positive attitude to remain happy and faithful even if circumstances change.

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