DAILY TEXT, From today Monday, January 15, 2024, Continue to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thes. 5:11).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2024

Monday January 15, 2024

Continue to encourage one another and build one another up (1 Thes. 5:11).

Has your congregation participated in the construction or renovation of a Kingdom Hall? If so, you surely remember the first meeting. His heart was filled with gratitude to Jehovah. Maybe he was so excited that he even had a hard time singing the first song. Without a doubt, our beautiful Kingdom Halls bring glory to Jehovah. But there is another kind of construction that produces more valuable results than any building and that brings even more glory to Jehovah: the edification of the people who gather in those places. The apostle Paul referred to this spiritual edification when he wrote the words of today's text. To learn how to edify our brothers, we can look to Paul and follow his excellent example. He knew how to put himself in the shoes of others (1 Cor. 11:1). w22.08 20 paras. 1, 2.

What balanced view did Paul have?

Paul loved his brothers very much. And, because he himself had been through many difficult situations, he was able to treat those facing trials with compassion and empathy. On one occasion, he ran out of money and had to go to work to get what he and his companions needed (Acts 20:34). His job was to make tents. When he arrived in Corinth he worked with Aquila and Priscilla, who had the same trade. But “every Sabbath” he preached to Jews and Greeks. And when Silas and Timothy arrived, “Paul devoted himself completely to preaching the word” (Acts 18:2-5). So the apostle was always clear that the main thing in his life was to serve Jehovah. He was a hardworking man who had the moral authority to encourage the brothers and advise them not to allow the pressures of life and the need to support the family to lead them to neglect what is most important, everything related to our worship (Philipp. 1:10).

How did Paul and Timothy help their brothers endure persecution?

Shortly after the Thessalonica congregation was formed, strong opposition arose against these new Christians. When a mob of evil people did not find Paul and Silas, they “dragged before the rulers of the city” some of the brothers. He shouted, “These men are acting contrary to Caesar's decrees” (Acts 17:6, 7). Can we imagine how scared those new Christians must have felt when they saw that the people of their city had turned against them? This could cool their enthusiasm for serving Jehovah. But Paul didn't want that to happen. Although he and Silas had to leave, they made sure the new congregation was well cared for. Later, the apostle reminded the Thessalonians: “We sent Timothy to you… to strengthen you and comfort you for the good of your faith, so that no one will be shaken by these difficulties” (1 Thess. 3:2, 3). It is very likely that Timothy had suffered persecution firsthand while he lived in Lystra. He had seen how Paul strengthened the Christians of that city and the support that Jehovah gave them. So he could convey to his new brothers the assurance that everything would turn out well (Acts 14:8, 19-22; Heb. 12:2).

What good effect did the help he received from an elder have on Bryant?

What else did Paul do to strengthen his brothers? When he and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, they “appointed elders in each congregation” (Acts 14:21-23). Without a doubt, those named men greatly encouraged the congregations, just as the elders do today. Let's look at what a brother named Bryant says: “When I turned 15, my dad left home and my mom was expelled. He felt abandoned and sunk.” What helped you during that difficult time? He says: “An old man named Tony talked to me at meetings and at other times too. He told me experiences of brothers who had gone through trials without losing happiness. He read Psalm 27:10 to me and often spoke to me about Hezekiah, who faithfully served Jehovah even though his father was not a good example.” What effect did the support he received have on Bryant? He says, “Thanks to Tony's encouragement, I later began serving full-time, and that has brought me great joy.” Elders, be on the lookout for brothers who, like Bryant, need “a good word” of encouragement (Prov. 12:25).

How did Paul use the stories of God's past servants to encourage others?

Paul reminded his brothers that a great “cloud of witnesses” had managed to endure all kinds of difficult situations thanks to the strength that Jehovah gave them. (Heb. 12:1) He knew that the stories of those faithful servants of the past would help them be courageous and focused on the “city of the living God” (Heb. 12:22). And they can help us too. Who has not been encouraged by reading how Jehovah helped Gideon, Barak, David, Samuel, and many others? (Heb. 11:32-35). And the same thing happens to us with the examples of faith of our days. Many letters are received at world headquarters from brothers and sisters who feel that their faith has been strengthened by reading the biography of a modern-day faithful servant of Jehovah.

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