DAILY TEXT, Today Tuesday, January 2, 2024, Let each one examine his own actions (Gal. 6:4).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2024

Tuesday January 2, 2024

Let each one examine his own actions (Gal. 6:4).

Jehovah wants us to be happy. We know this is so because happiness is part of the fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22). And, since there is more happiness in giving than in receiving, we feel very good when we are very busy in the Christian ministry and helping our brothers (Acts 20:35). In today's text, the apostle Paul indicated two ideas that will help us not lose joy. First, we will have reason to rejoice in what we do in our service to Jehovah if we give Him our best. And that is something we should all do (Matt. 22:36-38). Second, we should not compare ourselves with others. If our health, training, or natural abilities enable us to do something good, let us thank Jehovah. Now, if other brothers are more skilled than us in some aspect of the ministry, let us be glad that they are using their talents to praise Jehovah. w22.04 10 paras. 1, 2.

What could discourage us? Mention Carol's example.

Some brothers feel discouraged because because of age or poor health they cannot do as much as they would like in their service to Jehovah. That happened to a sister named Carol, who at one time served where she needed help preaching. She led 35 Bible courses and helped several people dedicate their lives to Jehovah and get baptized. What good results! But then she got sick and could hardly leave her house. She says: “I know that because of my health problems I cannot do what others do. Still, I feel like I'm not as faithful as them. I have a struggle between what I want to do and what I can do. “That discourages me a lot.” Carol wants to do everything she can for Jehovah, and there is much merit in that. We can be sure that God, who is so compassionate, values ​​his good disposition.

What should we remember if we feel discouraged because we can't do everything we want? And how has the brother in the images in this article always given the best of him to Jehovah?

If we sometimes feel discouraged because we cannot do everything we want, let us ask ourselves: “What does Jehovah expect of me?” He expects us to give him our best, that is, to do everything we can for him according to our circumstances. Consider this example. A sister who is 80 years old is discouraged because she can no longer do in her ministry what she did when she was 40. She thinks that, although she is giving Jehovah her best, he is not happy. her. But is that true? Let's see. If this sister gave Jehovah her best when she was 40 years old and continues to do so now that she is 80, she has never really stopped giving him her best. If we begin to think that what we do is not enough to please Jehovah, let us remember that it is he who decides what pleases him and what does not. If we give him our best, he will say to us, “Well done” (compare Matthew 25:20-23).

What does Mary's example teach us?

Something that will help us maintain joy is to focus on what we can do, instead of focusing on what is not within our reach. Let's look at the case of Mary, a sister who, due to illness, cannot do much in the ministry. At first she felt depressed and she thought that she was no longer worth anything. But then she realized that there was a sister in the congregation who was in bed. So she looked for a way to help her. Maria says: “I made plans to go to her house and preach with her by phone and by letter. She always came home happy and satisfied that she was able to help my sister.” We will also feel happier if we focus on what we can do instead of what is not within our reach. But what if our case is the opposite: if we can do more or are especially skilled in a certain facet of ministry?

What good advice did the apostle Peter give to Christians?

In the first letter the apostle Peter wrote by inspiration, he advised his brothers to use whatever gifts or talents they had to encourage their fellow Christians. He wrote, “According to the gift each of you has received, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's free kindness” (1 Pet. 4:10). We should not hold back from using our abilities to the fullest for fear that others will be envious or discouraged. If we did, we would not be giving Jehovah the best of us.

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