Watchtower Study, Week of January 15 to 21, 2024, How to keep the love we have for each other strong, Underlined Answers.

Watchtower Study, January 15-21, 2024, How to keep the love we have for each other strong, Underlined Answers.

Yellow: Direct Response.

Dark Yellow: Additional Response.

Light Blue: Additional Points.

“Let us continue to love one another, for love is from God” (1 JOHN 4:7).

1, 2. a) Why did the apostle Paul say that love is “the greatest” quality? b) What questions will we analyze?

WHEN the apostle Paul spoke of the qualities of faith, hope, and love, he concluded by saying, “The greatest of all is love” (1 Cor. 13:13). Because he said that? a). Because in the future we will not need to have faith in God's promises about the new world, since our hope will have come true. But we will always have to love Jehovah and people. In fact, that love will continue to grow for all eternity.

2 As we will always have to show love, let's analyze three questions. b). First, why should we love each other? Second, in what ways can we show that we love each other? And, third, how to keep the love we have for each other strong?

WHY SHOULD WE LOVE EACH OTHER?

3. What reasons do we have to love each other?

3 Why is it important to love each other? Among other reasons, because by doing so we demonstrate that we are true Christians. Jesus said to his apostles: “In this way everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Plus, love keeps us together. Paul rightly said that “it is a perfect bond of union” (Col. 3:14). And there is another important reason why we should love each other. The apostle John wrote to his Christian brothers: “Let him who loves God also love his brother” (1 John 4:21). So, by showing love to our brothers, we also show our love to Jehovah.

4, 5. Give an example that demonstrates the relationship between love for God and love for our brothers.

4 What relationship is there between love for God and love for our brothers? To understand it, let's think about the relationship between the heart and other parts of the body. A doctor can get an idea of ​​what his patient's heart is doing by checking the pulse on his wrist. What does this example teach us?

5 Just as a doctor can tell how his patient's heart is by seeing whether his pulse is weak or strong, we can also tell how our love for Jehovah is by looking at how strong our love for others is. If we notice that our love for our brothers and sisters has weakened, perhaps our love for Jehovah has also weakened. But if we make a habit of showing our brothers and sisters that we love them, it indicates that our love for Jehovah is strong.

6. Why should we worry if our love for our brothers has weakened? (1 John 4:7-9, 11).

6 Why should we worry if our love for our brothers has weakened? Because that would mean that our friendship with Jehovah is in danger. This is clearly demonstrated by the words of the apostle John: “He who does not love his brother, whom he sees, cannot love God, whom he does not see” (1 John 4:20). The lesson ? We will please Jehovah only if we love one another. (Read 1 John 4:7-9, 11.)

IN WHAT WAYS CAN WE SHOW THAT WE LOVE EACH OTHER?

7, 8. In what ways can we show that we love each other?

7 In the Bible we find this commandment many times: “Love one another” (John 15:12, 17; Rom. 13:8; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 John 4: eleven). But love is a feeling that grows in the heart; no one can see it. So how can we externalize that feeling so that others can see what is in our hearts? Through our words and actions.

8 There are many ways to show our brothers that we love them. The Bible gives us some examples. They must “tell the truth to one another” (Zech. 8:16). “Keep peace with one another” (Mark 9:50). “Take the initiative to honor one another” (Rom. 12:10). “Welcome one another gladly” (Rom. 15:7). “Keep […] forgiving one another” (Col. 3:13). “Continue to carry each other's burdens” (Gal. 6:2). “Continue to comfort yourselves” (1 Thes. 4:18). “Continue to build yourselves up” (1 Thes. 5:11). “Pray for one another” (James 5:16).

ILLUSTRATION

Series of images: 1. A sister praying. 2. Listening while another sister vents. 3. Talking via video conference with an older sister who is sick. 3. Writing a note that she is going to send to someone with a gift. 4. Eating with a sister who has an immobilized arm due to an injury. How can we help a brother or sister who is suffering? (See paragraphs 7 to 9).

9. Why do we say that comforting others is an important way to show them love? (See also images).

9 Let's take a closer look at one of the ways to show love that we saw in the previous paragraph. Paul said, “Continue to comfort yourselves.” Why do we say that comforting others is an important way to show them love? One Bible reference explains that the Greek word Paul used for “comfort” means “to stand beside a person to encourage him when he faces difficult trials.” So, when we comfort a brother who is suffering, we help him continue walking on the path that leads to life. Every time a brother or sister needs a shoulder to cry on and we are there for them, we are telling them that we love them (2 Cor. 7:6, 7, 13).

10. Why do we say that feeling compassion and giving comfort go hand in hand?

10 Feeling compassion and giving comfort go hand in hand. Why do we say it? Because, when a person feels compassion for someone he is suffering, he wants to comfort him and do something to help him. So first we feel compassion and then that feeling prompts us to give comfort. The same thing happens with Jehovah. Paul explained that God's compassion for people motivates him to comfort them. He said that Jehovah is “the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). By the expression “tender mercies,” Paul refers to a feeling of compassion. And he calls Jehovah “the Father” or the source of “tender mercies” because compassion emanates from him. And that feeling motivates him to comfort us “in all our trials” (2 Cor. 1:4). Just as water flowing from a spring quenches people's thirst, Jehovah calms and comforts the hearts of those who are suffering. What will help us feel compassion and comfort others, just as Jehovah does? Cultivate qualities that have to do with comfort. Let's look at some of them.

11. According to Colossians 3:12 and 1 Peter 3:8, what qualities will help us love and comfort others?

11 What will help us continue to love and comfort each other day after day? Cultivate qualities such as empathy, brotherly affection, and kindness (read Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 3:8). When compassion and other similar qualities become part of our personality, we are born to console those who are going through difficult times. Jesus explained it this way: “The mouth speaks of what abounds in the heart. The good person brings good things out of his treasure of goodness” (Matt. 12:34, 35). It is clear that comforting our brothers is an important way to show them our love.

HOW DO WE KEEP THE LOVE WE HAVE STRONG?

12. a) Why should we be careful? b) What question will we answer next?

12 We all want to obey the command: “Let us continue to love one another” (1 John 4:7). But we must not forget the warning Jesus gave: “The love of the many will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12). With these words, Jesus was not meaning that many of his disciples would stop loving each other. Still, a). We must be careful that the lack of love of this world does not infect us. b). With that in mind, let's look at the answer to the following question: is there a way to know if the love we feel for our siblings is strong?

13. What can test our love?

 13 One way to know if our love for our brothers is strong is by seeing how we react to situations that arise in life (2 Cor. 8:8). One of those situations was mentioned by the apostle Peter: “First of all, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8). So our love is tested when our brothers make mistakes or hurt us.

14. According to 1 Peter 4:8, what kind of love do we need? Give an example.

14 Let's analyze Peter's words in detail. The first part of verse 8 tells us the kind of love we should have: “intense love.” The Greek word Peter used for “intense” literally means “spreading.” The second part of the verse talks about what that intense love accomplishes: it covers the sins of our brothers. It is as if love were a cloth that one could stretch and stretch until it covered not just one or two sins, but “a multitude of sins.” In this context, covering means “forgiving.” Just as a piece of cloth can cover a stain, love can cover the weaknesses and imperfections of others.

15. What do we achieve when our love for others is strong? (Colossians 3:13).

15 The love we have for our brothers should be so great that we are able to forgive them for their mistakes, even if it seems very difficult to do so (read Colossians 3:13). When we can forgive others, we show that our love is strong and that we want to please Jehovah. What else can help us overlook the mistakes and things that irritate us in others?

16, 17. What else can help us overlook the small mistakes of others? Give an example. (See also images).

16 Focus on the good things in others, not the bad. Let's say you're having a nice time with a group of siblings and you end up deciding to take a group photo. To make sure you have a good memory, take three photos. But he sees that in one of them a brother did not turn out well. What will you do with the photo? Delete it and keep the other two, because everyone is smiling in them.

 17 The photos we keep are like memories. We usually have fond memories of the pleasant times we spent with our siblings. But suppose that on one of those occasions a brother said or did something that was not right. What will you do with that memory? Why don't you delete it as if it were a photo? (Prov. 19:11; Eph. 4:32). Since we have so many good memories of the moments we have lived with that brother, we can erase the memory of his little mistake without any problem from him. The best thing is to save “the pretty photos” with affection.

ILLUSTRATION

Left: A brother has several photos of a group of brothers and sisters on his phone, and he is deleting one of the photos. Right: a bookshelf with a framed photo of the same group. Just as we save the most beautiful photos and delete the rest, we remember the good times we lived with our siblings and erase the bad memories from our memory. (See paragraphs 16 and 17).

WHY IS LOVE SO IMPORTANT TODAY?

18. What are the main ideas of this article?

18 Why do we want to keep the love we have for each other strong ? As we saw, because by showing our love for our brothers we also show that we love Jehovah. How can we express the love we feel for our spiritual family? One way to achieve this is by comforting our brothers. And to continue doing so, we need to feel compassion. How can we keep the love we have for each other strong? Doing everything possible to forgive the mistakes of others.

19. Why is it so important to show ourselves love today?

19 Why is it so important to show ourselves love today? Let's look at what Peter said: “The end of all things has come near. Therefore, […] have intense love for one another” (1 Pet. 4:7, 8). What can we expect to happen as the end approaches? Speaking of his disciples, Jesus predicted: “All nations will hate them because of my name” (Matt. 24:9). To continue serving Jehovah despite being hated, we must remain united. Satan wants to divide us, but he will not have his way if we love one another, because love “is a perfect bond of union” (Col. 3:14; Philip. 2:1, 2).

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

What reasons do we have to love each other?

Among other reasons, because by doing so we demonstrate that we are true Christians. 

And there is another important reason why we should love each other. The apostle John wrote to his fellow Christians: “Let him who loves God also love his brother” (1 John 4:21).

The apostle John wrote to his fellow Christians: “Let him who loves God love his brother also” (1 John 4:21). So, by showing love to our brothers, we also show our love to Jehovah.

Jesus told his apostles: “In this way everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Plus, love keeps us together.

Paul rightly said that love “is a perfect bond of union” (Col. 3:14). And there is another important reason why we should love each other. 

In what ways can we show that we love each other?

Through our words and actions.

There are many ways to show our brothers that we love them. The Bible gives us some examples. They must “tell the truth to one another” (Zech. 8:16). 

“Keep peace with one another” (Mark 9:50). “Take the initiative to honor one another” (Rom. 12:10). 

“Welcome one another gladly” (Rom. 15:7). “Keep […] forgiving one another” (Col. 3:13). 

“Continue to carry each other's burdens” (Gal. 6:2). 

“Continue to comfort yourselves” (1 Thes. 4:18). 

“Continue to build yourselves up” (1 Thes. 5:11). “Pray for one another” (James 5:16).

Why can we say that forgiving others is a sign of love?

The love we have for our brothers should be so great that we are able to forgive them for their mistakes, even if it seems very difficult to do so (read Colossians 3:13). 

When we can forgive others, we show that our love is strong and that we want to please Jehovah.

When a brother or sister needs a shoulder to cry on and we are by their side we are telling them that we love them in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 verse 18 says continue to comfort each other therefore comforting someone is a proof of love.