DAILY TEXT, From today Tuesday, February 6, 2024, Continue to bear with each other and forgive each other generously (Col. 3:13).

DAILY TEXT, From today Tuesday, February 6, 2024,  Continue to support each other and forgive each other generously. (Col. 3:13).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2024

Tuesday February 6, 2024

Continue to bear with each other and forgive each other generously. Jehovah generously forgave you, so do the same (Col. 3:13).

Jehovah is our Creator, Lawgiver, and Judge, but he is also our loving heavenly Father (Ps. 100:3; Is. 33:22). Therefore, when we sin against him and repent from the heart, he is not only able to forgive us, but he is also willing to do so (Ps. 86:5). Through the prophet Isaiah, Jehovah made a promise that comforts us. He said, “Though your sins be like scarlet red, they will be white as snow” (Isa. 1:18). Because we are imperfect, we all do and say things that offend others (James 3:2). But this does not mean that we cannot have good friendships. The key is to learn to forgive (Prov. 17:9; 19:11; Matt. 18:21, 22). Jehovah expects us to forgive those small frictions that arise between us. And we have good reasons to do so. After all, he forgives us generously (Is. 55:7). w22.06 8 paras. 1, 2.

WHEN A CHRISTIAN COMMITS A SERIOUS SIN

What should a Christian do who has committed a serious sin? And what responsibility do the elderly have?

When someone commits a serious sin, it is necessary to inform the elders. In 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 we find some examples of serious sins. This kind of sin is a serious violation of God's law. If a Christian commits such a sin, he should pray to Jehovah for forgiveness and talk to the elders of the congregation (Ps. 32:5; James 5:14). What responsibility do the elderly have? Only Jehovah has the authority to forgive sins completely, and he does so on the basis of Jesus' sacrifice.b However, God has given the elders the responsibility to decide with the help of the Scriptures whether the sinner can continue in the congregation or not (1 Cor. 5:12). To do this, one of the things they do is try to answer these questions: Did the person plan to commit the sin? Did they try to hide it? Was the person committing the sin for some time? And more importantly, has she demonstrated that he is truly repentant? Is there evidence that Jehovah has forgiven her? (Acts 3:19).

How does the work of elders benefit the congregation?

When the elders meet with the person who has sinned, their goal is to make the same decision on Earth that has already been made in heaven (Matt. 18:18). How does this benefit the congregation? Well, if the sinner does not repent, he is not allowed to continue in the congregation, and thus Jehovah's valuable sheep are protected from his evil influence (1 Cor. 5:6, 7, 11-13; Titus 3:10, 11). He can also help the person who has sinned to repent and obtain forgiveness from Jehovah (Luke 5:32). The elders pray on behalf of the person who repents and ask Jehovah to help him regain spiritual health. (Jas. 5:15)

Explain whether a disfellowshipped person can receive forgiveness from Jehovah.

Let us think of a sinner who is not repentant when he meets with the elders. In that case, he will be expelled from the congregation. And, if he has violated the laws of the land, the elders will not protect him from the consequences. Jehovah has given the authorities permission to judge and punish anyone who breaks the law, whether he repents or not (Rom. 13:4). But if the person later comes to his senses, repents from the heart, and changes his way of thinking and acting, Jehovah is willing to forgive him.​—Luke 15:17-24. This is true even if he committed very serious sins (2 Chron. 33:9, 12, 13; 1 Tim. 1:15).

What does it mean to forgive someone who has sinned against us?

Isn't it a great relief not to have to decide whether Jehovah will forgive a sinner? Even so, there is something that is up to us to decide. What is it about? Someone who has sinned against us, even seriously, may apologize and ask for forgiveness. Or maybe he doesn't. In any case, we can make the decision to forgive him, that is, get rid of the resentment and anger that we may feel towards that person. The truth is that this may take time and cost us, especially if we have been hurt a lot. The Watchtower of September 15, 1994 says: “Forgiving a sinner does not mean excusing his sin. For the Christian, forgiving means confidently leaving the matter in Jehovah's hands. He is the just Judge of the entire universe, and he will do justice in due time.” Why does Jehovah want us to forgive and leave the matter in his hands, that is, to trust in his justice?

How do we show our appreciation for Jehovah’s mercy?

When we forgive, we show that we are grateful for Jehovah's mercy. In a parable, Jesus compared Jehovah to a master who forgave a huge debt to a slave who could not pay him. But that slave showed no mercy to a fellow slave who owed him much less money (Matt. 18:23-35). What did Jesus want to teach? That, if we truly appreciate the immense mercy that Jehovah shows us, we will feel moved to forgive others.​—Ps. 103:9. Speaking on this topic, many years ago The Watchtower explained that, no matter how many times we forgive others, our forgiveness will never equal “the forgiveness and mercy that God extends to us through Christ.”

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