DAILY TEXT, From today Sunday, May 5, 2024,  All parts of the body are harmoniously united (Eph. 4:16).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2024

Sunday May 5, 2024

All parts of the body are harmoniously united (Eph. 4:16).

If we all give our best to Jehovah, we will foster peace and unity in the congregation. That's what first century Christians did. They had different gifts and responsibilities (1 Cor. 12:4, 7-11). But that was not a reason to compete or foster divisions. Rather, Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians that everyone should do everything possible “to build up the body of Christ.” And he added: “When each member fulfills its function well, this helps the body grow by being built on love” (Eph. 4:1-3, 11, 12). By doing this, they fostered peace and unity, qualities we see in our congregations today. Make it a goal not to compare yourself to others. Instead, look to Jesus and strive to copy his qualities. Keep in mind that Jehovah “is not unjust and does not forget the works” you do for him (Heb. 6:10). God values ​​his efforts to please Him. w22.04 14 paras. 15, 16.

Why is it absurd to compare ourselves with others?

If we are not careful, we could fall into the trap of comparing our strengths to the weaknesses of others. Let's take an example. A brother may be very good at giving public speeches. That's his strong point. But maybe in his heart he believes he is superior to a brother who has a hard time presenting speeches. However, this brother may excel in other things, for he may be hospitable, he may be raising his children well, or he may be very enthusiastic in preaching. How grateful we are that there are so many brothers and sisters who use their talents to serve Jehovah and help others.

Why should we strive to follow Jesus' example?

Although it is not good to compare ourselves with others, we learn a lot when we look at the example of other servants of Jehovah. Let us think of Jesus, who is our best model. Although we are not perfect like him, we can learn from his beautiful qualities and his ways of acting (1 Pet. 2:21). If we make every effort to faithfully follow in his footsteps, we will be better servants of Jehovah and will have better results in the ministry.

What do we learn from King David?

The Bible tells us about many men and women who, despite their imperfections, are good examples for us (Heb. 6:12). One of them is King David. Speaking of him, Jehovah said: “I have found… a man who pleases my heart” (Acts 13:22). But David was not perfect. In fact, he made some serious mistakes. Still, he left us a good example. Because? Because, when they corrected him, he didn't try to make excuses. Rather, he accepted firm discipline and heartily repented for what he had done. And for that reason Jehovah forgave him (Ps. 51:3, 4, 10-12).

David's example can help us if we ask ourselves questions like these: “How do I respond when someone advises me? Do I immediately admit my mistakes, or do I try to make excuses? Is my first reaction to blame others? Do I make an effort not to repeat my mistakes?” Let us ask ourselves similar questions as we study the lives of faithful men and women of the Bible. Did they face difficulties similar to ours? What qualities did they demonstrate? In each case, let us ask ourselves: “How can I be more like this loyal servant of Jehovah?”

How does it benefit us to look to the example of other Christians?

We can also learn a lot from our brothers, whether young or old. We may think of someone in our congregation who is faithfully facing trials such as pressure from other young people, family opposition, or poor health. Does that person demonstrate qualities in which we can improve? If we look at his example, we will learn things that will help us cope with our difficulties. Don't we really value these examples of faith? Without a doubt, they give us countless reasons to rejoice (Heb. 13:7; James 1:2, 3).

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