DAILY TEXT, Today, Sunday, September 8, 2024, Judge your servants: declare the wicked guilty and make their deeds fall on their own heads; declare the righteous innocent and reward them (1 Kings 8:32).

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Sunday, September 8, 2024

Judge your servants: declare the wicked guilty and hold their deeds accountable; declare the righteous innocent and reward them (1 Kings 8:32).

Since Jehovah is the Supreme Judge, we do not have to worry about deciding how others will be judged. He will take care of that. What a relief! (Rom. 14:10-12) We can be completely confident that he will always judge according to his perfect standards of right and wrong. (Gen. 18:25) He will never do anything that is unjust. Jehovah will completely repair all the damage that sin and imperfection have caused. How we long for that day! He will heal all our physical and emotional wounds forever. (Ps. 72:12-14; Rev. 21:3, 4) In fact, they will be forgotten. Until that day comes, let us appreciate the ability Jehovah has given us to follow his example by forgiving others. w22.06 13 §18, 19.

How do we show that we trust in Jehovah's justice?

When we forgive, we show that we trust in Jehovah’s justice. If we leave matters in his hands, we show that we are convinced that he will repair all the damage that sin has caused. In the new world he has promised, emotional wounds will never again “be remembered or come to the heart” (Isa. 65:17). But is it really possible to get rid of anger and resentment when someone has seriously hurt us? Let’s see how some have done it.

What does Tony and José's experience teach you?

Many of our brothers decided to forgive even people who hurt them a lot. How has this benefited them?

Consider the case of Tony, who lives in the Philippines. Many years before he became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he lost one of his older brothers. He learned that he had been murdered by a man named Joseph. Because Tony was aggressive and violent, he wanted revenge. Joseph was put in prison for the crime he had committed. When Joseph was released from prison, Tony swore that he would find him and kill him, so he bought a gun. But then he began taking Bible studies with Jehovah’s Witnesses. He recalls: “As I studied, I learned that I had to change my ways. I had to get rid of anger.” Tony was baptized and eventually became an elder in his congregation. What a surprise he had when he learned that Joseph had also become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses! When they met, they hugged each other tightly, and Tony told Joseph that he had forgiven him. Tony says that he has no words to describe the immense joy he felt when he forgave Joseph. This Christian knew how to forgive, and Jehovah blessed him for it.

What does Peter and Sue's experience teach you?

In 1985, Peter and Sue were at their Kingdom Hall meeting when a violent explosion suddenly occurred. A man had planted a bomb in the Hall. Because of her severe injuries, Sue lost her sense of smell and suffered permanent damage to her eyesight and hearing. The couple often asked themselves, “Who could have done such a terrible thing?” Many years later, the culprit, who was not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, was arrested and sentenced to life in prison. Peter and Sue were asked if they had forgiven him, and they replied: “Jehovah teaches us that feeling anger and holding resentment can harm us physically, emotionally, and mentally. So from the very beginning, we asked Him to help us let go of anger and resentment so we could move forward.”

Has it been easy for this couple to forgive? Not always. Let’s hear what they say. “From time to time we feel anger again when Sue suffers from the aftermath of what happened. But because we try not to dwell on it, those feelings quickly go away. In fact, we can say with all our hearts that if that man were to become our brother someday, we would welcome him into Jehovah’s people. This experience has taught us that Bible principles really do lift a great weight off our shoulders. They free us far more than we can imagine. We also take comfort in knowing that Jehovah will soon make amends.”

What does Myra's experience teach you?

Myra came to know Jehovah when she was already married and had two young children, but her husband did not accept the truth. Eventually, he became unfaithful and abandoned the family. Myra recalls: “When my husband left us, I was in shock. I had the mix of feelings that many who experience betrayal feel: distrust, pain, regret, guilt, and anger.” Although her marriage ended, the pain of betrayal was still raw. Myra adds: “I continued to feel that way for months, and I realized that it was harming my relationship with Jehovah and with others.” Now, Myra can say that she no longer feels that anger and does not wish her ex-husband any harm. Instead, she hopes that one day he will accept the truth. Myra is focused on the future, not the past. Although she had to raise her two children alone in the truth, today she enjoys serving Jehovah with them and their families.

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