DAILY TEXT, From today Sunday, February 23, 2025, First the good news must be preached (Mark 13:10).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2025

Sunday February 23, 2025

The good news must first be preached (Mark 13:10).

We know that the great tribulation is very close. Therefore, it is more urgent than ever that we obey the command to preach the good news. But, of course, if we are experiencing financial problems or the authorities oppose our preaching, it may be difficult for us to focus on our ministry. What will help us put the Kingdom first? Always trust that “Jehovah of hosts” is by our side. He will support us if we give more importance to the Kingdom than to our own affairs. So there is nothing to fear (Haggai 2:4). Jehovah wants us to focus on making disciples, a work that saves lives. Haggai encouraged the Jews to resume temple work. It was as if he was telling them to lay the foundation again and forget the years in which they had done nothing. It was a clean slate. Jehovah promised them that if they obeyed, he would bless them (Haggai 2:18, 19). We too can be sure that Jehovah will bless us if we give priority to the work he has given us. w23.11 16 para. 8; 17 para. 11.

How were the words of Matthew 6:33 fulfilled in the case of a marriage?

Let's look at the example of Oleg and Irina, a pioneer marriage. After moving to help a congregation, they lost their jobs due to the country's poor economic situation. Although they were without stable employment for a year, they always felt the support and love of Jehovah, and at times their brothers also helped them. How did they manage to get ahead? Oleg, who felt discouraged at first, says, “Keeping busy preaching helped us focus on what was most important.” While he and his wife continued looking for work, they devoted themselves fully to preaching.

One day, when they returned home from preaching, they learned from a neighbor that a good friend had traveled about 100 miles (160 kilometers) to bring them two bags of food. Oleg says: “That day we saw again how much Jehovah and the congregation care about us. We are convinced that Jehovah never forgets his servants, even if their situation seems hopeless” (Matt. 6:33).

What will Jehovah give us if we focus on doing his will?

Jehovah wants us to focus on making disciples, a work that saves lives. As we saw in paragraph 7, Haggai encouraged the Jews to resume temple work. It was as if he was telling them to lay the foundation again and forget the years in which they had done nothing. It was a clean slate. Jehovah promised them that if they obeyed, he would bless them (Haggai 2:18, 19). We too can be sure that Jehovah will bless us if we give priority to the work he has given us.

Why did Ezra and those who traveled with him need great faith?

In 468 BC, Ezra traveled from Babylon to Jerusalem with a second group of Jews. It took great faith to undertake that journey. They would have to travel on dangerous roads and, since they were carrying a large donation of gold and silver for the temple, they could be an easy target for thieves (Ezra 7:12-16; 8:31). As if that were not enough, they immediately saw that Jerusalem was not a safe place, since there were not many inhabitants in the city and the walls and gates were in poor condition. How does Ezra's example teach us to trust Jehovah more?

What helped Ezra trust in Jehovah more? (See also note).

Ezra had seen how Jehovah supported his people in difficult times. Years earlier, in 484, when King Ahasuerus ordered the extermination of the Jews living throughout the Persian Empire, Ezra likely lived in Babylon (Est. 3:7, 13-15). His life was in danger. Upon hearing of this threat, the Jews in “every province” fasted and mourned, and probably begged Jehovah to rescue them (Est. 4:3). Consider how Ezra and the other Jews felt when the situation took an unexpected turn and those who had planned to eliminate the Jews were the ones who were executed. (Esther 9:1, 2) What Ezra experienced during those difficult times may have prepared him for future trials and certainly strengthened his confidence that Jehovah can protect his people.

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