Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2025
Friday, July 11, 2025
I will again show you compassion (Gen. 19:21).
Jehovah is reasonable because he is humble and compassionate. For example, he demonstrated his humility when he was about to destroy the wicked inhabitants of Sodom. Through angels, he told his servant Lot to flee to the hill country. But Lot was afraid to go there. So he begged that he and his family be allowed to go to Zoar, a small city that God also planned to destroy. Jehovah could have insisted that Lot obey his instructions exactly, but he didn't. He agreed to Lot's request, even if it meant not destroying Zoar. (Gen. 19:18-22) Centuries later, Jehovah showed compassion to the inhabitants of Nineveh. He sent the prophet Jonah to tell them that both they and their city were going to be destroyed because of their wickedness. But when the Ninevites repented, Jehovah felt sorry for them and spared the city. (Jonah 3:1, 10; 4:10, 11) w23.07 21 par. 5.
What examples show that Jesus is reasonable like Jehovah?
Jesus is reasonable like Jehovah, and this was evident during his ministry on earth. Although he had been sent to preach to “the lost sheep of the nation of Israel,” on one occasion he helped a non-Israelite woman. She begged him to heal her daughter, who was “cruelly possessed by a demon.” Jesus felt compassion and healed this woman’s daughter (Matt. 15:21-28). Consider another example. Sometime after beginning his ministry, Jesus said: “If anyone rejects me..., I also will reject him” (Matt. 10:33). But did he reject Peter because he had denied knowing him three times? No. He knew that Peter was repentant and faithful. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter and most likely confirmed his forgiveness and love (Luke 24:33, 34).
According to Philippians 4:5, What reputation do we want to earn?
We've seen that Jehovah and Jesus are reasonable. What about us? Jehovah expects us to be reasonable too. (Read Philippians 4:5.) We can ask ourselves: “Do others think I am reasonable, tolerant, and willing to compromise? Or do I have a reputation for being inflexible, strict, or stubborn? Do I often insist on having things done the way I think they should be? Or do I like to listen to other opinions and compromise whenever possible?” The more reasonable we are, the more we will be like Jehovah and Jesus. Now let's talk about two areas of life where it is very important to be reasonable: when our circumstances change and when the opinions and decisions of others do not agree with our own.
What can help us be reasonable when our circumstances change? (See also note.)
When our circumstances change, we need to be reasonable and flexible. We may face a serious health problem or an economic or political crisis overnight. These sudden changes can turn our lives upside down and cause difficulties we did not expect. (Eccl. 9:11; 1 Cor. 7:31) Even a change of assignment within Jehovah’s organization can test us. Either way, we can adapt to new circumstances by following these four guidelines: 1) accept reality, 2) look to the future, 3) focus on the positive, and 4) do things for others.b Let’s consider some real-life examples that show that these guidelines work.
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