DAILY TEXT, Saturday, July 5, 2025, Be prepared (Matt. 24:44).

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2025

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Be prepared (Matt. 24:44).

God's Word encourages us to have greater endurance, compassion, and love. Luke 21:19 states, “By your endurance you will save your lives.” Colossians 3:12 advises, “Clothe yourselves with compassion.” And 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 10 says, “God himself is teaching you to love one another. [...] But we encourage you, brothers, to do this even more.”

All these words were directed at people who were already demonstrating endurance, compassion, and love. But they needed to continue cultivating these qualities. And we need to do the same. What will help you do this? See how the early Christians cultivated these qualities and how you can imitate them, and you will be prepared for the great tribulation. Then, when the great tribulation comes, you will already know how to endure and will be determined to keep enduring. w23:7 3 pars. 4, 8.

What did the early Christians do to endure?

The early Christians needed to endure (Heb. 10:36). In addition to the normal problems of life, they faced other difficulties because of their faith. Many suffered persecution from Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities, as well as opposition from their own families (Matt. 10:21).

At times, they had to fight the influence of apostates, who tried to divide the congregation with their false teachings (Acts 20:29, 30). Despite everything, these Christians endured (Rev. 2:3). How did they do it? By meditating on examples of endurance from the Hebrew Scriptures, such as Job (James 5:10, 11). By praying to Jehovah for strength (Acts 4:29-31). And by being mindful that he would reward them for their endurance (Acts 5:41).

What can we learn from what Merita did to withstand the opposition?

We too can endure if we make a habit of meditating on the examples of endurance we find in the Bible and in our publications. This is what helped a sister from Albania named Merita to continue despite her family's violent opposition.

She says, “When I studied the story of Job in the Bible, it touched my heart. This man suffered so much... and didn't know who was causing his troubles. Yet, as Job 27:5 says, he said, ‘Until I die, I will not give up my integrity!’ This made me think that my trials are much smaller than his, and that I do know who is behind them.”

Even if you're not going through a difficult test right now, what's good for you to learn from now on?

Another thing that will give us more endurance is to pour out our heartfelt thanks to Jehovah frequently. (Phil. 4:6; 1 Thess. 5:17) You may not be going through a difficult trial right now. But what do you do when you feel upset, confused, or overwhelmed? Do you seek Jehovah’s guidance? If you have a habit of turning to Jehovah with your daily problems, you will do so again in the future when things get worse. You will be confident that he knows exactly when and how to help you (Ps. 27:1, 3).

How does Miriam's example demonstrate that enduring in the present will help us endure in the future? (James 1:2-4; see also the image.)

We are more likely to endure the great tribulation if we endure the trials we are now experiencing. (Rom. 5:3) Why can we say this? Many brothers and sisters feel that with each trial they endure, they become stronger for the next. When they endure a trial with Jehovah's help, their faith that he wants to help them grows. And, thanks to that faith, they are able to endure the next trial. (Read James 1:2-4.)

This is the opinion of a pioneer sister from Albania named Mira. She confesses that sometimes it seems like no one has as many problems as she does. At such moments, she reflects on how much Jehovah has supported her over the past 20 years and tells herself: “Be faithful. Don’t throw away all those years of service and all those battles won with Jehovah’s help.”

You, too, can pause to consider all Jehovah has done to help you endure. Have complete confidence that every time you endure a trial, he sees it and will reward you for it. (Matt. 5:10-12) Then, when the great tribulation comes, you will already know how to endure and will be determined to keep enduring.

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