DAILY TEXT, Friday, July 24, 2026. The Lord stood by me and strengthened me (2 Tim. 4:17).

Let us examine the Scriptures every day 2026

Friday, July 24, 2026

The Lord stood by me and strengthened me (2 Tim. 4:17).

Today there is also opposition, so we need Jehovah’s help to keep preaching with zeal (Rev. 12:17). Why can we be sure that Jehovah will help each one of us? Because of the prayer Jesus offered, which we find in John chapter 17. He asked his Father to take care of the apostles, and Jehovah listened. The book of Acts recounts how God helped the apostles to preach with zeal despite persecution.

In his prayer, Jesus also asked Jehovah to care for those who put their faith in the message preached by the apostles. And that includes each one of us. So we can be sure that Jehovah will continue to answer Jesus’ prayer and help us just as he did the apostles. (John 17:11, 15, 20)

Why are we confident that we can continue preaching with enthusiasm?

As the end draws near, it may become more difficult to preach with zeal. But Jesus assured us that we will have the necessary help (Luke 21:12-15). Like Jesus and his disciples, we let people decide whether they want to listen or not, and we avoid arguing with them. Even in lands where our brothers cannot preach freely, they have been able to continue declaring the good news because they trust in Jehovah and not in their own strength. Just as in the first century Jehovah empowered his servants so that “the message might be fully preached,” today he also empowers us so that we can preach until he says that the work is finished (2 Tim. 4:17). Let us have no doubt: if we trust in Jehovah, we will be able to continue preaching with zeal.

How do we know that Jesus had a positive attitude toward preaching?

Jesus was confident that there were people who would listen to the good news, and this positive attitude helped him to continue preaching with zeal. Toward the end of the year 30, Jesus saw that there were many people willing to listen to the message and likened them to a field that was white, ready for harvest (John 4:35). About a year later, he told his disciples: “The harvest is plentiful” (Matt. 9:37, 38). And later he said again: “The harvest is plentiful, . . . pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers” (Luke 10:2). Jesus always kept in mind that there were many who could accept the message, and when someone did, he was very happy (Luke 10:21).

What comparisons did Jesus use to convey a positive attitude toward preaching?

Jesus taught his disciples to be positive and optimistic, which would help them maintain their enthusiasm. Consider two comparisons he made (read Luke 13:18-21). First, he said that the Kingdom message would be like a mustard seed, which grows into a large tree. By this he meant that many people would accept the good news, and nothing would stop them. Second, he said that the Kingdom message would be like yeast. This meant that the good news would spread throughout the earth and cause people to make changes, even if these changes were not immediately obvious. These comparisons helped his disciples see that the preaching work would have excellent results.

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