Supreme Sovereign and Life-Giver and that Jesus, his Son and our Redeemer, is the enthroned King of Jehovah’s new system of righteousness. He acknowledges the guiding power and force of Jehovah’s spirit in his life and realizes that his dedication and baptism put him on the side of the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ who today faithfully follow the lead of ‘the Chief Agent and Perfecter of their faith, Jesus.’—Heb. 12:1, 2.

12. Why is following the course of dedication to God recommended despite all obstacles?

¹² Baptism brings responsibilities and privileges, but also opposition. Jesus showed that this dedication of one’s self to Jehovah must take precedence in one’s life, even over family or relatives if they are opposed. Only by one’s faithfulness will one be found pleasing to Jehovah and perhaps impress on one’s family the importance of their also taking up the same faithful course that leads to life. (Rom. 10:13) As Jesus said, “Whoever is not carrying his torture stake and coming after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26, 27) Are you willing to do that? The goal toward which one strives is a great one—everlasting life. Since the reward is great, it is only reasonable that achieving it is not easy, but with Jehovah’s help it can be gained. Jesus described access to this reward as a narrow gate and a cramped road that few find, but, once found, it is the road to stick to regardless of the problems along the way. (Matt. 7:14) Since Jehovah has shown such love for us through the sacrifice of his Son, to make this prospect of life possible, we want to show unswerving love also for Him in living up to our dedication.—1 John 4:9.

13. (a) What does baptism not mean for the individual? Why? (b) What good Scriptural counsel should a baptized Christian be sure to follow?

¹³ Once one is baptized, one does not lean back and rest on one’s laurels, feeling that now one has done what God requires. It is not the end of the road, but the beginning just as Jesus’ life showed. It was after his baptism that he commenced his public ministry, throwing himself into the preaching work, despite the opposition and hatred manifested by the religious class in his day, which hatred was appeased finally only by his death. So, recognizing the work ahead, one who dedicates oneself to Jehovah wants to be sure one keeps well equipped for it. This means study. Not just congregational study, but personal Bible study so that when we need convincing Bible answer to help someone appreciate the truth, we will be able to give it. (1 Tim. 4:16) As Proverbs 18:15 says, “The heart of the understanding one acquires knowledge, and the ear of wise ones seeks to find knowledge.” Peter urged: “Go on growing in the undeserved kindness and knowledge of our Lord.” (2 Pet. 3:18) Paul counseled, “Do your utmost to present yourself approved to God, a workman with nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of the truth aright.” (2 Tim. 2:15) Finally, Hebrews 6:1 encourages, “Let us press on to maturity.” So the baptized Witness does not slow down or stop his studying of the Scriptures just because he is now baptized or perhaps because the one who previously studied with him discontinues giving this assistance. Rather he sees the need to continue growing in knowledge and under standing himself and so plans a definite schedule for continued personal study and asks Jehovah through prayer to help him by means of his spirit to understand his Word even more as time goes on. (Prov. 2:4-6; Jas. 1:5) He recognizes this as one of the responsibilities of a baptized Witness in order to keep spiritually strong.

14. (a) What arrangement does Jehovah have for the well-being of his servants on the earth, so why should a baptized person want to cooperate with it? (b) What did Jesus say about Christian unity?

¹⁴ His study as well as his association with Jehovah’s people helps him to understand that Jehovah has, not only a heavenly, but also an earthly, visible organization of people doing his will. Jesus foretold that among his people there would be a “faithful and discreet slave” class who would be providing the spiritual food to God’s family of devoted servants on earth, acting as his channel of communication and overseeing the carrying out of the Kingdom interests world wide. (Matt. 24:45-47) These anointed overseers serve as though being guided in their activities by the right hand of Christ. They take the same viewpoint as Jesus had when he said to Jehovah, “Let, not my will, but yours take place.” (Luke 22:42) To illustrate the harmony that would prevail in Jehovah’s organization, Jesus likened it, in John 15:1-10, to a vine with branches. Jehovah is the Great Cultivator, Jesus is the vine and those coming into spiritual union with him are the branches. Clearly this necessitates a recognition of Jehovah’s organization in the earth today. This vine is a productive one bearing fruit that will last through Armageddon.—Heb. 13:7, 17.

15. What good fruits should all Christians endeavor to produce?

¹⁵ What kind of fruit is it that those attached to the vine must bear in order to have God’s favor and to avoid being pruned off as unproductive sprouts? Actually the Scriptures mention two kinds of fruitage that a Christian would endeavor to cultivate. One is the fruitage of the spirit, including love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22, 23) To stay in harmony with Christ and to be pleasing to Jehovah, these qualities must be produced. But we want to see such fruitage, not only in ourselves, but also in others. Those who are disciples of Christ understand that it is Jehovah’s will that they make disciples of others also. As Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruitage of the righteous one is a tree of life, and he that is winning souls is wise.” This was the work to which Paul and the early Christians devoted themselves. Paul wrote to the Romans (1:13) that he hoped to come to minister among them that he ‘might acquire some fruitage also among them even as among the rest of the nations.’ By this he referred to Kingdom fruitage or Christian disciples. Each one who dedicates himself to Jehovah has a responsibility in this regard to endeavor to acquire fruitage by discipling people of the nations.

16. How do the Scriptures point out a Christian’s responsibility and the wise course to follow?

¹⁶ Paul felt so strongly about this responsibility, that he said: “If, now, I am declaring the good news, it is no reason for me to boast, for necessity is laid upon me. Really, woe is me if I did not declare the good news!” (1 Cor. 9:16) This work is not one we do just in our own strength, but we can be assured of the assistance of Jehovah’s spirit as long as we prepare and do our part. It is Jehovah who brings the fruitage and the increase as a result of the activities of his servants throughout the earth. Each one who dedicates himself to Jehovah has a serious responsibility before his Creator. As Ezekiel 33:8 says, if “you actually do not speak out to warn the wicked one from his way, he himself as a wicked one will die in his own error, but his blood I shall ask back at your own hand.” How much happier a course to share actively in giving the warning and as a result have the joy of rescuing many honest-hearted ones for life in Jehovah’s paradisaic new system! To such ones Jesus declared: “I say, then, to you, Everyone that confesses union with me before men, the Son of man will also confess union with him before the angels of God.”—Luke 12:8.

17. Despite difficulties, of what can one who is dedicated to Jehovah be sure?

¹⁷ What a cause for joy to have the Son’s favor! So, one who enters into a dedicated relationship with Jehovah and who accepts Jesus as his Mediator automatically receives responsibilities; one also receives many blessings and much joy. Such one recognizes that Jehovah is his strength and source of help, the One who saves and shepherds his people. (Ps. 28:7-9) He finds that, far from being a burden, the service he performs to Jehovah brings him much happiness and is a source of refreshment to him. (1 John 5:3) Even though one may be under much pressure from family or friends, or though circumstances are difficult for the time, the one who continues to find a place for Kingdom interests in his life, making first place for Jehovah and his service, will find the way smoothed for him. This was true for the returning captives of Zion, and it is true for spiritual Israelites today. As Psalm 126:5, 6 declares: “Those sowing seed with tears will reap even with a joyful cry. The one that without fail goes forth, even weeping, carrying along a bagful of seed, will without fail come in with a joyful cry, carrying along his sheaves.”

18. What should an unbaptized person do, and with what goal in view?

¹⁸ What a privilege it is to know the truth and have some share in advancing the Kingdom interests in these “last days.” For those of you contemplating baptism, now is the time to prepare for it by careful study, by bringing your life into conformity with Jehovah’s righteous requirements, and by prayer to Jehovah for his guidance. Then do not hold back, but, like Jesus, move ahead into greater service and receive Jehovah’s approval. And for those who have taken this step, let each one live up to the responsibilities that come with dedication to Jehovah, knowing that “loving-kindness belongs to you, O Jehovah, for you yourself pay back to each one according to his work.” (Ps. 62:12) Show to all that you have moved over from the old system to the new, that you have learned and can now teach the pure language of truth under the direction of Christ the King because you willingly accept the responsibilities of a baptized Witness.—Luke 9:59-62.

A Magazine Found in the Street

One day, in Mexico, a lady picked up a copy of The Watchtower that she found lying in the street. She began reading it, and what she read aroused her interest so much that she was moved to go to an Evangelical Temple to ask if this was the place where The Watchtower was distributed. They told her that it was not, but they mentioned that they thought it was distributed on a certain street. For two days this interested lady hunted up and down this street, asking everyone she met.

Locating the meeting place of Jehovah’s witnesses, she waited on Sunday from 11 a.m. till the meeting time came. When the meeting began she was in the audience, enjoying very much the method of Bible study carried on. Arrangements were made for her to be given personal instruction by means of a Bible study. Soon what she was learning began to move her to make changes. After learning that Jehovah God is invisible and that making images of him is really impossible, she removed the images from her home. She regularly came to the meetings prepared to participate by commenting in the Watchtower study. She legalized her marriage and stirred up her husband’s interest in God’s purposes. She told her relatives about God’s truth, and some of them came to the meetings. All this because a lover of God’s truth picked up The Watchtower lying in the street.