goodness, faith, mildness, self-control.”—Gal. 5:22, 23.

When true worship becomes your way of life it will be your constant guide. In making decisions, large or small, you will learn to ask yourself: “What will be pleasing to Jehovah God? What do the principles in his Word show to be the right and wise course?”—Ps. 119:105; Prov. 3:1-6.

For example, a true Christian will be concerned that his secular employment does not interfere with his service to Jehovah God, or involve work or practices that the Bible condemns. (Heb. 13:5, 18; Isa. 2:3, 4; Rev. 18:4) Even when it comes to recreation, God’s Word should guide in selecting something upbuilding, wholesome. (Phil. 4:8) There is nothing in your life that will not be influenced in a beneficial way by true worship.

HAPPY REWARD FOR ENDURANCE

However, because of the pressures that the world brings upon genuine Christians, it may not be easy to continue walking faithfully in the “way of the truth.” Jesus warned that true worshipers would be hated and persecuted, just as he was. (John 15:18-20; 2 Tim. 3:12) Circumstances may arise that threaten to interfere with your regular study of the Bible or your association with fellow Christians at congregational meetings. Opposition may cause the preaching work to become difficult, even dangerous. What will you do?

The Bible counsels: “You have need of endurance, in order that, after you have done the will of God, you may receive the fulfillment of the promise.” (Heb. 10:36) So, the only right course is to press on courageously in God’s service, trusting in Him. God’s Word says: “Throw your burden upon Jehovah himself, and he himself will sustain you. Never will he allow the righteous one to totter.”—Ps. 55:22; Heb. 6:11, 12.

To early Christians, the disciple James wrote: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials, knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith works out endurance.” (Jas. 1:2, 3) Yes, we can have real joy if, under opposition, we face up to the test of our faith. Why?

It is because by enduring we uphold the side of our heavenly Father in the great issue before all the universe. Furthermore, God’s Son assures us: “By endurance on your part you will acquire your souls.” Yes, by endurance you will gain the reward of life eternal.—Luke 21:16-19; 1 Pet. 2:21-23; 2 Thess. 1:4, 5.

We live in the most blessed time of all human history. Soon now Jehovah and his Son, Christ Jesus, will rid the universe of all enemies of God’s kingdom. What a joy it will be, after that war, to live under righteous conditions in the paradise earth, free of suffering, sorrow and death!

You can have full confidence in that hope. Why? Because we are assured, “God . . . cannot lie.” (Titus 1:2) Look ahead to that blessed prospect, then, and never forsake the worship of Jehovah the true God. Keep on in the way of the truth, for “the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever.”—1 John 2:17.

Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser

● About the middle of the nineteenth century the archaeologist A. H. Layard found a monument called “The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser” south of Nineveh. One of its panels shows the Israelite king Jehu or his envoy bowing before King Shalmaneser III. This archaeological find is in the British Museum.