September

Tuesday, September 1

Keep testing whether you are in the faith.​—2 Cor. 13:5.

We must exert ourselves not only to reach maturity but also to maintain it. This requires that we avoid overconfidence. (1 Cor. 10:12) We should “keep testing” ourselves to make sure that we are continuing to make progress. In his letter to the Colossians, the apostle Paul again highlights the need to remain mature. Even though they had become full-grown Christians, Paul warned them against being ensnared by worldly thinking. (Col. 2:6-10) And Epaphras, who evidently knew those in the congregation well, prayed constantly that they might “finally stand complete,” or mature. (Col. 4:12) The point? Both Paul and Epaphras understood that maintaining maturity requires personal effort and God’s support. They wanted the Colossians to remain mature, or full-grown, Christians despite any challenges they were facing. w24.04 14:16-17

Wednesday, September 2

Jehovah is with us. Do not fear them.​—Num. 14:9.

When we have cultivated proper fear of Jehovah, we love him so much that we would never do anything to displease him. We are eager to learn the difference between right and wrong, between truth and falsehood, so that we can gain Jehovah’s approval. (Prov. 2:3-6; Heb. 5:14) If we were to fear humans more than we fear God, we could be led away from the truth. Consider the example of the 12 chieftains who spied out the land that Jehovah had promised to give to the Israelites. For ten of the spies, their fear of the Canaanites was stronger than their love for Jehovah. They told their fellow Israelites: “We are not able to go up against the people, because they are stronger than we are.” (Num. 13:27-31) From a human standpoint, the Canaanites were stronger. That part was true. But to say that the Israelites would not be able to conquer their enemies left Jehovah out of the picture. w24.07 28:5-6

Thursday, September 3

Will the Judge of all the earth not do what is right?​—Gen. 18:25.

Do we have good reason for confidence regarding all of Jehovah’s judgments, both favorable and unfavorable? Yes! As Abraham understood so well, Jehovah is the perfect, all-wise, merciful “Judge of all the earth.” He has trained his Son and delegated all judging to him. (John 5:22) Both Father and Son can read what lies in each human heart. (Matt. 9:4) In every case, they will do “what is right”! Let us be determined to trust that Jehovah knows best. We recognize that we are not qualified to judge​—but he is! (Isa. 55:8, 9) So we confidently leave all the judging to him and his Son, the King who perfectly reflects his Father’s justice and mercy.​—Isa. 11:3, 4. w24.05 18:18-19

Friday, September 4

Jehovah detests a devious person, but His close friendship is with the upright.​—Prov. 3:32.

We can learn about the importance of having a sincere heart from Jesus’ first meeting with Nathanael. When Philip brought his friend Nathanael to meet Jesus, something remarkable happened. Although Jesus had never met Nathanael, Jesus said: “See, truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” (John 1:47) Jesus saw in Nathanael an extraordinary sincerity. Like us, Nathanael was imperfect. But there was nothing artificial or insincere about him. Jesus admired that and commended Nathanael for it. Most of the requirements for pleasing Jehovah listed in Psalm 15 are related to how we treat others. Psalm 15:3 states that a guest in Jehovah’s tent “does not slander with his tongue, he does nothing bad to his neighbor, and he does not defame his friends.” Misusing our speech in such ways could cause serious harm to others.​—Jas. 1:26. w24.06 24:7, 9-10

Saturday, September 5

Lord, even the demons are made subject to us by the use of your name.​—Luke 10:17.

If you prepare well for the ministry, you are likely to feel more comfortable when speaking with others. Jesus helped his disciples to prepare before he sent them out into the ministry. (Luke 10:1-11) Because they put into practice what Jesus had taught them, the disciples felt a deep sense of joy in what they were able to accomplish. How might we prepare for the ministry? We need to give thought to how we can express the truth effectively in our own words. It is also helpful to anticipate two or three common reactions from those in the territory and have in mind how we will respond in each case. Then when we approach people, we can try to relax, smile, and be friendly. w24.04 16:6-7

Sunday, September 6

You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things.​—Rev. 4:11.

The most important reason why we preach the good news is that we love Jehovah God and his holy name. We view our ministry as a way to praise the God we love. We wholeheartedly agree that Jehovah God is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power from his loyal worshippers. We give him glory and honor when we share with others the convincing evidence that he “created all things” and that we owe him our very existence. We give him power​—our power—​when we use our time, energy, and resources to share in the ministry as fully as our circumstances allow. (Matt. 6:33; Luke 13:24; Col. 3:23) Put simply, we love to speak about the God we love. We also feel compelled to tell others about his name and what it stands for. w24.05 20:11

Monday, September 7

He becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.​—Heb. 11:6.

Jehovah gives us peace and contentment now and will give us everlasting life in the future. We can place our hope in Jehovah, convinced that he has both the desire and the power to reward us. And that conviction moves us to stay busy in our worship, just as faithful servants of God in the past were moved to do. This proved true of Timothy in the first century. (Heb. 6:10-12) Timothy put his hope in the living God. (1 Tim. 4:10) Therefore, he had good reason to work hard and exert himself. In what ways? The apostle Paul encouraged him to make progress as a teacher and a public speaker. Timothy was also to set a good example for fellow believers, both young and old. And he was assigned some difficult tasks, which included giving firm but loving counsel to those who needed it. (1 Tim. 4:11-16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5) Timothy could be sure that Jehovah would reward him.​—Rom. 2:6, 7. w24.06 25:10-11

Tuesday, September 8

Jehovah kept warning Israel and Judah through all his prophets.​—2 Ki. 17:13.

Jehovah often used his prophets to warn and correct his people. For example, God said through Jeremiah: “Return, O renegade Israel . . . I will not look down angrily on you, for I am loyal . . . I will not stay resentful forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, for you have rebelled against Jehovah.” (Jer. 3:12, 13) By means of Joel, Jehovah said: “Return to me with all your hearts.” (Joel 2:12, 13) He had Isaiah declare: “Make yourselves clean; remove your evil deeds from my sight; stop doing bad.” (Isa. 1:16-19) And by means of Ezekiel, Jehovah asked: “Do I take any pleasure at all in the death of a wicked person? . . . Do I not prefer that he turn away from his ways and keep living? I do not take any pleasure in the death of anyone, . . . so turn back and live.” (Ezek. 18:23, 32) Jehovah takes delight in seeing people repent because he wants them to keep living​—forever! w24.08 32:5-6

Wednesday, September 9

All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial.​—2 Tim. 3:16.

All of God’s people receive the spiritual nourishment, direction, and protection they need. An example of Jehovah’s impartiality is that he makes the Bible accessible to people around the globe today. The Holy Scriptures were originally written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Do those who can read the original Bible languages have a closer relationship with Jehovah than those who cannot? No, they do not. (Matt. 11:25) Jehovah’s approval of us is not dependent on our secular education or on our ability with languages. Rather than offer his wisdom only to the highly educated, Jehovah makes it accessible to people around the earth, whether they are highly educated or not. His inspired Word, the Bible, has been translated into thousands of languages; thus, people the world over can benefit from its teachings and learn how they can become his friends.​—2 Tim. 3:16, 17. w24.06 23:13-15

Thursday, September 10

The desolating of [Jerusalem] has drawn near.​—Luke 21:20.

The destruction of the Jewish system of things, which Jesus had foretold, was approaching. Christians needed to use the time remaining to prepare themselves by building up such qualities as faith and endurance. (Heb. 10:25; 12:1, 2) We are about to face a tribulation far greater than the one experienced by the Hebrew Christians. (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 16:14, 16) Consider some of the practical counsel that Jehovah provided for those Christians that can benefit us too. The apostle Paul encouraged his fellow believers to dig deeper into God’s Word. (Heb. 5:14–6:1) Using the Hebrew Scriptures, Paul reasoned with his brothers on the superiority of the Christian way of worship over Judaism. Paul knew that increased knowledge and a deeper understanding of the truth would equip those Christians to identify and reject false reasonings so that they would not be led astray. w24.09 37:2-3, 6

Friday, September 11

For a fact the Lord was raised up.​—Luke 24:34.

Jesus’ disciples needed encouragement. Why? Some had left homes, families, and businesses to follow Jesus full-time. (Matt. 19:27) Others were treated as social outcasts because they had become his disciples. (John 9:22) They made these sacrifices because they believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah. (Matt. 16:16) But when Jesus was executed, their hopes were dashed and they became downhearted. No doubt Jesus saw his disciples’ grief, not as a sign of spiritual weakness, but as an understandable response to a terrible loss. So on the very day that he was resurrected, he began encouraging his friends. For instance, he appeared to Mary Magdalene while she wept at his tomb. (John 20:11, 16) He also appeared to the two disciples who had left for the village of Emmaus. And he appeared to the apostle Peter. w24.10 41:5-6

Saturday, September 12

[Be] always ready to make a defense before everyone who demands of you a reason for the hope you have.​—1 Pet. 3:15.

Parents, prepare your child to defend his belief in a Creator. You might find it useful to review together articles on jw.org in the series “Young People Ask​—Creation or Evolution?” Then discuss the line of reasoning that your child feels is most persuasive for helping others understand the truth about the Creator. Encourage him to use simple logic and reasoning if some are open to a pleasant discussion. For example, a schoolmate might say: “I believe only what I can see, and I have never seen God.” A young Christian could respond: “Imagine that you are walking through a forest far from any human activity and you come upon a functioning well. What would you conclude? If the presence of a well gives clear evidence of intelligent life having made it, how much more so does the existence of the universe!” w24.12 50:16

Sunday, September 13

Is not wisdom found among the aged, and does not understanding come with a long life?​—Job 12:12.

All of us need guidance in making life’s important decisions. We can obtain much of that guidance from elders and other mature Christians. If they are much older than we are, we should not automatically dismiss their advice as outdated. Jehovah wants us to learn from older ones. They have had more time than we have had to acquire experience, understanding, and wisdom. In Bible times, Jehovah used faithful older ones to encourage and guide his people. Consider, for example, Moses, David, and the apostle John. They lived at different times, and their circumstances differed greatly. As they neared the end of their life, they gave wise advice to younger ones. Each of these faithful older men emphasized the value of being obedient to God. Whether we are young or old, we can benefit by reviewing their counsel.​—Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16. w24.11 45:1-2

Monday, September 14

Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves.​—John 6:53.

Back in Noah’s day, God prohibited humans from consuming blood. (Gen. 9:3, 4) Jehovah repeated that restriction in his Law to Israel. Anyone eating blood was to “be put to death.” (Lev. 7:27, ftn.) Jesus upheld that Law. (Matt. 5:17-19) So it is unthinkable that he would urge a crowd of Jews to consume his actual flesh or drink the blood in his veins. Jesus was speaking in a figurative sense, as he had done earlier when he told a Samaritan woman: “The water that I will give . . . will . . . impart everlasting life.” (John 4:7, 14) Jesus was not suggesting that the Samaritan woman would get everlasting life simply by drinking certain literal water. Similarly, he was not saying that the crowds he spoke to in Capernaum would live forever if they ate his literal flesh and drank his literal blood. w24.12 49:4-6

Tuesday, September 15

Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason.​—Rom. 12:1.

Christian husbands need to guard against adopting an improper view of women. Why? One reason is that a person’s thoughts often lead to actions. The apostle Paul warned anointed Christians in Rome to “stop being molded by this system of things.” (Rom. 12:1, 2) When Paul wrote to the Romans, the congregation had evidently been in existence for some time. Yet, Paul’s words imply that some in the congregation were still being influenced by the customs and thinking of the world. That is why he exhorted them to change their thinking and behavior. That counsel certainly applies to Christian husbands today. Sadly, some of them have been influenced by the thinking of the world and have even abused their wife. w25.01 2:4

Wednesday, September 16

Shepherd the flock of God under your care, serving as overseers.​—1 Pet. 5:2.

Elders today are busy men. They are evangelizers. (2 Tim. 4:5) They take a zealous lead in the field ministry, organize the preaching work in the local territory, and train us to preach and teach effectively. They also serve as merciful, impartial judges. When a Christian commits a serious sin, elders strive to help him repair his friendship with Jehovah. At the same time, they are careful to keep the congregation clean. (1 Cor. 5:12, 13; Gal. 6:1) Primarily, elders are known as shepherds. (1 Pet. 5:1-3) They deliver well-prepared Scriptural talks, endeavor to get to know everyone in the congregation, and make shepherding calls. Some elders also assist with Kingdom Hall construction and maintenance, convention organization, and the work of Hospital Liaison Committees and Patient Visitation Groups, in addition to other assignments. Elders work hard for us! w24.10 42:9

Thursday, September 17

Just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive.​—1 Cor. 15:22.

In the Bible, the word “redemption” refers to the releasing, or acquittal, that results because of the payment of the ransom. The apostle Peter expressed it this way: “You know that it was not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, that you were set free [lit., “you were ransomed; you were redeemed”] from your futile way of life handed down to you by your forefathers. But it was with precious blood, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, that of Christ.” (1 Pet. 1:18, 19; ftn.) Because of the ransom sacrifice, we can be set free from the oppressive rule of sin and death. (Rom. 5:21) Certainly, we have good reason to feel deeply indebted to Jehovah and Jesus for the redemption that comes from the precious blood, or life, of Jesus. w25.02 6:15-16

Friday, September 18

Happy is the man who is always on guard.​—Prov. 28:14.

How can we guard ourselves? Consider what we can learn from the young man discussed in Proverbs chapter 7. He committed sexual immorality with an immoral woman. Verse 22 tells us that the young man went after her “suddenly.” But as the preceding verses show, he had taken several steps before this that gradually led him to sin. What led up to his sin? First, in the evening, he “passed along the street near [the immoral woman’s] corner.” Then, he marched toward her house. (Prov. 7:8, 9) Next, when he saw the woman, he did not turn away. Instead, he accepted her kiss and listened as she spoke of the communion sacrifices she had offered, perhaps in an attempt to make him think that she was not a bad person. (Prov. 7:13, 14, 21) Had the young man avoided the dangers that led up to the sin, he would have guarded himself from the temptations and from the sin. w24.07 29:8-9, 19

Saturday, September 19

Kindly forgive and comfort him.​—2 Cor. 2:7.

Jehovah does not tolerate serious wrongdoing among his people. He does not take the view that wrongdoers who are unrepentant should be “mercifully” allowed to continue associating with his faithful worshippers. Jehovah is merciful, but he is not permissive; nor does he lower his standards. (Jude 4) Indeed, to do so would not be merciful at all because it would endanger all in the congregation. (Prov. 13:20; 1 Cor. 15:33) Still, we learn that Jehovah does not want anyone to be destroyed. He wants to save people whenever possible. He shows mercy to people who have a change of heart and want to repair their relationship with him. (Ezek. 33:11; 2 Pet. 3:9) Thus, when the man in Corinth repented and turned away from his sinful course, Jehovah used the apostle Paul to explain to the congregation that the man should be forgiven and welcomed back. w24.08 33:7, 14-15

Sunday, September 20

To the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.​—Matt. 25:40.

In the parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus described the judgment of people who have the opportunity to support his anointed brothers. (Matt. 25:31-46) During the “great tribulation,” he will render this judgment right before Armageddon. (Matt. 24:21) Just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, Jesus will separate those who loyally support his anointed followers from those who do not. Bible prophecy shows that as Jehovah’s appointed Judge, Jesus will be righteous in his judgment. (Isa. 11:3, 4) He observes the conduct, attitude, and speech of people​—including how they treat his anointed brothers. (Matt. 12:36, 37) Jesus will know who gave support to his anointed brothers and their work. One of the primary ways that sheeplike ones support Christ’s brothers is by assisting them in the preaching work. w24.09 38:3-4

Monday, September 21

Make sure of all things.​—1 Thess. 5:21.

We can make sure that what we believe is true by comparing it with what the Bible says. For example, consider the case of the young person who wonders whether he has any value in God’s eyes. Should he simply accept that thought as true? No, he should “make sure of all things” by getting Jehovah’s thoughts on the matter. As we read God’s Word, we “hear” Jehovah speaking to us. But to get his thoughts on a specific question requires effort on our part. We need to focus our Bible reading on the topic that concerns us. We can do research on that subject, using the extensive study tools that Jehovah’s organization provides. (Prov. 2:3-6) We can pray that Jehovah will guide our research and help us to find his thoughts on our question. Then we can look for Bible principles and practical information that apply to our situation. w24.10 43:4-5

Tuesday, September 22

[Love] does not look for its own interests.​—1 Cor. 13:5.

Jehovah will not bless the efforts of anyone who is driven by pride or selfish ambition. (1 Cor. 10:24, 33; 13:4) At times, even Jesus’ closest companions reached out for privileges for the wrong reason. Consider an event involving two of Jesus’ apostles​—James and John. They asked Jesus to give them special prominence in his Kingdom. Jesus did not commend them for their ambition. Instead, he explained to all 12 apostles: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your minister, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all.” (Mark 10:35-37, 43, 44) Brothers who reach out with the proper motive​—that is, to serve others—​will be a blessing to the congregation.​—1 Thess. 2:8. w24.11 46:7-8

Wednesday, September 23

There is accomplishment through many advisers.​—Prov. 15:22.

When making decisions, love will motivate us to seek the advantage of “the other person” and to be modest. (1 Cor. 10:23, 24, 32; 1 Tim. 2:9, 10) We will then make a decision that reflects our love and respect for others. If you are making a major decision, think about what it would take to implement it. Jesus taught us to “calculate the expense.” (Luke 14:28) So consider the amount of time, resources, and effort that you would need to invest to make the decision work. In some cases, you might consult your family to determine what each member would need to do to support the decision. Why is this kind of planning valuable? It may reveal that your decision needs some adjustments or that a different option is more practical. And when you involve your family members and listen to their input, they will more readily work with you to make the decision succeed. w25.01 3:14-15

Thursday, September 24

Exult and be joyful.​—Isa. 65:18.

Isaiah reveals why we have every reason to “exult and be joyful” in the spiritual paradise. This environment is a creation of Jehovah. (Isa. 65:18, 19) No wonder he is using us to direct people away from the spiritually parched organizations of this old world and into our beautiful spiritual environment! We are excited about the blessings we enjoy because of being in the truth, and we are moved to tell others about them. (Jer. 31:12) We are also grateful for and excited about the hope we have as residents of the spiritual paradise. The Bible promises that we will “build houses and live in them [and] plant vineyards and eat their fruitage.” We will “not toil for nothing” because we will be “blessed by Jehovah.” He promises us a secure, satisfying life with a real purpose. He knows each one’s needs and “[will] satisfy the desire of every living thing.”​—Isa. 65:20-24; Ps. 145:16. w24.04 17:11-12

Friday, September 25

My strong rock, my refuge, is God.​—Ps. 62:7.

We make Jehovah our Rock when we rely fully on him. We trust that by obeying him even during difficult times, we will benefit. (Isa. 48:17, 18) As we experience his support, our confidence in him will grow. We will then be better prepared to face trials that only Jehovah can get us through. Similar to a massive rock, Jehovah is firm and stable. He is consistent in his personality and unshakable in his purpose. (Mal. 3:6) When faced with the rebellion in Eden, Jehovah did not waver. As the apostle Paul wrote, Jehovah “cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13) This means that no matter what happens or what others do, Jehovah will never deviate from his qualities, his purpose, or his standards. With confidence in our stable God, we can look to him for salvation and for help to cope during turbulent times.​—Ps. 62:6, 7. w24.06 26:7-8

Saturday, September 26

The secret person of the heart . . . is of great value.​—1 Pet. 3:4.

If you are in a courtship, what will help you decide whether to get married or not? Get to know each other well. You likely learned some things about the other person before you began dating. But now you have the opportunity to get to know “the secret person of the heart.” This involves learning more about your prospective mate’s spirituality, personality, and thinking. Over time, you should be able to answer such questions as: ‘Will this person be a good marriage mate for me?’ (Prov. 31:26, 27, 30; Eph. 5:33; 1 Tim. 5:8) ‘Can we fulfill each other’s emotional needs? Can we live with each other’s shortcomings?’ (Rom. 3:23) As you get to know each other, remember: Compatibility is largely determined, not by how similar you are, but by how adaptable you are to each other’s differences. w24.05 22:5

Sunday, September 27

I have sinned against Jehovah.​—2 Sam. 12:13.

King David erred seriously. But when the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin, David humbly repented. (Ps. 51:3, 4, 17, superscription) King Hezekiah too sinned against Jehovah. (2 Chron. 32:25) But like David, Hezekiah humbly repented. (2 Chron. 32:26) In the final analysis, Jehovah viewed him as a faithful king who “kept doing what was right.” (2 Ki. 18:3) What do we learn? We need to repent of our sins and do all we can to avoid repeating them. What if we receive counsel from congregation elders, even on a seemingly minor matter? We should not feel rejected by Jehovah or by the elders. Even the good kings of Israel were not above receiving counsel and reproof. (Heb. 12:6) When we receive correction, we should (1) respond humbly, (2) make the necessary changes, and (3) move on with our wholehearted service to Jehovah. If we repent of our sins, Jehovah will forgive us.​—2 Cor. 7:9, 11. w24.07 30:8-9, 11

Monday, September 28

Remove the wicked person from among yourselves.​—1 Cor. 5:13.

A wrongdoer is removed from the congregation when he does not respond to repeated attempts by the elders to lead him to repentance. (2 Ki. 17:12-15) His actions show that he has chosen not to abide by Jehovah’s standards. (Deut. 30:19, 20) An announcement is made to inform the congregation that he is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The purpose of that announcement is not to humiliate the wrongdoer. Rather, it is made so that the congregation can follow the Scriptural admonition to “stop keeping company” with that person, “not even eating with” him. (1 Cor. 5:9-11) That direction is given for good reason. The apostle Paul wrote: “A little leaven ferments the whole batch of dough.” (1 Cor. 5:6) Unrepentant wrongdoers can weaken the determination of those who are trying to live by Jehovah’s righteous standards.​—Prov. 13:20; 1 Cor. 15:33. w24.08 35:3-4

Tuesday, September 29

For all things I have the strength through the one who gives me power.​—Phil. 4:13.

We cannot literally impart strength, or energy, to others. But we can use our power in their behalf. For example, we might run errands or do household chores for an elderly or infirm Christian. Or we could volunteer to help with the cleaning and the maintenance of the Kingdom Hall. Do not forget, too, that words have power. Can you think of someone who would benefit from sincere commendation? Do you know of anyone in need of comfort? In either case, why not take the initiative to reach out to the individual? You can visit in person, call on the telephone, or perhaps send a card, an email, or a text message. What you say does not have to be eloquent. A few simple words from the heart may be exactly what your fellow believer needs to remain faithful for another day or to feel better about his situation.​—Prov. 12:25; Eph. 4:29. w24.09 39:8-10

Wednesday, September 30

If a man is reaching out to be an overseer, he is desirous of a fine work.​—1 Tim. 3:1.

If you have been serving for a time as a ministerial servant, you may be well on your way to qualifying to serve as an elder. Can you reach out for that “fine work”? What does the work of an elder involve? He takes the lead in preaching, works hard in shepherding and teaching, and builds up the congregation by word and example. For good reason, the Bible calls hardworking elders “gifts in men.” (Eph. 4:8) How can you qualify to serve as an elder? Qualifying as an elder is not the same as qualifying for a secular job. Often in the secular world, if you have the basic work skills that an employer is looking for, you can get the job. By contrast, if you wish to be appointed as an elder, you need more than preaching and teaching skills. You need to meet the Scriptural qualifications for elders listed at 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. w24.11 47:1-3