1. (a) What qualities of Jehovah can you think of? (b) How will a study of God’s qualities help you?

WHEN you think about Jehovah, what qualities do you think of? Maybe you think of love, justice, wisdom, and power. Of course, we know that Jehovah has many other wonderful qualities. In fact, over the years, our publications have discussed more than 40 different qualities of Jehovah. If you study each of these qualities by yourself or with your family, imagine how much you will learn about Jehovah! You will value his qualities even more. As a result, you will have a stronger desire to imitate Jehovah and to have a closer friendship with him.​—Joshua 23:8; Psalm 73:28.

2. (a) Illustrate how studying about Jehovah’s qualities can help us value them even more. (b) What will we discuss in this article and in the next two articles?

² How can you learn to value something more and more? Well, suppose you are trying a new type of food. First you notice how good it smells. Then you taste it and realize how delicious it is. And finally you cook it yourself. In a similar way, we can value a quality of Jehovah even more by first learning about the quality, then by meditating on how Jehovah shows it, and finally by imitating that quality in our lives. (Ephesians 5:1) This article as well as the next two articles will discuss some of Jehovah’s qualities. With each quality, we will discuss these questions: What does this quality mean? How does Jehovah show it? And how can we imitate Jehovah in showing this quality?

JEHOVAH IS APPROACHABLE

3, 4. (a) What does it mean to be approachable? (b) How does Jehovah show that he is approachable?

³ First let us discuss what it means to be approachable. It means to be kind, easy to talk to, and never too busy to speak to others. An approachable person’s comments, gestures, and friendly face show that he is willing to listen and help.

⁴ Jehovah is approachable. Even though he is the most powerful Person in the universe, he invites us to pray to him. He listens to our prayers and gives us the help we need. (Read Psalm 145:18; Isaiah 30:18, 19.) We can speak to God anywhere, at any time, and for as long as we need to. He is never irritated with us for speaking to him. (Psalm 65:2; James 1:5) The Bible describes Jehovah in a way that makes us feel comfortable talking to him in prayer. For example, David wrote that “the eyes of Jehovah are toward” us and that he supports us with his “right hand.” (Psalm 34:15; 63:8) And the prophet Isaiah said that Jehovah is like a shepherd. He wrote: “With his arm he will collect together the lambs; and in his bosom he will carry them.” (Isaiah 40:11) Just imagine! Jehovah wants us to be as close to him as a little lamb held in the arms of a loving shepherd. When we think of our Father that way, this makes us love him even more! How can we be more like Jehovah?

A VERY IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR ELDERS

5. Why is it important for elders to be approachable?

⁵ Recently, some Witnesses from different parts of the world were asked, “Which quality do you value most in an elder?” Most of them answered, “Being approachable.” It is true that all of us need to work on this quality, but it is especially important for elders to do so. (Isaiah 32:1, 2) Why is it so important for elders to be approachable? One sister said that she can get to know an elder’s good qualities only if he is approachable and if she feels comfortable talking to him. These words are certainly true. So how can you make others feel comfortable talking to you?

6. What is one way you can make others feel comfortable talking to you?

⁶ One way to do this is by showing that you really care about others and that you are willing to help them. Then the brothers and sisters, including young ones, will feel more comfortable talking to you. (Mark 10:13-16) A 12-year-old boy named Carlos says: “I watch the elders in the hall smiling and being kind, and I like that about them.” So it is not enough for an elder just to say that he is willing to listen and help. He must show it. (1 John 3:18) How can he do that?

7. Why do some people feel comfortable talking to us when we are wearing a convention badge? What can we learn from this?

⁷ To illustrate: Recently, a brother attended a convention in another country. When traveling home by airplane, he wore the convention badge with the words “Let God’s Kingdom Come!” A flight attendant saw the badge and said, “Let it come!” They had a nice conversation, and the man accepted our magazines. Why do people feel comfortable talking to us when we are wearing a convention badge? Because the badge makes others curious about where we are going and shows them that we are willing to talk to them about our beliefs. In a similar way, an elder must show the brothers and sisters that he is always willing to talk to them. What are some ways elders can do this?

8. How can elders show that they really care about others? How does this make those in the congregation feel?

⁸ In most countries, you can show that you care about your brothers and sisters by giving them a sincere smile, a kind handshake, or a friendly greeting. Who should be the first ones to do this? Well, the Bible says that when Jesus had a meeting with his disciples, he “approached and spoke to them.” (Matthew 28:18) In a similar way, elders today try to approach others and speak to them. How does this make those in the congregation feel? An 88-year-old pioneer sister said: “The warm smiles and encouraging comments I receive from the elders when I enter the Kingdom Hall endear them to me.” Another sister said: “When an elder welcomes me to the meeting with a smile, it means a lot to me.”

TAKE TIME TO TALK TO THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS

9, 10. (a) How is Jehovah a good example for us? (b) How can elders imitate Jehovah’s example?

⁹ Of course, if we want others to feel comfortable talking to us, we must make sure that we take time for them. Jehovah is a good example for us. The Bible says: “He is not far off from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27) One way elders can imitate Jehovah’s example is by talking to the brothers and sisters, both young and old, before and after the meetings. A pioneer brother said: “When an elder asks how I’m doing and then stops to listen to my answer, I feel appreciated.” A sister who has been serving Jehovah for almost 50 years commented: “Elders who take some time to talk to me after the meeting make me feel valued.”

¹⁰ It is true that elders have many responsibilities. But at the meetings, they should make sure to spend time talking to the brothers and sisters.

JEHOVAH IS IMPARTIAL

11, 12. (a) What does it mean to be impartial? (b) How does the Bible show that Jehovah is impartial?

¹¹ Another of Jehovah’s wonderful qualities is that he is impartial. (Acts 10:34) What does it mean to be impartial? It means to treat everyone fairly. But if we want to treat others impartially, we must first believe that everyone should be treated fairly. A person who is impartial does not treat certain people better than he treats others because of the way they look or how much money they have. He treats them fairly according to what kind of person they really are.

¹² Jehovah is the best example of being impartial. His Word says that he “is not partial” and that he “treats none with partiality.” (Read Acts 10:34, 35; Deuteronomy 10:17.) Let us consider an example that shows this.

13, 14. (a) What problem did the five daughters of Zelophehad have? (b) How did Jehovah show that he is not partial?

¹³ Just before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, the five daughters of a man named Zelophehad had a problem that needed to be solved. What was it? Their father had died, and they could not receive his land as an inheritance. Why? Because according to the Law, only sons could receive land. But their father died without having any sons. (Numbers 26:33, 52-55) Would the land be given to other relatives? What could Zelophehad’s daughters do?

¹⁴ They went to Moses and begged him for help, saying: “Why should the name of our father be taken away from the midst of his family because he had no son?” Did Moses react by saying, ‘That is the law, and there is nothing I can do to help you’? No, he asked Jehovah about the situation. (Numbers 27:2-5) What did Jehovah say? He told Moses: “The daughters of Zelophehad are speaking right. By all means you should give them the possession of an inheritance in the midst of their father’s brothers, and you must cause their father’s inheritance to pass to them.” And Jehovah did even more. He told Moses to include this in the Law: “In case any man should die without his having a son, you must then cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.” (Numbers 27:6-8; Joshua 17:1-6) From then on, all Israelite women in that same situation would get an inheritance.

15. (a) How does Jehovah treat his people, including those who have no one else to help them? (b) What other Bible stories show that Jehovah is impartial?

¹⁵ This was truly an impartial decision! Those five sisters had no one else who could help them, and Jehovah treated them fairly and with respect, as he treated all other Israelites. (Psalm 68:5) This is only one of many stories in the Bible that show that Jehovah treats his people fairly.​—1 Samuel 16:1-13; Acts 10:30-35, 44-48.

WE CAN IMITATE JEHOVAH

16. How can we be impartial like Jehovah?

¹⁶ How can we be impartial like Jehovah? Remember, we will treat others impartially only if we believe that everyone should be treated fairly. Maybe you think that you are impartial. But it is sometimes hard for us to know how we really feel about others. So how can you find out if you really are impartial? Jesus is a good example for us. When he wanted to know what people were saying about him, he asked his friends: “Who are men saying the Son of man is?” (Matthew 16:13, 14) Maybe you could choose a friend who you know will be honest with you and ask him, ‘Do you think that I treat people fairly? Do others think that I am impartial?’ He might tell you, for example, that you sometimes treat people of a certain race better than others or that you are nicer to those who have more money or more education. If he tells you something like this, what should you do? Pray to Jehovah, and beg him to help you change the way you feel about others so that you can be more like him and treat everyone impartially.​—Matthew 7:7; Colossians 3:10, 11.

17. What are some ways we can treat others impartially?

¹⁷ In the congregation, we can imitate Jehovah by treating everyone with respect and kindness. For example, when you invite brothers and sisters to your home, you could invite those from different cultures. Or you might include those who have less money than you, those whose mates have died, or young ones who have no family in the truth. (Read Galatians 2:10; James 1:27.) In the preaching work, we talk to all kinds of people, including those from other countries. Jehovah’s organization produces Bible literature in about 600 languages. We truly have an excellent opportunity to show that we are impartial!

18. When you think about how approachable and impartial Jehovah is, what should you want to do?

¹⁸ The more we think about how approachable and impartial Jehovah is, the more we value these qualities. As a result, we should want to imitate Jehovah and show these qualities in the way we treat our brothers and those we meet in the preaching work.

1, 2. What will we be able to do forever?

A SISTER named Monika who has been married for almost 35 years says: “My husband and I know each other very well. Yet, even after all these years, we’re still learning things about each other that we never knew!” Many of us could say the same about our husband, our wife, or our friends.

² We enjoy learning more about those we love. But it gives us even more joy to learn about Jehovah, the best Friend we could ever have. It is impossible to know all there is to know about him. (Romans 11:33) We will be able to keep learning about Jehovah’s qualities forever and to value them more and more.​—Ecclesiastes 3:11.

3. What will we learn about in this article?

³ The last article helped us to appreciate two of Jehovah’s qualities even more. We learned that he is both approachable and impartial. In this article, we will learn how generous and reasonable Jehovah is. This will help us to understand more clearly that “Jehovah is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works.”​—Psalm 145:9.

JEHOVAH IS GENEROUS

4. What does it mean to be generous?

⁴ What does it mean to be generous? Jesus’ words recorded at Acts 20:35 help us to find the answer: “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.” So a generous person is someone who gladly gives of his time, of his energy, and of the things he has to help others. A person is generous, not because he gives big expensive gifts, but because when he gives something, he gives it from the heart. (Read 2 Corinthians 9:7.) No one is more generous than Jehovah, our “happy God.”​—1 Timothy 1:11.

5. How does Jehovah show that he is generous?

⁵ How does Jehovah show that he is generous? The Bible says: “Jehovah is good to all.” He gives all humans what they need, even those who do not yet worship him. He “makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45) That is why Paul could tell some who were not Christians that Jehovah “did good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts to the full with food and good cheer.” (Acts 14:17) Clearly, Jehovah is generous toward everyone.​—Luke 6:35.

6, 7. (a) Whom is Jehovah especially happy to help? (b) What example shows that God cares for the needs of his servants?

⁶ It makes Jehovah especially happy to give his servants what they need. King David said: “A young man I used to be, I have also grown old, and yet I have not seen anyone righteous left entirely, nor his offspring looking for bread.” (Psalm 37:25) Many faithful Christians have seen in their own life how Jehovah cares for them.

⁷ For example, some years ago a pioneer named Nancy was in a difficult situation. She needed $66 to be able to pay her rent the next day. But she did not have the money. She says: “I prayed about the problem, and then I went to my job as a waitress. I didn’t expect to receive many tips that evening because it was a time of the week that was typically not very busy. To my surprise, several customers came to the restaurant that night. When I finished my shift and added up the tips I had received, the total was $66.” Nancy is sure that it was Jehovah who helped her to get exactly what she needed.​—Matthew 6:33.

8. What is Jehovah’s most generous gift?

⁸ Jehovah’s most generous gift is available to everyone. What is it? The ransom sacrifice of his Son. Jesus said: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Here, “the world” means all humans. So Jehovah gives his most generous gift to all who choose to accept it. Any who show faith in Jesus will have everlasting life! (John 10:10) This is the greatest proof that Jehovah is generous.

BE GENEROUS LIKE JEHOVAH

9. How can we be generous like Jehovah?

⁹ How can we be generous like Jehovah? Just as Jehovah gives us many things to make us happy, we too should want to give others things to make them happy. (1 Timothy 6:17-19) We are glad to give gifts to our friends and family and to help those in need. (Read Deuteronomy 15:7.) What can help us to remember to be generous? Some have decided that whenever they receive a gift, they will look for an opportunity to give someone else a gift. Many of Jehovah’s people today are good examples of being generous.

10. What is one of the best ways we can be generous?

¹⁰ One of the best ways we can be generous is by using our time and energy to help and encourage others. (Galatians 6:10) Are you being generous in this way? You might ask yourself: ‘Do I show that I am willing to listen to others? If someone asks me to help him to do something or to go get something for him, am I willing to help? When was the last time that I commended a family member or someone in the congregation?’ When we “practice giving,” we feel closer to Jehovah and to our friends.​—Luke 6:38; Proverbs 19:17.

11. What are some ways that we can be generous toward Jehovah?

¹¹ We can also be generous toward Jehovah. The Bible encourages us to honor Jehovah with our “valuable things.” (Proverbs 3:9) Those “valuable things” include the time, energy, and money that we can use in his service. Even young children can learn to be generous toward Jehovah. A father named Jason says: “When our family makes a donation at the Kingdom Hall, we let our children put the money in the contribution box. They enjoy it because, as they put it, they’re ‘giving something to Jehovah.’” If children realize at a young age that giving to Jehovah makes them happy, they will continue to be generous toward him when they grow up.​—Proverbs 22:6.

JEHOVAH IS REASONABLE

12. What does it mean to be reasonable?

¹² Another one of Jehovah’s wonderful qualities is that he is reasonable. What does it mean to be reasonable? (Titus 3:1, 2) A reasonable person is willing to yield. He does not always have to follow a rule. He is not strict or harsh. He treats people in a kind way and really tries to understand their circumstances. He is willing to listen to others and, when it is appropriate, to allow them to have or to do what they want.

13, 14. (a) How does Jehovah show that he is reasonable? (b) What do you learn about being reasonable from the way God treated Lot?

¹³ How does Jehovah show that he is reasonable? He thinks about his servants’ feelings, and he often allows them to do something the way they prefer to do it. For example, think about how Jehovah treated the righteous man Lot. When Jehovah decided to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, he clearly told Lot to flee to the mountains. But for some reason, Lot begged Jehovah to allow him to go somewhere else. Imagine that! Lot was asking Jehovah to change His instructions.​—Read Genesis 19:17-20.

¹⁴ When you read that story, you might think that Lot’s faith was weak or that he was being disobedient. Of course, Jehovah could have kept him alive anywhere. So Lot had no reason to fear. Still, Lot was afraid. Jehovah respected the way Lot felt and allowed him to flee to another city, even though Jehovah had wanted to destroy that city too. (Read Genesis 19:21, 22.) It is clear that Jehovah is neither strict nor harsh. He is always reasonable.

15, 16. How did the Law that Jehovah gave to Israel show that he is reasonable? (See opening picture.)

¹⁵ The Law that Jehovah gave to Israel also shows how reasonable he is. For example, if an Israelite was too poor to bring a lamb or a goat as a sacrifice, he could offer two turtledoves or two pigeons. But what if an Israelite was so poor that he could not even afford two pigeons? Jehovah allowed him to offer some flour instead. But Jehovah did not want just any flour. The Law said that it had to be “fine flour,” the kind that the Israelites used for important guests. (Genesis 18:6) How does this example show that Jehovah is reasonable?​—Read Leviticus 5:7, 11.

¹⁶ Well, imagine that you are an Israelite and that you are very poor. As you bring your sacrifice of flour to the tabernacle, you see other Israelites who have more money than you bringing animals to offer. You might feel embarrassed about your small sacrifice. But then you remember that to Jehovah, your sacrifice is very valuable. Why? Well, Jehovah’s Law required that you bring “fine flour,” flour of very good quality. It is as if Jehovah said to you: ‘I realize that you cannot offer as much as others can, but I also know that you are giving me your best.’ This example certainly shows that Jehovah is reasonable. He does not ask more of his servants than what they can give.​—Psalm 103:14.

17. What kind of worship does Jehovah accept?

¹⁷ It comforts us to know that Jehovah is reasonable and that he accepts our worship when we give him our best. (Colossians 3:23) An older Italian sister named Constance said: “Speaking to others about my Creator is what I have always loved to do the most. That is why I continue to preach and to conduct Bible studies. Sometimes I regret that I cannot do more because of my health. But I realize that Jehovah knows my limitations and that he loves me and appreciates what I am able to do.”

BE REASONABLE LIKE JEHOVAH

18. What is one way that parents can imitate Jehovah’s example?

¹⁸ How can we be reasonable like Jehovah? Think again about how Jehovah treated Lot. Jehovah certainly had the authority to tell Lot where he should go. But Jehovah was kind; he listened as Lot explained his feelings, and he allowed Lot to go where he wanted. If you have children, can you imitate Jehovah’s example? Perhaps you could listen to what your children want and then, when it is appropriate, adjust the way you want things to be done. How can you do this? The Watchtower of September 1, 2007, says that when some parents are going to make rules for the family, they listen to what their children have to say. For example, parents may want to make a rule about what time the children should be home in the evening. Parents certainly have the authority to do this, but they might talk to their children about it before deciding on the exact time. In some situations, parents may decide that as long as it would not go against something the Bible says, there is nothing wrong with adjusting the time the children should be home. When parents talk to their children before making rules, the children will better understand the rules and be more willing to obey them.

19. How can elders try to be reasonable like Jehovah?

¹⁹ Congregation elders should try to be reasonable like Jehovah. They can do this by not expecting too much from their brothers and sisters. Remember that Jehovah valued even the sacrifices of poorer Israelites. In a similar way, some brothers and sisters can spend only a little time in the ministry, perhaps because they have health problems or because they are getting old. What if they feel discouraged because they cannot do as much as they would like? The elders can help them to realize that Jehovah loves them for doing their best in his service.​—Mark 12:41-44.

20. What does it mean to be reasonable in God’s service?

²⁰ Of course, being reasonable does not mean doing less in God’s service just to “be kind to” ourselves. (Matthew 16:22) We do not want to do just a little when we could do more. Instead, all of us need to remember Jesus’ words: “Exert yourselves vigorously.” (Luke 13:24) So we must be balanced. We do our best in God’s service and, at the same time, remember that Jehovah never asks more of us than we can give. When we give him our best, we can be sure that he is pleased. It is wonderful to serve such a reasonable God! In the next article, we will talk about two more of Jehovah’s beautiful qualities.​—Psalm 73:28.

1, 2. (a) Why do we value friends who are loyal and forgiving? (b) What questions will we answer in this article?

HOW would you describe a true friend? A sister named Ashley says that a true friend is someone who is always ready to help you and who forgives you when you make mistakes. All of us value friends like that. They help us feel secure and loved.​—Proverbs 17:17.

² Jehovah is the most loyal and forgiving Friend we could have. He is as the psalmist described: “You, O Jehovah, are good and ready to forgive; and the loving-kindness to all those calling upon you is abundant.” (Psalm 86:5) What does it mean to be loyal and forgiving? How does Jehovah show those wonderful qualities? And how can we imitate his example? When we learn the answer to these questions, our love for our best Friend, Jehovah, will grow stronger. We will also be able to have closer friendships with our brothers and sisters.​—1 John 4:7, 8.

JEHOVAH IS LOYAL

3. What does it mean to be loyal?

³ A loyal person is faithful to someone he loves. He shows his love by continuing to help and support the other person. He does this not just when it is easy but even when situations are difficult. The Bible describes Jehovah as “the loyal One.” There is no one more loyal than he is.​—Revelation 16:5.

4, 5. (a) How does Jehovah show that he is loyal? (b) Why do we feel encouraged when we think about how loyal Jehovah is?

⁴ How does Jehovah show that he is loyal? He always supports his faithful servants. One of these servants, King David, praised Jehovah for being loyal to him. (Read 2 Samuel 22:26.) During David’s trials, Jehovah loyally guided, protected, and saved him. (2 Samuel 22:1) David saw in his own life that Jehovah shows loyalty not just with words but by helping his servants. Why was Jehovah loyal to David? Because David was loyal to him. Jehovah loves his servants for their loyalty, and he is loyal to those who are loyal to him.​—Proverbs 2:6-8.

⁵ We feel encouraged when we think about how loyal Jehovah is to his servants. One faithful brother named Reed said that he likes to read about how Jehovah helped David through difficult situations. He explained: “Even when David was on the run, living in and out of caves, Jehovah always sustained him. I find that very encouraging! It reminds me that no matter what the circumstance might be, no matter how bleak the situation might seem, Jehovah will be there for me as long as I remain loyal to him.” Surely, you feel that same way.​—Romans 8:38, 39.

6. In what other ways does Jehovah show that he is loyal? How does this benefit his servants?

⁶ In what other ways does Jehovah show that he is loyal? One way is that Jehovah always follows his own standards. (Isaiah 46:4) All the decisions he makes are based on his standards, and his standards never change. (Malachi 3:6) Another way Jehovah shows that he is loyal is that he always does what he promises to do. (Isaiah 55:11) Because Jehovah is loyal, all of his faithful servants benefit. How? When we do our best to obey Jehovah’s laws, we can be sure that he will keep his promise to bless us.​—Isaiah 48:17, 18.

BE LOYAL LIKE JEHOVAH

7. What is one way that you can be loyal like Jehovah?

⁷ How can we be loyal like Jehovah? One way is by doing something good for those who are in a difficult situation. (Proverbs 3:27) For example, do you know of a brother or a sister who is discouraged, perhaps because of health problems, family opposition, or personal weaknesses? You could encourage that person with “good words, comforting words.” (Zechariah 1:13)a (See footnote.) When you do this, you show that you are a loyal and true friend, one “sticking closer than a brother.”​—Proverbs 18:24.

8. How can we be loyal, for example, in marriage?

⁸ There are other ways we can be loyal to those we love. For example, if we are married, we know that we must stay faithful to our husband or wife. (Proverbs 5:15-18) So we do more than avoid adultery. We avoid doing anything that could lead to adultery. (Matthew 5:28) Also, we show that we are loyal to our brothers and sisters by not saying bad things about them or telling lies about them. And we refuse even to listen to that kind of talk.​—Proverbs 12:18.

9, 10. (a) To whom especially do we want to stay loyal? (b) Will it always be easy to obey Jehovah? Give an example.

⁹ We especially want to stay loyal to Jehovah. How do we do that? By loving what Jehovah loves and hating what he hates. Then we must live in a way that pleases Jehovah. (Read Psalm 97:10.) The more we learn to think like Jehovah, the easier it is to obey him.​—Psalm 119:104.

¹⁰ Of course, it will not always be easy to obey Jehovah. We may have to make a real effort to stay loyal to him. For example, a single sister may want to get married, but she has not yet found a brother who would be a good husband for her. (1 Corinthians 7:39) People at work may try to find someone for her to date. At the same time, she may be feeling very lonely. But because she wants to be loyal to Jehovah, she has made the firm decision not to date or marry someone who does not serve God. Christians like this sister are excellent examples of loyalty. Jehovah will bless all of those who keep serving him faithfully in difficult situations.​—Hebrews 11:6.

JEHOVAH IS FORGIVING

11. What does it mean to be forgiving?

¹¹ What does it mean to be forgiving? A forgiving person chooses not to stay upset with others for something that they have done against him. This does not mean that he approves of what they did or that he pretends it never happened. Rather, he decides not to be upset. One of Jehovah’s most wonderful qualities is that he is forgiving. The Bible says that Jehovah is “ready to forgive” those who truly repent.​—Psalm 86:5.

12. (a) How forgiving is Jehovah? (b) What did Peter mean when he said that a person’s sins can be “blotted out”?

¹² How forgiving is Jehovah? The Bible says that Jehovah forgives “in a large way.” This means that he forgives both completely and permanently. (Isaiah 55:7) How do we know that Jehovah forgives completely? Think about the promise at Acts 3:19. (Read.) The apostle Peter said that if a sinner truly repents, he feels sorry for his bad course. How can a person who has sinned be forgiven by Jehovah? Peter said that the sinner must “repent” and “turn around.” A person who truly repents decides that he is not going to repeat his sin. (2 Corinthians 7:10, 11) This person then turns around, that is, he stops doing what is wrong and does everything he can to please God. Then his sin can be “blotted out.” To blot out means to wipe out, or erase. So when Jehovah forgives, it is as if he erases our sins. Jehovah forgives completely.​—Hebrews 10:22; 1 John 1:7.

13. What do the words “their sin I shall remember no more” teach us about Jehovah?

¹³ How do we know that Jehovah forgives our sins permanently? We learn how forgiving Jehovah is from something he said to Jeremiah in a prophecy about anointed Christians. (Read Jeremiah 31:34.) Jehovah said: “I shall forgive their error, and their sin I shall remember no more.” So once Jehovah forgives, he does not keep thinking about our sins so that he can accuse us or punish us again and again. He forgives our sins permanently.​—Romans 4:7, 8.

14. Why can we be comforted when we meditate on how forgiving Jehovah is? Give an example.

¹⁴ We can be comforted when we meditate on how forgiving Jehovah is. Let us discuss the example of a sister we will call Elaine. Many years ago, she was disfellowshipped. Several years later, she was accepted back into the congregation. Even so, Elaine says that she did not really believe that Jehovah had forgiven her. She felt that Jehovah loved others more than he loved her. But Elaine was comforted when she meditated on how the Bible describes Jehovah’s forgiveness. For example, she read that when Jehovah forgives, it is as if Jehovah washes us clean of our sins. We do not need to feel guilty about them for the rest of our life.b (See footnote.) Elaine adds: “I realized that I had not believed that Jehovah could fully forgive me, and I thought that I would carry this burden for the rest of my life. I know that it will take time, but I am starting to feel that I really can draw closer to Jehovah, and I feel that a weight has been lifted off me.” Jehovah is truly a loving and forgiving God!​—Psalm 103:9.

IMITATE JEHOVAH’S FORGIVENESS

15. How can we imitate Jehovah’s forgiveness?

¹⁵ We can imitate Jehovah by choosing to forgive others. (Read Luke 17:3, 4.) Remember that when Jehovah forgives, he does not keep thinking about what we did. When we forgive others, we too can stop thinking about what they did to us and not mention their mistakes in the future.

16. (a) What does it mean to forgive the mistakes of others? What does it not mean? (b) What must we do if we want Jehovah to forgive us?

¹⁶ Forgiving the mistakes of others does not mean that we approve of what they did or that we like to be treated unfairly. No. It means that we choose not to stay upset with them. And it is important to remember that if we want Jehovah to forgive us, we must forgive others. (Matthew 6:14, 15) Jehovah remembers that “we are dust.” He understands that we are imperfect. (Psalm 103:14) So when others say or do something against us, we should remember that they are imperfect like us, and we should sincerely forgive them.​—Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13.

17. What can help you to forgive someone who has hurt you?

¹⁷ Of course, it is sometimes hard to forgive others. Even some anointed Christians in Paul’s time needed help to solve problems between themselves. (Philippians 4:2) If a brother or a sister has done something to hurt you, what can help you to forgive that person? Think about what happened to Job. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were supposed to be Job’s friends. But they insulted him and accused him of doing bad things. Job felt very hurt. (Job 10:1; 19:2) In the end, Jehovah told these three men that what they did was wrong and that they should go to Job and offer a sacrifice for their sins. (Job 42:7-9) But Jehovah also told Job to do something. What was it? He told Job to pray for these men. Job did that, and Jehovah blessed him for being forgiving. (Read Job 42:10, 12, 16, 17.) What can you learn from this? When you sincerely pray for someone who has hurt you, this can help you to stop being upset with that person.

KEEP LEARNING ABOUT AND IMITATING JEHOVAH’S QUALITIES

18, 19. What do we want to keep doing?

¹⁸ We have enjoyed learning more about Jehovah’s qualities. We have learned that he is approachable, impartial, generous, reasonable, loyal, and forgiving. Of course, there is much more to learn about Jehovah. We will have the joy of learning more about him forever. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) We agree with the apostle Paul, who wrote: “O the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge!” We can say the same about God’s love and the six qualities of his that we have discussed in these articles.​—Romans 11:33.

¹⁹ So let us keep learning more about Jehovah’s qualities, meditating on them, and then imitating them in our own life. (Ephesians 5:1) As a result, our love for Jehovah will be stronger, and we will feel closer to him. We will agree more and more with the psalmist who sang: “As for me, the drawing near to God is good for me.”​—Psalm 73:28.

1, 2. (a) What must we do to have a good relationship with Jehovah? (b) How will we benefit by discussing Bible examples of how people responded to God’s discipline?

“AS FOR me, the drawing near to God is good for me. In the Sovereign Lord Jehovah I have placed my refuge.” (Psalm 73:28) What made the psalmist say this about his trust in God? Earlier, when the psalmist saw that wicked people seemed to have peace, at first he felt bitter. He said: “It is in vain that I have cleansed my heart and that I wash my hands in innocence itself.” (Psalm 73:2, 3, 13, 21) But when he came into “the grand sanctuary of God,” he was able to correct his thinking and stay close to God. (Psalm 73:16-18) The psalmist learned a vital lesson: If a person wants to have a close relationship with Jehovah, he must be one of God’s people and accept and apply counsel.​—Psalm 73:24.

² We want to have a close relationship with the true and living God. So it is vital that we accept his counsel and discipline. In this way, Jehovah molds us, that is, he helps us to become the kind of people that he wants us to be. In the past, God showed mercy to people and sometimes to whole nations by giving them opportunities to accept his discipline. These examples are written in the Bible “for our instruction” and “for a warning to us” in the last days. (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11) This article will discuss some of these examples. We will learn how Jehovah thinks and how we can benefit when he molds us.

JEHOVAH USES HIS AUTHORITY AS A POTTER

3. At Isaiah 64:8 and Jeremiah 18:1-6, how does the Bible describe Jehovah’s authority over people? (See opening picture.)

³ The Bible says that Jehovah is like a potter because he has authority over people and nations. Isaiah 64:8 says: “O Jehovah, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are our Potter; and all of us are the work of your hand.” A potter can make whatever he wants to make from his clay. The clay cannot tell the potter what to make. It is the same with man and God. We have no right to tell God how to mold us, just as the clay cannot tell the potter what kind of pot, or vessel, to make.​—Read Jeremiah 18:1-6.

4. Does Jehovah force people or nations to accept his molding? Why?

⁴ Jehovah molded Israel as a potter molds clay. But how is Jehovah different from a human potter? Jehovah has given people the special gift of free will, that is, he allows them to make their own choices. He does not make some people good and others bad. Nor does he use his authority to force people to obey him. Instead, humans must choose whether they will let their Creator, Jehovah, mold them.​—Read Jeremiah 18:7-10.

5. When humans refuse to let Jehovah mold them, what does he do?

⁵ What if someone is stubborn and refuses to let the Potter, Jehovah, mold him? How will Jehovah use his authority as a potter? Well, when it is difficult to mold clay into the kind of pot that a potter wants to make, he can decide to make something different, or he can throw the clay away. This usually happens because the potter did not mold the clay in the right way. But Jehovah always molds people in the right way. (Deuteronomy 32:4) When a person does not allow Jehovah to mold him, it is always the person’s fault. Jehovah adjusts the way he molds people depending on the way they respond. When people obey Jehovah, they become useful to him. For example, anointed Christians are “vessels of mercy” who have been molded into ‘vessels for an honorable use.’ But people who refuse to obey God’s counsel will become “vessels of wrath” that cannot be used for anything.​—Romans 9:19-23.

6, 7. How did King David and King Saul react when Jehovah gave them counsel?

⁶ One way that Jehovah molds people is by giving them counsel or discipline. For example, think about the way Jehovah molded Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David. There were bad consequences for King David and others when he committed adultery with Bath-sheba. Even though David was king, Jehovah gave him firm discipline. God sent his prophet Nathan to David with strong counsel. (2 Samuel 12:1-12) How did David react? He was truly sorry for what he had done. Because David repented, God showed mercy to him.​—Read 2 Samuel 12:13.

⁷ King Saul was different. He did not listen to counsel. Jehovah had sent Samuel to tell King Saul to kill all of the Amalekites and their animals. But Saul disobeyed Jehovah’s command. He let King Agag live, and he kept the best animals. Why? He may have done this to bring honor to himself. (1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-9, 12) So Jehovah sent Samuel to give Saul counsel. Saul should have listened to the counsel and accepted Jehovah’s molding. Instead, Saul refused to change. He thought that he had a good reason for ignoring Jehovah’s instructions. He claimed he was going to sacrifice the animals as a gift for Jehovah. God rejected Saul as king, and Saul never again had a good relationship with him.​—Read 1 Samuel 15:13-15, 20-23.

GOD IS NOT PARTIAL

8. What can we learn from the way the nation of Israel responded to Jehovah’s molding?

⁸ Jehovah has also given whole nations an opportunity to obey him. After Jehovah freed the Israelites from Egypt in the year 1513 before Christ, they became Jehovah’s special people. God had promised to mold them. But the people did not respond well to his molding and kept doing what was bad in Jehovah’s eyes. They even worshipped the false gods of the nations around them. Many times, Jehovah sent prophets to the Israelites to help them to change their conduct, but Israel rejected the prophets’ counsel. (Jeremiah 35:12-15) Because they did not obey Jehovah, he disciplined them strongly. The Assyrians destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel. Later, the Babylonians conquered the southern kingdom of Judah. We learn something very important from this. The only way we benefit from Jehovah’s molding is if we respond well to it.

9, 10. How did the Ninevites respond when Jehovah gave them a warning?

⁹ Jehovah also gave the people of the Assyrian capital of Nineveh an opportunity to respond to his warning. Jehovah told Jonah: “Get up, go to Nineveh the great city, and proclaim against her that their badness has come up before me.” Jehovah had decided that Nineveh should be destroyed because the people were so bad.​—Jonah 1:1, 2; 3:1-4.

¹⁰ When Jonah told the people what Jehovah had said, they “began to put faith in God.” They all wanted to show that they repented, so they did not eat, and they put on clothes made of sackcloth. Even the king “rose up from his throne and put off his official garment from himself and covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the ashes.” The Ninevites allowed themselves to be molded by Jehovah, and they repented. As a result, Jehovah did not destroy the city.​—Jonah 3:5-10.

11. What do we learn from the way Jehovah treated Israel and Nineveh?

¹¹ Even though the Israelites were Jehovah’s special people, he had to discipline them. The Ninevites were not God’s special people, yet they responded well to his molding. So Jehovah showed mercy to them and chose not to destroy them. Jehovah is not partial. He judges people according to the way they act.​—Deuteronomy 10:17.

JEHOVAH KNOWS WHEN TO CHANGE HIS DECISIONS

12, 13. (a) Why does God change his decisions depending on how people respond to his molding? (b) What does it mean that Jehovah felt regret about Saul and Nineveh?

¹² Jehovah is willing to change his decisions about people when they change the way they act. For example, the Bible tells us that Jehovah felt regret that he had made Saul the king of Israel. (1 Samuel 15:11) And when the people of Nineveh repented and stopped their bad conduct, the Bible says: “The true God felt regret over the calamity that he had spoken of causing to them; and he did not cause it.”​—Jonah 3:10.

¹³ When the Bible says that Jehovah “felt regret,” it means that he changed how he felt about a person or that he changed what he decided to do. Jehovah had at one time approved of Saul. But when Saul was disobedient, he rejected Saul as king. This was not because Jehovah had made a mistake when he chose Saul as king. Instead, it was because Saul disobeyed him. And when the Ninevites repented, Jehovah was willing to change his decision and let them live. It comforts us to know that Jehovah is kind and merciful and that he is willing to change his decision when people change the way they act!

DO NOT REJECT DISCIPLINE FROM JEHOVAH

14. (a) What does Jehovah use to mold us today? (b) What should we do when God molds us?

¹⁴ Today, Jehovah uses the Bible and his organization to mold us. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) We should be happy to accept whatever counsel or discipline we receive in this way. No matter how long we have been baptized or how many privileges we have in the congregation, we should continue to obey Jehovah’s counsel. When we respond to Jehovah’s molding in this way, we can become the kind of person he wants us to be.

15, 16. (a) What feelings might a person have when he loses privileges in the congregation? Give an example. (b) What can help us to cope with feelings such as shame and embarrassment when we have received discipline?

¹⁵ How does Jehovah discipline us? He teaches us what he requires of us, and he corrects our thinking. Sometimes we may need strong discipline because we have done something very wrong. As a result, we might lose some of our privileges in the congregation. Consider the example of an elder named Dennis.a (See footnote.) He was reproved because of poor judgment in business matters. How did Dennis feel the night it was announced to the congregation that he was no longer serving as an elder? He says that he felt like a failure. “Over the past 30 years, I had had many privileges. I had been a regular pioneer, had served at Bethel, had been appointed as a ministerial servant and then as an elder. I had also just given my first talk at a district convention. Suddenly, it was all gone.” He felt ashamed and embarrassed, and he wondered if he could ever be useful to the organization again.

¹⁶ Dennis had to change his conduct. But what helped him to cope with the shame and embarrassment he felt? He made sure that he studied the Bible, went in the ministry regularly, and attended all the meetings. He was grateful for the encouragement he got from the brothers and sisters and from our publications. He says: “The article ‘Did You Once Serve? Can You Serve Again?’ in the August 15, 2009, issue of The Watchtower was like a personal letter in answer to my prayers.” Dennis learned from the article that he could use his time to strengthen his relationship with Jehovah. He benefited from the discipline he received, and after some years he became a ministerial servant again.

17. How can disfellowshipping help a sinner? Give an example.

¹⁷ Disfellowshipping is another type of discipline from Jehovah. It protects the congregation from the bad influence of the sinner, and it can help the sinner to repent. (1 Corinthians 5:6, 7, 11) Robert was disfellowshipped for almost 16 years. During this time, his parents and siblings followed the Bible’s counsel and did not associate with him, not even greeting him. Robert has been reinstated for some years now and is doing well in the truth. He explained that part of the reason he came back to the truth after such a long time was that his family had refused to associate with him. He said that if his family had spent even a little time with him or just asked how he was doing, he would not have missed them as much as he did. This helped him to want to return to Jehovah and His people.

18. How should we respond when God molds us?

¹⁸ We may not need that same discipline. But we need to think about what we will do when God molds and disciplines us. How will we respond? Will we accept counsel, as David did? Or will we reject it, as Saul did? Jehovah, the Great Potter, is our Father. Never forget that “the one whom Jehovah loves he reproves, even as a father does a son in whom he finds pleasure.” Always let Jehovah discipline you.​—Proverbs 3:11, 12.

MY FATHER was a humble man who worked hard. He had a deep love of justice, so he liked the Bible’s message as soon as he heard it. That was in 1953, and from then on he did his best to teach us children what he was learning. At first, my mother did not want to stop following her Catholic traditions. But in time, she too started to accept Bible teachings.

My mother could not read well, and my father worked hard in the fields for many hours each day. So it was difficult for my parents to study with us. Sometimes my father was so tired that he could not stay awake during the study. But all his hard work was worth it. I was the oldest child, so I helped to teach my sister and two brothers. We often talked about how much Noah loved his family and how obedient he was to God. I loved that story so much! Soon after we started studying the Bible as a family, we were all going to the meetings at the Kingdom Hall in Roseto degli Abruzzi, a city on the Adriatic coast of Italy.

In 1955, when I was just 11 years old, my mother and I traveled across the mountains to Rome and went to our first convention. Since then, conventions have been something that I especially love.

I got baptized in 1956 and soon started pioneering. When I was 17 years old, I became a special pioneer in Latina, a city south of Rome and about 300 kilometers (190 miles) from home. It was a new city, and nobody worried too much about what the neighbors thought. So it was easier for people to accept Bible literature from my pioneer partner and me. Even though I was very excited to be there, I was still young and missed home. But it helped me to remember that Jehovah wanted me to be there, and I wanted to obey him.

Later, I was sent to Milan to help with preparations for the 1963 “Everlasting Good News” International Assembly. During the convention, I worked as a volunteer with many others, including a young brother from Florence named Paolo Piccioli. On the second day of the convention, he gave a wonderful talk about how single people can do more in Jehovah’s service. I remember thinking, ‘That brother will never get married.’ But after the convention, we started writing letters to each other. We realized that we had the same goals and that we both loved Jehovah very much and wanted to obey him. Paolo and I got married in 1965.

DISCUSSIONS WITH PRIESTS

I was a regular pioneer in Florence for ten years. It was exciting to see the congregations grow, especially to see young people progress in the truth. Paolo and I enjoyed spending time with these young ones in Bible discussions as well as in recreation. Paolo often played soccer with them. Of course, I liked to spend time with my husband, but I also understood that families and young ones in the congregation needed his time and attention.

It still makes me very happy to think about the many Bible studies we had. One student was Adriana, who spoke to two other families about what she was learning. These families arranged a meeting with a priest to discuss some church teachings, such as the Trinity and the immortal soul. Three church leaders came to the meeting. The way they explained their teachings was very confusing, and our Bible students could easily see that these teachings did not agree with what the Bible says. As a result of that meeting, 15 members of those families became Witnesses.

Of course, we do our preaching work in a different way today. Back then, Paolo often met with priests to discuss Bible teachings, and he became really good at presenting our beliefs in these discussions. One time, he was in front of a group of people who were not Witnesses. It became clear that the priests had told some of them to ask questions that would embarrass Paolo. But things did not happen the way the priests had planned. One of the people asked if it was right for the church to be involved in politics. The priests did not know how to answer. Suddenly, the lights went out, and the meeting was canceled. Some years later, we learned that the priests had planned for someone to turn the lights off in case the discussion did not go well for them.

NEW ASSIGNMENTS

After Paolo and I had been married for ten years, we were invited to serve in the circuit work. Paolo had a good job, so it was not an easy decision. After we prayed and thought about it, we decided to accept the assignment. We enjoyed spending time with the families we stayed with. In the evening, we often studied as a group, and then Paolo helped the children with their homework. He especially enjoyed helping them with mathematics. Also, Paolo loved to read and was always happy to talk about the interesting and encouraging things he had read. On Monday, we often went to preach in towns where there were no Witnesses and invited people to come to a talk in the evening.

After only two years in the circuit work, we were invited to serve at Bethel in Rome. Paolo worked in the Legal Department, and I worked in the Magazine Department. This was not an easy change for us, but we wanted to be obedient. It was exciting to see more and more work being done at the branch and to see the number of brothers in Italy increase so much. Also during that time, the Italian government approved Jehovah’s Witnesses as a legal religion. We were very happy in our new assignment.

In the early 1980’s, while we were serving at Bethel, a legal case in Italy became very well-known. A couple who were Witnesses were accused of causing their daughter’s death by not allowing her to have a blood transfusion. This accusation was false. Really, she died as a result of a serious blood disease that was common in Italy and other nearby countries. Brothers and sisters in the Bethel family helped the lawyers who represented the parents. A tract and a special edition of Awake! were printed and given to people to help them know the truth about that situation and to help them understand what the Bible says about blood. During those months, Paolo often worked up to 16 hours a day without stopping. I did my best to support him during that time.

ANOTHER CHANGE IN OUR LIFE

We had been married for 20 years when something unexpected happened. I was 41 years old and Paolo was 49 when I told him that I thought I was pregnant. In his diary, Paolo wrote for that day: “Prayer: If it is true, help us stay in the full-time service, not relax spiritually, and help us to be good parents by our example. Above all, help me put into practice at least 1 percent of all that I have said from the platform over the past 30 years.” When I think about that now, I can see that Jehovah truly answered Paolo’s prayer and mine.

Our lives changed a lot after Ilaria was born. Paolo and I sometimes became discouraged, as described at Proverbs 24:10: “Have you shown yourself discouraged in the day of distress? Your power will be scanty.” But we continued to support each other.

Today, Ilaria often says that she is happy her parents were busy in the full-time service while she was growing up. She always felt loved and cared for. During the day, I took care of her. In the evening when Paolo got home, he played with her and helped her with her homework. He did that even though he would sometimes have to stay up until two or three in the morning to finish his own work. Ilaria often said, “Dad is my best friend.”

Of course, to help Ilaria to do what was right, we had to discipline her, sometimes firmly. For example, I remember one time when she was playing with a friend but behaved badly. We explained from the Bible why she should not behave that way. We also made her say “I’m sorry” to her friend right away.

Ilaria says that her parents’ love for the ministry helped her to love the ministry too. Now that she is an adult and married, she better understands how important it is to obey Jehovah and follow his direction.

OBEDIENT EVEN DURING SAD TIMES

In 2008, Paolo found out that he had cancer. At first, it seemed that he would be able to get better, and he encouraged me very much. We tried to find the best doctors to take care of Paolo. Ilaria and I said long prayers to Jehovah together, asking for his help to be strong and endure. It was very hard for me to see someone who had so much strength and energy become weaker and weaker. Paolo’s death in 2010 was extremely painful for me. But it comforts me to think about all we were able to do during the 45 years we were married. We gave Jehovah our best, and I know that he will never forget our work. I eagerly look forward to the time when John 5:28, 29 comes true and Paolo is resurrected.

In my heart, I’m still that little girl who loves the story of Noah. I still want to obey Jehovah, no matter what he asks of me. I have learned that any problem we have, any sacrifice we make, or any loss we endure is small when compared to the wonderful blessings that our loving God gives us. In my life, I have seen that obeying Jehovah is always worth it.

Angela is a single sister in her 30’s.a (See footnote.) The elders are coming to visit her, and she is a little nervous. She is thinking, ‘What are the elders going to say to me? I know I have missed a few meetings, but after working all day caring for elderly people, I am so tired when I get home.’ Not only this, but Angela is also worried about her mom’s bad health.

If you were one of the elders going to visit Angela, how would you encourage her? First, though, what can you do to prepare before visiting a “tired soul”?​—Jeremiah 31:25.

THINK ABOUT YOUR BROTHER’S SITUATION

Sometimes we all get tired because of our work or our responsibilities in God’s service. For example, the prophet Daniel “felt exhausted” when he received a vision that he could not understand. (Daniel 8:27) So God sent the angel Gabriel to explain things to Daniel and to tell him that Jehovah had heard his prayers. The angel also told him that he was still “someone very desirable” to Jehovah. (Daniel 9:21-23) At a later time, another angel appeared to Daniel and encouraged him with similar words.​—Daniel 10:19.

You can do something similar when you visit someone in the congregation who is tired or discouraged. Before you visit your brother, take time to think about his situation. What problems does he have? How may these problems discourage him? What good qualities does he show? Richard, an elder for more than 20 years, says that he tries to think of a brother’s good qualities before he visits him. He also thinks carefully about the brother’s situation. This makes it easier to give him the kind of encouragement he needs. If you and another elder plan to visit someone, it would be good for the two of you to talk about the brother’s situation before the visit.

MAKE YOUR BROTHER FEEL COMFORTABLE

It can be embarrassing for a brother to talk about his feelings to an elder. How, then, can you help your brother to feel comfortable? It may be helpful to have a friendly smile and to say a few kind words at the start of the visit. Michael, an elder for more than 40 years, often starts his visits by saying something like this: “You know, one of the nicest privileges of an elder is to visit the brothers in their homes and get to know them better. So I have really been looking forward to our visit today.”

At the beginning of the visit, you could say a prayer with the brother. In the prayer, you could mention the brother’s good qualities, such as his faith, love, or endurance. That is what the apostle Paul did when he prayed for his brothers. (1 Thessalonians 1:2, 3) When you pray with your brother like this, you are helping both of you to have the right attitude about the visit. As a result, your conversation will be encouraging. Your prayer can also comfort the brother. An experienced elder named Ray says that we all sometimes forget the good things we are doing in God’s service and we feel much better when someone reminds us of them.

USE THE BIBLE TO ENCOURAGE

One way you can give a “spiritual gift” to your brother, or encourage him, is by using the Bible to help him, even if you use only one verse. (Romans 1:11) For example, a depressed brother may feel worthless. You might read with him about the psalmist who felt like a shriveled “skin bottle in the smoke.” Despite feeling this way, the psalmist said: “Your regulations I have not forgotten.” (Psalm 119:83, 176) After you briefly explain the scripture, you might tell the brother that you are certain that he too has “not forgotten” God’s commandments.

How could you use the Bible to encourage a sister who has become inactive or has lost her zeal for God’s service? Perhaps the illustration about the lost drachma coin would encourage her. (Luke 15:8-10) That coin may have been part of a precious necklace made up of many silver coins. As you discuss this illustration with the sister, you may help her to realize that she is a precious member of the Christian congregation. You might then help her to see that she is one of Jehovah’s little sheep and that he cares for her very much.

Our brothers usually enjoy talking about scriptures they have read. So do not talk the whole time! After reading a verse with the brother, you could choose a specific word or phrase from the verse and ask him to comment on it. For example, after reading 2 Corinthians 4:16, you could ask, “Can you think of ways Jehovah has ‘renewed’ you, or given you strength?” This kind of question can result in a conversation that will encourage both of you.​—Romans 1:12.

You might also encourage your brother by discussing a Bible character who was in a similar situation. Someone who is depressed may feel the way Hannah or Epaphroditus did. They both felt depressed at times but were still precious to God. (1 Samuel 1:9-11, 20; Philippians 2:25-30) There are many other good Bible examples you could use.

CONTINUE TO SHOW INTEREST

After the visit, continue to show interest in your brother. (Acts 15:36) For example, at the end of the visit, you could make plans with him to preach together. When Bernard, an experienced elder, meets a brother he has recently visited, he may discreetly ask about the advice he gave him by saying, “Tell me, did it work out well?” By showing interest in these ways, you will be able to find out if there is anything more you can do to help the brother.

More than ever, our brothers and sisters need to feel that you care for them, understand them, and love them. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) So before visiting your brother, think about his situation. Pray about the visit. Carefully choose the scriptures that you will use. Then you will find the right words to refresh “the tired soul”!