1, 2. Why did Paul write a letter to the Hebrew Christians?

IN THE year 61, the congregations throughout Israel enjoyed relative peace. Although the apostle Paul was in prison in Rome, he hoped to be released soon. His traveling partner Timothy had just been freed from prison, and together they hoped to visit the brothers in Judea. (Hebrews 13:23) In just five years though, Christians in Judea, and especially those living in Jerusalem, would have to act quickly. Why? Earlier, Jesus had told his followers that as soon as they saw Jerusalem surrounded by soldiers, they would need to flee.​—Luke 21:20-24.

² It had been 28 years since Jesus gave his followers that warning. During that time, the Christians in Israel remained faithful despite much persecution and many trials. (Hebrews 10:32-34) But Paul wanted to prepare them for what would happen in the future. They were about to experience one of the biggest tests of their faith. (Matthew 24:20, 21; Hebrews 12:4) They would need endurance and faith like never before in order to obey Jesus’ words to flee, and their lives would depend on it. (Read Hebrews 10:36-39.) So Jehovah inspired Paul to write to those dear brothers and sisters. That letter, now called the book of Hebrews, was designed to strengthen them for what would happen.

3. Why should we be interested in the book of Hebrews?

³ As God’s people today, we should be interested in the book of Hebrews. Why? Because our situation is similar to that of the Christians in Judea. We live in “critical times hard to deal with,” and many have faithfully endured serious trials or persecution. (2 Timothy 3:1, 12) But most of us enjoy peaceful circumstances and do not experience direct persecution. So, like the Christians in Paul’s time, we need to be alert. Why? Very soon, we will experience the biggest test of our faith!​—Read Luke 21:34-36.

4. What is the yeartext for 2016, and why is it appropriate?

⁴ What will help us to prepare for this future event? In the book of Hebrews, Paul stated many things that will help to strengthen our faith. One very important reminder is found at Hebrews 13:1. It encourages us: “Let your brotherly love continue.” That verse has been selected to be the yeartext for 2016.

WHAT IS BROTHERLY LOVE?

5. What is brotherly love?

⁵ What is brotherly love? The original Greek word Paul used literally means “affection for a brother.” Brotherly love is a strong, warm feeling between family members or close friends. (John 11:36) We do not pretend to be brothers and sisters. We are brothers and sisters. (Matthew 23:8) Paul says: “In brotherly love have tender affection for one another. In showing honor to one another, take the lead.” (Romans 12:10) Those words show how strong our affection is for our brothers. This brotherly love, along with love based on Christian principles, helps God’s people to be close friends with one another and to be united.

6. How do true Christians understand the meaning of brotherly love?

⁶ The expression “brotherly love” is mostly found in Christian literature. For Jews in the past, the word “brother” usually referred to a relative and sometimes to a person outside the family. But it would never include someone who was not Jewish. However, as true Christians, our “brother” is any true Christian, no matter what country he or she comes from. (Romans 10:12) Jehovah has taught us to love one another as brothers. (1 Thessalonians 4:9) But why is it important to continue to show brotherly love?

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO SHOW BROTHERLY LOVE?

7. (a) What is the most important reason for us to show brotherly love? (b) Give another reason why it is important to strengthen our affection for one another.

⁷ The most important reason to show brotherly love is that Jehovah tells us to do so. We cannot really love Jehovah if we refuse to love our brothers. (1 John 4:7, 20, 21) Another reason is that we need one another, especially during difficult times. When Paul wrote his letter to the Hebrew Christians, he knew that soon some would have to leave their homes and personal things. Jesus had described how difficult that time would be. (Mark 13:14-18; Luke 21:21-23) So before that time came, those Christians would need to strengthen their love for one another.​—Romans 12:9.

8. What do we need to do now before the start of the great tribulation?

⁸ The greatest tribulation in mankind’s history is coming soon. (Mark 13:19; Revelation 7:1-3) We will need to obey the counsel: “Go, my people, enter your inner rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a brief moment until the wrath has passed by.” (Isaiah 26:20) Those “inner rooms” may refer to our congregations. That is where we worship Jehovah with our brothers and sisters. But we must do more than just meet together regularly. Paul reminded the Hebrew Christians that they should encourage one another to show love and to do good for one another. (Hebrews 10:24, 25) We need to strengthen our brotherly love now because it will help us to endure whatever trials we may have in the future.

9. (a) What opportunities do we have to show brotherly love today? (b) Give examples of how Jehovah’s people have shown brotherly love.

⁹ We have many opportunities to show brotherly love even today, before the great tribulation begins. Many of our brothers suffer because of earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, or other natural disasters. Some brothers endure persecution. (Matthew 24:6-9) And there are daily economic difficulties as a result of living in this corrupt world. (Revelation 6:5, 6) However, the more problems our brothers have, the more opportunities we have to show how much we love them. Even though this world does not show love, we need to continue showing brotherly love. (Matthew 24:12)^[1]​—See endnote.

HOW CAN WE LET OUR BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE?

10. What will we now examine?

¹⁰ Despite the problems we have, how can we make sure that we continue to show brotherly love? How can we prove that we have this type of affection for our brothers? After saying “let your brotherly love continue,” the apostle Paul listed several ways that Christians can do this. Let us now examine six of them.

11, 12. What does it mean to show hospitality? (See opening picture.)

¹¹ “Do not forget hospitality.” (Read Hebrews 13:2.) What does the word “hospitality” mean? The word Paul used literally means “kindness to strangers.” Perhaps that expression reminds us of Abraham and Lot. Those two men showed kindness to visitors they did not know. Eventually, Abraham and Lot learned that those strangers were actually angels. (Genesis 18:2-5; 19:1-3) These examples encouraged the Hebrew Christians to show brotherly love by being hospitable.

¹² How can we show hospitality to others? We can invite our brothers and sisters to our home for a meal or for some encouragement. Even though we may not know our circuit overseer and his wife very well, we can invite them when they visit our congregation. (3 John 5-8) We do not need to make a big meal or spend a lot of money. Our goal is to encourage our brothers, not to impress them with what we have. And we should not invite only those who can repay us in some way. (Luke 10:42; 14:12-14) What is most important is that we are never so busy that we forget to show hospitality!

13, 14. How can we “keep in mind those in prison”?

¹³ “Keep in mind those in prison.” (Read Hebrews 13:3.) When Paul wrote this, he was referring to the brothers who were in prison for their faith. Paul commended the congregation because they had shown “sympathy for those in prison.” (Hebrews 10:34) Some brothers helped Paul during the four years he was in prison, but others lived far away. How could they help Paul? They could keep praying intensely for him.​—Philippians 1:12-14; Hebrews 13:18, 19.

¹⁴ Today, many Witnesses are in prison for their faith. Brothers and sisters who live close by can help them with practical things. But many of us live far from those in prison. How can we help them and not forget them? Brotherly love will motivate us to pray intensely for them. For example, we can pray for the brothers, sisters, and even children who are in prison in Eritrea, including our brothers Paulos Eyassu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, who are still in prison after 20 years.

15. How can we honor our marriage?

¹⁵ “Let marriage be honorable among all.” (Read Hebrews 13:4.) We can also show brotherly love by being morally clean. (1 Timothy 5:1, 2) For example, if we were to commit sexual immorality with a brother or a sister, we would harm that person and that person’s family. The trust we have among our brothers would be damaged. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8) Think, too, about how a wife would feel if she discovered that her husband watches pornography. Would she feel that her husband loves her and respects the marriage arrangement?​—Matthew 5:28.

16. How does contentment help us to show brotherly love?

¹⁶ Be “content with the present things.” (Read Hebrews 13:5.) Trust in Jehovah will help us to be content, that is, to be satisfied with what we have. How does this help us to show brotherly love? When we are content, we will remember that our Christian brothers and sisters are much more important than money or things. (1 Timothy 6:6-8) We will not complain about our brothers or about our situation in life. And we will not be jealous of others or greedy. Instead, when we are content, we will be generous.​—1 Timothy 6:17-19.

17. How does being “of good courage” help us to show brotherly love?

¹⁷ “Be of good courage.” (Read Hebrews 13:6.) Trust in Jehovah gives us the courage to endure difficult trials. This courage helps us to have a positive attitude. And when we are positive, we can show our brotherly love by encouraging and comforting our brothers and sisters. (1 Thessalonians 5:14, 15) Even during the great tribulation, we can be courageous, knowing that our deliverance is near.​—Luke 21:25-28.

18. How can we strengthen our brotherly love for our elders?

¹⁸ “Remember those who are taking the lead.” (Read Hebrews 13:7, 17.) The elders in our congregation use their personal time to work hard for us. When we think about all that they do, our love and appreciation for them grows. We would never want them to lose their joy or become frustrated because of something we do. Instead, we want to obey willingly. This way we “give them extraordinary consideration in love because of their work.”​—1 Thessalonians 5:13.

KEEP ON DOING IT MORE FULLY

19, 20. How can we continue to show brotherly love in a greater way?

¹⁹ Jehovah’s people are known for their brotherly love. The same was true in Paul’s day. But Paul encouraged the brothers to show love in an even greater way. He said: “Go on doing so in fuller measure.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9, 10) Clearly, there is always room for improvement!

²⁰ So as we look at our yeartext in our Kingdom Hall during this year, let us meditate on these questions: Can I be more hospitable? How can I help our brothers in prison? Do I honor God’s arrangement of marriage? What will help me to be truly content? How can I trust in Jehovah more? How can I be more obedient to those who are taking the lead? If we work to improve in these six areas, the yeartext will not be just a sign on the wall; it will remind us to obey Paul’s words: “Let your brotherly love continue.”​—Hebrews 13:1.

1, 2. (a) What does God’s “indescribable free gift” include? (b) What questions will we consider in this article?

JEHOVAH gave us the greatest possible gift of love when he sent his precious Son, Jesus, to the earth! (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9, 10) The apostle Paul called this gift an “indescribable free gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15) Why did Paul use that expression?

² Paul knew that Jesus’ sacrifice is a guarantee that all of God’s wonderful promises will come true. (Read 2 Corinthians 1:20.) This means that God’s “indescribable free gift” includes Jesus’ sacrifice and all the goodness and loyal love that Jehovah shows us. Such a valuable gift is impossible to describe in a way that we can completely understand. How should this special gift make us feel? And how should this gift motivate us as we prepare for the Memorial of Christ’s death on Wednesday, March 23, 2016?

GOD’S SPECIAL GIFT

3, 4. (a) How do you feel when someone gives you a gift? (b) How might a special gift change your life?

³ We love it when someone gives us a gift. But some gifts are so meaningful or special that they can change our life. For example, imagine that you have been involved in a crime. The punishment for the crime is death. But suddenly, someone you do not know volunteers to receive the punishment instead of you. He is willing to die for you! How would such a special gift make you feel?

⁴ Such a loving and special gift would cause you to make changes in your life. Likely, you would also feel motivated to be more generous and loving to others and to forgive any who have been unkind to you. For the rest of your life, you would want to show that you are grateful for the sacrifice that was made.

5. How is God’s gift of the ransom much greater than any other gift?

⁵ God’s gift of the ransom is much greater than the gift in the example. (1 Peter 3:18) Think about this: All of us inherited sin from Adam, and the punishment for sin is death. (Romans 5:12) Love motivated Jehovah to send Jesus to the earth to die for all humans, to “taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9) But Jesus’ sacrifice will do even more! It will destroy death forever. (Isaiah 25:7, 8; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 26) All who show faith in Jesus will live in peace and be happy forever, either as kings with Christ in heaven or as subjects of God’s Kingdom on earth. (Romans 6:23; Revelation 5:9, 10) What other blessings are included in Jehovah’s gift?

6. (a) What blessings of Jehovah’s gift do you look forward to? (b) Name three things God’s gift will motivate us to do.

⁶ As part of God’s gift, the earth will become a paradise, the sick will be cured, and the dead will be resurrected. (Isaiah 33:24; 35:5, 6; John 5:28, 29) We love Jehovah and his dear Son for giving us this “indescribable free gift.” What will this gift motivate us to do? It will motivate us (1) to imitate Christ Jesus closely, (2) to love our brothers, and (3) to forgive others from the heart.

“THE LOVE THE CHRIST HAS COMPELS US”

7, 8. How should we feel about the love of Christ, and what should it motivate us to do?

⁷ First, we should feel motivated to use our life to honor Jesus. The apostle Paul said: “The love the Christ has compels us.” (Read 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15.) Paul knew that if we accept Jesus’ great love, it will compel us, or motivate us, to love and honor Jesus. Yes, when we fully understand what Jehovah has done for us, his love will motivate us to live in a way that shows we honor Jesus. How do we do that?

⁸ Love for Jehovah will motivate us to imitate Jesus’ example, following his steps closely. (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6) When we obey God and Christ, we prove our love for them. Jesus said: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. In turn, whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will clearly show myself to him.”​—John 14:21; 1 John 5:3.

9. What pressures do we have?

⁹ During this Memorial season, it is good to meditate on how we are using our life. So ask yourself: ‘In what areas do I already imitate Jesus? In what areas can I improve?’ It is important to ask ourselves these questions because the world wants us to live the way they do. (Romans 12:2) If we are not careful, we could feel pressured to start imitating the world’s teachers, celebrities, and sports heroes. (Colossians 2:8; 1 John 2:15-17) How can we resist that pressure?

10. What questions can we ask ourselves during this Memorial season, and what may the answers motivate us to do? (See opening picture.)

¹⁰ It is good to take time during the Memorial season to examine our clothes, movies, and music, as well as what is on our computer, cell phone, or tablet. Ask yourself: ‘If Jesus were here and saw what I was wearing, would I be embarrassed?’ (Read 1 Timothy 2:9, 10.) ‘Would my clothes show that I am a follower of Christ? Would Jesus like to watch my movies? Would he listen to my music? If Jesus borrowed my cell phone or tablet, would I be embarrassed by what he saw? Would it be difficult to explain to Jesus why I enjoy the video games I play?’ Our love for Jehovah should motivate us to throw away anything that would be inappropriate for a Christian, no matter how much it cost. (Acts 19:19, 20) When we dedicated our life to Jehovah, we promised to use our life to honor Christ. So we should not keep anything that could make it difficult for us to imitate Jesus.​—Matthew 5:29, 30; Philippians 4:8.

11. (a) How does our love for Jehovah and Jesus motivate us in the preaching work? (b) How can our love motivate us to help others in the congregation?

¹¹ Our love for Jesus motivates us to preach and teach with zeal. (Matthew 28:19, 20; Luke 4:43) During the Memorial season, can you arrange your daily life so that you can auxiliary pioneer and spend 30 or 50 hours in the preaching work? One widower who was 84 years old thought that he could not pioneer because of his age and poor health. But the pioneers in his area wanted to help him. They provided transportation and chose appropriate territory that he could work. As a result, the brother reached his goal of 30 hours. Can you help someone in your congregation to auxiliary pioneer in March or April? It is true that not everyone can pioneer, but we can use our time and energy to increase our service to Jehovah. If we do so, we will show that we, like Paul, are motivated by Jesus’ love. What else will God’s love move us to do?

WE ARE OBLIGATED TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER

12. God’s love motivates us to do what?

¹² Second, God’s love should motivate us to love our brothers. The apostle John wrote: “Beloved ones, if this is how God loved us, then we are also under obligation to love one another.” (1 John 4:7-11) So if we accept God’s love, we need to love our brothers. (1 John 3:16) How can we show love for them?

13. What example did Jesus set in loving others?

¹³ Jesus’ example shows us how we can love others. When he was on earth, he helped people, especially the humble ones. He cured the sick, lame, blind, deaf, and mute. (Matthew 11:4, 5) Unlike the religious leaders, Jesus enjoyed teaching people who wanted to learn about God. (John 7:49) He loved those humble people and worked hard to help them.​—Matthew 20:28.

14. What can you do to show love for your brothers?

¹⁴ The Memorial season is also a good time to think about how you can help the brothers and sisters in your congregation, especially the older ones. Could you visit these dear ones? Could you bring them a meal, help them with chores in the home, offer them a ride to the meeting, or invite them to work with you in the ministry? (Read Luke 14:12-14.) Let God’s love motivate you to show love for your brothers!

SHOW MERCY TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS

15. What must we recognize?

¹⁵ Third, Jehovah’s love motivates us to forgive our brothers and sisters. All of us have inherited sin and death from Adam, so no one can say, “I do not need the ransom.” Even the most faithful servant of God needs the gift of the ransom. Each of us has been forgiven a huge debt! Why is it important to recognize that? We find the answer in one of Jesus’ illustrations.

16, 17. (a) What should we learn from Jesus’ illustration of the king and the slaves? (b) After meditating on Jesus’ illustration, what are you determined to do?

¹⁶ Jesus gave an illustration about a king who forgave his slave a huge debt of 60,000,000 denarii. But later, that slave did not forgive a fellow slave a much smaller debt of only 100 denarii. The king’s mercy should have motivated his slave to forgive a fellow slave. The king was furious when he heard that his slave did not forgive such a small debt. He said: “Wicked slave, I canceled all that debt for you when you pleaded with me. Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I showed mercy to you?” (Matthew 18:23-35, footnote) Like the king, Jehovah has forgiven us a huge debt. What should Jehovah’s love and mercy motivate us to do?

¹⁷ As we prepare for the Memorial, we might ask ourselves: ‘Have I been hurt by a brother? Do I find it difficult to forgive him?’ If so, this is a good time to imitate Jehovah, who is “ready to forgive.” (Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:5) If we appreciate Jehovah’s great mercy, we will show mercy to others and forgive them from the heart. If we do not love and forgive our brothers, we cannot expect Jehovah to love and forgive us. (Matthew 6:14, 15) When we forgive others, it does not change the fact that they hurt us, but it will help us to have a happier future.

18. How did God’s love help one sister to put up with the imperfections of another sister?

¹⁸ It can be difficult to put up with the imperfections of our brothers and sisters. (Read Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13, 14.) One sister who did that was Lily.^[1] (See endnote.) She helped a widow named Carol. For example, she drove Carol wherever she needed to go, helped her with necessary shopping, and did many other things for her. Despite all that Lily did, Carol was always critical, and at times it was not easy to help her. But Lily focused on Carol’s good qualities and helped her for some years until Carol got very sick and died. Even though helping Carol was difficult for Lily, she says: “I look forward to seeing Carol in the resurrection. I want to know her when she is perfect.” Clearly, God’s love can motivate us to put up with our brothers and sisters and to look forward to the time when human imperfection will be gone forever.

19. How will God’s “indescribable free gift” motivate you?

¹⁹ Jehovah has truly given us an “indescribable free gift.” May we always appreciate it! The Memorial season is an excellent time to meditate on all that Jehovah and Jesus have done for us. May their love motivate us to imitate Jesus closely, to show love for our brothers, and to forgive our brothers from the heart.

1-3. What events made Pentecost a special day, and how did those events fulfill what the Scriptures had foretold? (See opening picture.)

IT WAS Sunday morning in Jerusalem. This was a special and exciting day. People were celebrating Pentecost, which was a sacred festival at the beginning of the wheat harvest. That morning at the temple, the high priest offered the regular sacrifices. Then, at about nine o’clock, he offered two leavened loaves made from the first wheat, or the firstfruits, of the harvest. The high priest waved the loaves from side to side to present them to Jehovah. This was Pentecost of the year 33.​—Leviticus 23:15-20.

² Every year, for hundreds of years, the high priest made this wave offering. The offering was closely related to something very important that happened on Pentecost of the year 33. And it happened to 120 disciples of Jesus who were praying together in an upper room in Jerusalem. (Acts 1:13-15) Eight hundred years earlier, the prophet Joel had written about this event. (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21) What happened that was so important?

³ Read Acts 2:2-4. On Pentecost of the year 33, God gave those Christians his holy spirit, and they were anointed. (Acts 1:8) Then, a crowd began to gather around them, and the disciples started to speak about the wonderful things they had just seen and heard. The apostle Peter explained what had just happened and why it was so important. Then, he told the crowd: “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit.” That day, about 3,000 people were baptized, and they too received holy spirit.​—Acts 2:37, 38, 41.

4. (a) Why should we be interested in what happened at Pentecost? (b) What other important event may have happened on the same day many years earlier? (See endnote.)

⁴ What did the high priest and the offering he made every Pentecost represent? The high priest represented Jesus. The loaves represented the anointed disciples of Jesus. Those disciples have been chosen from among sinful humans and are called “firstfruits.” (James 1:18) God has accepted these ones as his sons and has chosen them to rule as kings with Jesus in heaven as part of God’s Kingdom. (1 Peter 2:9) Jehovah will use his Kingdom to bless all obedient humans. So whether our home will be in heaven with Jesus or on a paradise earth, Pentecost of the year 33 is very important to us.^[1]​—See endnote.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE IS ANOINTED?

5. How do we know that not all those who are anointed receive their anointing in exactly the same way?

⁵ The disciples in the upper room would never forget that day. Each of them had what looked like a flame on his head. Jehovah gave them the ability to speak in a foreign language. They had no doubt that they were anointed by holy spirit. (Acts 2:6-12) But these spectacular things do not happen to all Christians when they are anointed. For example, the Bible does not say that something that looked like a flame appeared on the heads of the thousands in Jerusalem who were anointed later that day. They were anointed when they were baptized. (Acts 2:38) Also, not all Christians are anointed at the time they are baptized. The Samaritans were anointed sometime after their baptism. (Acts 8:14-17) And in an unusual case, Cornelius and those in his house were anointed before they were baptized.​—Acts 10:44-48.

6. What do all anointed ones receive, and how does this affect them?

⁶ Clearly, Christians realize in different ways that they are anointed. Some may have realized right away that Jehovah anointed them. Others realized this over a period of time. But the apostle Paul explained what happens to each one of them. He said: “After you believed, you were sealed by means of him with the promised holy spirit, which is a token in advance of our inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:13, 14) So Jehovah uses his holy spirit to make it absolutely clear to these Christians that he has chosen them to go to heaven. In this way, the holy spirit is “a token in advance,” or proof to them that in the future they will live forever in heaven and not on earth.​—Read 2 Corinthians 1:21, 22; 5:5.

7. What must each anointed Christian do to receive his reward in heaven?

⁷ When a Christian is anointed, does it mean that he will definitely receive his reward? No. He is sure that he has been invited to go to heaven. But he will only be rewarded if he stays faithful to Jehovah. Peter explained it this way: “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure for yourselves, for if you keep on doing these things, you will by no means ever fail. In fact, in this way you will be richly granted entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:10, 11) So each anointed Christian must not let anything stop him from serving Jehovah. Even though he has been invited, or called, to go to heaven, if he does not stay faithful, he will not get his reward.​—Hebrews 3:1; Revelation 2:10.

HOW DOES SOMEONE KNOW?

8, 9. (a) Why is it difficult for most people to understand what happens when someone is anointed? (b) How does a person know that he has been invited to go to heaven?

⁸ Most of God’s servants today may find it difficult to understand what happens to someone when God anoints him. This is normal, because they themselves have not been anointed. God created humans to live forever on earth, not in heaven. (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 37:29) But Jehovah has chosen some to be kings and priests in heaven. So when he anoints them, their hope and the way they think change, so that they look forward to life in heaven.​—Read Ephesians 1:18.

⁹ But how does a person know that he or she has been invited to go to heaven? Notice what Paul said to the anointed brothers in Rome, who were “called to be holy ones.” He told them: “You did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: ‘Abba, Father!’ The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 1:7; 8:15, 16) By means of his holy spirit, God makes it clear to someone that he or she is invited to rule as a king in heaven with Jesus.​—1 Thessalonians 2:12.

10. What does 1 John 2:27 mean when it says that an anointed Christian does not need someone else to teach him?

¹⁰ Those who receive this invitation from God do not need anyone else to tell them that they have been anointed. Jehovah makes them feel convinced. The apostle John tells anointed Christians: “You have an anointing from the holy one, and all of you have knowledge.” He also says: “As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to be teaching you; but the anointing from him is teaching you about all things and is true and is no lie. Just as it has taught you, remain in union with him.” (1 John 2:20, 27) Anointed Christians need to be taught by Jehovah just like everyone else. But they do not need anyone to confirm that they are anointed. Jehovah has used the most powerful force, his holy spirit, to make it absolutely clear to them that they are!

THEY ARE “BORN AGAIN”

11, 12. What might an anointed Christian wonder, but what does he never doubt?

¹¹ When Christians are anointed by holy spirit, they change very much. In fact, Jesus said that they are “born again,” or “born from above.” (John 3:3, 5; footnote) He then explained: “Do not be amazed because I told you: You people must be born again. The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who has been born from the spirit.” (John 3:7, 8) Clearly, it is impossible to explain exactly how it feels to be anointed to someone who has not been anointed.^[2]​—See endnote.

¹² Someone who has been anointed may wonder, ‘Why did Jehovah choose me and not someone else?’ He may even wonder if he is good enough for this responsibility. But he does not doubt that Jehovah has chosen him. Instead, he feels extremely happy and is very grateful for such a gift. Anointed ones feel the way Peter did when he said: “Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you.” (1 Peter 1:3, 4) When anointed ones read these words, they know without any doubt that their Father is speaking to them personally.

13. How does the way a person thinks change when he is anointed by holy spirit, and what causes this change?

¹³ Before Jehovah invited these Christians to go to heaven, they had the hope of living forever on earth. They looked forward to the time when Jehovah would make the earth into a paradise and remove all wickedness. Perhaps they imagined themselves welcoming back a family member or a friend who died. And they looked forward to building a home and living in it or planting trees and eating the fruit. (Isaiah 65:21-23) Why did they start to think differently? Did they change because they felt depressed or suffered a lot? Did they suddenly decide that it would be boring to live forever on earth and that they would not be happy here? Or did they want to experience what it would be like to live in heaven? No. Instead, God is the one who decided this for them. When he invited them, he used his holy spirit to change the way that they think and the reward that they look forward to.

14. How do anointed ones feel about their life here on earth?

¹⁴ So does this mean that anointed ones want to die? Paul described how anointed ones feel. He compared their human body to a “tent” and said: “In fact, we who are in this tent groan, being weighed down, because we do not want to put this one off, but we want to put the other on, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” (2 Corinthians 5:4) These Christians do not want to die. They enjoy life and want to use each day to serve Jehovah with their family and friends. But no matter what they are doing, they remember what God has promised them for the future.​—1 Corinthians 15:53; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:2, 3; Revelation 20:6.

HAS JEHOVAH INVITED YOU?

15. What does not prove that a person has been anointed by holy spirit?

¹⁵ Perhaps you are wondering whether Jehovah has invited you to go to heaven. If you feel that he might have, think about these important questions: Do you feel that you are especially zealous in the preaching work? Do you really enjoy studying the Bible and learning “the deep things of God”? (1 Corinthians 2:10) Do you feel that Jehovah has given you wonderful results in the preaching work? Do you want to do what Jehovah wants more than anything else? Do you have deep love for others and feel a great responsibility to help them serve Jehovah? Have you seen proof that Jehovah has helped you in many specific ways in your life? If you answer yes to all these questions, does this mean that you have been invited to go to heaven? No, it does not. Why not? Because all of God’s servants can feel this way, whether they are anointed or not. And by means of his holy spirit, Jehovah can give the same power to any of his servants, no matter what their reward will be. In fact, if you are wondering whether you will go to heaven, it means that you have not been invited. Those chosen by Jehovah do not wonder about this! They know!

16. How do we know that not all those who have received God’s spirit have been invited to go to heaven?

¹⁶ In the Bible, there are many examples of faithful ones who received Jehovah’s holy spirit but who did not go to heaven. One example is John the Baptist. Jesus said that there was no man greater than John, but then he said that John would not rule as a king in heaven. (Matthew 11:10, 11) David too was guided by holy spirit. (1 Samuel 16:13) Holy spirit helped him to understand deep things about Jehovah and also directed him to write parts of the Bible. (Mark 12:36) Even so, the apostle Peter said that David “did not ascend to the heavens.” (Acts 2:34) Jehovah used his holy spirit to give these ones the power to do amazing things, but he did not use it to invite them to live in heaven. Does that mean that they were not faithful enough or qualified to rule in heaven? No. It simply means that Jehovah will bring them back to life in Paradise on earth.​—John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15.

17, 18. (a) What reward do most of God’s servants look forward to today? (b) What questions will we consider in the next article?

¹⁷ Most of God’s servants today will not go to heaven. Like Abraham, David, John the Baptist, and many other men and women in Bible times, they look forward to living on earth when God’s government will rule over them. (Hebrews 11:10) There will be 144,000 ruling with Jesus in heaven. But the Bible speaks of “the remaining ones” of the anointed who are still on earth in this time of the end. (Revelation 12:17) So most of the 144,000 have already died and are in heaven.

¹⁸ But if someone says that he is anointed, how should those who have the hope of living on earth react? If someone in your congregation starts to eat the bread and drink the wine at the Memorial, how should you treat him? And what if the number of those who say that they are anointed keeps growing? Should you worry about it? We will answer these questions in the next article.

1, 2. (a) What did Jehovah say would happen in our time? (b) What questions will be answered in this article? (See opening picture.)

JEHOVAH said that in our time, “ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold, yes, they will take firm hold of the robe of a Jew, saying: ‘We want to go with you, for we have heard that God is with you people.’” (Zechariah 8:23) The “Jew” represents those whom God has anointed by holy spirit. They are also called “the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:16) The “ten men” represent those who have the hope of living forever on earth. They know that Jehovah has blessed this group of anointed ones and feel that it is an honor to worship him with them.

² Like the prophet Zechariah, Jesus said that God’s people would be united. He described those who look forward to living in heaven as a “little flock” and those who look forward to living on earth as “other sheep.” But Jesus said that they would all be “one flock” and would follow him, their “one shepherd.” (Luke 12:32; John 10:16) Since there are two groups, some may wonder: (1) Do the other sheep need to know the names of all today who are anointed? (2) How should anointed ones think of themselves? (3) If someone in my congregation starts to eat the bread and drink the wine at the Memorial, how should I treat him? (4) Do I need to worry when I see the number of those who eat the bread and drink the wine at the Memorial going up? This article will answer these questions.

DO WE NEED TO KNOW THE NAMES OF ALL TODAY WHO ARE ANOINTED?

3. Why is it not possible for us to know for sure who will be part of the 144,000?

³ Do the other sheep need to know the names of all anointed ones still on earth today? No. Why not? Because it is not possible for anyone to know for sure that these ones will get their reward.^[1] (See endnote.) Even though God has invited them to go to heaven, they will receive their reward only if they remain faithful. Satan knows this, and he uses “false prophets” to try “to mislead” them. (Matthew 24:24) Anointed Christians cannot be sure that they will receive their reward until Jehovah makes it clear to them that he has judged them as faithful. Jehovah gives this final approval, or final sealing, either before they die or just before the start of “the great tribulation.”​—Revelation 2:10; 7:3, 14.

4. If it is not possible to know the names of all anointed ones on earth today, how can we “go with” them?

⁴ If it is not possible to know the names of all anointed ones on earth today, how can the other sheep “go with” them? The Bible says that the “ten men” would “take firm hold of the robe of a Jew, saying: ‘We want to go with you, for we have heard that God is with you people.’” The Bible verse mentions one Jew. But “you” and “you people” refer to more than one person. This means that the Jew is not just one person but represents the whole group of anointed ones. The other sheep know this, and they serve Jehovah along with that group. They do not need to know the names of every member of that group and follow each one of them. Jesus is our Leader, and the Bible tells us we must follow only him.​—Matthew 23:10.

HOW SHOULD ANOINTED ONES THINK OF THEMSELVES?

5. What warning should anointed ones think seriously about, and why?

⁵ Anointed ones should think seriously about the warning found at 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. (Read.) How might an anointed one eat the bread and drink the wine “unworthily” at the Memorial? If he does not keep a good relationship with Jehovah and is unfaithful to him, then when that person eats the bread and drinks the wine, he is being disrespectful. (Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-29) This strong warning reminds anointed ones that they must stay faithful if they want to receive “the prize of the upward call of God by means of Christ Jesus.”​—Philippians 3:13-16.

6. How should anointed Christians feel about themselves?

⁶ Paul told anointed Christians: “I, the prisoner in the Lord, appeal to you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called.” How should they do this? Paul explained: “With all humility and mildness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, earnestly endeavoring to maintain the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3) Jehovah’s holy spirit helps his servants to be humble, not proud. (Colossians 3:12) So anointed ones do not think that they are better than others. They know that Jehovah does not necessarily give anointed ones more holy spirit than he gives his other servants. And they do not feel that they can understand Bible truths more deeply than anyone else. They would also never tell someone else that he too has been anointed and should start eating the bread and drinking the wine at the Memorial. Instead, they are humble and know that only Jehovah can invite people to go to heaven.

7, 8. What do anointed Christians not expect, and why?

⁷ Although anointed ones feel that it is an honor to be invited to go to heaven, they do not expect others to treat them in a special way. (Ephesians 1:18, 19; read Philippians 2:2, 3.) They also know that when Jehovah anointed them, he did not let everyone else know about it. So an anointed person is not surprised if some do not believe right away that he has been anointed. He realizes that the Bible tells us not to be quick to believe someone who says that God has given him a special responsibility. (Revelation 2:2) Because an anointed person does not expect others to give him too much attention, he would not tell those he meets for the first time that he is anointed. In fact, he would probably not mention this to anyone. He would also not boast about the wonderful things he will do in heaven.​—1 Corinthians 1:28, 29; read 1 Corinthians 4:6-8.

⁸ Anointed Christians do not feel that they should spend time only with other anointed ones, as if they were members of a club. They do not try to find other anointed ones so that they can talk about being anointed or meet in groups to study the Bible. (Galatians 1:15-17) The congregation would not be united if anointed ones did this. They would be working against the holy spirit, which helps God’s people to have peace and unity.​—Read Romans 16:17, 18.

HOW SHOULD YOU TREAT THEM?

9. Why do you need to be careful about the way you treat those who eat the bread and drink the wine at the Memorial? (See the box “Love ‘Does Not Behave Indecently.’”)

⁹ How should you treat anointed brothers and sisters? Jesus told his disciples: “All of you are brothers.” He continued: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:8-12) So it would be wrong to admire a person too much, even if he is an anointed brother of Christ. When the Bible speaks of the elders, it encourages us to imitate their faith, but it does not tell us that we can make any human our leader. (Hebrews 13:7) It is true that the Bible says that some are “worthy of double honor.” But this is because they “preside in a fine way” and “work hard in speaking and teaching,” not because they are anointed. (1 Timothy 5:17) If we give anointed ones too much praise and attention, we would embarrass them. Or even worse, we could cause them to become proud. (Romans 12:3) None of us want to do anything that might cause one of Christ’s anointed brothers to make such a serious mistake!​—Luke 17:2.

10. How can you show that you respect anointed Christians?

¹⁰ How can we show that we respect those who are anointed by Jehovah? We would not ask them how they became anointed. This is a personal matter, which we do not have the right to know. (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:11) And we should not think that their husband or wife, their parents, or other family members are also anointed. A person does not inherit his hope from his family. (1 Thessalonians 2:12) We should also avoid asking questions that could hurt others. For example, we would not ask the wife of an anointed brother how she feels about living forever on earth without her husband. After all, we can be absolutely sure that in the new world, Jehovah will “satisfy the desire of every living thing.”​—Psalm 145:16.

11. How do we protect ourselves if we avoid “admiring personalities”?

¹¹ If we do not treat anointed ones as more important than others, we also protect ourselves. How? The Bible tells us that there might be “false brothers” in the congregation who may even say that they are anointed. (Galatians 2:4, 5; 1 John 2:19) Also, some anointed ones might not stay faithful. (Matthew 25:10-12; 2 Peter 2:20, 21) But if we avoid “admiring personalities,” we will never follow others, even those who are anointed or well-known or those who have served Jehovah for a long time. Then, if they become unfaithful or leave the congregation, we will not lose our faith in Jehovah or stop serving him.​—Jude 16, footnote.

DO WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE NUMBER?

12, 13. Why should we not worry about the number of those who eat the bread and drink the wine at the Memorial?

¹² For many years, the number of those who ate the bread and drank the wine at the Memorial kept going down. But recently, that number has been going up every year. Do we need to worry about this? No. Let us see why not.

¹³ “Jehovah knows those who belong to him.” (2 Timothy 2:19) Unlike Jehovah, the brothers who count the number of people eating the bread and drinking the wine at the Memorial do not know who truly is anointed. So the number includes those who think that they are anointed but are not. For example, some who used to eat the bread and drink the wine later stopped. Others may have mental or emotional problems and believe that they will rule with Christ in heaven. Clearly, we do not know exactly how many anointed ones are left on earth.

14. What does the Bible say about the number of anointed ones who will be on earth when the great tribulation starts?

¹⁴ There will be anointed ones in many parts of the earth when Jesus comes to take them to heaven. The Bible says that Jesus “will send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.” (Matthew 24:31) The Bible also shows that during the last days, there will be a small number of anointed ones left on earth. (Revelation 12:17) But it does not say how many of them will be left when the great tribulation begins.

15, 16. What do we need to understand about the 144,000 chosen by Jehovah?

¹⁵ Jehovah decides when he will choose anointed ones. (Romans 8:28-30) Jehovah began choosing anointed ones after Jesus was resurrected. It seems that in the first century, all true Christians were anointed. For hundreds of years after that, most of those who said that they were Christians did not really follow Christ. Even so, during those years, Jehovah anointed those few who were true Christians. They were like the wheat that Jesus said would grow among the weeds. (Matthew 13:24-30) During the last days, Jehovah has continued to choose people who will be part of the 144,000.^[2] (See endnote.) So if God decides to choose some of these just before the end, surely we would not doubt that he is doing the right thing. (Isaiah 45:9; Daniel 4:35; read Romans 9:11, 16.)^[3] (See endnote.) We must be careful not to react like the workers who complained about the way their master treated those who started working in the last hour.​—Read Matthew 20:8-15.

¹⁶ Not all who have the hope of living in heaven are part of “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47) Just as in the first century, Jehovah and Jesus today are using a few people to feed, or teach, many. Only a few anointed Christians in the first century were used to write the Christian Greek Scriptures. And today, only a few anointed Christians have the responsibility to give God’s people “food at the proper time.”

17. What have you learned from this article?

¹⁷ What have we learned from this article? Jehovah has decided to give everlasting life on earth to most of his people and life in heaven to those who will rule with Jesus. Jehovah rewards all of his servants, the “Jew” and the “ten men,” and he requires them to obey the same laws and stay faithful. All must stay humble. All must serve him together and be united. And all must work to keep the peace in the congregation. As we get closer to the end, let us all keep serving Jehovah and following Christ as one flock.

1. Even though Jehovah is the Supreme One, what has he invited others to do?

JEHOVAH is the Supreme One. He created everything, and he has unlimited wisdom and power. After he helped Job understand this, Job said to him: “I know that you are able to do all things and that nothing you have in mind to do is impossible for you.” (Job 42:2) Jehovah can do whatever he decides to do without help from anyone. But he shows love by inviting others to work together with him to accomplish his purpose.

2. What important work did Jehovah invite Jesus to do?

² God created his Son, Jesus, before he created everyone and everything else. Then, Jehovah allowed his Son to help him create all other things. (John 1:1-3, 18) The apostle Paul wrote about Jesus: “By means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:15-17) So Jehovah not only gave his Son an important work but told others about it. What an honor!

3. What did Jehovah invite Adam to do, and why?

³ Jehovah also invited humans to work together with him. For example, he allowed Adam to name the animals. (Genesis 2:19, 20) Imagine the joy Adam felt doing this work! He carefully studied the way the animals looked and acted, and then he chose a name for each one of them. Jehovah had created all the animals, so he could have named them himself. However, he showed Adam how much he loved him by allowing him to name the animals. God also gave Adam the assignment to make the entire earth into a paradise. (Genesis 1:27, 28) But Adam eventually decided to stop working with God, and the result was great suffering for him and all his descendants.​—Genesis 3:17-19, 23.

4. How did others work with God to accomplish his will?

⁴ Later, God invited other people to work with him. Noah built an ark that kept him and his family alive during the Flood. Moses freed the nation of Israel from Egypt. Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land. Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem. Mary became mother to Jesus. All these faithful ones and many others worked with Jehovah to accomplish his will.

5. In what work can we share, and did Jehovah need to involve us in this work? (See opening picture.)

⁵ Today, Jehovah invites us to do all we can to support his Kingdom. There are many ways we can serve God. And even though not all of us are able to serve him in the same way, we can all preach the good news of the Kingdom. Jehovah could have done this work by himself. He could have spoken directly from heaven to people on earth. Jesus said that Jehovah could even make the stones tell others about the King of His Kingdom. (Luke 19:37-40) But Jehovah allows us to be his “fellow workers.” (1 Corinthians 3:9) The apostle Paul wrote: “Working together with him, we also urge you not to accept the undeserved kindness of God and miss its purpose.” (2 Corinthians 6:1) It is a great honor to be invited to work with God. Let us see some reasons why this brings us great joy.

WORKING WITH GOD MAKES US HAPPY

6. How did God’s firstborn Son describe how he felt about working beside his Father?

⁶ Working with God has always made Jehovah’s servants happy. Before coming to earth, God’s firstborn Son said: “Jehovah produced me as the beginning of his way . . . I was beside him as a master worker. I was the one he was especially fond of day by day; I rejoiced before him all the time.” (Proverbs 8:22, 30) When Jesus worked with his Father, he was happy because he accomplished many things and he knew that Jehovah loved him. But what about us?

7. Why does the preaching work bring us joy?

⁷ Jesus said that we are happy both when we give and when we receive. (Acts 20:35) It brought us joy when we received the truth, but why does it also bring us joy to share the truth with others? Because we see them become truly happy when they understand what the Bible teaches and begin to have a relationship with God. We are excited to see them change their thinking and their way of life. The preaching work is the most important and the most satisfying work we could be doing. It makes it possible for those who become God’s friends to have everlasting life.​—2 Corinthians 5:20.

8. What have some said about the joy of working with Jehovah?

⁸ When we help others learn about God, we know that we are pleasing Jehovah and that he values our efforts to serve him. This also gives us joy. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:58.) Marco, who lives in Italy, says: “I have the priceless joy of knowing that I am giving my best to Jehovah and not to someone who will soon forget what I’ve done.” Similarly, Franco, who also serves in Italy, says: “By means of his Word and his spiritual provisions, Jehovah reminds us every day that he loves us and that everything we do for him is important, even though our efforts may seem like nothing to us. This is why working along with God makes me happy and gives my life meaning.”

WORKING WITH GOD DRAWS US CLOSER TO HIM AND TO OTHERS

9. What relationship existed between Jehovah and Jesus, and why?

⁹ When we work together with those we love, we draw close to them. We come to know more about their personality and their qualities. We learn what their goals are and how they try to reach them. Jesus worked with Jehovah for perhaps billions of years. Their love and affection for each other became so strong that nothing could destroy their relationship. Jesus explained how close that relationship was when he said: “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) They were truly united, and they fully cooperated when they worked together.

10. Why does preaching draw us closer to God and to others?

¹⁰ Jesus asked Jehovah to protect his disciples. Why? He prayed: “So that they may be one just as we are one.” (John 17:11) When we live by God’s standards and share in the preaching work, we better understand his wonderful qualities. We learn why it is wise to trust in him and to follow his direction. And when we draw close to God, he draws close to us. (Read James 4:8.) We also draw close to our brothers and sisters because we experience similar problems and joys and because we have the same goals. We work together, rejoice together, and endure together. Octavia, who lives in Britain, says: “Working with Jehovah draws me closer to others.” She explains that it is because her friendships are now based on “a common goal and direction.” Surely, we feel the same way. When we see the efforts our brothers make to please Jehovah, it draws us closer to them.

11. Why will we draw even closer to Jehovah and to our brothers in the new world?

¹¹ Our love for God and our brothers is strong now, but it will be even stronger in the new world. Think of all the exciting work we will do in the future! We will welcome back those who are resurrected and teach them about Jehovah. We will also work to make the earth into a paradise. It will be a great joy to work together and gradually become perfect under Christ’s rule. All humans will draw even closer to one another and to Jehovah, who will surely “satisfy the desire of every living thing.”​—Psalm 145:16.

WORKING WITH GOD IS A PROTECTION

12. How is the preaching work a protection?

¹² We need to protect our relationship with Jehovah. We live in Satan’s world and we are imperfect, so it is easy for us to start thinking and acting like the world. It is like swimming in a river with a current that pulls us in a direction we do not want to go. So we must use all our strength to swim in the other direction. Similarly, we need to work hard to avoid being influenced by Satan’s world. So how does preaching protect us? When we talk about Jehovah and the Bible, we focus on things that are important and good, not on things that will weaken our faith. (Philippians 4:8) Preaching strengthens our faith because it reminds us of God’s promises and loving standards. It also helps us to maintain the qualities we need in order to protect ourselves from Satan and his world.​—Read Ephesians 6:14-17.

13. How does one Witness in Australia feel about preaching?

¹³ When we keep busy preaching, studying, and doing things for others in the congregation, we are protected because we do not have time to worry too much about our own problems. Joel, who lives in Australia, says: “The preaching work helps me not to lose touch with reality. It reminds me of the challenges people are facing and of the benefits I have experienced by applying Bible principles in my life. The preaching work helps me to try to stay humble; it gives me an opportunity to rely on Jehovah and on my brothers and sisters.”

14. Why does our perseverance in preaching show that God’s spirit is with us?

¹⁴ Preaching also gives us more confidence that God’s spirit is with us. To illustrate: Imagine that it is your job to give bread to the people in your community. You do not get paid to do this, and you have to pay for your expenses. Also, most people do not want the bread, and some even hate you for bringing it to them. How long would you continue to work at such a job? Very soon, you would feel discouraged, and you would probably quit. Yet, many of us continue in the preaching work year after year, even though this costs us time and money and even though people make fun of us or get angry with us. This proves that God’s spirit is helping us.

WORKING WITH GOD SHOWS OUR LOVE FOR HIM AND FOR OTHERS

15. How is the preaching of the good news connected with God’s purpose for humankind?

¹⁵ How is the preaching work connected with Jehovah’s purpose for mankind? God’s purpose was that humans live forever, and his purpose did not change when Adam sinned. (Isaiah 55:11) God made an arrangement for us to be freed from sin and death. How? Jesus came to earth and sacrificed his life. But to benefit from his sacrifice, humans needed to obey God. So Jesus taught people what God requires of them, and he commanded his disciples to do the same. When we preach and help others to become God’s friends today, we are working directly with God in his loving arrangement to save humans from sin and death.

16. How is our preaching linked to God’s greatest commandments?

¹⁶ When we help others find the way to everlasting life, we show that we love them and we love Jehovah. His “will is that all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) When a Pharisee asked Jesus what was God’s greatest commandment, Jesus said: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39) By preaching the good news, we obey these commandments.​—Read Acts 10:42.

17. How do you feel about the honor to preach the good news?

¹⁷ How blessed we are! Jehovah has given us a work that brings us joy, that draws us closer to him and to our brothers, and that protects our relationship with him. It also gives us the opportunity to show our love for God and for others. Jehovah has millions of servants around the world, and all of them have very different circumstances. But whether we are young or old, rich or poor, strong or weak, we do all we can to share our faith with others. We feel like Chantel from France, who says: “The most powerful Person in the universe, the Creator of all things, the happy God, says to me: ‘Go! Speak! Speak for me, speak from your heart. I give you my strength, my Word the Bible, heavenly support, earthly companions, progressive training, and precise instructions at the appropriate time.’ What an immense privilege it is to do what Jehovah asks of us and to work together with our God!”