1. What does singing help us to do?

A FAMOUS songwriter once said: “Words make you think thoughts. Music makes you feel a feeling. But a song makes you feel a thought.” Our songs express praise and love for our heavenly Father, Jehovah. They make us feel closer to him. It is easy, then, to understand why singing plays such an important role in pure worship, whether we sing alone or with our brothers and sisters.

2, 3. (a) How might some feel about singing out loud with the congregation? (b) What questions will we discuss in this article?

² How, though, do you feel about singing out loud with the congregation? Is it embarrassing to you? In some cultures, men may feel uncomfortable singing in front of others. This attitude can have a negative effect on the entire congregation, especially if the elders hesitate to sing or if they are busy with other activities during the songs.​—Psalm 30:12.

³ Singing is part of our worship to Jehovah. Therefore, we certainly do not want to walk away during a song or miss that part of the meeting. Therefore, we should all ask ourselves: ‘How do I feel about singing at the meetings? What can I do if I hesitate to sing in front of others? And how can I sing the songs with feeling?’

SINGING IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF TRUE WORSHIP

4, 5. What were the arrangements for singing at the temple in ancient Israel?

⁴ Throughout history, worshippers of Jehovah have used music to praise him. Interestingly, when the Israelites were faithful to Jehovah, singing was an important part of their worship. For example, when David made preparations for the temple, he organized 4,000 Levites to praise Jehovah with music. Of these, 288 were “trained in song to Jehovah, all experts.”​—1 Chronicles 23:5; 25:7.

⁵ Music and singing were also an important part of the dedication of the temple. The Bible tells us: “At the moment when the trumpeters and the singers were praising and thanking Jehovah in unison, and as the sound ascended from the trumpets, the cymbals, and the other musical instruments as they were praising Jehovah, . . . the glory of Jehovah filled the house of the true God.” Imagine how this occasion must have strengthened the faith of the Israelites!​—2 Chronicles 5:13, 14; 7:6.

6. What arrangements for music and singing did Nehemiah make when he was the governor of Jerusalem?

⁶ Nehemiah, who organized the Israelites to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, also organized the Levites to sing and play music. Their performance made the dedication of the walls even more joyful. Nehemiah had appointed “two large thanksgiving choirs.” The choirs walked along the top of the city’s walls in opposite directions until they met on the wall closest to the temple area. The sound they made was so loud that people could hear it from far away. (Nehemiah 12:27, 28, 31, 38, 40, 43) We can be sure that Jehovah was pleased to hear his worshippers enthusiastically singing songs of praise to him.

7. How did Jesus show that singing would be an essential part of worship for Christians?

⁷ In Jesus’ time, music continued to be an essential part of true worship. Think about what happened on the most important night in human history. After Jesus held the Lord’s Evening Meal with his disciples, they all sang songs of praise to Jehovah.​—Read Matthew 26:30.

8. How did the first Christians set an example of praising God with songs?

⁸ The first Christians set a good example of praising God with songs. Unlike the Israelites, who went to the temple to worship Jehovah, those Christians met in private homes. Even though those homes were not as beautiful and impressive as the temple, the brothers still sang with zeal. In fact, the apostle Paul told his Christian brothers: “Keep on teaching and encouraging one another with psalms, praises to God, spiritual songs sung with gratitude, singing in your hearts to Jehovah.” (Colossians 3:16) The songs in our songbook should certainly be “sung with gratitude.” They are part of the “food at the proper time” that “the faithful and discreet slave” provides for us.​—Matthew 24:45.

HOW CAN YOU SING WITH CONFIDENCE?

9. (a) Why might some hesitate to sing out joyfully at our meetings and assemblies? (b) How should we sing praises to Jehovah, and who should take the lead? (See opening picture.)

⁹ What are some reasons why you may hesitate to sing? Maybe singing is not common in your family or culture. Or perhaps you listen to professional singers on the radio or on TV, and when you compare your singing to theirs, you feel embarrassed or disappointed. But we all have the responsibility to sing praises to Jehovah. So hold your songbook up high, lift your head, and sing with enthusiasm! (Ezra 3:11; read Psalm 147:1.) Many Kingdom Halls today have screens that show the words of our songs, and this can help us to sing out. It is also interesting that singing Kingdom songs is now part of the Kingdom Ministry School for elders. This emphasizes how important it is for elders to take the lead in singing at congregation meetings.

10. What should we remember if we are afraid of singing with a loud voice?

¹⁰ Many are afraid to sing with a loud voice because they think that they will be too loud or that they do not have a good voice. However, think about this. “We all stumble many times” when we speak, but that does not stop us from speaking. (James 3:2) So why should we let our imperfect voices stop us from singing songs of praise to Jehovah?

11, 12. How can we improve our singing?

¹¹ Maybe we are afraid of singing because we do not know how to sing. Yet, there are some simple things we can do to improve our singing.a​—See footnote.

¹² You can sing with a strong and loud voice by learning how to breathe properly. Just as electricity gives power to a light bulb, your breath powers your voice when you speak or sing. You should sing as loud as you speak or even louder. (See the suggestions in Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education, pages 181 to 184, under the subheading “Properly Control Your Air Supply.”) In fact, the Bible sometimes tells Jehovah’s worshippers to “shout joyfully” when singing praises.​—Psalm 33:1-3.

13. Explain how we can sing more confidently.

¹³ During family worship or on your own, try the following: Choose one of your favorite songs from our songbook. Read the lyrics out loud in a strong, confident voice. Next, using the same volume, say all the words from a single phrase in one breath. Then, sing the phrase using the same strong voice. (Isaiah 24:14) Your singing voice will become more powerful, and that is a good thing. Do not let that scare you or embarrass you!

14. (a) How can opening our mouth wider help our singing? (See the box “How to Improve Your Singing.”) (b) What suggestions for overcoming voice problems do you find helpful?

¹⁴ In order to have a powerful singing voice, you need to make space in your mouth. So when you sing, open your mouth wider than you normally do when you are speaking. But what should you do if you feel that you have a weak voice or a voice that is too high-pitched? You can find some helpful suggestions in the box “Overcoming Specific Problems,” which is found in Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education, page 184.

SING PRAISES FROM THE HEART

15. (a) What announcement was made at the 2016 annual meeting? (b) What are some reasons the songbook was revised?

¹⁵ Everyone who attended the 2016 annual meeting was excited when Brother Stephen Lett of the Governing Body announced a new songbook with the title “Sing Out Joyfully” to Jehovah. As Brother Lett explained, one reason we needed a new songbook was that the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures had been revised. The lyrics were changed to remove expressions no longer found in the New World Translation. Also, new songs about the preaching work and the ransom were added. In addition, because singing is an essential part of our worship, the Governing Body wanted to produce a high-quality songbook. So its cover is similar to that of the New World Translation.

16, 17. What are some other changes in the new songbook?

¹⁶ To make the songbook easier to use, the songs are grouped together by subject. For example, the first 12 songs are about Jehovah, the next 8 songs are about Jesus and the ransom, and so on. There is a complete list of all the subjects at the beginning of the songbook. This can be helpful, for example, when a brother needs to choose a song for a public talk.

¹⁷ To help everyone sing from the heart, some of the lyrics were changed to make the message of the songs clearer. Words that are not used very often, such as the word “shall,” were also replaced. Similarly, the song entitled “Long-Suffering” became “Exercise Patience,” and the lyrics of the song were also adjusted. And it was appropriate to change the title of the song “Guard Your Heart” from a command to the statement “We Guard Our Hearts.” Why? Because before, when a person sang the words of this song, he was telling others what to do. This could be awkward for new ones, interested ones, young ones, and sisters who are at our meetings, assemblies, and conventions. So the title and the lyrics were changed.

18. Why should we learn the songs in our new songbook? (See footnote.)

¹⁸ Many of the songs from “Sing Out Joyfully” to Jehovah are like prayers. These songs can help you tell Jehovah how you feel. Other songs will help to incite us “to love and fine works.” (Hebrews 10:24) We want to get to know the melodies, rhythms, and words of our songs. One way we can do this is by listening to recordings of brothers and sisters singing the songs. These recordings are available on jw.org. When you practice the songs at home, you can learn to sing them with confidence and feeling.b​—See footnote.

19. How can all in the congregation worship Jehovah?

¹⁹ Remember that singing is an important part of our worship. It is a powerful way to show Jehovah that we love him and that we are grateful for all he has done for us. (Read Isaiah 12:5.) When you sing enthusiastically, you encourage others to do the same. All in the congregation, whether young, old, or new in the truth, can worship Jehovah in this way. So do not hesitate to sing from the heart. Obey the direction of the psalmist who said: “Sing to Jehovah!” Yes, make a joyful sound!​—Psalm 96:1.

1. Because of sin, how do many of God’s faithful servants feel?

“MISERABLE man that I am!” wrote the apostle Paul. (Romans 7:24) Today, many of God’s faithful servants feel discouraged and distressed as Paul did. Why? Because even though we want to please Jehovah, we all inherited sin and are imperfect. So we may feel bad when we fail to please him. Some Christians who committed a serious sin have even felt that Jehovah can never forgive them.

2. (a) How does Psalm 34:22 show that God’s servants do not need to be overwhelmed by guilt? (b) What will we learn in this article? (See the box “Lessons or Symbolic Meanings?”)

² The Scriptures assure us that if we take refuge in Jehovah, we do not need to feel overwhelmed by guilt. (Read Psalm 34:22.) But what does it mean to take refuge in Jehovah? What must we do if we want Jehovah to be merciful toward us and forgive us? We can find the answers to those questions by learning about the arrangement for cities of refuge in ancient Israel. That arrangement existed under the Law covenant, which was replaced at Pentecost in the year 33. But the Law came from Jehovah. So from the arrangement of the cities of refuge, we learn how Jehovah views sin, sinners, and those who repent. First, let us find out why Israel had cities of refuge and how they functioned.

“SELECT FOR YOURSELVES THE CITIES OF REFUGE”

3. What did the Israelites have to do to a murderer?

³ Jehovah was very concerned when anyone was killed. If an Israelite murdered someone, the victim’s closest male relative, called “the avenger of blood,” had to execute the murderer. (Numbers 35:19) That way, the murderer would pay with his own life for the life of the innocent person he had killed. If the murderer was not executed quickly, the Promised Land could become polluted, or no longer holy. Jehovah commanded: “You must not pollute the land in which you live” by shedding human blood, that is, by killing someone.​—Numbers 35:33, 34.

4. What happened when an Israelite accidentally killed someone?

⁴ But what happened when an Israelite accidentally killed someone? Even though the death was an accident, he was still guilty of killing an innocent person. (Genesis 9:5) In such a case, though, Jehovah said that mercy could be shown. The unintentional killer could run away from the avenger of blood and go to one of the six cities of refuge. Once he was allowed to stay in that city, he was protected. But he had to remain in the city of refuge until the high priest’s death.​—Numbers 35:15, 28.

5. Why can the arrangement of cities of refuge help us to understand Jehovah better?

⁵ The arrangement for the cities of refuge was not the idea of a human. It came from Jehovah. He commanded Joshua: “Tell the Israelites, ‘Select for yourselves the cities of refuge.’” These cities were given “a sacred status.” (Joshua 20:1, 2, 7, 8) Jehovah decided that these cities should be set apart. So from this arrangement, we can learn much about Jehovah. For example, it helps us to have a better understanding of Jehovah’s mercy. And it teaches us about how we can take refuge in Jehovah today.

HE MUST “PRESENT HIS CASE” TO THE ELDERS

6, 7. (a) Describe the role of the elders in judging an unintentional killer. (See opening picture.) (b) Why was it wise for a fugitive to talk to the elders?

⁶ If an Israelite accidentally killed someone, he had to run to the city of refuge and “present his case” to the elders at the city gate. The elders had to welcome him. (Joshua 20:4) Sometime later, they would send him back to be judged by the elders of the city where the killing had happened. (Read Numbers 35:24, 25.) If those elders decided that the death was an accident, then they would send the fugitive back to the city of refuge.

⁷ Why did the fugitive need to talk to the elders? The elders would make sure that the congregation of Israel remained clean and would help the unintentional killer to benefit from Jehovah’s mercy. One Bible scholar wrote that if the fugitive did not go to the elders, he could be killed. He added that the fugitive would be responsible for his own death because he did not do what God had commanded. An unintentional killer had to ask for help and accept it in order to stay alive. If he did not go to one of the cities of refuge, the closest relative of the person he had killed was free to execute him.

8, 9. Why should a Christian who has committed a serious sin talk to the elders?

⁸ Today, to regain a good relationship with Jehovah, a Christian who has committed a serious sin needs to go to the elders so that they can help him. Why is this so important? First, it is Jehovah who arranged for the elders to judge cases of serious sin. (James 5:14-16) Second, the elders are there to help repentant sinners to regain God’s approval and to avoid repeating their sin. (Galatians 6:1; Hebrews 12:11) Third, the elders are authorized and trained to reassure repentant sinners and help relieve their pain and guilt. Jehovah calls such elders “a refuge from the rainstorm.” (Isaiah 32:1, 2; footnote) This arrangement is one way in which God shows mercy to us.

⁹ Many of God’s servants have felt the relief that comes from talking to the elders and receiving help from them. For example, a brother named Daniel committed a serious sin, but for several months he did not go to the elders. He said: “After so much time had gone by, I thought that there wasn’t anything the elders could do for me anymore.” Still, he was always afraid that someone would find out about his sin, and he felt he had to start each prayer with an apology to Jehovah. Finally, he asked the elders for help. Looking back, he says: “Sure, I was scared to approach them. But afterward, it seemed as if someone had lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.” Daniel could again talk freely to Jehovah. Now he has a clean conscience, and he has recently become a ministerial servant.

“HE MUST FLEE TO ONE OF THESE CITIES”

10. To be forgiven, what did an unintentional killer have to do?

¹⁰ To be forgiven, it was urgent for an unintentional killer to flee to the nearest city of refuge. (Read Joshua 20:4.) His life depended on getting to the city and remaining there until the death of the high priest. This was a sacrifice for the fugitive. He would have to leave behind his work, his comfortable home, and his freedom to travel.a (See footnote.) (Numbers 35:25) But it was worth it. If he left the city at any time, the fugitive would show that he did not care that he had killed another human, and he would put his own life in danger.

11. How can a repentant Christian show that he is very thankful for God’s mercy?

¹¹ A repentant sinner today must also do certain things to be forgiven by God. He must stop his sinful acts. This includes avoiding anything that might lead to serious sins. The apostle Paul described what repentant Christians in Corinth did. He wrote: “What a great earnestness your being saddened in a godly way produced in you, yes, clearing of yourselves, yes, indignation, yes, fear, yes, earnest desire, yes, zeal, yes, righting of the wrong!” (2 Corinthians 7:10, 11) So if we do all we can to stop sinning, we will show Jehovah that we are very concerned about our situation and that we do not think that we automatically have his mercy.

12. What might a Christian need to give up in order to continue to receive Jehovah’s mercy?

¹² What might a Christian need to give up in order to continue to receive Jehovah’s mercy? He must be ready to give up even things that he enjoys if they could cause him to commit a sin. (Matthew 18:8, 9) For example, if your friends influence you to do things that displease Jehovah, will you stop associating with them? If you find it difficult to control how much alcohol you drink, will you avoid situations that might tempt you to drink too much? If you find it difficult to control sexually immoral desires, will you avoid movies, websites, or activities that might cause you to have unclean thoughts? Remember, any sacrifice we make to obey Jehovah’s laws is worth it. There is nothing worse than feeling that Jehovah has abandoned us. And there is nothing better than feeling Jehovah’s “everlasting loyal love.”​—Isaiah 54:7, 8.

“THEY WILL SERVE AS A REFUGE FOR YOU”

13. Explain why a fugitive could feel safe, secure, and happy inside the city of refuge.

¹³ Once he was inside the city of refuge, the fugitive was safe. Jehovah had said about those cities: “They will serve as a refuge for you.” (Joshua 20:2, 3) Jehovah did not require the fugitive to be judged again for the same case. Also, the avenger of blood was not allowed to enter into the city to kill him. When the fugitive was in the city, he was safe under Jehovah’s protection. He was not in a prison. He could work, help others, and serve Jehovah in peace. Yes, he could have a happy and satisfying life!

14. Of what can a repentant Christian be sure?

¹⁴ Some of God’s people who have committed serious sins still feel guilty even after they repent. Some even feel that Jehovah will never really forget what they did. If you feel that way, please be assured that when Jehovah forgives you, he does so completely. You do not need to feel guilty anymore. This is what happened to Daniel, whom we mentioned earlier. After the elders corrected him and helped him to have a clear conscience again, he felt great relief. He says: “I didn’t have to feel guilty anymore. Once the sin is gone, it’s gone. As Jehovah said, he takes your burdens away and puts them far away from you. You will never have to see them again.” After the fugitive was inside the city of refuge, he did not have to be afraid that the avenger of blood would come and kill him. Similarly, after Jehovah forgives our sin, we do not need to fear that he will bring it up again or punish us for it.​—Read Psalm 103:8-12.

15, 16. How does it strengthen your trust in God’s mercy to know that Jesus paid the ransom and that he is our High Priest?

¹⁵ In fact, we have even more reason than the Israelites to trust in Jehovah’s mercy. After Paul said that he felt “miserable” because he could not obey Jehovah perfectly, he exclaimed: “Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25) What did he mean? Although Paul was fighting against sinful desires and had sinned in the past, he had repented. So he trusted that Jehovah had forgiven him based on Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. Because Jesus paid the ransom, we can have a clean conscience and inner peace. (Hebrews 9:13, 14) As our High Priest, Jesus “is able also to save completely those who are approaching God through him, because he is always alive to plead for them.” (Hebrews 7:24, 25) In ancient times, the high priest helped the Israelites to be sure that Jehovah would forgive their sins. With Jesus as our High Priest, we have even more reason to be sure that “we may receive mercy and find undeserved kindness to help us at the right time.”​—Hebrews 4:15, 16.

¹⁶ To take refuge in Jehovah, then, we need to have faith in Jesus’ sacrifice. Do not think that the ransom applies only to people in general. Have faith that you benefit from the ransom. (Galatians 2:20, 21) Have faith that because of the ransom, Jehovah forgives your sins. Have faith that the ransom gives you the hope of living forever. Jesus’ sacrifice is Jehovah’s gift to you!

17. Why do you want to take refuge in Jehovah?

¹⁷ The cities of refuge help us understand Jehovah’s mercy. This arrangement from God teaches us that life is sacred. It also shows us how the elders can help us, what it means to be truly repentant, and why we can be completely sure that Jehovah forgives us. Are you taking refuge in Jehovah? There is no safer place to be! (Psalm 91:1, 2) In the next article, we will see how the cities of refuge can help us imitate Jehovah, the greatest example of justice and mercy.

1, 2. (a) How did Jesus feel about God’s Law? (b) How did the scribes and Pharisees apply the Law in the wrong way?

JESUS loved the Mosaic Law. That does not surprise us, because the Law came from his Father, Jehovah, the most important Person in Jesus’ life. At Psalm 40:8, the Bible foretold Jesus’ deep love for God’s Law: “To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is deep within me.” Jesus proved by what he said and did that God’s Law was perfect, beneficial, and sure to be fulfilled.​—Matthew 5:17-19.

² Jesus must have felt sad when he saw the scribes and Pharisees apply his Father’s Law in a wrong way, making it seem unreasonable. He said to them: “You give the tenth of the mint and the dill and the cumin,” meaning that they were very careful to obey the smallest details of the Law. So, what was the problem? Jesus explained: “But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the Law, namely, justice and mercy and faithfulness.” (Matthew 23:23) The Pharisees did not see the meaning of the Law, and they thought they were better than others. But Jesus understood the motive behind the Law and what each commandment revealed about Jehovah.

3. What will we discuss in this article?

³ As Christians, we are not required to obey the Law of Moses. (Romans 7:6) So why did Jehovah include the Law in his Word, the Bible? He wants us to understand and apply its “weightier matters,” in other words, the principles behind the Law. For example, what principles do we learn from the arrangement of cities of refuge? In the previous article, we learned lessons by studying what the fugitive had to do. In this article, we will learn what the cities of refuge teach us about Jehovah and how we can imitate his qualities. We will answer three questions: How do the cities of refuge show that Jehovah is merciful? What do they teach us about God’s view of life? And how do they reveal his perfect justice? In each case, try to see how you can imitate your heavenly Father.​—Read Ephesians 5:1.

THE LOCATION OF THE CITIES OF REFUGE SHOWED GOD’S MERCY

4, 5. (a) What was done to make it easy for a fugitive to run to a city of refuge, and why? (b) What does this teach us about Jehovah?

⁴ Jehovah arranged for the six cities of refuge to be easy to get to. He told the Israelites to choose three cities on each side of the Jordan. Why? So that a fugitive could get to one of these cities quickly and easily. (Numbers 35:11-14) The roads leading to them were kept in good condition. (Deuteronomy 19:3) According to Jewish tradition, there were signs along the roads to help fugitives find the cities. Since there were cities of refuge in Israel, an Israelite who accidentally killed someone did not have to find protection in a foreign land, where he might be tempted to worship false gods.

⁵ Think about this: Jehovah had commanded that murderers be executed. But he also made sure that a person who accidentally killed someone could receive mercy, compassion, and protection. One Bible commentator said: “Every thing was made as plain, as simple, and as easy as possible.” Jehovah is not a cruel judge who looks for ways to punish his servants. Instead, he is “rich in mercy.”​—Ephesians 2:4.

6. Did the Pharisees imitate Jehovah’s mercy? Explain.

⁶ The Pharisees, however, were not willing to show mercy to others. For example, Jewish tradition says that the Pharisees refused to forgive someone who had made the same mistake more than three times. To show how wrong their attitude was, Jesus used an illustration of a Pharisee praying next to a tax collector. The Pharisee said: “O God, I thank you that I am not like everyone else​—extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers—​or even like this tax collector.” What was Jesus’ point? The Pharisees “considered others as nothing,” and they did not think that they needed to be merciful.​—Luke 18:9-14.

7, 8. (a) How can you imitate Jehovah’s mercy? (b) Why must we be humble in order to forgive others?

⁷ Imitate Jehovah, not the Pharisees. Show mercy and compassion. (Read Colossians 3:13.) Make it easy for others to ask you for forgiveness. (Luke 17:3, 4) Ask yourself: ‘Do I forgive others quickly and easily, even when they offend me many times? Am I eager to make peace with someone who has offended me or hurt me?’

⁸ In order to forgive, we must be humble. The Pharisees thought that they were better than everyone else, so they were not willing to forgive. But as Christians, we humbly “consider others superior” to us and forgive them freely. (Philippians 2:3) We can ask ourselves, ‘Am I imitating Jehovah and showing humility?’ If we are humble, it will be easier for others to ask us for forgiveness and easier for us to forgive them. Be quick to show mercy and slow to take offense.​—Ecclesiastes 7:8, 9.

RESPECT LIFE, AND “NO BLOODGUILT WILL COME UPON YOU”

9. How did Jehovah help the Israelites to understand that life is sacred?

⁹ One of the main reasons for the cities of refuge was to protect the Israelites from becoming bloodguilty by shedding innocent blood. (Deuteronomy 19:10) Jehovah loves life, and he hates murder. (Proverbs 6:16, 17) As a just and holy God, he could not ignore even an accidental killing. It is true that someone who accidentally caused another’s death could receive mercy. But first he had to explain his situation to the elders. If the elders judged that the death was an accident, then the fugitive had to remain in the city of refuge until the high priest died. That might have meant that the fugitive had to stay in the city of refuge for the rest of his life. This arrangement emphasized to all Israelites that life is sacred. To honor the One who gives life, they needed to do everything they could to avoid putting others’ lives in danger.

10. According to Jesus, how did the scribes and Pharisees show that they did not value the lives of others?

¹⁰ Unlike Jehovah, the scribes and Pharisees showed that they did not value the lives of others. Jesus said to them: “You took away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not go in, and you hinder those going in!” (Luke 11:52) What did Jesus mean? The scribes and Pharisees were supposed to explain God’s Word to people and help them to gain everlasting life. Instead, they tried to prevent people from following Jesus, “the Chief Agent of Life.” (Acts 3:15) In this way, they were leading the people to destruction. The scribes and Pharisees were proud and selfish, and they did not care about people’s lives. How cruel and unloving!

11. (a) How did the apostle Paul show that he viewed life the way Jehovah does? (b) What will help us to imitate Paul’s zeal for the ministry?

¹¹ How can we imitate Jehovah and avoid becoming like the scribes and Pharisees? We do this when we respect and treasure life. The apostle Paul did this by preaching the good news about the Kingdom to as many people as he could. That is why he could say: “I am clean from the blood of all men.” (Read Acts 20:26, 27.) But did Paul preach simply because he did not want to feel guilty or because Jehovah said that he had to? No. Paul loved people. He viewed their lives as precious, and he wanted them to gain everlasting life. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) We too should view life the way Jehovah does. He wants everyone to repent so that they can live. (2 Peter 3:9) To imitate Jehovah, we need to love people. A merciful attitude will motivate us to preach with zeal and will give us joy as we do so.

12. Why is safety important to God’s people?

¹² To view life as Jehovah does, we also need the right attitude about safety. We must drive and work safely, even when we are building, maintaining, or traveling to a place of worship. People, safety, and health are always more important than saving time or money. Our God always does what is right, and we want to be like him. Elders especially need to think about safety, both their own and that of others. (Proverbs 22:3) If an elder reminds you of safety rules or standards, listen to him. (Galatians 6:1) View life the way Jehovah does, and “no bloodguilt will come upon you.”

JUDGE “IN HARMONY WITH THESE JUDGMENTS”

13, 14. How could Israelite elders imitate Jehovah’s justice?

¹³ Jehovah commanded the Israelite elders to imitate his justice. First, the elders needed to confirm all the facts. Then, they had to consider very carefully the killer’s motive, attitude, and past actions when deciding whether to show mercy. The elders had to find out whether the fugitive hated his victim and meant to kill him. (Read Numbers 35:20-24.) If there were witnesses, at least two were needed before a murderer could be condemned.​—Numbers 35:30.

¹⁴ After finding out exactly what had happened, the elders had to think about the person himself, not only what he had done. The elders needed insight to look beyond the obvious and see the reasons for what had happened. Most of all, they needed Jehovah’s holy spirit to help them imitate his insight, mercy, and justice.​—Exodus 34:6, 7.

15. How was Jesus’ view of sinners different from that of the Pharisees?

¹⁵ The Pharisees did not judge with mercy. They focused on what a sinner had done rather than on what kind of person he was. When some Pharisees saw Jesus eating a meal at Matthew’s home, they asked the disciples: “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered: “Healthy people do not need a physician, but those who are ill do. Go, then, and learn what this means: ‘I want mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-13) Was Jesus making excuses for sinners? Not at all. He wanted them to repent. That was an important part of the message he preached. (Matthew 4:17) Jesus realized that at least some of the “tax collectors and sinners” wanted to change. They were not at Matthew’s home simply to eat. They were there because they were following Jesus. (Mark 2:15) Sadly, most of the Pharisees did not view people the way Jesus did. They did not believe that people could change, and they viewed them as hopeless sinners. How different they were from Jehovah, who is just and merciful!

16. What must a judicial committee try to discern?

¹⁶ Elders today must imitate Jehovah, who “loves justice.” (Psalm 37:28) First, they need to make “a thorough investigation” to confirm whether a sin has been committed. If it has, they will follow Bible guidelines to decide what to do. (Deuteronomy 13:12-14) When they serve on a judicial committee, they must be very careful to determine whether the person who has committed a serious sin is repentant or not. This is not always easy to do. Repentance involves how the sinner views what he has done and what is in his heart. (Revelation 3:3) A sinner must be repentant in order to receive mercy.a​—See footnote.

17, 18. How can the elders know if someone is truly repentant? (See opening picture.)

¹⁷ Jehovah and Jesus know exactly what a person is thinking and feeling because they can read hearts. But the elders cannot read hearts. So if you are an elder, how can you know whether someone is truly repentant? First, pray for wisdom and discernment. (1 Kings 3:9) Second, use God’s Word and publications from the faithful slave to help you see the difference between “sadness of the world” and “sadness in a godly way,” that is, genuine repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10, 11) See how the Bible describes those who were repentant and those who were not, and analyze how they felt, thought, and acted.

¹⁸ Third, think about the person, not just about what he has done. Why is he the way he is? Why has he made certain decisions? What are his challenges and limitations? The Bible foretold that Jesus, the head of the Christian congregation, “will not judge by what appears to his eyes, nor reprove simply according to what his ears hear. He will judge the lowly with fairness, and with uprightness he will give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:3, 4) Elders, Jesus has appointed you to care for his congregation, and he will help you to judge with justice and mercy. (Matthew 18:18-20) We are so grateful that we have elders who care for us! They also help us to show justice and mercy toward one another.

19. What lesson from the cities of refuge do you plan to apply?

¹⁹ The Mosaic Law contains “the framework of the knowledge and of the truth.” It teaches us about Jehovah and his principles. (Romans 2:20) The cities of refuge described in the Law teach elders how to “judge with true justice,” and they teach all of us to show one another “loyal love and mercy.” (Zechariah 7:9) Even though we are not required to follow the Law, Jehovah has not changed. Justice and mercy are still very important to him. It is a privilege to worship such a God. Let us imitate his beautiful qualities and find safety and protection in him!

1. What did the apostle Paul write to Christians in Colossae? (See opening picture.)

THE apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Colossae while he was a prisoner in Rome about the years 60-61. He explained to them why they needed to have “spiritual comprehension,” that is, the ability to see matters as Jehovah does. (Colossians 1:9) Paul said: “I am saying this so that no one may delude you with persuasive arguments. Look out that no one takes you captive by means of the philosophy and empty deception according to human tradition, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:4, 8) Then Paul explained why some popular ideas are wrong but why many people like them. For example, some of these ideas may make people feel that they are wiser or better than others. So Paul wrote his letter to help the brothers avoid worldly thinking and reject wrong practices.​—Colossians 2:16, 17, 23.

2. Why will we discuss examples of worldly thinking?

² People who think in a worldly way ignore Jehovah’s principles, and if we are not careful, their ideas can gradually weaken our confidence in God’s wisdom. All of us are exposed to worldly thinking on television, on the Internet, at work, or at school. What can we do to avoid this bad influence? In this article, we will discuss five examples of worldly thinking and see how we can reject these ideas.

DO WE NEED TO BELIEVE IN GOD?

3. What idea do many people like? Why?

³ “I can be a good person without believing in God.” This idea is common in many countries today. People who say this may not have thought deeply about whether God exists but may simply enjoy feeling they have freedom to do whatever they want. (Read Psalm 10:4.) Others think that it makes them sound intelligent to say, “I can have good principles without believing in God.”

4. What can we say to help someone who believes that there is no Creator?

⁴ Is it logical to believe that there is no Creator? Some people get confused when they look to science to find the answer. But the truth is simple. Could a house simply appear out of nowhere? Of course not! Somebody needed to build it. Yet, living things are much more complex than any house. Even the most basic living cells can make copies of themselves, which a house could never do. This means that cells can both store information and pass it on to new cells so that they too can make copies of themselves. Who created living cells with the ability to do these things? The Bible answers: “Every house is constructed by someone, but the one who constructed all things is God.”​—Hebrews 3:4.

5. What can we say about the idea that we can know what is good without believing in God?

⁵ What can we say about the idea that we can know what is good without believing in God? It is true that God’s Word says that even people who do not believe in him may have good principles. (Romans 2:14, 15) For example, someone might respect and love his parents. But if he does not follow Jehovah’s standards, he may make very bad decisions. (Isaiah 33:22) Many intelligent people today are convinced that we need God’s help to fix the terrible problems of the world. (Read Jeremiah 10:23.) So we should never think that we can know what is good without believing in God and without following his standards.​—Psalm 146:3.

DO WE NEED RELIGION?

6. What do many people think about religion?

⁶ “You can be happy without religion.” Many people think that religion is boring and has no value. Also, many religions teach hellfire, force people to give money, or support politicians. It is not surprising that more and more people say that they are happy without religion! They may say things like, “I am interested in God, but I do not want to belong to a religion.”

7. How can true religion make you happy?

⁷ Can we really be happy without religion? Of course, a person can be happy without false religion. But no one can really be happy unless he is a friend of Jehovah, “the happy God.” (1 Timothy 1:11) Everything Jehovah does helps others. As his servants, we are happy because we too look for ways to help others. (Acts 20:35) For example, think of how true worship can help a family to be happy. We learn to respect and be faithful to our mate, raise respectful children, and have real love for our family members. True worship helps Jehovah’s people work together in peace in the congregation and show love for their brothers.​—Read Isaiah 65:13, 14.

8. How can Matthew 5:3 help us understand what really makes people happy?

⁸ So can a person really be happy without serving God? What makes people happy? Some enjoy their career, sports, or hobbies. Others feel good when they take care of their family and friends. Although these things do bring pleasure, there is more to life than that. We are different from animals, so we can come to know our Creator and worship him. He made us in such a way that we are happy when we do this. (Read Matthew 5:3.) For example, we feel happy and encouraged when we meet with our brothers and sisters to worship Jehovah. (Psalm 133:1) We also find joy in being part of a worldwide brotherhood, living clean lives, and having a wonderful hope for the future.

DO WE NEED MORAL STANDARDS?

9. (a) What is a popular view of sex? (b) Why does God’s Word say that sex outside of marriage is wrong?

⁹ “What is wrong with sex outside of marriage?” People may ask: “Why are you so strict? Just enjoy your life.” But God’s Word forbids sexual immorality.a (See footnote.) (Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8.) Jehovah has the right to make laws for us because he created us. He says that only a man and a woman who are married to each other are allowed to have sexual relations. Jehovah gives us laws because he loves us. He knows that if we follow them, our lives will be better. A family that obeys God’s laws will become more loving and respectful and will feel safe. But God will punish those who know his law and disobey it.​—Hebrews 13:4.

10. How can a Christian resist sexual immorality?

¹⁰ The Bible teaches us how to avoid sexual immorality. We must control what we look at. Jesus said: “Everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If, now, your right eye is making you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you.” (Matthew 5:28, 29) So we must avoid pornography and immoral music. Paul wrote: “Deaden . . . your body members that are on the earth as respects sexual immorality.” (Colossians 3:5) We also need to control what we think and talk about.​—Ephesians 5:3-5.

SHOULD WE FOCUS ON A CAREER IN THE WORLD?

11. Why might we want a good career?

¹¹ “A good career will make you happy.” People may tell us to focus our time and energy on a career in the world, especially one that can make us famous, powerful, or rich. Since so many think that a good career is the secret to happiness, we might begin to think this way too.

12. Will a good career make you happy?

¹² Is it true that a career that makes you powerful or famous will also make you happy? No. Think about this. Satan wanted to be powerful and famous. In a way, he got what he wanted. But he is angry, not happy. (Matthew 4:8, 9; Revelation 12:12) In contrast, think about how happy we are when we help others learn about God and the wonderful future he promises. No career in the world can give you that kind of happiness. Also, to have a good career, people often become competitive, aggressive, or jealous of others. But they still end up feeling empty. The Bible says that they are “chasing after the wind.”​—Ecclesiastes 4:4.

13. (a) How should we view our job? (b) What made Paul truly happy?

¹³ Of course, we need to earn a living, and it is not wrong to choose a job that we like. But our job should not be the most important thing in our life. Jesus said: “No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches.” (Matthew 6:24) Serving Jehovah and teaching others the Bible will bring us the greatest joy. The apostle Paul experienced this. When he was young, he focused on having a successful career. Later, he became truly happy when he saw how God’s message changed the lives of the people he preached to. (Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 19, 20.) There is no career in the world that can make us as happy as serving Jehovah and teaching others about him!

CAN WE SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD?

14. Why do people like the idea that man can solve his own problems?

¹⁴ “Humans can solve their own problems.” Many people like this idea. Why? If it were true, it would mean that we do not need God’s guidance and that we can do whatever we want. You may have heard people say that problems such as war, crime, disease, and poverty are decreasing. One report stated: “The reason humanity is getting better is because humans have decided to make the world a better place.” Is this true? Are humans finally figuring out how to solve the problems of the world? Let us examine the facts.

15. Why can we say that the problems in the world are serious?

¹⁵ Have humans solved the problem of war? During World Wars I and II, more than 60 million people died. During 2015 alone, 12.4 million people were forced to leave their homes because of war or persecution. This brought the total number of displaced people to 65 million. What about crime? In certain places, some kinds of crime have decreased. But meanwhile, other kinds, such as cybercrime, domestic violence, terrorism, and corruption, keep increasing. As for disease? It is true that humans have found cures for some diseases. But in 2013, a report said that each year nine million people under the age of 60 die from heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory disease, and diabetes. And what about poverty? The World Bank reported that the number of people who live in extreme poverty in Africa alone has grown from 280 million in 1990 to 330 million in 2012.

16. (a) Why can only God’s Kingdom solve the problems of the world? (b) What did both Isaiah and a psalmist say that the Kingdom will do?

¹⁶ These facts do not surprise us. Today, economic and political organizations are controlled by selfish people. These people cannot end war, crime, disease, and poverty. Only God’s Kingdom can do that. Think about what Jehovah will do for mankind. His Kingdom will remove all causes of war, such as selfishness, corruption, patriotism, false religion, and Satan himself. (Psalm 46:8, 9) God’s Kingdom will end crime. Even today, it is teaching millions of people to love and trust one another. There is no other government that can do this. (Isaiah 11:9) Jehovah will soon end disease and make all people perfectly healthy. (Isaiah 35:5, 6) He will end poverty and make it possible for all to have happy lives and a close relationship with him. This is much more valuable than any amount of money.​—Psalm 72:12, 13.

“KNOW HOW YOU SHOULD ANSWER”

17. How can you reject worldly thinking?

¹⁷ So if you hear a popular idea that seems to challenge your faith, learn what the Bible says on the subject. Discuss it with a mature brother or sister. Think about why people like the idea, why it is incorrect, and how you can reject it. We can protect ourselves from worldly thinking by doing what Paul said: “Go on walking in wisdom toward those on the outside . . . Know how you should answer each person.”​—Colossians 4:5, 6.

1, 2. (a) What prize do God’s servants look forward to? (b) What helps us to keep our eyes on the prize? (See opening picture.)

ANOINTED Christians have a precious hope. They look forward to living in heaven. The apostle Paul called this hope “the prize of the upward call of God.” (Philippians 3:14) In heaven, they will rule with Jesus Christ in his Kingdom and work with him to help humans become perfect. (Revelation 20:6) What a wonderful hope this is! The other sheep look forward to a different prize. They hope to live forever in Paradise on earth, and this hope makes them truly happy!​—2 Peter 3:13.

² Paul wanted to help his fellow anointed Christians to stay faithful and win the prize. He told them: “Keep your minds fixed on the things above.” (Colossians 3:2) They needed to focus on their precious heavenly hope. (Colossians 1:4, 5) Thinking about Jehovah’s blessings helps all of God’s servants keep their eyes on the prize. This is true whether they hope to live in heaven or on earth.​—1 Corinthians 9:24.

3. What did Paul warn Christians about?

³ Paul also warned Christians about dangers that could deprive them of the prize. For example, he wrote to the Colossians about false Christians who were trying to please God by following the Law of Moses instead of putting faith in Christ. (Colossians 2:16-18) Paul also discussed dangers that still exist today and that could stop us too from winning the prize. He explained how to resist immoral desires and what to do when we have problems in our family or with our brothers in the congregation. Paul’s valuable advice can help us today. So let us examine some of the loving warnings we find in his letter to the Colossians.

DEADEN IMMORAL DESIRES

4. Why can immoral desires stop us from winning the prize?

⁴ After Paul reminded his brothers about their marvelous hope, he wrote: “Deaden, therefore, your body members that are on the earth as respects sexual immorality, uncleanness, uncontrolled sexual passion, hurtful desire, and greediness.” (Colossians 3:5) Immoral desires can be very strong and can make us lose our relationship with Jehovah and our hope for the future. One brother who gave in to his immoral desires and later returned to the congregation says that these desires became so powerful that he “did not turn back until it was too late.”

5. How can we protect ourselves in dangerous situations?

⁵ We need to be especially careful if we are in a situation that could lead us to disobey Jehovah’s moral standards. For example, it is wise for a couple who are courting to set limits from the beginning about things such as touching, kissing, and being alone together. (Proverbs 22:3) Other dangerous situations could happen when we go on a business trip or when we work with someone of the opposite sex. (Proverbs 2:10-12, 16) What can you do to protect yourself? Identify yourself as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Behave properly, and never forget that flirting can lead to disaster. We also need to be careful if we are sad or lonely. We may want someone to make us feel needed. We may feel so desperate that we will accept attention from anyone. This is dangerous. If you ever feel that way, do not do anything that will stop you from winning the prize. Turn to Jehovah and your brothers and sisters for help.​—Read Psalm 34:18; Proverbs 13:20.

6. What should we remember when we choose entertainment?

⁶ To deaden immoral desires, we need to reject immoral entertainment. Today, much of the entertainment available reminds us of the way things were in Sodom and Gomorrah. (Jude 7) Those who produce entertainment make sexual immorality seem normal and harmless. So we always need to be alert. We cannot accept just any entertainment the world offers. Instead, we need to choose entertainment that will not stop us from winning the prize of life.​—Proverbs 4:23.

“CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH” LOVE AND KINDNESS

7. What problems could arise in the Christian congregation?

⁷ We are happy to be part of the Christian congregation. We study God’s Word at the meetings, and we lovingly support one another. This helps us to keep our eyes focused on the prize. But sometimes there are misunderstandings that can cause problems with our brothers and sisters. If we do not solve these problems, they can easily lead to resentment.​—Read 1 Peter 3:8, 9.

8, 9. (a) What qualities will help us to win the prize? (b) What can help us to keep the peace if a fellow Christian upsets us?

⁸ We cannot allow resentment to stop us from winning the prize. Paul explained what Christians need to do: “As God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, humility, mildness, and patience. Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same. But besides all these things, clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union.”​—Colossians 3:12-14.

⁹ Love and kindness can help us to forgive others. If we feel hurt by what someone has said or done, we can think of occasions when we said or did something unkind to others and they forgave us. How grateful we were for their love and kindness! (Read Ecclesiastes 7:21, 22.) We are thankful that Christ kindly unites true worshippers. (Colossians 3:15) We all love the same God, preach the same message, and have many of the same problems. If we are kind and loving and forgive one another, the congregation will be more united and we can stay focused on the prize.

10, 11. (a) Why is jealousy dangerous? (b) How can we make sure that jealousy does not prevent us from winning the prize?

¹⁰ Jealousy can prevent us from winning the prize. Bible examples show how dangerous jealousy is. For example, Cain became jealous of Abel and killed him. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram became jealous of Moses and rebelled against him. King Saul became jealous of David and tried to kill him. What God’s Word says is very true: “Wherever there are jealousy and contentiousness, there will also be disorder and every vile thing.”​—James 3:16.

¹¹ If we work hard to become truly loving and kind, we will not easily become jealous. God’s Word says: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous.” (1 Corinthians 13:4) To make sure that jealousy does not become part of our personality, we need to try to see things as Jehovah does. We need to view our brothers and sisters as members of the same body, which is the congregation. The Bible says: “If a member is glorified, all the other members rejoice with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:16-18, 26) If something good happens to one of our brothers, we will be happy for him, not jealous of him. Think about the good example of King Saul’s son Jonathan. Jonathan was not jealous when David was chosen to be king instead of him. He even encouraged and supported David. (1 Samuel 23:16-18) Could we be as kind and loving as Jonathan?

WIN THE PRIZE AS A FAMILY

12. What counsel from the Bible will help our family to win the prize?

¹² When every member of our family applies Bible principles, our family will be peaceful and happy and will win the prize. Paul gave this wise advice for families: “You wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as it is becoming in the Lord. You husbands, keep on loving your wives and do not be bitterly angry with them. You children, be obedient to your parents in everything, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. You fathers, do not be exasperating your children, so that they do not become downhearted.” (Colossians 3:18-21) Can you see how this advice can help your family?

13. How could a Christian sister help her unbelieving husband to want to serve Jehovah?

¹³ Maybe you are a sister whose husband does not serve Jehovah. What will you do if you feel that he does not treat you the way he should? You might get angry and argue with him, but would that make the situation better? Even if you win the argument, will you make him want to serve Jehovah? Probably not. But if you show respect for his role as the family head, you can help your family be more peaceful and you will bring honor to Jehovah. Your good example might even make your husband want to serve Jehovah, and then you both can win the prize.​—Read 1 Peter 3:1, 2.

14. What should a Christian husband do if his unbelieving wife does not respect him?

¹⁴ Maybe you are a brother whose wife does not serve Jehovah. What can you do if you feel that she does not respect you? If you tried to show her who is boss by shouting at her, would she respect you then? Of course not! God expects you to be a loving husband who imitates Jesus. (Ephesians 5:23) Jesus, the head of the congregation, is always patient and loving. (Luke 9:46-48) If you imitate Jesus, in time your wife may want to serve Jehovah too.

15. How does a Christian man show his wife that he loves her?

¹⁵ Jehovah instructs husbands: “Keep on loving your wives and do not be bitterly angry with them.” (Colossians 3:19) A loving husband shows honor to his wife. How? He listens to her opinions and lets her know that what she says is important to him. (1 Peter 3:7) Even if he cannot always do what she asks, listening to her can help him make better decisions. (Proverbs 15:22) A loving husband does not demand that his wife respect him. Instead, he tries to gain her respect. When a husband loves his wife and children, they are more likely to be happy as they serve Jehovah and win the prize of life.

YOUTHS​—DO NOT LET ANYTHING STOP YOU FROM WINNING THE PRIZE!

16, 17. As a young person, how can you avoid getting overly upset with your parents?

¹⁶ Maybe you are a teenager and feel that your parents do not understand you or that they are too strict. This may upset you so much that you wonder whether you even want to serve Jehovah. But if you leave Jehovah, you will discover that nobody in the world loves you as much as your Christian parents and your friends in the congregation do.

¹⁷ Think about this: If your parents never corrected you, how would you know if they really cared about you? (Hebrews 12:8) Of course, they are not perfect, so the way they discipline you may upset you. But don’t focus on that. Instead, try to understand the reasons for what they do and say. Stay calm, and try not to overreact. God’s Word says: “A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a discerning man will remain calm.” (Proverbs 17:27) Make it your goal to become a mature person who accepts counsel and learns from it no matter how it is given. (Proverbs 1:8) Never forget that having parents who love Jehovah is a precious gift. They want to help you to live forever.

18. Why are you determined to keep your eyes on the prize?

¹⁸ Whether we hope to live forever in heaven or on a paradise earth, each one of us can look forward to a marvelous future. Our hope is real. It is based on the promise of the Creator of the universe, who says: “The earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah.” (Isaiah 11:9) Soon everyone on earth will be taught by God. That is a prize worth working toward. So always remember what Jehovah has promised you, and do not let anything stop you from winning the prize!