DAILY TEXT, Today Tuesday June 7, 2022, Keep bearing each other and generously forgiving each other (Col. 3:13).

DAILY TEXT, Today Tuesday June 7, 2022

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2022

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Keep putting up with one another and generously forgiving each other (Col. 3:13).

There are servants of Jehovah who feel that a brother has hurt them. The apostle Paul recognized that sometimes we may have a valid reason to complain about another. We may even have been treated unfairly. But if we are not careful, we could become resentful and end up drifting away from Jehovah's people. A brother from South America named Pablo was falsely accused of doing something wrong, and as a result he lost a service responsibility. How did he react? He says, "I was so angry that I walked away from the congregation." It may also be that those who committed serious sin in the past still feel guilty and even believe that they are not worthy of God's love. Even if they were repentant and were shown mercy, they may feel that they no longer deserve to be part of their people. What do we think of the brothers who face situations like the ones we have seen? w20.06 19 paras. 6, 7

According to Ezekiel 34:11-16, what did Jehovah promise to do for his lost sheep?

Jehovah loves each one of us, even “these little ones” who have wandered away from the flock. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God promised that he would search for his lost sheep and help them regain their spiritual health. And he mentioned the steps he would take to rescue them. These are the same steps an Israelite shepherd would take if he lost a sheep (read Ezekiel 34:11-16). First, the shepherd would look for his sheep, which would probably take a lot of time and effort. Then once he found her, he would take her back to the herd. Also, if the sheep was injured or hungry, he would lovingly give her the help she needed, he would bind her wounds, carry her in his arms and feed her. As shepherds of the “flock of God,” elders should follow these same steps in helping those who have fallen away from the congregation (1 Pet. 5:2, 3). The elders seek them out, help them return to the congregation, and show their love for them by giving them needed spiritual help.*

What did a good shepherd know?

A good shepherd knew that the sheep could be lost. So if this happened, he didn't treat them harshly. Let's see what Jehovah did when some of his servants did not do what he expected of them for a time.

How did Jehovah treat Jonah?

The prophet Jonah fled so as not to fulfill his assignment. But Jehovah was not quick to write him off. As he would make a good shepherd, he rescued him and gave him the strength he needed to carry out his commission (Jon. 2:7; 3:1, 2). He then used a gourd to teach her that each person's life is important (Jon. 4:10, 11). What lesson do we learn? That the elderly should not rush to write off the inactive. Rather, they should strive to understand why they strayed from the herd. And, when these sheep return to Jehovah, they should continue to treat them with love and concern.

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