DAILY TEXT, Today's Saturday September 3, 2022, The fields are white, ready for harvest (John 4:35).

DAILY TEXT, Today's Saturday September 3, 2022

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2022

Saturday September 3, 2022

The fields are white, ready for harvest (John 4:35).

Did Jesus say that the fields were ripe for harvest because he expected most people to follow him? No not at all. The Scriptures had foretold that relatively few would put their faith in him (John 12:37, 38). And Jesus had the power to read hearts (Matt. 9:4). Still, he enthusiastically preached to everyone, but focused on the few who believed in him. In our case, since we cannot read hearts, let us fight against the tendency to judge a person or the territory. Rather, let us see people as future disciples. Let us remember what Jesus said to his disciples. The fields are white, that is, ready for harvest. People can change and become disciples of Christ. To Jehovah they are “valuable things” (Haggai 2:7). If we see them as Jehovah and as Jesus, we will try to understand their circumstances and what interests them. And we will not see them as strangers, but as our future brothers. w20.04 13 paras. 18, 19

a) What can help us to know what the people of the territory believe? b) What could we answer if someone tells us that they have their own religion?

Like Paul, let us be observant. Let us be attentive to details that indicate what the people of our territory believe. Are there any decorations in your house or in your vehicle? Does their name, their way of dressing and grooming or even their vocabulary tell us what religion they are from? Or they may have even told us directly that they have their own religion. When that happens to a certain special pioneer, she says, “I don't visit him to force my beliefs on him. I just want to talk to you about…”

What beliefs can we have in common with a religious person?

What topics could we talk about with a religious person? Let's try to find common ground. Perhaps she worships one God, acknowledges that Jesus is the Savior of mankind, or believes that the evil we see today will soon end. Let's use the beliefs we have in common to present the message of the Bible in an attractive way.

What should we try to do, and why?

Keep in mind that the person may not believe everything his religion teaches. So once we know what religion she belongs to, let's try to find out what she believes. A special pioneer from Australia named David says: “Today, many mix their religion with philosophical ideas.” A sister from Albania named Donalta says: "Sometimes we talk to people who say they have their religion, but then they admit they don't believe in God." And a missionary from Argentina explains that some who claim to believe in the Trinity do not really believe that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one God. He adds: “Knowing this makes it much easier for you to find common ground with the person.” So let's try to find out what people really believe. Then, like Paul, we will become “all things to all kinds of people” (1 Cor. 9:19-23).

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