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Yellow: Direct Response
Light Yellow: Additional Response
Light Blue: Additional Points
You have my approval” (LUK. 3:22).
1. What might some servants of Jehovah think?
HOW nice it is to know that “Jehovah is delighted with his people”! (Ps. 149:4). However, Sometimes some may become discouraged and think: “It is true that Jehovah is happy with his servants as a group, but will he be happy with me?” Many servants of God in the past also found it difficult at times to believe that they had his approval.(1 Sam. 1:6-10; Job 29:2, 4; Ps. 51:11).
2. Who has Jehovah's approval?
2The Bible makes it clear that even though we are imperfect, we can receive Jehovah's approval. Thatmustdo?Demonstrate that we have faith in Jesus Christ and get baptized (John 3:16).This is how we show in public that we have repented of our sins and that we have promised God to do his will (Acts 2:38; 3:19).Jehovah is very happy when we take these steps to become his friends.If we do our best to fulfill our vow of dedication, Jehovah gives us his approval and friendship. (Ps. 25:14)
3. What questions will we answer in this article?
3 Now, Why might some sometimes think that Jehovah does not approve of them? In what ways does he show us that he is happy with us? And what will help us be sure that we have his approval?
WHY SOME THINK JEHOVAH DOES NOT APPROVE OF THEM
4, 5. What can we be sure of even if we have self-esteem problems?
4 Many of us have had self-esteem problems since childhood (Ps. 88:15). a brother named Adrian Explain:“I have always thought that I am worthless. I remember that when I was very little I asked Jehovah that my family could live in Paradise, but I was sure that I did not deserve to be there.”.Tony He says this about how his parents, who were not Witnesses, raised him: “They never told me that they were proud of me or that they loved me. “They made me feel like I never lived up to what they expected of me.”
5 If we sometimes struggle with feelings of inferiority, Let us remember that it was Jehovah who brought us to his people (John 6:44). He sees the good qualities we have—even though we may not see them—and he knows what we really are like.(1 Sam. 16:7; 2 Chron. 6:30).So when he says we are valuable, we can believe him (1 John 3:19, 20).
6. How did Paul feel when he thought about his sins?
6 Some of us may still feel very guilty about things we did before we learned the truth (1 Pet. 4:3). Others may have been serving Jehovah faithfully for a long time but continue to struggle with evil tendencies. And what about you? Does your heart condemn him? If so, you may find comfort in knowing that other faithful servants of Jehovah have also felt the same way. For example, the apostle Paul felt unhappy when he thought about his imperfections (Rom. 7:24). Although he had repented of his sins and been baptized, he still considered himself “the least of the apostles” and “the worst” of sinners (1 Cor. 15:9; 1 Tim. 1:15).
7. What can we be sure of if we repent?
7Our heavenly Father promises to forgive us if we repent.(Ps. 86:5). Therefore, if we heartily regret our sins, we have no reason to doubt who keeps his word: he has surely forgiven us (Col. 2:13).
8, 9. What will help us stop thinking that nothing we do is enough for Jehovah?
8We all want to give Jehovah the best of us. But some may feel that nothing they do is enough to earn God's approval. A sister named Amanda says: “I tend to think that to give Jehovah my best I have to give him more and more. For this reason, many times I demand more from myself than necessary. So when I ‘don’t measure up,’ I assume that Jehovah is as disappointed in me as I am.”
9 What will help us stop thinking that nothing we do is enough for Jehovah? Let us remember that he is not demanding, but reasonable, and that he never asks more of us than we can give. If what we do for him is the best we can, whether big or small, he values it greatly. Let us also think of biblical characters who served Jehovah with all their soul. For example, Paul worked tirelessly for years, traveling thousands of miles and founding many congregations. But there came a time when his circumstances changed and he could no longer preach as much as before. Did Jehovah stop being happy with him? Of course not. Paul continued to do what he could, and Jehovah continued to bless him (Acts 28:30, 31). Similarly, we will not always be able to give the same to Jehovah, but what counts to him is why we do it.Below we will look at some ways in which Jehovah shows us that he is happy with us.
IN WHAT WAYS DOES JEHOVAH SHOW US THAT HE IS HAPPY WITH US?
10. How does Jehovah “tell” us that he is happy with us? (John 16:27).
10Through the Bible. Jehovah loves to show his servants that he loves and approves of them.The Bible mentions two occasions when he told Jesus that he was his beloved Son and that he had his approval (Matt. 3:17; 17:5). Would you like Jehovah to tell you that he is happy with you? It is true that He does not speak to us from heaven. But he does it through the pages of his Word. When we read the loving words that Jesus spoke to his disciples, we feel as if Jehovah was speaking them to us. (Read John 16:27.)Jesus perfectly imitated his Father's way of being. So when we read that Jesus told his faithful disciples that he loved them despite their imperfections, we can imagine Jehovah saying the same thing to us (John 15:9, 15).
ILLUSTRATION
A sister at home reading the Bible. Jehovah shows us in many ways that we have his approval. (See paragraph 10).
11. Why should we not see trials as a sign that we have lost God's approval? (James 1:12).
11 Through their actions. Jehovah wants to help us, for example, by giving us what we need in a physical sense.But sometimes He allows us to go through difficulties, as happened in the case of Job (Job 1:8-11). Let us not see trials as a sign that we have lost God's approval, but rather as opportunities to show Him that we love and trust Him deeply (read James 1:12). AND In those difficult moments we will see how he gives us all his support and love so that we can endure.
12. What does Dimitri's experience teach us?
12 Let's see what happened to abrotherfrom Asia called Dimitri. He He lost his job. As many months passed and I couldn't find another one,He decided to spend more hours preaching to show Jehovah that he trusted him.But they continuedgoingthemonthsandI couldn't find work.After,it startedto havehealth problemsthat they forced him to always bein bed. In the end,begantothinkit was abad father and a bad husband, andJehovah must have been disappointed in him.But one nighthis little daughter printedin arole these words from Isaiah 30:15: “Your strength will depend on your staying calm and showing confidence.”Then, he took him and said: “Daddy, when you are sad, remember this text.”Dimitri realized that, thanks to Jehovah, his family still had clothing, food, and shelter.Says:“What I had to do was stay calm and continue trusting in my God.”If you are going through a similar situation, you can be sure that Jehovah cares about you and will give you the strength to endure.
ILLUSTRATION
A sick brother who is in bed holds a paper in one hand, and his little daughter holds his other hand. Jehovah shows us in many ways that we have his approval. (See paragraph 12).
13. How else can Jehovah express his approval to us?
13 Through the brothers. Jehovah can motivate his servants to speak words of encouragement to us just when we need them most. That's what happened to one Asia's sister.SheHe lost his job and became seriously ill. After her, her husband committed a serious sin and had to stop being an elder.The situation was so stressful that the sister said: “I didn't understand why all that was happening to me. He thought that perhaps he had done something wrong and that he no longer had Jehovah's approval.". SoHe beggedthatwill ensurethat the sI kept wanting, andHe answered her prayer.As?She explains: “The elders talked to me and helped me see that I still had Jehovah’s love.” Some time later he told Jehovah again that he needed to see his support. What happened? She says: “That same day I received a very affectionate letter from several brothers in the congregation.When I read it, I felt that Jehovah had heard me.” As we see, many times the kind words of others reflect Jehovah’s approval (Ps. 10:17).
ILLUSTRATION
Two elderly people visit a sister at her house. They have her Bibles open while they talk to her. Jehovah shows us in many ways that we have her approval. (See paragraph 13).
14. How else does Jehovah use the brothers to express his approval of us?
14 Jehovah also expresses his approval by having our brothers advise us when we need it. For example, in the first century, he used the apostle Paul to inspire Christians to write 14 letters, which included firm but loving advice. Why did Jehovah have Paul give such advice? Because he is good and loving, and disciplines “as a father does with a beloved child” (Prov. 3:11, 12). So, if someone gives us advice from the Bible, let us not think that we have lost God's approval. On the contrary, that is a sign that he continues to love us (Heb. 12:6).What other evidence is there that we have Jehovah's approval?
OTHER PROOFS THAT JEHOVAH GIVES US HIS APPROVAL
15. To whom does Jehovah give his holy spirit, and of what can we be sure?
fifteen Jehovah gives his holy spirit to those who have his approval (Matt. 12:18). We could ask ourselves: “Do I demonstrate in my life the qualities that the holy spirit produces?” For example, are you more patient now than before you met Jehovah?In fact, the more you observe that you are demonstrating the qualities of the fruit of the spirit, the moreYou can be sure that Jehovah is happy with you. (See the box “The fruit of the spirit is…”).
ILLUSTRATION
A brother helps an elderly woman who has dropped some of the things she bought. What evidence do you have that you have Jehovah's approval? (See paragraph 15).
16. According to 1 Thessalonians 2:4, who does Jehovah use to preach the good news? And how does that make you feel?
16 Jehovah entrusts them with the task of announcing the good news to people he approves.—Read 1 Thessalonians 2:4.Let's see how a sister named Jocelyn realized this is so. One day, she woke up with her spirits in tatters. She says: “I felt powerless, unable to do anything. But I was pioneering and that day I had to preach. So I prayed to Jehovah and left.” That morning, Jocelyn spoke with Mary, a very kind woman who agreed to study the Bible. A few months later, she Mary told her that the morning she Jocelyn knocked on her door she had been praying to God for help. What did that experience teach Jocelyn? She says: “I felt like Jehovah was telling me, 'You have my approval.'” Of course, not everyone will hear our message, but we can be sure that Jehovah is pleased when he sees that we are making every effort to share the good news with others.
ILLUSTRATION
Two sisters preach with the cart and talk to a young woman. What evidence do you have that you have Jehovah's approval? (See paragraph 16).
17. What does what Vicky says teach you about rescue? (Psalm 5:12).
17JEhovah applies the ransom value to those who have his approval (1 Tim. 2:5, 6).But what if we find it difficult to accept the idea that Jehovah approves of us even if we have faith in the rescue and are baptized? Let us remember that we cannot always trust what our hearts tell us, but we can always trust Jehovah. For him, those who have faith in the rescue are righteous, and he promises to bless them (read Psalm 5:12; Rom. 3:26). A sister named Vicky was greatly helped by meditating on the rescue. Although she found it difficult to believe that Jehovah loved her, she came to the following conclusion: “Jehovah had been very patient with me for a long time […]. Still, it was as if I had been telling him: 'Your love cannot reach me. The sacrifice of your Son is not enough to forgive my sins.'” Like Vicky, if we meditate on the rescue, we too will feel Jehovah's love and be convinced that we have his approval.
ILLUSTRATION
A brother who is imprisoned thinks of Jesus on the torture stake. What evidence do you have that you have Jehovah's approval? (See paragraph 17).
18. What can we be sure of if we continue to love our heavenly Father?
18Even as we strive to put into practice everything we have learned in this article, we may sometimes become a little discouraged and wonder if we have Jehovah's approval. If that happens to you, remember that he approves “of those who continue to love him” (James 1:12). So continue to draw closer to Jehovah and try to see all the ways in which he shows you that he is happy with you. And never forget that God “is not far from each of us” (Acts 17:27).
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
Why might some think that God does not approve of them?
They may think that God does not approve of them, due to problems of low self-esteem or lack of healthy self-confidence, since perhaps they had the most difficult upbringing and this affects them significantly in their adult life.
Some also feel guilty for mistakes and sins committed in the past, as well as consequences and harm they caused to themselves and others.
Furthermore, there are brothers who have made us believe that we are not well, we will never be well, and that it is not worth even making the effort to try.
In what ways does Jehovah show us that he approves of us?
Through the Bible. Jehovah loves to show his servants that he loves and approves of them.
Through his actions. Jehovah wants to help us, for example, by giving us what we need in a physical sense.
Through good brothers. Jehovah can motivate his blind people to speak words of encouragement to us when we need them.
Why can we be sure that we have God's approval?
Because we are here and now it is not a coincidence. Jehovah sent his beloved son as a ransom for us, as mentioned in John 3:16. God and his son are not playing to save us, the ransom has already been paid, or so to speak our debt has already been paid. If we doubt, it is like telling Jehovah that the sacrifice of his son was not enough for us, that is inappropriate, therefore, with our defects They love us.
Thank Jehovah for the insight.
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