DAILY TEXT, Today Thursday December 5, 2024, Reflect on these things; devote yourself fully to them, so that everyone may clearly see your progress (1 Tim. 4:15).

Let us examine the Scriptures every day 2024

Thursday, December 5, 2024

Ponder these things and devote yourself fully to them, so that everyone may clearly see your progress (1 Tim. 4:15).

True Christians love Jehovah very much and want to serve him in the best possible way. But to do so, we must set spiritual goals, such as developing Christian qualities, acquiring new skills, and looking for ways to do things for others. Why should we set spiritual goals and strive to achieve them? Mainly, we want to please our loving Father, Jehovah. He is pleased when we use our talents and abilities to the fullest in serving him. We also want to continue to progress as Christians so that we can be more helpful to our brothers and sisters. (1 Thess. 4:9, 10) No matter how long we have been in the truth, we all need to keep growing spiritually. w22.04 22 §1, 2.

What advice did Paul give Timothy? (1 Timothy 4:12-16)

Timothy was young when the apostle Paul wrote the first letter bearing his name, but he was already an experienced elder. Still, Paul encouraged him to continue to grow spiritually (read 1 Timothy 4:12-16). If you look at Paul’s words, you’ll notice that he encouraged Timothy to improve in two areas. First, to develop Christian qualities like love, faith, and chastity. And second, to improve his skills in public speaking, counseling, and teaching. In this article, we’ll look at Timothy’s example and see how setting reasonable goals helps us grow spiritually. We’ll also look at some ways we can do more in our service to God.

According to Philippians 2:19-22, why did Jehovah use Timothy so much?

Why was Timothy so useful to Jehovah? Because he had outstanding Christian qualities. (Read Philippians 2:19-22.) Paul’s description of Timothy shows that he was humble, loyal, hard-working, and trustworthy. He treated the brothers with kindness and genuine concern for them. Because of this, Paul loved him very much and did not hesitate to entrust him with difficult assignments. (1 Cor. 4:17) If we develop the qualities that please Jehovah, we will win his affection, and he will use us more in the congregation. (Ps. 25:9; 138:6)

How can we know which aspects of our personality we need to improve? And what does the young sister in the picture do to show more empathy?

Set a specific goal. Pray to Jehovah to help you know what areas of your personality need improvement. Select one in particular and focus on it. Do you need to show more empathy or increase your desire to help others? Should you be more peaceful or more forgiving toward others? If you have questions, ask a trusted friend how he or she views you. —Prov. 27:6.Books of Jehovah

How can we achieve the goal of developing a quality?

Let’s work toward our goal. How? Start by looking for information about the quality you want to work on. For example, suppose you realize you need to be more forgiving. It would be helpful to read about biblical figures who forgave others generously and those who didn’t, and meditate on their example. Think about Jesus. He was willing to forgive people (Luke 7:47, 48). He didn’t focus on their shortcomings but focused on their potential. However, the Pharisees “thought that others were nothing” (Luke 18:9). After meditating on these examples, ask yourself, “How do I see others? What qualities do I notice in them?” If you find it difficult to forgive someone, make a list of all the good qualities you see in that person and ask yourself, “How does Jesus see him? Would he forgive him?” A study project like this can help you change your mindset. At first, it may be difficult to forgive someone who has hurt us. But if we make an effort, we will be able to improve this aspect of our personality.

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