Let us examine the scriptures every day 2025
Thursday April 10, 2025
Based on hope, creation will be liberated (Rom. 8:20, 21).
Anointed Christians wholeheartedly value the hope they have. For example, in 1991 Brother Frederick Franz put it this way: “Our hope is certain, and it will be completely fulfilled in the case of each and every one of the 144,000 members of the little flock to a degree that will surpass even what we have imagined.” He added: "We have not lost our sense of the value of that hope. Instead, [...] we appreciate it all the more the longer we have to wait for it. It is something worth waiting for [...] I hold our hope in higher regard than ever before." We all have a hope that makes us very happy, whether it is living forever in heaven or on Earth. And the hope we have can grow stronger every day. w23.12 9 para. 6; 10 para. 8.
What hope do most of God's servants have? (Romans 8:20, 21).
Most people who serve Jehovah today have another hope. Which? The same one that Abraham had: to live forever on Earth under the Kingdom of God (Heb. 11:8-10, 13). Paul also wrote about this wonderful hope (read Romans 8:20, 21). When you learned about what the Bible promises for the future, what stood out to you the most? Did you like the idea of being free from sin and being perfect? Were you excited to discover that your loved ones will be resurrected and live in Paradise? Thanks to the hope that God gives, you have an extraordinary future ahead of you.
We all have a hope that makes us very happy, whether it is living forever in heaven or on Earth. And the hope we have can grow stronger every day. How can we achieve this? To find out, let's continue looking at what Paul wrote. His words will help us be even more sure that our hope will not end in disappointment.
Like Paul, what do we know is going to happen to us? (Romans 5:3; see also images).
(Read Romans 5:3). Paul said something that may surprise us: going through difficulties can strengthen our hope. Well, all Christians know that we will face difficult situations. Consider what Paul said to the Christians in Thessalonica: “When we were with you, we used to warn you that we would be in trouble, and as you know, this is what happened” (1 Thess. 3:4). And to the Corinthians he wrote: “We want you to be aware of the problems we had... to the point of fearing for our lives” (2 Cor. 1:8; 11:23-27).
This is still true today. Christians know that we will go through difficulties (2 Tim. 3:12). What have you faced since you began to have faith in Jesus and follow him? Perhaps your friends or family have made fun of you, or even treated you badly. Have you had problems at work because you were determined to be honest in everything? (Heb. 13:18). Have you faced opposition from the Government for talking to others about your hope? Whatever difficulties we have, Paul says we should rejoice. Because?
Why should we be determined to endure?
We are happy when we go through difficulties because they help us develop an important quality. Romans 5:3 says, “Difficulties produce endurance.” As all Christians go through difficulties, we must all be determined to endure. Only if we endure will we receive the reward we have been waiting for so long. We don't want to be like the people Jesus had in mind when he talked about seeds falling on rocky ground. They accept “the word” with joy, but “when difficulties or persecution arise” they stumble (Matt. 13:5, 6, 20, 21). Of course, no one likes to suffer opposition or face trials, but enduring benefits us. Let's see why.
What are the advantages of holding on?
The disciple Santiago highlighted the advantages of enduring. He wrote: “Let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and healthy in every way, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4). So endurance has a work or a job to do. Which? It helps us to be more patient, to have more faith and to trust God more. But that's not all. Holding on has another great advantage.
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