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 STUDY
ARTICLE 9

Are You Ready to

Dedicate Yourself
to Jehovah?
“With what will I repay Jehovah for
all the good he has done for me?”—PS. 116:12.

SONG 75
“Here I Am! Send Me!”

FOCUS
This article can help you to develop a close relationship
with Jehovah so that you will want to dedicate yourself to
him and get baptized.
2
DURING the past five years, more than a million
people have been baptized as Jehovah’s Witness-
es. Many of these, like the first-century disciple
Timothy, were taught the truth “from infancy.”
(2 Tim. 3:14, 15) Others learned about Jehovah as
adults, some late in life. A while back, a woman who
studied the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses got bap-
tized at the age of 97!
2 If you are a Bible student or if you are being
raised by parents who are Witnesses, are you think-
ing about getting baptized? That is a commendable
goal! Before getting baptized, though, you will need
to dedicate yourself to Jehovah. This article will ex-
plain what dedication involves. It will also help you
to see why there is no reason to hold back from tak-
ing that step, along with baptism, when you are
ready to do so.
WHAT IS DEDICATION?
3 In the Bible, dedication signifies a setting apart
for a sacred purpose. The Israelites were a na-
tion dedicated to Jehovah. But some individuals in
the nation were dedicated to Jehovah in a spe-
cial way. For example, Aaron wore a “holy sign of
1-2. What must a person do before getting baptized?
3. Give Bible examples of people who were dedicated to Jehovah.

MARCH 2024 3
dedication”—a shining gold plate on the front of his
turban. That gold plate indicated that he was set
apart to serve in a special capacity—as Israel’s high
priest. (Lev. 8:9) The Nazirites too were dedicated
to Jehovah in a special way. The word “Nazirite,”
which comes from the Hebrew word nazir, means
“Separated One,” or “Dedicated One.” Nazirites
were to live by the restrictions that were set out for
them in the Mosaic Law.—Num. 6:2-8.
4When you dedicate yourself to Jehovah, you
choose to become a disciple of Jesus Christ and
make the doing of God’s will the most important
thing in your life. What will Christian dedication
require of you? Jesus said: “If anyone wants to
come after me, let him disown himself.” (Matt. 16:
24) The Greek phrase translated “let him disown
himself” can also be rendered “he must say no to
himself.” As a dedicated servant of Jehovah, you
will need to say no to anything that conflicts with
his will. (2 Cor. 5:14, 15) That includes saying no
to “the works of the flesh,” such as sexual immoral-
ity. (Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Cor. 6:18) Will such restrictions
make your life difficult? Not if you love Jehovah
4. (a) In what way are those who are dedicated to Jehovah set
apart for a sacred purpose? (b) What does it mean to “disown”
yourself? (See also picture.)

4 THE WATCHTOWER
and are convinced that his laws are for your own
good. (Ps. 119:97; Isa. 48:17, 18) A brother named
Nicholas puts it this way, “You can view Jehovah’s
standards either like the bars of a prison that
keep you from doing what you want to do or like
the bars of a lion cage that protect you from dan-
ger.”
5How do you dedicate yourself to Jehovah? You
promise him in prayer that you will worship only
him and that you will put his will first in your life.
5. (a) How do you dedicate yourself to Jehovah? (b) What is the
difference between dedication and baptism? (See also picture.)

Do you view Jehovah’s standards like the bars of a prison

that keep you from doing what you want to do or like the bars
of a lion cage that protect you from danger?
(See paragraph 4)
 Dedicating yourself to Jehovah involves
privately promising him that you will worship
only him and will put his will first in your life
(See paragraph 5)

Really, you are promising Jehovah that you will

continue to love him “with your whole heart and
with your whole soul and with your whole mind and
with your whole strength.” (Mark 12:30) Your ded-
ication is made in private, between you and Jeho-
vah. In contrast, baptism is public; it shows on-
lookers that you have made a dedication. Your
dedication is a sacred vow, and Jehovah expects
you to live up to it, just as you expect that of your-
self.—Eccl. 5:4, 5.
6 THE WATCHTOWER
 WHY DEDICATE YOURSELF TO JEHOVAH?
6The main reason you dedicate yourself to Jeho-
vah is that you love him. Your love is not based
on emotion alone. Rather, it is rooted in “ac-
curate knowledge” and “spiritual comprehension”
—the things that you learned about Jehovah that
caused your love for him to grow. (Col. 1:9) Your
study of the Scriptures has convinced you (1) that
Jehovah is real, (2) that the Bible is his inspired
Word, and (3) that he uses his organization to ac-
complish his will.
7 Those who dedicate themselves to Jehovah
should know the basic teachings found in God’s
Word and be living in harmony with its standards.
They share their faith with others to the extent that
their circumstances allow. (Matt. 28:19, 20) Their
love for Jehovah has grown, and their heartfelt de-
sire is to give him exclusive devotion. Is that not so
of you? Having this kind of love, you will not view
dedication and baptism as something you do just
because you want to please your Bible teacher or
your parents; nor do you view it as something you
do to fit in with your friends.
6. What motivates a person to dedicate himself to Jehovah?
7. What should we be doing before we dedicate ourselves to God?

MARCH 2024 7
 8
The decision to dedicate yourself to Jehovah is
only natural when you think of all that he has done
for you. (Read Psalm 116:12-14.) The Bible rightly
calls Jehovah the Giver of “every good gift and
every perfect present.” (Jas. 1:17) The greatest of
those gifts is the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus. Just
think! The ransom has made it possible for you to
have a close relationship with Jehovah. And he has
given you the prospect of living forever. (1 John 4:
9, 10, 19) Dedicating yourself to Jehovah is a way
to show your appreciation for that greatest expres-
sion of love ever made, along with all the oth-
er blessings Jehovah has given you. (Deut. 16:17;
2 Cor. 5:15) Such appreciation is highlighted in les-
son 46 point 4, of the Enjoy Life Forever! book,
which includes the three-minute video Presenting
Your Gifts to God.
ARE YOU READY FOR DEDICATION
AND BAPTISM?
9
You may feel that you are not ready for dedica-
tion and baptism. Perhaps you still need to make
changes in your life to conform to Jehovah’s stan-
8. How does gratitude play a role in your decision to dedicate your-
self to Jehovah? (Psalm 116:12-14)
9. Why should a person not feel pressured to make a dedication?

8 THE WATCHTOWER
dards, or perhaps you need more time to strength-
en your faith. (Col. 2:6, 7) Not all students progress
at the same pace, and not all young ones are ready
for dedication and baptism at the same age. Try to
evaluate your spiritual progress according to what
you are able to do and not in comparison with
someone else.—Gal. 6:4, 5.
10Even if you realize that you are not yet ready
to dedicate yourself to Jehovah, keep that step be-
fore you as a goal. Pray for Jehovah’s blessing on
your efforts to make whatever changes are neces-
sary. (Phil. 2:13; 3:16) You can be certain that
he will hear your prayer and respond.—1 John
5:14.
WHY SOME HOLD BACK
11Some who are ready for dedication and bap-
tism still hold back. They may wonder, ‘What if af-
terward I commit a serious sin and get disfellow-
shipped?’ If you have that fear, be assured that
Jehovah will give you everything you need “to walk
worthily of [him] in order to please him fully.”
10. What can you do if you conclude that you are not yet ready for
dedication and baptism? (See also the box “For Those Being Raised
in the Truth.”)
11. How will Jehovah help us remain faithful to him?

MARCH 2024 9
For Those Being
Raised in the Truth
Young ones who are being raised in the truth by
parents who are serving God will be greatly helped by
the three-part series on jw.org entitled “Young People
Ask . . . Should I Get Baptized?”
You can find additional valuable information in
two study articles in the March 2016 issue of The
Watchtower. The articles are “Young Ones—Are You
Ready to Get Baptized?” and “Young Ones—How Can
You Prepare for Baptism?”
You will enjoy lasting benefits by making time to
examine and to think deeply about the material in
those articles.

(Col. 1:10) He will also give you the strength to do

what is right. He has already proved that he can do
that by how he has dealt with many others. (1 Cor.
10:13) That is one reason why relatively few people
10 THE WATCHTOWER
are expelled from the Christian congregation. Je-
hovah equips his people to remain faithful.
12 Every imperfect human is tempted to do wrong
things. (Jas. 1:14) However, whether you act on
temptation is a choice—your choice. The fact is that
ultimately you are the one who is in control of how
you will live. Though some people may make claims
to the contrary, you can learn to control your im-
pulses. And even if some improper impulses sur-
face, you can refrain from acting on them. To
that end, pray every day. Maintain a good routine
of personal study of God’s Word. Attend Chris-
tian meetings. Share your faith with others. Taking
these steps consistently will give you the strength
to live up to your dedication vow. And never for-
get that Jehovah will help you to do so.—Gal. 5:16.
13You will find it easier to live up to your dedi-
cation if you decide beforehand what you will do if
faced with temptation. The Bible tells us of a num-
ber of people who evidently did that, even though
they too were imperfect humans. For example, Pot-
iphar’s wife repeatedly tried to seduce Joseph. But
he did not have any doubts about the stand he
would take. The Bible tells us that “he refused,”
12. How can we avoid getting involved in serious sin?
13. What good example did Joseph set for us?

MARCH 2024 11
and he stated: “How could I commit this great bad-
ness and actually sin against God?” (Gen. 39:8-10)
Clearly, Joseph knew how he would react even be-
fore she tried to tempt him. That made it easier
for him when he was actually faced with tempta-
tion.
14How can you show a similar resolve to that of
Joseph? You can decide now what you will do if a
temptation arises. Learn to say no immediately to
things that Jehovah hates, even refusing to dwell
on them. (Ps. 97:10; 119:165) That way you will not
waver when tempted. You will already know how
you will respond. You will already have settled on
your course.
15In your case, you may know that you have
found the truth and that you want to serve Jehovah
with all your heart but something still holds you
back from dedication and baptism. You can take to
heart the example of King David. You can beg Je-
hovah: “Search through me, O God, and know my
heart. Examine me, and know my anxious thoughts.
See whether there is in me any harmful way, and
lead me in the way of eternity.” (Ps. 139:23, 24) Je-
14. How can we learn to say no to wrongdoing?
15. How can a person show that he or she is “earnestly seeking” Je-
hovah? (Hebrews 11:6)

12 THE WATCHTOWER
hovah blesses those who are “earnestly seeking
him.” Your working toward the goal of dedication
and baptism shows him you are doing just that.
—Read Hebrews 11:6.

KEEP DRAWING CLOSE TO JEHOVAH

16 Jesus said that his disciples are drawn by Jeho-
vah. (Read John 6:44.) Consider what a profound
thought that is and how it applies to you. Jehovah
sees something good in each person he draws to
himself. He views the individual as his “special
property,” or “treasured possession.” (Deut. 7:6;
ftn.) That is true in your case too.
17 It may be, though, that you are a young person
who is being raised in the truth. You might feel that
you simply are being carried or towed along. Never-
theless, the Bible says: “Draw close to God, and he
will draw close to you.” (Jas. 4:8; 1 Chron. 28:9)
When you take the initiative to draw close to Jeho-
vah, he responds by drawing close to you. Jehovah
does not view you as just being part of a group. He
draws each individual—including each individual
who is being raised in the truth. When such a
16-17. How can those being raised in the truth be drawn by Jeho-
vah? (John 6:44)

MARCH 2024 13
person takes the initiative to draw close to Jeho-
vah, He responds, as we noted at James 4:8.—Com-
pare 2 Thessalonians 2:13.
18When you dedicate yourself to Jehovah and get
baptized, you reflect the attitude of Jesus. He will-
ingly presented himself to his Father to do what-
ever was asked of him. (Read Psalm 40:8; Heb.
10:7) In the next article, we will discuss what will
help you to keep serving Jehovah faithfully after
your baptism.
18. What will we discuss in the next article? (Psalm 40:8)

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ What does it ˛ How is gratitude ˛ What will help
mean to be involved in you to avoid
dedicated to making a serious sin?
Jehovah? dedication?

SONG 38
He Will Make You Strong
 STUDY
ARTICLE 10

“Keep Following”
Jesus After Baptism
“If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown
himself and pick up his torture stake day after
day and keep following me.”—LUKE 9:23.

SONG 13
Christ, Our Model

FOCUS
This article can help all of us to reflect on the meaning
of our dedication. In particular, it can help those who
recently got baptized to remain faithful.
15
IT IS a joy to get baptized and become part of Jeho-
vah’s family. Those who are in that privileged posi-
tion would agree with the words of the psalmist Da-
vid, who said: “Happy is the one whom you [Jehovah]
choose and bring near to reside in your courtyards.”
—Ps. 65:4.
2 Jehovah does not bring just anyone into his
courtyards. As discussed in the preceding article, he
chooses to draw close to those who prove that they
want to have a close relationship with him. (Jas. 4:8)
When you dedicate yourself to Jehovah and get bap-
tized, you draw closer to Jehovah in a special way.
You can be sure that thereafter he will “pour out on
you a blessing until there is nothing lacking.”—Mal.
3:10; Jer. 17:7, 8.
3 Baptism, of course, is just the beginning. After
you take that step, you will want to do your best to
live up to your dedication vow, even in the face of
temptations or tests of faith. (Read Ecclesiastes 5:
4, 5.) As a disciple of Jesus, you will follow Jesus’ ex-
ample and commands as closely as possible. (Matt.
28:19, 20; 1 Pet. 2:21) This article will help you to do
that.
1-2. How does life get better after baptism?
3. Christians who are dedicated and baptized have what serious re-
sponsibility? (Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5)

16 THE WATCHTOWER
 “KEEP FOLLOWING” JESUS DESPITE
TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS
4 After baptism, your life will not be problem free.
In fact, Jesus made it clear that his disciples would
carry a “torture stake.” Actually, they would do so
“day after day.” (Read Luke 9:23.) Was Jesus saying
that his followers would always be suffering? Not at
all. He was simply emphasizing that in addition to the
blessings they would experience, they would face
challenges. Some of these challenges might even be
painful.—2 Tim. 3:12.
5 Perhaps you have already faced opposition from
family members, or perhaps you have sacrificed cer-
tain material pursuits to put Kingdom interests first.
(Matt. 6:33) If so, you can be certain that Jehovah
has noticed your faithful works. (Heb. 6:10) Like-
ly, you have experienced the truthfulness of Jesus’
words: “No one has left house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or fields for my sake
and for the sake of the good news who will not get
100 times more now in this period of time—houses,
brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, with
persecutions—and in the coming system of things,
4. In what sense do Jesus’ disciples carry a “torture stake”? (Luke
9:23)
5. What blessings did Jesus promise to those who make sacrifices?

MARCH 2024 17
everlasting life.” (Mark 10:29, 30) The blessings that
you have received are truly greater than any sacri-
fices that you have made.—Ps. 37:4.
6 You will still need to fight “the desire of the flesh”
after baptism. (1 John 2:16) After all, you will still be
a sinful descendant of Adam. At times, your feelings
might be similar to those of the apostle Paul. He
wrote: “I really delight in the law of God according
to the man I am within, but I see in my body anoth-
er law warring against the law of my mind and lead-
ing me captive to sin’s law that is in my body.” (Rom.
7:22, 23) You may feel discouraged by your sinful
tendencies. However, thinking about the promise you
made to Jehovah when you dedicated yourself to him
will strengthen your resolve to fight against tempta-
tion. The reality is that when you face temptations,
your dedication vow will simplify your life. How?
7 When you make a dedication to Jehovah, you dis-
own yourself. This means that you say no to person-
al desires and ambitions that would displease Jeho-
vah. (Matt. 16:24) So when you face a test, you will
not need to spend time debating what to do. You will
have already shut the door on all options except one
6. Why will you need to continue fighting “the desire of the flesh”
after baptism?
7. How will being dedicated to Jehovah help you to remain faithful
to him?

18 THE WATCHTOWER
—faithfulness to Jehovah. You will remain firmly re-
solved to please Jehovah. You will in that sense be
like Job. Even though he faced extremely difficult
trials, he resolutely stated: “I will not renounce my
integrity!”—Job 27:5.
8 By reflecting on your prayer of dedication to Je-
hovah, you will find the strength to resist any temp-
tation. For example, would you start flirting with an-
other person’s mate? Certainly not! You will have
already said no to that. You will thus spare yourself
the anguish of having to deal with improper feelings
after they have taken root. You will “turn away” from
“the path of the wicked.”—Prov. 4:14, 15.
9 What if you are offered employment that will in-
terfere with your regular attendance at Christian
meetings? Your reaction is not in doubt. Long before
the offer was made, you had already said no to such
a job proposal. Thus, you will not need to figure out
whether you can make a bad decision succeed. Recall-
ing Jesus’ determination to please his Father, you will
quickly and firmly reject anything that you know
would displease the God to whom you are dedicated.
—Matt. 4:10; John 8:29.
8. How can reflecting on your prayer of dedication help you to re-
sist temptation?
9. How can reflecting on your prayer of dedication also help you to
keep spiritual activities first?

MARCH 2024 19
 10 The fact is that trials and temptations give you
an opportunity to show that you are determined to
“keep following” Jesus. As you do, you can be as-
sured that Jehovah will help you. The Bible says:
“God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear, but along with the temp-
tation he will also make the way out so that you may
be able to endure it.”—1 Cor. 10:13.

HOW TO KEEP FOLLOWING JESUS

11 Jesus was zealous, and he remained close to Je-
hovah in prayer. (Luke 6:12) In fact, one of the best
ways for you to keep following Jesus after your bap-
tism is to develop a pattern of doing things that will
draw you closer to Jehovah. The Bible says: “To the
extent we have made progress, let us go on walking
orderly in this same course.” (Phil. 3:16) From time
to time, you will hear the experiences of brothers and
sisters who have reached out to expand their sacred
service. Perhaps they attended the School for King-
dom Evangelizers or moved to where there is a great-
er need. If you can set such a goal, by all means do
so. Jehovah’s people are eager to expand their min-
10. How will Jehovah help you after baptism to “keep following” Je-
sus?
11. What is one of the best ways to keep following Jesus? (See also
picture.)

20 THE WATCHTOWER
 After your baptism,
set the goal of doing
things that will draw
you closer to Jehovah
(See paragraph 11)

istry. (Acts 16:9) What, though, if right now you are

unable to do that? Do not think that you are inferior
to those who can. The Christian race is one of endur-
ance. (Matt. 10:22) Do not underestimate the value
of serving Jehovah according to your abilities and
circumstances. That is an important way that you can
keep following Jesus after baptism.—Ps. 26:1.
12What if, for a time, you feel that your prayers
have become mechanical or that your ministry is in
a rut? What if your Bible reading does not seem as
12-13. What can you do if your zeal starts to diminish? (1 Corinthi-
ans 9:16, 17) (See also the box “Stay in the Race.”)

MARCH 2024 21
rewarding as it did in the past? If such situations de-
velop after your baptism, do not conclude that you
have lost Jehovah’s spirit. You are an imperfect hu-
man, and your feelings can fluctuate. If your zeal
starts to diminish, reflect on the example of the apos-
tle Paul. Although he tried to imitate Jesus, he knew
that at times he might not feel as motivated as at oth-
er times. (Read 1 Corinthians 9:16, 17.) He said:
“Even if I do it against my will, I still have a steward-
ship entrusted to me.” In other words, Paul was de-
termined to accomplish his ministry despite how he
might feel at the moment.
13 Similarly, do not let your imperfect feelings
make your decisions for you. Resolve that you will do
the right thing despite how you feel. Your actions
should in time affect your feelings for the better. At
any rate, maintaining a good spiritual routine will
help you to keep following Jesus after baptism. Your
consistency will also be an encouragement to your
fellow believers.—1 Thess. 5:11.

“KEEP TESTING . . . KEEP PROVING”

14It will also be of help to you if after baptism
you examine yourself regularly. (Read 2 Corinthians
14. What should you regularly examine, and why? (2 Corinthians
13:5)

22 THE WATCHTOWER
Stay in
the Race
An athlete has to keep
in shape if he expects to
remain in the game. In a
similar way, you will need
to keep strong spiritually
if you are to remain
qualified to continue
serving Jehovah after
baptism.

13:5.) From time to time, take a close look at your

life and habits to see if you are praying daily, reading
and studying the Bible, attending meetings, and par-
ticipating in the ministry. Try to find ways to make
these aspects of your worship even more meaningful.
For example, ask yourself such questions as: ‘Can I
explain basic Bible teachings to others? Are there
ways that I can make my ministry more enjoyable?
How specific are my prayers, and do they show that
MARCH 2024 23
I completely rely on Jehovah? Do I regularly attend
Christian meetings? How can I improve my concen-
tration and participation at meetings?’
15 You would also do well to examine yourself hon-
estly regarding your weaknesses. A brother named
Robert relates an experience that illustrates the
point: “When I was about 20 years old, I had a part-
time job. One day after work, a coworker invited me
to her home. She said we’d be alone and we’d ‘have a
good time.’ At first, I gave a few weak excuses, but I
finally said no and explained why.” Robert resist-
ed the temptation, and that is commendable. Later,
though, he looked back on the incident and saw that
he could have handled the situation better. He ad-
mits: “I didn’t reject the offer as firmly or as quickly
as Joseph resisted Potiphar’s wife. (Gen. 39:7-9) In
fact, I was surprised at how difficult it was for me to
refuse. This incident helped me to see that I needed
to strengthen my friendship with Jehovah.”
16 You may benefit from making a self-examination
similar to what Robert made. Even when you succeed
in resisting temptation, ask yourself, ‘How long did it
take me to say no?’ If you see room for improvement,
do not condemn yourself. Be glad that you are now
15-16. What do you learn from one brother’s experience about re-
sisting temptation?

24 THE WATCHTOWER
 A Series That You Will Enjoy
If you are a young person who is being raised in the
truth, you will be greatly helped by the two-part series
on jw.org entitled “Young People Ask . . . What Will
I Need to Do After Baptism?” Part 1 will encourage
you to keep up your Christian activity. Part 2 will help
you to keep your integrity when you face problems or
temptations.

aware of this weakness. Make it a matter of prayer,

and take steps to strengthen your determination to
live by Jehovah’s moral standards.—Ps. 139:23, 24.
17There is more to Robert’s experience. He contin-
ues: “After I refused my coworker’s invitation, she
said, ‘You passed the test!’ I asked her what she
meant. She explained that a friend of hers, a for-
mer Witness, had told her that all young Witnesses
lead a double life and that they would jump at the
17. How was Jehovah’s name involved in Robert’s experience?

MARCH 2024 25
opportunity to compromise. So she told her friend
that she would test that out with me. I realized then
how glad I was that I had honored Jehovah’s name.”
18 When you dedicate yourself to Jehovah and get
baptized, you show that you want to sanctify his
name no matter what comes. And you can be certain
that Jehovah knows the trials you face and the temp-
tations you resist. He will bless your efforts to remain
faithful. Trust that by means of his holy spirit, he can
give you the strength to do so. (Luke 11:11-13) With
Jehovah’s help, you will be able to keep following Je-
sus after your baptism.
18. What are you determined to do after baptism? (See also the
box “A Series That You Will Enjoy.”)

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ In what sense do ˛ What can you ˛ How can
Christians carry a do to “keep reflecting on
“torture stake day following” Jesus your prayer of
after day”? after baptism? dedication help
you to remain
faithful?

SONG 89
Listen, Obey, and Be Blessed
 STUDY
ARTICLE 11

You Can Persevere

Despite
Disappointments
“You have persevered for the
sake of my name.”—REV. 2:3.

SONG 129
We Will Keep Enduring

FOCUS
We can persevere in Jehovah’s service despite
experiencing disappointments.
27
WE ARE truly blessed to be part of Jehovah’s orga-
nization during these turbulent last days. As world
conditions deteriorate, Jehovah provides us with a
united, spiritual family of brothers and sisters. (Ps.
133:1) He helps us to have strong family bonds.
(Eph. 5:33–6:1) And he gives us the insight and wis-
dom we need to have true inner peace.
2 We must, however, work hard to keep serving
Jehovah faithfully. Why? Because we may at times
be offended by the imperfections of others. We may
also find it difficult to put up with our own short-
comings, especially if we make the same mistakes
time and again. We need to persevere in Jeho-
vah’s service (1) when a fellow believer offends us,
(2) when our spouse disappoints us, and (3) when
we are disappointed with ourselves. In this article,
we will consider each of these situations. We will
also consider what we can learn from a faithful Bi-
ble character.
1. What are some blessings we enjoy because of being part of Je-
hovah’s organization?
2. What do we need to do, and why?

28 THE WATCHTOWER
 PERSEVERE WHEN A
FELLOW BELIEVER OFFENDS YOU
3 The challenge. Some fellow believers have per-
sonality traits that irritate us. Others may let us
down or treat us in a thoughtless or unkind way.
Those taking the lead can make mistakes. These
realities could cause some to doubt that this is God’s
organization. Rather than continue serving God
“shoulder to shoulder” with their brothers and sis-
ters, they may stop associating with those who have
offended them or even stop going to meetings.
(Zeph. 3:9) Is that wise? Consider what we can learn
from a Bible character who experienced similar
problems.
4 The Bible example. The apostle Paul knew that
his Christian brothers and sisters were imperfect.
For example, he was misjudged soon after he start-
ed to associate with the congregation. (Acts 9:26)
Later, some spoke about him behind his back to
damage his reputation. (2 Cor. 10:10) Paul saw a re-
sponsible brother make a wrong decision that may
have stumbled others. (Gal. 2:11, 12) And one of
Paul’s close companions, Mark, greatly disappoint-
ed him. (Acts 15:37, 38) Paul could have allowed
3. What challenge do Jehovah’s people face?
4. What challenges did the apostle Paul face?

MARCH 2024 29
any one of these situations to cause him to refuse
to associate with the offenders. Yet, he maintained
a positive view of his brothers and sisters and re-
mained active in Jehovah’s service. What helped
Paul to persevere?
5 Paul loved his brothers and sisters. Paul’s love
for others helped him to focus, not on their im-
perfections, but on their fine qualities. Love also
helped Paul to do what he himself wrote, as record-
ed at Colossians 3:13, 14. (Read.) Consider how
this proved true regarding Mark. Although Mark
abandoned Paul during his first missionary journey,
Paul did not remain upset. Later, when Paul wrote a
warm letter to the congregation in Colossae, he
praised Mark as a valued coworker, “a source of
great comfort.” (Col. 4:10, 11) While imprisoned in
Rome, Paul specifically requested that Mark come
to help him. (2 Tim. 4:11) Clearly, Paul did not give
up on his brothers. What can we learn from Paul?
6The lesson. Jehovah wants us to persevere in
showing love to our brothers and sisters. (Read
1 John 4:7.) If someone fails to show some Chris-
5. What helped Paul not to give up on his brothers and sisters? (Co-
lossians 3:13, 14) (See also picture.)
6-7. How can we persevere in showing love to our brothers and sis-
ters despite their imperfections? (1 John 4:7)

30 THE WATCHTOWER
tian quality, we can assume that he wants to follow
Bible principles and that he simply acted thought-
lessly. (Prov. 12:18) God loves his faithful servants
despite their shortcomings. He does not cut us off
when we make mistakes; nor does he stay resentful.
(Ps. 103:9) How important it is for us to imitate our
forgiving Father!—Eph. 4:32–5:1.
7Remember, too, that as the end draws near, we
need to remain close to our brothers and sisters. We
can expect persecution to intensify. We may even
find ourselves in prison for our faith. If that hap-
pens, we will need our brothers and sisters more
than ever. (Prov. 17:17) Consider what happened to
Josep,1 an elder in Spain. He and other brothers
were imprisoned together for their neutrality. He
says: “In prison, the risk of becoming irritated with
1 Some names have been changed.

There was a difference

involving Paul, Barnabas,
and Mark. But later the
apostle put that behind
him and happily worked
with Mark
(See paragraph 5)
a fellow believer was high because we had no priva-
cy. We had to put up with one another and forgive
one another freely. This helped us stay united and
protected. We were surrounded by inmates who did
not serve Jehovah. On one occasion, I was injured
and my arm was in a cast, so I was not able to do
things for myself. But one of my brothers washed
my clothes and cared for me in other practical ways.
I experienced sincere love when I needed it most.”
What good reasons we have to resolve problems
with one another now!
PERSEVERE WHEN YOUR SPOUSE
DISAPPOINTS YOU
8 The challenge. All marriages have difficulties.
The Bible frankly acknowledges that married people
will have “tribulation in their flesh.” (1 Cor. 7:28)
Why? Because marriage brings two imperfect peo-
ple together, each with different characteristics,
likes, and dislikes. Mates may come from different
cultures or backgrounds. They may, in time, display
traits that were not noticeable before the wedding.
Any of those things can cause friction. Instead of
recognizing that each has a part in the problem and
therefore should work to resolve it, they may blame
8. What challenge do married couples face?

32 THE WATCHTOWER
their mate. They may even come to see separation
or divorce as the solution. But is giving up on the
marriage the answer?1 Let us learn from a Bible
character who persevered in an extremely difficult
marriage.
9 The Bible example. Abigail was married to Nabal,
who the Bible says was harsh and behaved badly.
(1 Sam. 25:3) It must have been difficult for Abigail
to live with such a man. Could Abigail have found
an easy way out of her marriage? She was given that
opportunity when David, Israel’s future king, came
to kill her husband for insulting him and his men.
(1 Sam. 25:9-13) Abigail could have fled, allowing
David to carry out his plan. Yet, she intervened and
convinced David to let Nabal live. (1 Sam. 25:23-27)
What could have motivated her?
10Abigail loved Jehovah and respected his stan-
dards for marriage. No doubt she was aware of what
God said to Adam and Eve when He performed the
1 God’s Word discourages separation and makes clear that separation
does not give either mate the right to remarry. However, there are se-
rious situations in which some Christians have considered separation.
See endnote 4 “Marital Separation” in the Enjoy Life Forever! book.

9. What challenge did Abigail face?

10. What likely motivated Abigail to persevere in a difficult mar-
riage?

MARCH 2024 33
first marriage. (Gen. 2:24) Abigail knew that Jeho-
vah viewed marriage as a sacred arrangement. She
wanted to please God, and that would have motivat-
ed her to do whatever she could to save her house-
hold, including her husband. She acted quickly to
prevent David from murdering Nabal. She was also
willing to apologize for a wrong that she did not
commit. Clearly, Jehovah loved this brave, unselfish
woman. What can wives and husbands learn from
Abigail’s example?
11The lesson. Jehovah directs that married people
respect the marriage arrangement even if their mate
is difficult to live with. How pleased God must be
when he sees married people working hard to re-
solve problems and to show each other unselfish
love and respect. (Read Ephesians 5:33.) Consider
the example of Carmen. About six years after get-
ting married, Carmen began studying with Jeho-
vah’s Witnesses and later got baptized. “My husband
did not take it well,” says Carmen. “He became jeal-
ous of Jehovah. He would insult me and threaten to
leave me.” Even so, Carmen persevered in her mar-
riage. For 50 years, she worked hard to have a mar-
11. (a) What does Jehovah expect from married people? (Ephe-
sians 5:33) (b) What did you learn from the way Carmen worked to
save her marriage? (See also picture.)

34 THE WATCHTOWER
 Can you see a
lesson in Abigail’s
willingness to do what
she could to save her
household?
(See paragraph 11)

riage based on love and respect. “As the years went

by, I learned to be more discerning and to speak
tactfully to my husband. Knowing that marriage is
sacred in Jehovah’s eyes, I did everything in my
power to safeguard it. I never gave up on my mar-
riage because I love Jehovah.”1 If difficulties arise
in your marriage, you can trust that Jehovah will
support you and help you to persevere.

PERSEVERE WHEN YOU ARE

DISAPPOINTED WITH YOURSELF
12The challenge. We may feel like giving up on
ourselves if we commit a serious sin. The Bible
acknowledges that our sins can leave us feeling
1 For another example, see on jw.org the video Do Not Be Misled by Im-
itation Peace!—Darrel and Deborah Freisinger.

12. What challenge may we face if we commit a serious sin?

MARCH 2024 35
“broken and crushed.” (Ps. 51:17) One brother
named Robert had worked hard for years to qualify
as a ministerial servant. However, he committed a
serious sin that made him realize that he had be-
trayed Jehovah. “My conscience came down on me
like a ton of bricks,” he says. “Afterward, I felt sick
to my stomach. I sobbed and prayed to Jehovah. I
remember thinking that God would never again
bother to listen to me. Why would he? I had let him
down.” If we succumb to sin, we may feel like giving
up on ourselves because our crushed heart believes
that Jehovah has given up on us. (Ps. 38:4) If you
have felt this way, consider a faithful Bible charac-
ter who persevered in serving Jehovah despite com-
mitting a serious sin.
13The Bible example. The night before Jesus’ exe-
cution, the apostle Peter made a series of mistakes
that led to the worst failure of his life. First, Peter
displayed overconfidence, boasting that he would
prove faithful even if the other apostles abandoned
Jesus. (Mark 14:27-29) Next, while in the garden of
Gethsemane, Peter repeatedly failed to keep on the
watch. (Mark 14:32, 37-41) Then, Peter abandoned
Jesus to a mob. (Mark 14:50) Finally, Peter denied
13. What grave sin did the apostle Peter commit, and what led up
to it?

36 THE WATCHTOWER
knowing Jesus three times, even swearing to this lie
with an oath. (Mark 14:66-71) How did Peter react
when he realized the gravity of his sin? He broke
down and wept bitterly, perhaps feeling devastated
by guilt. (Mark 14:72) Just imagine Peter’s anguish
when hours later his friend Jesus was executed.
How unworthy Peter must have felt!
14 Peter was able to persevere in serving Jehovah
for several reasons. He did not isolate himself; he
went to his spiritual brothers and no doubt was
comforted by them. (Luke 24:33) In addition, the
resurrected Jesus appeared to Peter, likely to en-
courage him. (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5) Later, in-
stead of rebuking Peter for his failings, Jesus told
his friend that he would receive greater responsibil-
ities. (John 21:15-17) Peter knew that he had sinned
gravely, but he did not give up on himself. Why? Be-
cause he was convinced that his Master, Jesus, had
not given up on him. And Peter’s spiritual brothers
continued to support him. What can we learn from
Peter’s example?
15 The lesson. Jehovah wants us to be convinced of
14. What helped Peter to persevere in serving Jehovah? (See cover
picture.)
15. Of what does Jehovah want us to be convinced? (Psalm 86:5;
Romans 8:38, 39) (See also picture.)

MARCH 2024 37
How do you or will you
feel when hardworking
elders provide help?
(See paragraph 15)

his love and forgiveness. (Read Psalm 86:5; Ro-

mans 8:38, 39.) When we sin, we feel guilty. That
is normal and appropriate. However, we must not
think that we are unlovable or unforgivable. Instead
we should immediately get help. Robert, mentioned
earlier, says: “I fell into sin because I relied on my
own strength to resist a temptation.” He realized
that he had to talk to the elders. He says: “Once I
took that step, I immediately felt Jehovah’s loving
hand expressed through them. The elders did not
give up on me. They helped me to believe that Jeho-
vah had not abandoned me.” We too can be con-
vinced that Jehovah loves us deeply and forgives us
if we repent of our sins, seek needed help, and ear-
nestly try not to repeat our mistakes. (1 John 1:8, 9)
That conviction prevents us from giving up on our-
selves when we stumble or fall.
38 THE WATCHTOWER
 16
Jehovah greatly appreciates our efforts to serve
him during these difficult last days. With Jehovah’s
help, we can persevere despite disappointments. We
can cultivate love for our brothers and sisters and
forgive them even if they offend us. We can show the
depth of our love for God and our respect for his
arrangements by doing whatever we can to resolve
problems that may arise in our marriage. And if we
commit a sin, we can seek Jehovah’s help, accept his
love and forgiveness, and keep moving forward in
his service. We can be sure that we will reap rich
blessings if we do “not give up in doing what is fine.”
—Gal. 6:9.
16. Why are you determined to persevere in Jehovah’s service?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTION Cover: John 21:15-17 shows that Jesus did not
give up on Peter, which encouraged Peter to persevere.

HOW CAN WE PERSEVERE IN JEHOVAH’S SERVICE WHEN . . .

˛ a fellow believer ˛ our spouse ˛ we are
offends us? disappoints us? disappointed
with ourselves?

SONG 139
See Yourself When All Is New
 STUDY
ARTICLE 12

Avoid the Darkness

—Remain in the Light
“You were once darkness, but you are now light.”—EPH. 5:8.

SONG 77
Light in a Darkened World

FOCUS
What we can learn from the metaphors of darkness and
light mentioned in Ephesians chapter 5.
40
WHILE he was under house arrest in Rome, the
apostle Paul wanted to encourage his fellow believ-
ers. He could not visit them in person, so he wrote
letters. He wrote one of these in about 60 or 61 C.E.
to the Ephesians.—Eph. 1:1; 4:1.
2 Almost ten years earlier, Paul had spent quite
some time in Ephesus, preaching and teaching the
good news. (Acts 19:1, 8-10; 20:20, 21) He loved his
brothers very much and wanted to help them to re-
main faithful to Jehovah. But why did he write to
anointed Christians about darkness and light? And
what lessons can all Christians learn from this coun-
sel? Let us consider the answers to these questions.
FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT
3 Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians: “You
were once darkness, but you are now light.” (Eph.
5:8) Paul here used the metaphors of darkness and
light to explain contrasting or opposing conditions.
Let us consider why Paul could say that the Ephe-
sians were “once darkness.”
4 Religious darkness. Before learning the truth and
1-2. (a) Under what circumstances was the letter to the Ephesians
written? (b) What questions will we consider?
3. What metaphors did Paul use in his letter to the Ephesians?
4. In what sense were the Ephesians in religious darkness?

MARCH 2024 41
becoming Christians, the Ephesians to whom Paul
wrote were enslaved to false religious ideas and su-
perstitions. The city of Ephesus was home to the fa-
mous temple of Artemis, which the ancients con-
sidered one of the seven wonders of the world.
The people who worshipped there were steeped in
idolatry. The fabrication and sale of false religious
shrines of the goddess Artemis was a lucrative busi-
ness. (Acts 19:23-27) In addition, the city was well-
known for magical arts.—Acts 19:19.
5 Moral darkness. Ephesus was famous for its gross
immorality and brazen conduct. Obscene talk was
commonly heard in the city’s theaters and even at
religious festivals. (Eph. 5:3) Many of its inhabitants
were “past all moral sense,” an expression that liter-
ally means “having ceased to feel pain.” (Eph. 4:17-
19) Before learning what was truly right or truly
wrong, the Ephesians did not feel pangs of con-
science or think that they had any accountability to
Jehovah. Paul could thus describe them as being “in
darkness mentally and alienated from the life that
belongs to God.”
6 Some of the Ephesians, though, did not remain
in darkness. Paul wrote that they were “now light in
5. In what sense were the Ephesians in moral darkness?
6. Why could Paul say to the Ephesians that they were “now light”?

42 THE WATCHTOWER
 Licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)
Collection, Graduate Library, University of Michigan, P.Mich.inv. 6238.
Image digitally reproduced with the permission of the Papyrology
What Paul wrote to the Ephesians is
loving advice that we can apply today
(See paragraph 7)

connection with the Lord.” (Eph. 5:8) They had em-

braced the light of Scriptural truth. (Ps. 119:105)
These Ephesians had abandoned their false religious
practices and immoral conduct. They had “become
imitators of God” and were doing their best to wor-
ship Jehovah and to please him.—Eph. 5:1.
7In a similar way, before we learned the truth,
we were in religious and moral darkness. Some of
us celebrated false religious holidays; others of us
pursued an immoral lifestyle. But once we learned
about Jehovah’s standards of right and wrong, we
made changes. We began to bring our life into
7. In what way is our situation similar to that of many Ephesian
Christians?

MARCH 2024 43
harmony with his righteous requirements. And as a
result, we have enjoyed many benefits. (Isa. 48:17)
Now, though, we face ongoing challenges. We need
to stay away from the darkness that we left behind
and “go on walking as children of light.” How can we
do so?

AVOID THE DARKNESS

8 Read Ephesians 5:3-5. In order to stay far away
from moral darkness, the Ephesian Christians had to
continue rejecting practices that displeased Jeho-
vah. That included not only sexually immoral con-
duct but also obscene talk. Paul reminded the Ephe-
sians that they had to avoid such things if they were
to have “any inheritance in the Kingdom of the
Christ and of God.”
9 We too must continue to fight against becoming
entangled in “the unfruitful works that belong to the
darkness.” (Eph. 5:11) Time and again, experience
has shown that the more a person looks at, listens
to, or talks about unclean, immoral things, the eas-
ier it will be for him to fall into wrongdoing. (Gen.
3:6; Jas. 1:14, 15) In one country, several dozen
8. According to Ephesians 5:3-5, what did the Ephesians need to
avoid?
9. Why should we reject any exposure to immorality?

44 THE WATCHTOWER
brothers became “friends” in an online chat group.
Many of them started out in their chats talking
about spiritual things. In the course of time, how-
ever, the chats became unwholesome. They began to
revolve around sex. Several of these individuals lat-
er admitted that this unclean talk led them to com-
mit sexual immorality.
10 Satan’s world tries to deceive us, to make us be-
lieve that what Jehovah calls immoral and unclean
is not wrong at all. (2 Pet. 2:19) This is no coinci-
dence! One of the Devil’s long-used tactics is to con-
fuse people so that they are unable to discern what
is right and what is wrong. (Isa. 5:20; 2 Cor. 4:4) It
is no wonder that many movies, television shows,
and websites promote ideas that go against Jeho-
vah’s righteous standards! Satan is trying to deceive
us into thinking that unclean practices and lifestyles
are not only acceptable but also enjoyable and harm-
less.—Read Ephesians 5:6.
11Satan wants us to associate with people who
make it harder for us to stick to Jehovah’s stan-
dards. Accordingly, Paul urged the Ephesians: “Do
not be sharers with them,” that is, with those who
10. How does Satan try to deceive us? (Ephesians 5:6)
11. How does Angela’s experience highlight the need to apply the
wise counsel found at Ephesians 5:7? (See also picture.)

MARCH 2024 45
 Our ability to stick to Jehovah’s standards
greatly depends on our choice of friends
(See paragraph 11)

practice what is wrong in God’s eyes. (Eph. 5:7) We

need to remember that our association is not limit-
ed to those we spend time with in person. It includes
those we interact with on social media, a danger
that the ancient Ephesians were not exposed to. An-
gela,1 who lives in Asia, found out how dangerous
social media can be. She admits: “It can be a trap,
subtly numbing your senses. I reached the point
where it did not bother me to have ‘friends’ who did
not respect Bible principles. Eventually, I started to
think that it was OK to pursue a lifestyle that dis-
pleased Jehovah.” Thankfully, loving elders helped
Angela to make needed changes. She says: “I now fill
1 Some names have been changed.

46 THE WATCHTOWER
my mind with spiritual things rather than with so-
cial media.”
12We must fight against the world’s thinking that
immoral conduct is acceptable. We know better.
(Eph. 4:19, 20) We do well to ask ourselves: ‘Do I
make it a point to avoid all unnecessary association
with workmates, classmates, or others who do not
respect Jehovah’s righteous standards? Do I coura-
geously uphold Jehovah’s standards even though
some may call me intolerant for doing so?’ As indi-
cated at 2 Timothy 2:20-22, we may also need to be
careful when choosing our close associates within
the Christian congregation. We bear in mind that
some may not help us to remain faithful in our ser-
vice to Jehovah.

WALK “AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT”

13Paul encouraged the Ephesian Christians not
only to continue rejecting the darkness but also to
“go on walking as children of light.” (Read Ephe-
sians 5:7-9.) What does that mean? Simply put, it
means to conduct ourselves as true Christians at all
12. What will help us to stick to Jehovah’s standards of right and
wrong?
13. What does it mean to “go on walking as children of light”?
(Ephesians 5:7-9)

MARCH 2024 47
times. One way to achieve this goal is by diligently
reading and studying the Bible along with our Bible-
based publications. It is especially important to pay
close attention to the example and teachings of Je-
sus Christ, “the light of the world.”—John 8:12;
Prov. 6:23.
14 We also need the help of God’s holy spirit so
that we can keep conducting ourselves “as children
of light.” Why? Because it is a definite challenge to
remain clean in this immoral world. (1 Thess. 4:3-5,
7, 8) Holy spirit can help us to combat the thinking
of the world, including its philosophies and view-
points that conflict with God’s thinking. Holy spirit
can also help us to produce “every sort of goodness
and righteousness.”—Eph. 5:9.
15 One way we can receive holy spirit is by praying
for it. Jesus said that Jehovah will “give holy spirit
to those asking him.” (Luke 11:13) And when we
praise Jehovah together at Christian meetings, we
also receive holy spirit. (Read Ephesians 5:19, 20.)
The wholesome influence of God’s holy spirit will
help us to live in a way that pleases God.
16 When we have important decisions to make, we
14. How can holy spirit help us?
15. In what ways can we receive holy spirit? (Ephesians 5:19, 20)
16. What will help us to make wise decisions? (Ephesians 5:10, 17)

48 THE WATCHTOWER
 The Ephesian Christians were urged to use their time wisely
(See paragraph 17)

need to perceive “what the will of Jehovah is” and

then act in harmony with it. (Read Ephesians 5:10,
17.) By identifying Bible principles that apply to our
situation, we are actually seeking God’s thinking on
the matter. Then as we apply his principles, we will
more likely make good decisions.
17Paul also counseled the Ephesian Christians to
use their time wisely. (Read Ephesians 5:15, 16.)
“The wicked one,” our enemy Satan, would like to
keep us so busy with this world’s pursuits that we
17. What is involved in using our time wisely? (Ephesians 5:15, 16)
(See also picture.)

MARCH 2024 49
have no time for our service to God. (1 John 5:19)
It would be all too easy for a Christian to put ma-
terial possessions, secular education, or his career
ahead of opportunities to serve Jehovah. Were that
to happen, it would indicate that he is being affect-
ed by the world’s thinking. Of course, these things
are not wrong in themselves, but they should never
take first place in our life. To walk “as children of
light,” we need to be “making the best use of [our]
time,” focusing on what is truly important.
18 Be alert to any opportunities to serve Jehovah
more fully. This is what Donald, who lives in South
Africa, did. He says: “I looked at my situation and
supplicated Jehovah to help me be more productive
in the ministry. I prayed for work that would allow
me to have more time for preaching. With Jehovah’s
help, I did find appropriate work. My wife and I then
started our journey of full-time service together.”
19 Paul’s letter to the Ephesians must really have
helped them in their Christian course. And that in-
spired counsel can help us too. As noted, it can aid
us in choosing our entertainment and our associates
wisely. It can motivate us to continue immersing
18. What steps did Donald take in order to make better use of his
time?
19. How can we continue to walk “as children of light”?

50 THE WATCHTOWER
ourselves in the light of truth by having a consistent
program of Bible study. And it emphasizes the im-
portance of holy spirit, which can produce fine qual-
ities in us. Applying what Paul wrote can help us to
make wise decisions, ones that are in harmony with
Jehovah’s thinking. By doing these things, we will be
able to avoid the darkness of this world and remain
in the light!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTION Page 43: Depicted is an early copy of the apos-
tle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ To what do ˛ How can we avoid ˛ How can we “go
“darkness” and “darkness”? on walking as
“light” mentioned children of light”?
at Ephesians 5:8
refer?

SONG 95
The Light Gets Brighter
 STUDY
ARTICLE 13

Find Comfort in
Jehovah’s Approval
“I have approved you.”—LUKE 3:22.

SONG 127
The Sort of Person I Should Be

FOCUS
How to overcome personal doubts about having
Jehovah’s approval.
52
HOW reassuring it is to know that Jehovah approves
of his people as a group! The Bible says: “Jehovah
takes pleasure in his people.” (Ps. 149:4) At times,
however, some get so discouraged that they may
wonder, ‘Does Jehovah approve of me personally?’ A
number of Jehovah’s faithful worshippers in Bible
times had moments when they struggled with such
thoughts.—1 Sam. 1:6-10; Job 29:2, 4; Ps. 51:11.
2 The Bible clearly shows that imperfect humans
can gain Jehovah’s approval, or goodwill. How? We
must exercise faith in Jesus Christ and get baptized.
(John 3:16) We thus demonstrate publicly that we
have repented of our sins and made a promise to God
to do his will. (Acts 2:38; 3:19) Jehovah is delighted
when we take these steps to cultivate a relationship
with him. As long as we continue to do our best to
live up to our dedication vow, Jehovah approves of
us and considers us his close friends.—Ps. 25:14.
3 Why, though, might some at times feel that
God does not approve of them? How does Jeho-
vah express his approval? And how can a Christian
strengthen his confidence that he does have God’s
approval?
1. What feeling may some faithful servants of Jehovah struggle
with?
2. Who have Jehovah’s approval?
3. What will we now discuss?

MARCH 2024 53
 WHY SOME MAY FEEL THAT JEHOVAH
DOES NOT APPROVE OF THEM
4 A number of us have battled feelings of low self-
worth since childhood. (Ps. 88:15) A brother named
Adrián says: “I have always felt worthless. Some of
my earliest memories are of praying that my family
would make it into Paradise, although I was sure that
I was not good enough to be there.” Tony, who did
not grow up in a Christian home, says: “My parents
never told me that they loved me or were proud of
me. The message was that I could always do better.”
5 If we at times struggle with feelings of worthless-
ness, we can remember that in his own way, Jehovah
drew us to him. (John 6:44) He sees the good in us
that we may not see in ourselves, and he knows our
heart. (1 Sam. 16:7; 2 Chron. 6:30) So we can trust
him when he says that we are precious.—1 John 3:
19, 20.
6 Before learning the truth, some of us did things
that may still fill us with guilt. (1 Pet. 4:3) Even
faithful Christians battle against sinful inclinations.
Does your heart condemn you? If so, take com-
fort in knowing that faithful servants of Jehovah
have struggled with similar feelings. For example, the
4-5. Despite feelings of low self-worth, of what can we be sure?
6. How did the apostle Paul feel about his past sins?

54 THE WATCHTOWER
apostle Paul felt miserable when reflecting on his im-
perfections. (Rom. 7:24) Of course, Paul had repent-
ed of his sins and got baptized. Still, he referred to
himself as “the least of the apostles” and the “fore-
most” sinner.—1 Cor. 15:9; 1 Tim. 1:15.
7 Our heavenly Father promises to forgive us if we
are repentant. (Ps. 86:5) So if we are truly sorry for
the sins we have committed, we can take Jehovah at
his word—he has forgiven us.—Col. 2:13.
8 We all want to serve Jehovah as fully as possible.
However, some feel that they can never do enough to
gain his approval. A sister named Amanda says: “I
tend to equate giving Jehovah my best with the con-
stant need to do more. I often expect more of myself
than I can give. When I ‘fail,’ I assume that Jehovah
is as disappointed with me as I am with myself.”
9 How can we overcome the feeling that we can
never do enough to please Jehovah? Remember that
Jehovah is not rigid, or inflexible. He never demands
more of us than we can reasonably do. He appreci-
ates whatever we do for him as long as we are doing
our best. Also, reflect on Bible examples of those
who served Jehovah whole-souled. Think of Paul. He
7. What should we keep in mind about our past sins?
8-9. How can we overcome the feeling that we can never do enough
to please Jehovah?

MARCH 2024 55
exerted himself zealously for years, traveling thou-
sands of miles and establishing many congregations.
Yet, when circumstances limited his share in the
preaching work, did he lose God’s approval? No. He
continued to do what he could, and Jehovah blessed
him. (Acts 28:30, 31) Similarly, what we can give to
Jehovah may vary at times. But what matters to him
is why we do it. Let us now consider some ways that
Jehovah expresses his approval of us.
HOW DOES JEHOVAH EXPRESS
HIS APPROVAL?
10 Through the Bible. Jehovah loves to express warm
approval of those for whom he has affection. The
Scriptures report two occasions when He told Jesus
that he was His beloved, approved Son. (Matt. 3:17;
17:5) Would you like to hear Jehovah reassure you of
his approval? Jehovah does not speak to us audibly,
but he speaks to us through the pages of his Word. We
can “hear” Jehovah’s voice of approval when we read
Jesus’ words in the Gospels. (Read John 16:27.) Je-
sus perfectly reflected his Father’s personality. So
when we read that Jesus expressed his approval of his
imperfect but faithful followers, we can picture Jeho-
vah saying those words to us.—John 15:9, 15.

10. How can we “hear” Jehovah express his approval of us? (John
16:27)

56 THE WATCHTOWER
 Jehovah expresses his approval of us in many ways
(See paragraphs 10, 12-13)

11Through his actions. Jehovah is eager to help us,

such as by providing for our material needs. At times,
Jehovah may allow us to suffer hardships, as he did
righteous Job. (Job 1:8-11) Trials do not mean that
we have lost God’s approval. Rather, they provide us
with opportunities to prove the depth of our love for
God and our trust in him. (Read James 1:12.) We will
experience his loving care and support as he helps us
to endure.
12 Consider a brother in Asia named Dmitrii. He
lost his job and could not find work for many months.
So he decided to increase his share in the min-
istry, thus showing his trust in Jehovah. Months
11. Why does experiencing hardships not mean that we have lost
Jehovah’s approval? (James 1:12)
12. What can we learn from Dmitrii’s experience?

MARCH 2024 57
dragged on, and he still could not find work. Then he
experienced health problems to the point that he be-
came bedridden. He began to doubt his worth as a
husband and father, and he wondered if he had lost
Jehovah’s approval. Then one evening his daughter
printed on a sheet of paper the words found at Isa-
iah 30:15: “Your strength will be in keeping calm and
showing trust.” She brought it to his bedside and
said, “Daddy, when you feel bad, you can remember
this scripture.” Dmitrii realized that, thanks to Jeho-
vah, his family still had adequate food, clothing, and
shelter. “What I needed to do,” he says, “was stay
calm and continue trusting in my God.” If you are
facing a similar trial, you can trust that Jehovah
cares about you and will help you to endure.
13 Through fellow worshippers. Jehovah uses our
brothers and sisters to express his approval of us. For
example, he may move others to speak encouraging
words at the right time. A sister in Asia experienced
this during a time of great stress. She had lost her job
and had become seriously ill. Then her husband com-
mitted a serious sin and was removed as an elder. “I
could not figure out why this was happening,” she
said. “I thought that perhaps I had done something
wrong and had lost Jehovah’s approval.” Our sister
13. Whom may Jehovah use to express his approval of us, and how?

58 THE WATCHTOWER
 “The Fruitage of the Spirit Is . . .”
Explore this nine-part series in The Watchtower to learn
more about each aspect of the fruitage of God’s holy
spirit.—Gal. 5:22, 23.

˙ “Love—A Precious Quality” (w17.08)

˙ “Joy—A Quality We Acquire From God” (w18.02)
˙ “Peace—How Can You Find It?” (w18.05)
˙ “Patience—Endurance With a Purpose” (w18.08)
˙ “Kindness—A Quality Expressed in Word and Action”
(w18.11)
˙ “Goodness—How Can You Cultivate It?” (w19.03)
˙ “Faith—A Strengthening Quality” (w19.08)
˙ “Mildness—How Does It Benefit Us?” (w20.05)
˙ “Self-Control—Essential for Jehovah’s Approval”
(w20.06)

begged Jehovah to reassure her of his approval. How

did he do so? She notes, “The congregation elders
talked with me and reassured me of Jehovah’s love.”
Later she again asked Jehovah for help. “That same
MARCH 2024 59
day I received a letter from a group of brothers and
sisters in the congregation,” she says. “As I read their
comforting words, I felt that Jehovah had heard me.”
Yes, Jehovah often expresses his approval through
the kind words of others.—Ps. 10:17.
14 Jehovah also expresses his approval of us by us-
ing fellow believers to give us counsel when we need
it. For example, in the first century, Jehovah used the
apostle Paul to write 14 inspired letters to fellow be-
lievers. Those letters included firm but loving coun-
sel. Why did Jehovah inspire Paul to include such
counsel? Jehovah is a good Father, and he disciplines
his children “in whom he delights.” (Prov. 3:11, 12)
So if we receive Bible-based counsel, we can see it as
evidence that we have God’s approval, not that we
have lost it. (Heb. 12:6) What are other indications
that we have Jehovah’s approval?

OTHER EVIDENCE THAT JEHOVAH

APPROVES OF US
15Jehovah gives his holy spirit to those whom he
approves of. (Matt. 12:18) We can ask ourselves,
‘Have I been able to display some aspect of the fruit-
14. What is another way that Jehovah expresses his approval of us?
15. To whom does Jehovah give his holy spirit, and why can this
give us confidence?

60 THE WATCHTOWER
age of God’s spirit in my life?’ Do you notice that you
are more patient with others than you were before
you came to know Jehovah? Actually, the more you
learn to display the fruitage of God’s spirit, the more
evident it will be to you that you have Jehovah’s
approval!—See the box “The Fruitage of the Spirit
Is . . .”
16 Jehovah is pleased to entrust the good news to
those whom he approves of. (Read 1 Thessalonians
2:4.) Note how a sister named Jocelyn benefited
from sharing the good news with others. One day,
Jocelyn woke up feeling depressed. “I felt as if I had
nothing to give,” she says. “But I was pioneering, and
it was my service day. So I said a prayer and went out
in service.” That morning Jocelyn met Mary, a kind
woman who accepted a Bible study. Some months lat-
er Mary mentioned that she had been praying to God
for help when Jocelyn knocked on her door. Reflect-
ing on this experience, Jocelyn says, “I felt as if Je-
hovah were telling me, ‘I approve of you.’ ” Of course,
not everyone will respond positively to our preach-
ing work. But we can be sure that Jehovah is pleased
when we try our best to share the good news with
others.
16. Whom does Jehovah use to preach the good news, and how
does that make you feel? (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

MARCH 2024 61
 How can you see evidence of Jehovah’s approval?
(See paragraphs 15-17)

17 Jehovah applies the value of the ransom to those

whom he approves of. (1 Tim. 2:5, 6) But what if our
heart resists the idea that Jehovah approves of us,
even though we have faith in the ransom and are bap-
tized? Remember, we cannot always trust our own
feelings but we can trust Jehovah. He considers
those who have faith in the ransom to be righteous
in his eyes and promises to bless them. (Read Psalm
5:12; Rom. 3:26) Meditating on the ransom helped
Vicky. One day, after thinking deeply about the ran-
som, she realized: “Jehovah had been patient with me
for so long. . . . Yet, I was, in effect, saying to him:
‘Your love is not great enough to reach me. Your
Son’s sacrifice is not enough to cover me.’ ” By med-
17. What do you learn from Vicky’s statements about the ransom?
(Psalm 5:12)

62 THE WATCHTOWER
itating on this gift of the ransom, she began to feel
loved by Jehovah. We too will feel loved by Jehovah
and sense his approval as we reflect on the ransom.
18
Although we may try hard to apply the above
suggestions, we may at times get discouraged and
wonder if we have Jehovah’s approval. If that hap-
pens, remember that he approves of “those who con-
tinue loving Him.” (Jas. 1:12) So continue to draw
close to Jehovah and to take note of his approval of
you. Always bear in mind that Jehovah “is not far off
from each one of us.”—Acts 17:27.
18. Of what can we be confident if we continue loving our heaven-
ly Father?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTION Pages 57, 62: Some photos are reenactments.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ Why may some ˛ What are ˛ Why can we be
feel that Jehovah some ways sure that we have
does not approve that Jehovah God’s approval?
of them? expresses his
approval of us?

SONG 88
Make Me Know Your Ways
34567 ˙
March 2024
Vol. 145, No. 3 ENGLISH

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 9: May 6-12 2
Are You Ready to Dedicate Yourself to Jehovah?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 10: May 13-19 15
“Keep Following” Jesus After Baptism
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 11: May 20-26 27
You Can Persevere Despite Disappointments
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 12: May 27–June 2 40
Avoid the Darkness—Remain in the Light
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 13: June 3-9 52
Find Comfort in Jehovah’s Approval

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