JAN UARY 2 02 5

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LARGE PRINT EDITION

OUR YEARTEXT FOR 2025:

“Give Jehovah the glory due his name.”
—PS. 96:8.

STUDY ARTICLES FOR:

MARCH 3 –APRI L 6 , 202 5
 STUDY
ARTICLE 1

Give Glory to Jehovah

OUR YEARTEXT FOR 2025:
“Give Jehovah the glory due his name.”—PS. 96:8.

SONG 2
Jehovah Is Your Name

FOCUS
Learning how we can give Jehovah the glory he deserves.
2
HAVE you noticed that many today seem self-
absorbed? For example, some go to great lengths
on social media to draw attention to themselves
and to their accomplishments. However, relatively
few today give glory to Jehovah God. In this arti-
cle, we will discuss what it means to give Jehovah
glory and what should motivate us to do so. We will
also learn how we can give God the glory he right-
ly deserves and how he himself will glorify his name
in the near future.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN
TO GIVE JEHOVAH GLORY?
2 What is glory? In the Bible, the word “glo-
ry” can refer to anything that makes someone
impressive. Jehovah made an outstanding dis-
play of his glory shortly after the nation of Isra-
el was delivered from slavery in Egypt. Picture
the scene: Millions of Israelites assemble at the
base of Mount Sinai to meet their God. A dark
cloud engulfs the mountain. Suddenly, a tremen-
dous earthquake—apparently coupled with volca-
nic activity—shakes the ground beneath their feet
1. Many today focus on what?
2. How did Jehovah reveal his glory at Mount Sinai? (See also cover
picture.)

JANUARY 2025 3
while lightning, thunder, and the deafening sound
of a horn fill the air. (Ex. 19:16-18; 24:17; Ps. 68:8)
Imagine how impressed those Israelites were when
Jehovah revealed this powerful display of his glory.
3
But what about humans? Can we actually bring
glory to Jehovah? Yes, we can. One way we give Je-
hovah glory is by telling others about his awesome
power and his heartwarming qualities. We also glo-
rify God when we give him credit for things we ac-
complish in his strength. (Isa. 26:12) King David
was an outstanding example of one who gave glory
to Jehovah. In a prayer that he offered in the pres-
ence of the congregation of Israel, David said to
God: “Yours, O Jehovah, are the greatness and
the mightiness and the beauty and the splendor
and the majesty, for everything in the heavens
and on the earth is yours.” After David concluded
his prayer, “all the congregation praised Jehovah.”
—1 Chron. 29:11, 20.
4
When Jesus was on earth, he glorified his Fa-
ther by acknowledging Him as the Source of his
miracles. (Mark 5:18-20) Jesus also brought glory
to Jehovah by the way he spoke about his Father
3. What does it mean to give Jehovah glory?
4. How did Jesus give glory to Jehovah?

4 THE WATCHTOWER
and the way he treated others. On one occasion,
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue. Among those
listening was a woman who had been possessed by
a demon for 18 years. The demon had caused her
body to be bent double so that she was unable to
straighten up. How distressing! Moved by compas-
sion, Jesus approached the woman and addressed
her tenderly, saying: “Woman, you are released
from your weakness.” He then laid his hands on
her, and instantly she stood up straight and “began
to glorify God,” her health and dignity fully re-
stored! (Luke 13:10-13) That woman had good rea-
son to give Jehovah glory, and so do we.

WHAT MOTIVATES US
TO GIVE JEHOVAH GLORY?
5 We glorify Jehovah because we deeply respect
him. We have many reasons to respect him. Jeho-
vah is almighty; he has limitless power. (Ps. 96:
4-7) His profound wisdom is clearly evident in the
things he has made. He is the Source of our life and
the Sustainer of it. (Rev. 4:11) He is loyal. (Rev.
15:4) Everything he does succeeds, and he always
keeps his promises. (Josh. 23:14) No wonder the
5. What reasons do we have to respect Jehovah?

JANUARY 2025 5
prophet Jeremiah said regarding Jehovah: “Among
all the wise ones of the nations and among all their
kingdoms, there is no one at all like you”! (Jer. 10:
6, 7) Certainly, we have good reasons to respect our
heavenly Father. But Jehovah does more than earn
our respect—he wins our love.
6
We glorify Jehovah because we dearly love him.
Consider several qualities of Jehovah that make us
love him. He is merciful and compassionate. (Ps.
103:13; Isa. 49:15) He is empathetic; when we feel
hurt, he feels hurt. (Zech. 2:8) He makes it easy for
us to draw close to him as a Friend. (Ps. 25:14; Acts
17:27) And he is humble; “he stoops down to look
on heaven and earth, raising the lowly from the
dust.” (Ps. 113:6, 7) How could anyone not want to
glorify our great God?—Ps. 86:12.
7
We glorify Jehovah because we want others to
know him. Many do not know the truth about
Jehovah. Why? Because Satan has blinded their
minds by spreading terrible lies about Him. (2 Cor.
4:4) Satan has convinced people that Jehovah is
vengeful, uncaring, and the cause of much of the
world’s suffering. But we know the truth about
6. Why do we love Jehovah?
7. What special opportunity do we have?

6 THE WATCHTOWER
our God! We have the opportunity to set the rec-
ord straight and thus bring him glory. (Isa. 43:10)
Psalm 96 focuses on giving glory to Jehovah. As we
discuss some of the inspired words in this psalm,
think about ways in which you might give Jehovah
the glory he so rightly deserves.

HOW CAN WE GIVE JEHOVAH

THE GLORY HE DESERVES?
8 Read Psalm 96:1-3. We can glorify Jehovah by
what we say about him. In these verses, Jehovah’s
people are invited to “sing to Jehovah,” to “praise
his name,” to “proclaim the good news of his salva-
tion,” and to “declare his glory among the nations.”
All these are ways in which we can glorify our heav-
enly Father. Faithful Jews and first-century Chris-
tians did not hesitate to tell others about all the
good things Jehovah had done for them and to de-
fend his reputation. (Dan. 3:16-18; Acts 4:29) How
can we do the same?
9 Consider the experience of Angelena,
a sister

Some names have been changed.

8. What is one way we can glorify Jehovah? (Psalm 96:1-3)

9-10. What do you learn from Angelena’s experience? (See also pic-
ture.)

JANUARY 2025 7
We can glorify Jehovah
by means of our speech,
our valuable things,
and our conduct
(See paragraphs 9-10, 12, 14)

who lives in the United States. She courageously

defended Jehovah’s reputation at the company
where she works. As a new employee, Angelena
was invited to a meeting where those who had re-
cently joined the company were given the oppor-
tunity to tell their colleagues something about
their background. Angelena prepared a slide show
that reflected the joy she has as one of Jehovah’s
Witnesses. However, just before it was her turn
to speak, a fellow worker introduced himself as
someone who had been raised as one of Jehovah’s
Witnesses. He began to mock our beliefs. Ange-
lena says: “My heart was pounding. But I thought
to myself: ‘Am I going to allow someone to lie
about Jehovah? Or am I going to stand up for
Him?’ ”
8 THE WATCHTOWER
 10 When her colleague concluded, Angelena said
a quick, silent prayer. She then addressed him
kindly, saying: “My background is similar to
yours. I too was raised as one of Jehovah’s Wit-
nesses, and I continue to be one to this day.” The
tension was palpable; yet, Angelena maintained
her composure as she shared heartwarming im-
ages from spiritual events she had attended and
as she tactfully defended her beliefs. (1 Pet. 3:
15) What was the result? By the time Angelena
concluded her presentation, the man’s attitude
had softened. He even acknowledged that he had
fond memories of growing up as one of Jehovah’s
Witnesses. Angelena says: “Jehovah deserves to
be defended. It is an honor to speak up for his
name.” We too have the honor of praising Jehovah
JANUARY 2025 9
and glorifying him even when others dishonor
him.
11 Read Psalm 96:8. We can glorify Jehovah with
our valuable things. True worshippers have always
honored Jehovah in that way. (Prov. 3:9) For exam-
ple, the Israelites contributed toward building and
maintaining the temple. (2 Ki. 12:4, 5; 1 Chron. 29:
3-9) Caring disciples of Christ ministered to him
and his apostles “from their belongings.” (Luke 8:
1-3) First-century Christians also contributed re-
lief aid for their spiritual brothers and sisters.
(Acts 11:27-29) Today we too can glorify Jehovah
by means of our voluntary donations.
12Consider just one experience that shows how
our donations bring glory to Jehovah. A 2020 re-
port described the effects of a prolonged drought
in Zimbabwe. Millions were left on the brink of star-
vation, including a sister named Prisca. Despite the
drought, Prisca continued her routine of preaching
each Wednesday and Friday, even during plowing
season. Her neighbors ridiculed her for going in
the ministry instead of working in her fields, say-
11. How have true worshippers throughout history followed the
principle found at Psalm 96:8?
12. How can our donations bring glory to Jehovah? (See also pic-
ture.)

10 THE WATCHTOWER
ing, “You are going to starve.” Prisca would confi-
dently reply, “Jehovah has never failed his ser-
vants.” Not long after that, she benefited from re-
lief supplies from our organization. Those relief
supplies were made available thanks to our dona-
tions. Prisca’s neighbors were impressed, and they
told her, “God has never failed you, so we want to
learn more about him.” Seven of her neighbors be-
gan attending congregation meetings.
13 Read Psalm 96:9. We can glorify Jehovah by
our conduct. The priests who served at Jehovah’s
temple needed to be physically clean. (Ex. 40:30-
32) Yet, even more important than physical clean-
liness is clean conduct. (Ps. 24:3, 4; 1 Pet. 1:15,
16) We need to work hard to strip off “the old
personality”—unclean attitudes and practices—and
to clothe ourselves with “the new personality”—a
way of thinking and acting that reflects Jeho-
vah’s glorious qualities. (Col. 3:9, 10) With Je-
hovah’s help, even the most immoral and violent
individuals can change and put on the new person-
ality.
14 Consider the experience of Jack, a violent and
13. How can our conduct bring glory to Jehovah? (Psalm 96:9)
14. What do you learn from Jack’s experience? (See also picture.)

JANUARY 2025 11
Eventually,
everyone alive
will give Jehovah
the glory due
his name!
(See paragraph 16)

dangerous man who was nicknamed The Demon.

Because of his crimes, Jack was sentenced to
death. However, while waiting for the sentence
to be carried out, Jack agreed to a Bible study
with a brother who visited the prison where Jack
was incarcerated. Despite his background, Jack
stripped off his old personality and in time quali-
fied for baptism. Jack changed so much that on the
day he was to be executed, some of the prison
guards had tears in their eyes as they said goodbye.
A sergeant who worked at the prison said: “Jack
was once the worst inmate in this place. Now he’s
one of the best.” The week following Jack’s execu-
tion, the brothers who returned to conduct the
weekly meeting at the prison met an inmate who
was attending the meeting for the first time. What
12 THE WATCHTOWER
moved him to attend? He was impressed with Jack’s
changed conduct and wanted to know what he
needed to do to worship Jehovah. Clearly, our con-
duct can bring glory to our heavenly Father!—1 Pet.
2:12.
HOW WILL JEHOVAH GLORIFY
HIS NAME IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
15 Read Psalm 96:10-13. These final verses of
Psalm 96 describe Jehovah as a righteous Judge
and King. How will Jehovah glorify his name in the
near future? By means of his judgments. Soon he
will execute Babylon the Great for bringing re-
proach on his holy name. (Rev. 17:5, 16; 19:1, 2)
Some who witness the destruction of Babylon the
Great might join us in true worship. Finally, at Ar-
mageddon, Jehovah will destroy Satan’s entire sys-
tem, eliminating all those who oppose him and blas-
pheme his name but saving all those who love and
obey him and who are proud to give him glory.
(Mark 8:38; 2 Thess. 1:6-10) After the final test
that follows Christ’s Thousand Year Reign, Jehovah
will have completely sanctified his name. (Rev. 20:
7-10) At that time, “the earth will be filled with the
15. How will Jehovah completely glorify his name in the near fu-
ture? (Psalm 96:10-13)

JANUARY 2025 13
knowledge of the glory of Jehovah as the waters
cover the sea.”—Hab. 2:14.
16
How thrilling it will be when everyone alive will
be giving Jehovah the glory due his name! But un-
til that day arrives, we can do our part by glorify-
ing our God at every opportunity. To emphasize
this important issue, the Governing Body has cho-
sen Psalm 96:8 as our yeartext for 2025: “Give Je-
hovah the glory due his name.”
16. What are you determined to do? (See also picture.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTIONS Cover: At Mount Sinai, Jehovah powerfully
displayed his glory to the Israelites. Pages 8-9: Reenactments of the
experiences of Angelena, Prisca, and Jack.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ What does it mean to give Jehovah glory?

˛ What motivates us to give Jehovah glory?

˛ How can we give Jehovah the glory he deserves?

SONG 12
Great God, Jehovah
 STUDY
ARTICLE 2

Husbands,
Honor Your Wife
“You husbands, . . . assign them honor.”—1 PET. 3:7.

SONG 132
Now We Are One

FOCUS
How a husband can honor his wife in word and action.
15
JEHOVAH is “the happy God,” and he wants us to
be happy too. (1 Tim. 1:11) He has given us many
gifts to help us enjoy life. (Jas. 1:17) One of those
gifts is marriage. When a man and a woman get
married, they vow to love, respect, and cherish
each other. Maintaining a close bond can bring
them real joy.—Prov. 5:18.
2 Sadly, many married couples in today’s world
forget the promises they made on their wedding
day. As a result, they are not happy. A recent re-
port from the World Health Organization indicates
that many husbands physically, verbally, or emo-
tionally abuse their wife. A husband who does this
might treat his wife respectfully in front of others
but then mistreat her at home. Many marriages are
also strained when a husband views pornography.
3What can cause some husbands to be abusive?
They may have been raised by a violent father, so
they think that abusive behavior is normal. Oth-
ers are influenced by the culture around them,
which may promote the wrong idea that “a real
man” must use force to show his wife who is
1. What is one reason why Jehovah created the marriage arrange-
ment?
2. What is the state of many marriages today?
3. What factors can contribute to a husband’s abusive behavior?

16 THE WATCHTOWER
the boss. Other men were not taught to control
their emotions, including their anger. Some men
have developed a warped view of women and sex
because of regularly viewing pornography. Addi-
tionally, reports indicate that the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic has intensified these prob-
lems. Of course, none of these factors justify a
husband’s abusive behavior.
4 Christian husbands need to guard against
adopting an improper view of women.
Why?
One reason is that a person’s thoughts often
lead to actions. The apostle Paul warned anointed
Christians in Rome to “stop being molded by this
system of things.” (Rom. 12:1, 2) When Paul wrote
to the Romans, the congregation had evidently
been in existence for some time. Yet, Paul’s words
imply that some in the congregation were still be-
ing influenced by the customs and thinking of the
world. That is why he exhorted them to change
their thinking and behavior. That counsel certain-
ly applies to Christian husbands today. Sadly, some
of them have been influenced by the thinking of

Husbands will benefit from reading the article “Do You Treat Women
as Jehovah Does?” in the January 2024 issue of The Watchtower.

4. What do Christian husbands need to guard against, and why?

JANUARY 2025 17
the world and have even abused their wife.
How
does Jehovah expect a husband to treat his wife?
We find the answer in the theme scripture for this
article.
5 Read 1 Peter 3:7. Jehovah commands hus-
bands to honor their wife. Honor refers to the way
we treat someone whom we respect. A husband
who honors his wife will treat her in a kind and lov-
ing way. In this article, we will consider how a hus-
band can show honor to his wife. But first, let us
discuss the kind of conduct that dishonors wives.
REJECT CONDUCT
THAT DISHONORS YOUR WIFE
6 Being physically abusive. Jehovah hates any-
one who is violent. (Ps. 11:5) He specifically con-
demns husbands who abuse their wife. (Mal. 2:16;
read Colossians 3:19.) According to our theme
scripture, 1 Peter 3:7, if a husband does not
treat his wife well, his relationship with God will

Victims of domestic abuse may benefit from reading the article “Help
for Victims of Domestic Abuse” in the “More Topics” article series on
jw.org and in JW Library˙.

5. According to 1 Peter 3:7, how should a husband treat his wife?

6. How does Jehovah feel about men who physically abuse their
wife? (Colossians 3:19)

18 THE WATCHTOWER
be affected. Jehovah may not even listen to his
prayers.
7 Being verbally abusive. Some husbands abuse
their wife with angry words and hurtful speech.
But Jehovah hates “anger, wrath, screaming, and
abusive speech.”
(Read Ephesians 4:31, 32.) He
hears everything. The way a husband speaks to his
wife, even in the privacy of their home, matters to
Jehovah. A husband who speaks harshly to his
wife damages not only his marriage but also his
friendship with God.—Jas. 1:26.
8Viewing pornography. How does Jehovah feel
about pornography? He hates it. So a husband who
views unclean images damages his relationship
with Jehovah and degrades his wife. Jehovah ex-
pects a husband to remain loyal to his wife not
only in actions but also in thoughts. Jesus said
that a man who looks at another woman in a

EXPRESSION EXPLAINED: “Abusive speech” includes degrading
name-calling and harsh and relentless criticism. Any speech that is
malicious, demeaning, or insulting is considered to be abusive.
 See on jw.org and in JW Library the article “Pornography Can Shat-
ter Your Marriage.”

7. According to Ephesians 4:31, 32, what type of speech must hus-

bands avoid? (See also “Expression Explained.”)
8. How does Jehovah feel about pornography, and why?

JANUARY 2025 19
passionate way has already committed adultery
“in his heart.”
—Matt. 5:28, 29.
9 Being sexually demeaning. Some husbands pres-
sure their wife to engage in sexual acts that are de-
meaning and that make her feel unclean or un-
loved. Jehovah hates such cold and thoughtless
behavior. He expects a husband to love and cher-
ish his wife and to respect her feelings. (Eph. 5:28,
29) What if a Christian husband is already de-
meaning or abusive toward his wife or views por-
nography? How can he change his thinking and ac-
tions?
HOW TO OVERCOME
DISHONORABLE CONDUCT
10What can help a husband to overcome abusive
and demeaning behavior? He can strive to imitate
Jesus. Although Jesus never married, the way he
treated his disciples is a model for how a husband

A wife whose husband views pornography would benefit from the ar-
ticle “When a Marriage Mate Views Pornography” in the August 2023
issue of The Watchtower.

9. Why does Jehovah hate it when a husband is sexually demean-

ing toward his wife?
10. How can husbands benefit from Jesus’ example?

20 THE WATCHTOWER
should treat his wife. (Eph. 5:25) For example,
consider what husbands can learn from the way
Jesus treated his apostles and from the way he
spoke to them.
11 Jesus treated his apostles in a kind and digni-
fied way. He was never harsh or domineering. Al-
though he was their Lord and Master, Jesus did
not feel the need to prove his authority over them
through displays of power. Instead, he humbly
served them. (John 13:12-17) He told his disciples:
“Learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and low-
ly in heart, and you will find refreshment for your-
selves.” (Matt. 11:28-30) Note that Jesus was mild-
tempered. A mild person is not weak. Rather, he
has the inner strength to show restraint. When
provoked, he remains calm and in control of his
emotions.
12Jesus used his words to comfort and refresh
others. He did not speak harshly to his followers.
(Luke 8:47, 48) Even when opposers insulted him
and tried to provoke him, “he did not insult in re-
turn.” (1 Pet. 2:21-23) At times, Jesus even chose
to remain silent rather than reply harshly. (Matt.
11. How did Jesus treat his apostles?
12. How did Jesus speak to others?

JANUARY 2025 21
27:12-14) What an excellent example for Christian
husbands!
13Jesus instructed husbands to remain loyal to
their wife. He quoted his Father, who said that a
husband should “stick to his wife.” (Read Mat-
thew 19:4-6.) The Greek verb used in that passage
for “stick to” literally means “to glue.” Therefore,
the marital bond between a husband and a wife
should be so strong that it is as if they were glued
together. Their bond cannot be broken without
damaging both of them. A husband who develops
such a bond with his wife will reject all forms of
pornography. He will immediately turn away from
“looking at what is worthless.” (Ps. 119:37) In ef-
fect, he makes a contract with his eyes not to look
passionately at any woman other than his wife.
—Job 31:1.
14A husband who physically or verbally abuses
his wife needs to take additional steps to repair his
relationship with Jehovah and with his wife. What
are these steps? First, he recognizes that he has a
13. As stated at Matthew 19:4-6, how can a husband “stick to his
wife”? (See also picture.)
14. What steps should an abusive husband take to repair his rela-
tionship with Jehovah and with his wife?

22 THE WATCHTOWER
 A loyal husband refuses to look at pornography
(See paragraph 13)

serious problem. Nothing is hidden from Jeho-

vah’s sight. (Ps. 44:21; Eccl. 12:14; Heb. 4:13) Sec-
ond, he stops abusing his wife and changes his
behavior. (Prov. 28:13) Third, he apologizes to
his wife and to Jehovah and seeks their forgive-
ness. (Acts 3:19) He should also beg Jehovah for
both the desire to change and the help to control
his thoughts, speech, and actions. (Ps. 51:10-12;
2 Cor. 10:5; Phil. 2:13) Fourth, he acts in harmo-
ny with his prayers by learning to hate all forms of
violence and abusive speech. (Ps. 97:10) Fifth,
he seeks immediate help from loving shepherds in
JANUARY 2025 23
the congregation. (Jas. 5:14-16) Sixth, he develops
a plan that will help him to avoid all such behavior
in the future. A husband who views pornography
should follow these same steps. Jehovah will bless
his efforts to change his behavior. (Ps. 37:5) But it
is not enough for a husband to reject dishonorable
conduct. He also needs to learn to show honor to
his wife. How can he do that?
HOW TO HONOR YOUR WIFE
15Show affection. Some happily married brothers
make it a habit to do something every day to show
their wife how much they love her. (1 John 3:18)
A husband may show tender affection for his wife
in small ways, such as by holding her hand or giv-
ing her a warm embrace. He may send her a text
message and tell her “I miss you” or ask “How is
your day going?” From time to time, he may ex-
press his love for her by writing some well-chosen
words on a card. When a husband does these
things, he honors his wife and strengthens their
marriage.
16 Express appreciation. A husband who honors
15. How can a husband show affection for his wife?
16. Why should a husband praise his wife?

24 THE WATCHTOWER
his wife builds her up and encourages her. One way
he does this is by remembering to show apprecia-
tion for all that she does to support him. (Col. 3:
15) When a husband sincerely praises his wife, he
warms her heart. She will feel secure, loved, and
honored.—Prov. 31:28.
17Be kind and respectful. A husband who loves
his wife values and cherishes her. He views her as
a priceless gift from Jehovah. (Prov. 18:22; 31:10)
As a result, he treats her kindly and respectfully,
even during the more intimate and private aspects
of marriage. He will not pressure her to engage in
sexual acts that make her feel uncomfortable, that
are demeaning, or that bother her conscience.
He
too will strive to maintain a clean conscience be-
fore Jehovah.—Acts 24:16.
18 Husbands, you can be sure that Jehovah sees

The Bible does not provide details as to what sexual practices be-
tween a husband and a wife should be considered clean or unclean. A
Christian couple must make decisions that reflect their resolve to hon-
or Jehovah, to please each other, and to maintain a clean conscience.
Generally speaking, a couple would not discuss with others this inti-
mate aspect of their marriage.

17. How can a husband show respect for his wife?

18. What should husbands be determined to do? (See also the box
“Four Ways to Be a Respectful Husband.”)

JANUARY 2025 25
FOUR WAYS TO BE A
RESPECTFUL HUSBAND
Christians must be gracious when dealing with others.
(Col. 4:6) How can a husband apply that counsel when
speaking to or about his wife?
1. Imitate Jehovah by speaking politely, using such words as
“please” and “thank you.” (Gen. 13:14; 15:5) Doing this is
more than just being polite. It shows respect for your wife.
2. Praise your wife for the good things she does. (Prov. 31:28,
29) Avoid revealing her faults to others.—Ps. 50:20.
3. “Be quick to listen, slow to speak.”—Jas. 1:19.
4. Speak in a mild manner even when discussing emotionally
charged topics.—Col. 3:8, 12.

26 THE WATCHTOWER
and appreciates your efforts to honor your wife in
all aspects of your life. Be determined to honor
her by avoiding dishonorable conduct and by be-
ing kind, respectful, and affectionate to her. In do-
ing so, you show her that you love and value her.
Honor your wife, and you will protect your most
important relationship—your friendship with Je-
hovah.—Ps. 25:14.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTION Page 23: A brother’s non-Witness coworkers try
to get him to look at their pornographic magazine.

HOW CAN A HUSBAND APPLY THE COUNSEL FOUND AT . . .

˛ Colossians 3:19?

˛ Ephesians 4:31, 32?

˛ Matthew 19:4-6?

SONG 131
“What God Has Yoked Together”
 STUDY
ARTICLE 3

Make Decisions
That Please Jehovah
“The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Most Holy One is understanding.”
—PROV. 9:10.

SONG 35
“Make Sure of the More Important Things”

FOCUS
How to use knowledge, understanding, and discernment
to make wise decisions.
28
EVERY DAY we need to make decisions. Some are rel-
atively easy to make, such as what to have for break-
fast or when to go to bed. Other matters are more
difficult to decide. They may affect our health, our
happiness, our loved ones, or our worship. We want
our decisions to benefit us and our family. Above
all, we hope that our decisions will please Jehovah.
—Rom. 12:1, 2.
2 You are more likely to make a wise decision if you
(1) get the facts, (2) consider Jehovah’s thinking on
the matter, and (3) weigh the options. This article
will discuss those steps, and it will also help us
see how we can train our powers of discernment.
—Prov. 2:11.

GET THE FACTS

3 The first step toward making a good decision is
to get the facts. Why is this important? Imagine that
a patient consults a doctor regarding a serious medi-
cal problem. Would the doctor make a decision about
a course of treatment without first examining the pa-
tient or asking him questions? Certainly not. You too
1. What challenge do we all face?
2. What steps will help you make wise decisions?
3. Illustrate why you need to get the facts before you make a deci-
sion.

JANUARY 2025 29
will make better decisions if you first consider the
facts that have a bearing on the situation at hand.
How can you do that?
4 You can often get the facts by asking questions.
Suppose you are invited to a social gathering. Should
you attend? If you are not acquainted with the host
or the arrangements, you will need to ask him such
questions as: “Where and when will the gathering be
held? How large will it be? Who will supervise it?
Who will attend? What activities are planned? Will al-
coholic drinks be served?” The answers to these
questions will help you to make a wise decision.
—Read Proverbs 18:13.
5 Next, facts in hand, look carefully at the full pic-
ture. For example, what if you learn that individuals
who have no regard for Bible principles will attend
the gathering or that alcoholic beverages will be
served without supervision? Do you see the potential
for this gathering to turn into a wild party? (1 Pet.
4:3) On the other hand, what if the timing of the
gathering conflicts with your scheduled congrega-
tion meeting or field ministry? When you have seen
the whole picture, you will be well on your way
4. In harmony with Proverbs 18:13, how can you make sure that you
know the facts? (See also picture.)
5. What should you do once you have the facts?

30 THE WATCHTOWER
to making a good decision. But there is another
step that you should take. You know how you see
the situation; but how does Jehovah feel about it?
—Prov. 2:6.

CONSIDER WHAT JEHOVAH THINKS

6Ask Jehovah to help you understand his thinking.
Jehovah promises to give us the wisdom to discern
whether a certain path will please him. He gives such
wisdom “generously to all and without reproaching.”
—Read James 1:5.
6. According to James 1:5, why should we pray for Jehovah’s help?

Get the facts by asking questions

(See paragraph 4)
Consider
Jehovah’s thinking
(See paragraph 8)

7 Once you have prayed for Jehovah’s direction,

pay careful attention to his answer. To illustrate: If
you got lost while traveling, you might ask a local
resident for help. But would you then walk away
before he had a chance to reply? Of course not.
You would listen carefully to his directions. Similar-
ly, after you ask Jehovah for wisdom, try to dis-
cern his answer by finding out which Bible laws
and principles apply to your situation. For example,
when deciding whether to attend the social gathering
mentioned earlier, you might consider what the Bi-
ble says about wild parties, bad associations, and
the need to put Kingdom interests ahead of your
personal preferences.—Matt. 6:33; Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor.
15:33.
7. How can you acquire Jehovah’s thinking? Illustrate.

32 THE WATCHTOWER
 8 Still, at times you may need help to find the in-
formation you are looking for. You might get input
from an experienced brother or sister. However, you
will also benefit from doing your own research. There
is a wealth of information in our study tools, such as
the Research Guide for Jehovah’s Witnesses and Scrip-
tures for Christian Living. Remember the goal: to make
a decision that will please Jehovah.
9 How can we be sure that our decision will please
Jehovah? First of all, we need to get to know him well.
“Knowledge of the Most Holy One is understand-
ing,” the Bible says. (Prov. 9:10) Yes, true under-
standing comes from knowing Jehovah’s qualities,
his purpose, and what he loves or hates. Ask yourself,
‘Knowing what I do about Jehovah, what decision can
I make that will please him?’—Read Ephesians 5:17.
10In order to please Jehovah, we must at times dis-
appoint those who are close to us. For example,
some well-meaning parents may insist that their adult
daughter marry a man who is financially well-off—or
one who can pay them a large dowry—even though
8. What can you do if you need help to find the information you are
looking for? (See also picture.)
9. How can we be sure that our decision will please Jehovah?
(Ephesians 5:17)
10. Why are Bible principles more important than family tradition
or local culture?

JANUARY 2025 33
he is not spiritually strong. True, they want their
daughter to be cared for materially, but who will help
her to progress as a spiritual person? How does Jeho-
vah view the matter? We find the answer at Matthew
6:33. There, Christians are urged to keep “seeking
first the Kingdom.” Although we honor our parents
and respect the people in our community, our main
concern is to make Jehovah happy.
WEIGH THE OPTIONS
11Once you have considered the Bible principles in-
volved in your decision, you need to evaluate your
options. (Read Philippians 1:9, 10; see study note on
“full discernment.”) The quality of discernment will
enable you to perceive the potential outcome of each
option. Sometimes the decision can be easily made.
But not all decisions are that straightforward. Dis-
cernment will help you to make wise decisions even
in complex situations.
12 Consider this scenario. You are looking for a job
to support your family. Two jobs are available. You
review all the facts, taking note of the type of work,
the schedule, the travel time, and so on. In both cas-
11. What quality discussed at Philippians 1:9, 10 will help you to
weigh your options?
12-13. How can discernment help you make a wise decision regard-
ing secular employment?

34 THE WATCHTOWER
es, the work itself is Scripturally acceptable. Perhaps
you favor one option because you prefer the type of
work or because the salary is higher. There are other
factors, though, to consider before making a deci-
sion.
13For example, would either job conflict with your
congregation meeting schedule? Would either job cut
into the time you need to care for your family’s emo-
tional and spiritual needs? Asking such questions will
help you to put “the more important things”—your
worship and your family’s needs—ahead of material
advantages. Then you can reach a decision that Je-
hovah will bless.
14 Discernment also moves us to consider how our
decision might affect other people so that we can
avoid “stumbling others.” (Phil. 1:10) This is impor-
tant when we make personal decisions in such areas
as dress and grooming. For example, we may prefer
a particular style of clothing or grooming. But what
if others inside or outside the congregation would be
offended by it? Discernment will help us to respect
their feelings. Love will motivate us to seek the ad-
vantage of “the other person” and to be modest.
(1 Cor. 10:23, 24, 32; 1 Tim. 2:9, 10) We will then
14. How will using discernment and showing love help us to avoid
stumbling others?

JANUARY 2025 35
How to Make Wise Decisions

˙ Get the facts: Ask questions; then look carefully to see the
full picture (Prov. 18:13)

˙ Consider what Jehovah thinks: Pray for help, and reason on

Bible principles (Eph. 5:17; Jas. 1:5)

˙ Weigh the options: Discern how a decision could affect you

and others, and calculate what it will take to implement the
decision (Phil. 1:9, 10)

36 THE WATCHTOWER
make a decision that reflects our love and respect for
others.
15If you are making a major decision, think about
what it would take to implement it. Jesus taught us
to “calculate the expense.” (Luke 14:28) So consider
the amount of time, resources, and effort that you
would need to invest to make the decision work. In
some cases, you might consult your family to deter-
mine what each member would need to do to support
the decision. Why is this kind of planning valuable? It
may reveal that your decision needs some adjust-
ments or that a different option is more practical.
And when you involve your family members and lis-
ten to their input, they will more readily work with
you to make the decision succeed.—Prov. 15:22.
MAKE A DECISION THAT WILL SUCCEED
16 If you have followed the steps outlined above,
you are ready to make a wise decision. You have ob-
tained the facts and examined the principles that will
help you make a decision that is pleasing to Jehovah.
Now you can ask Jehovah to help you make your de-
cision succeed.
15. What planning is needed before implementing a major deci-
sion?
16. What steps will help you to make a decision that will succeed?
(See also the box “How to Make Wise Decisions.”)

JANUARY 2025 37
 17
Even if you have made many successful decisions
in the past, remember that the key to making good
decisions is to rely, not on your own intelligence
or experience, but on the wisdom from Jehovah.
He alone can give you true knowledge, understand-
ing, and discernment—the building blocks of wis-
dom. (Prov. 2:1-5) Jehovah can help you to make de-
cisions that please him.—Ps. 23:2, 3.
17. What is the key to making good decisions?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTIONS Page 31: Young brothers and sisters talk
about a party invitation they received on their phones. Page 32: One of
the brothers does research before deciding whether to go to the party.

WHAT DO THESE SCRIPTURES TEACH YOU ABOUT MAKING GOOD

DECISIONS?
˛ Proverbs 18:13

˛ Ephesians 5:17

˛ Philippians 1:9, 10

SONG 28
Gaining Jehovah’s Friendship
 STUDY
ARTICLE 4

What Does the

Ransom Teach Us?
“By this the love of God was revealed.”—1 JOHN 4:9.

SONG 18
Grateful for the Ransom

FOCUS
What the ransom reveals about the appealing qualities
of Jehovah God and of Jesus Christ.
39
SURELY you agree that the ransom is a priceless gift!
(2 Cor. 9:15) Because Jesus sacrificed his human
life, you can have a close friendship with Jehovah
God. You can also have the prospect of everlasting
life. How fitting it is that we show gratitude for the
ransom and for Jehovah, who was moved by love
to provide it! (Rom. 5:8) To help us remain grate-
ful and never take the ransom for granted, Jesus
instituted the annual Memorial of his death.—Luke
22:19, 20.
2 This year, the Memorial will be observed on Satur-
day, April 12, 2025. No doubt all of us are planning to
attend. We will benefit greatly if we take time during
the Memorial season to meditate
on what Jehovah
and his Son have done for us. In this article, we will
discuss what the ransom teaches us about Jehovah
and his Son. In the following article, we will be helped
to understand how we can benefit from that ran-
som and how we can show our gratitude for it.

EXPRESSION EXPLAINED: To “meditate” means to focus your

thoughts on a subject and consider it more deeply.

1. How do we benefit from attending the annual Memorial of

Christ’s death?
2. What will be discussed in this article?

40 THE WATCHTOWER
 WHAT THE RANSOM
TEACHES US ABOUT JEHOVAH
3 The ransom teaches us about Jehovah’s justice.
(Deut. 32:4) How so? Consider: From disobedient
Adam, we inherited sin that leads to death. (Rom. 5:
12) To set us free from sin and death, Jehovah ar-
ranged for Jesus to provide the ransom. But how
could the sacrifice of one perfect human redeem mil-
lions of people? The apostle Paul explains: “Just as
through the disobedience of the one man [Adam]
many were made sinners, so also through the obedi-
ence of the one person [Jesus] many will be made
righteous.” (Rom. 5:19; 1 Tim. 2:6) In other words, it
took one disobedient perfect man to cause us to be-
come enslaved to sin and death. Therefore, it took
one obedient perfect man to set us free.
4 Did Jesus really have to die in order to save us?
Couldn’t Jehovah have simply decided to allow right-
hearted members of Adam’s offspring to live forever?
To imperfect humans, that would seem to be the kind
and reasonable thing to do. But it does not take into
account Jehovah’s perfect justice. Because Jehovah

3. How could the death of one man lead to the redemption of mil-
lions of people? (See also picture.)
4. Why did Jehovah not simply allow righthearted members of
Adam’s offspring to live forever?

JANUARY 2025 41
is just, he would never choose to ignore Adam’s glar-
ing act of disobedience.
5 What, though, if Jehovah had not provided a ran-
som but had set justice aside by allowing Adam’s im-
perfect sons and daughters to live forever? People
would likely wonder if God might disregard justice in
other matters as well. For example, might he fail to
keep some of his promises? We need not worry about
such a possibility. The fact that Jehovah carried out
justice even at great cost to himself—sacrificing his
own dear Son—assures us that he will always do what
is right.
6 While the ransom helps us to understand that Je-
hovah is just, it especially helps us to grasp the depth
of his love. (John 3:16; read 1 John 4:9, 10.) The
teaching of the ransom reveals that Jehovah wants us
not only to have endless life but also to be part of his
family. Consider: When Adam sinned, Jehovah ex-
pelled him from His family of worshippers. As a re-
sult, all of us have been born outside of God’s fam-
ily. But on the basis of the ransom, Jehovah forgives
our sins and will eventually bring into his family all
5. Why can we be sure that Jehovah will always do what is right?
6. What is one way that the ransom reveals Jehovah’s love? (1 John
4:9, 10)

42 THE WATCHTOWER
 One man caused us
to become enslaved
to sin and death.
Correspondingly,
one man set us free
(See paragraph 3)

mankind who exercise faith and who are obedient.

Even now we can have a warm relationship with
Jehovah and with our fellow worshippers. Truly, we
are recipients of Jehovah’s tender love!—Rom. 5:
10, 11.
7 We can better understand how much Jehovah
loves us if we consider what the ransom cost him. Sa-
tan claims that no servant of God will remain loyal to
Him when it is hard to do so. To refute that charge,
Jehovah allowed Jesus to suffer before he died. (Job
2:1-5; 1 Pet. 2:21) As Jehovah looked on, Jesus was
mocked by religious opposers, whipped raw by sol-
diers, and nailed to a stake. Then Jehovah watched as
his dear Son was left to suffer a painful death. (Matt.
27:28-31, 39) Jehovah had the power to stop the
7. How does Jesus’ suffering help us understand how much Jeho-
vah loves us?

JANUARY 2025 43
 It pained Jehovah
to watch his Son suffer
(See paragraph 8)

process at any given point. For example, when oppos-

ers said: “Let [God] now rescue him if He wants him,”
Jehovah could have done just that. (Matt. 27:42, 43)
However, if God had stepped in, no ransom would
have been paid and we would have been left without
hope. So Jehovah permitted his Son to endure suffer-
ing until he drew his last breath.
8 Let us not think that because God is almighty, he
does not have feelings! We are made in his image,
created with the ability to feel, so it stands to reason

8. Did Jehovah feel pain when he saw his Son suffer? Explain. (See
also picture.)

44 THE WATCHTOWER
that Jehovah has feelings. The Bible describes him as
feeling “hurt” and “grieved.” (Ps. 78:40, 41) Consid-
er, too, the experience of Abraham and Isaac. You will
recall that Abraham was commanded to offer up his
only son in sacrifice. (Gen. 22:9-12; Heb. 11:17-19) We
can only imagine the range of emotions Abraham felt
as he prepared to end Isaac’s life with a quick stroke
of a knife. How much more grieved Jehovah must
have felt as he observed his Son being cruelly tor-
tured to death by ungodly men!—See on jw.org the
video Imitate Their Faith—Abraham, Part 2.
9 The ransom teaches us that no one loves us as
much as Jehovah does—not even our dearest relative
or best friend. (Read Romans 8:32, 38, 39.) No doubt
Jehovah loves us more than we love ourselves. Do
you want to live forever? Not as much as Jehovah
wants you to. Do you want to have your sins forgiv-
en? Not as much as Jehovah wants to forgive them.
All he asks is that we accept his gracious gift by exer-
cising faith and being obedient. The ransom is truly
a profound expression of God’s love. And in the new
world, we will learn even more about Jehovah’s love.
—Eccl. 3:11.
9. What does Romans 8:32, 38, 39 help you to understand
about the depth of Jehovah’s love for you and your fellow worship-
pers?

JANUARY 2025 45
 WHAT THE RANSOM
TEACHES US ABOUT JESUS
10 Jesus cares deeply about his Father’s reputation.
(John 14:31) Jesus was grieved that his being charged
with blasphemy and sedition could bring reproach on
his Father’s name. That is why he prayed: “My Father,
if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me.” (Matt.
26:39) By keeping his integrity to Jehovah until death,
Jesus ultimately vindicated the name of his Father.
11 The ransom also teaches us that Jesus cares deep-
ly for people, especially for his disciples. (Prov. 8:31;
read John 13:1.) For example, Jesus knew that some
aspects of his earthly ministry would be very chal-
lenging, in particular his painful death. Yet, in carry-
ing out his assignment on earth, he did not simply go
through the motions. Instead, Jesus put his whole
heart into preaching, teaching, and ministering to
others. Even on the day of his death, Jesus took time
to wash the feet of his apostles and give them many
parting words of comfort and instruction. (John
13:12-15) Then while he was on the stake, Jesus took
a few moments to give hope to a dying criminal and

10. (a) What especially grieved Jesus about his execution? (b) In
what ways did Jesus vindicate Jehovah’s name? (See also the box
“Jesus’ Integrity Vindicated Jehovah’s Name.”)
11. How did Jesus show deep love for people? (John 13:1)

46 THE WATCHTOWER
Jesus’ Integrity Vindicated
Jehovah’s Name
By remaining faithful under test, Jesus refuted the Devil’s
claim that humans would not remain loyal to God when under
trial. (Job 2:4, 5) Jesus also showed that Adam was to blame
for his sin, not Jehovah. Jesus thus proved that perfect Adam
could have been faithful if he had wanted to be and that
there was nothing faulty in how Jehovah had created Adam.

Jesus’ sacrifice was an expression

of love for his Father
(See paragraph 10)
to arrange for his own mother’s care. (Luke 23:42,
43; John 19:26, 27) Thus Jesus’ deep love was ex-
pressed not only through his death but also through
his entire life course on earth.
12 While Christ died “once for all time,” he is still
making sacrifices for us. (Rom. 6:10) How so? He
continues to expend time and effort as he puts the
ransom benefits to work in our behalf. Consider what
he is busy doing. He serves as our King, High Priest,
and head of the congregation. (1 Cor. 15:25; Eph. 5:
23; Heb. 2:17) He is in charge of the work of gather-
ing the anointed and the great crowd, a task that
will be completed before the great tribulation ends.

(Matt. 25:32; Mark 13:27) He also sees to it that his
faithful servants are well-fed spiritually during these
last days. (Matt. 24:45) And throughout his Millenni-
al Reign, he will continue to serve our interests. Je-
hovah truly gave his Son for us!

The gathering of “the things in the heavens” that Paul mentions, as
recorded at Ephesians 1:10, is different from the gathering of the “cho-
sen ones” that Jesus mentions, as found at Matthew 24:31 and Mark
13:27. Paul is referring to the time when Jehovah chooses his spirit
sons by anointing them with holy spirit. Jesus is referring to the time
when the remaining anointed ones on earth are gathered to heaven
during the great tribulation.

12. In what sense is Jesus continuing to make sacrifices in our be-

half?

48 THE WATCHTOWER
 NEVER STOP LEARNING
13You can keep learning about the love that Jeho-
vah God and Christ Jesus have for us if you contin-
ue to meditate on it. Perhaps during this year’s Me-
morial season, you can carefully read one or more of
the Gospels. Do not try to cover too much material
at one time. Instead, slow down and look for addi-
tional reasons why we should love Jehovah and Jesus.
And by all means, share what you learn with others.
14If you have been in the truth for many years, you
might wonder if it is possible to discover new insights
on such familiar subjects as God’s justice, his love,
and the ransom. The truth is that there is no end to
what we can learn about these and other topics. So,
what can you do? Take full advantage of the wealth of
information that can be found in our publications.
When you find a passage that you do not fully under-
stand, do research. Then throughout the day, medi-
tate on what you have discovered and what it tells
you about Jehovah, his Son, and their love for you.
—Read Psalm 119:97 and footnote.
13. How can meditation help you keep learning about the love that
God and Christ have for us?
14. In harmony with Psalm 119:97 and footnote, how can research
help us keep learning about the ransom as well as other teachings?
(See also picture.)

JANUARY 2025 49
 Even if we have been in the truth for many years,
we can increase our appreciation for the ransom
(See paragraph 14)

15 Do not be discouraged if you do not find some-

thing new or exciting every time you sit down to read
or to do research. In a sense, you are like a person who
pans for gold. Patiently, prospectors spend hours or
days before finding even the smallest nugget of gold.
Yet, they persist because every bit of gold is valuable
to them. Of how much greater value is every gem of
Bible truth! (Ps. 119:127; Prov. 8:10) So be patient and
stick to your Bible reading schedule.—Ps. 1:2.
16 As you study, look for ways to put what you learn
into practice. For example, imitate Jehovah’s justice
by treating others impartially. Imitate Jesus’ love for
his Father and for others by being willing to suffer for
15. Why should we keep seeking Bible gems?
16. How may we imitate Jehovah and Jesus?

50 THE WATCHTOWER
Jehovah’s name and by expending yourself in behalf
of your fellow Christians. Also, imitate Jesus by wit-
nessing to others so that they too have the opportu-
nity to accept Jehovah’s priceless gift.
17The more we understand and appreciate the ran-
som, the more we will love Jehovah and his Son. In
turn, they will respond with increased love for us.
(John 14:21; Jas. 4:8) So let us use Jehovah’s provi-
sions to keep learning about the ransom. The fol-
lowing article will consider some ways that we can
benefit from the ransom and that we can respond ap-
preciatively to Jehovah’s love.

17. What will we consider in the next article?

WHAT DOES THE RANSOM TEACH YOU ABOUT . . .

˛ Jehovah’s justice?

˛ Jehovah’s love?

˛ Jesus’ love?

SONG 107
The Divine Pattern of Love
 STUDY
ARTICLE 5

How We Benefit
From Jehovah’s Love
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”—1 TIM. 1:15.

SONG 108
God’s Loyal Love

FOCUS
How we benefit from the ransom and how we can show
Jehovah our gratitude.
52
IMAGINE giving someone you love a special gift
that is both beautiful and practical. How dis-
appointed you would be if that person simply put it
in storage and gave it no further thought! On the
other hand, you would surely be pleased if he or
she put your gift to good use and expressed appre-
ciation for it. What is the point? Jehovah has given
his Son in our behalf. How happy Jehovah must
be when we show gratitude for that precious gift
and for his love, which moved him to provide the
ransom!—John 3:16; Rom. 5:7, 8.
2 As time passes, however, we could begin to take
the gift of the ransom for granted. It would be
like putting God’s gift in storage. We are happy to
have it, but we keep it out of sight. To prevent
that from happening, we must regularly renew our
gratitude for what God and Christ have done for
us. This article can help us do that. We will discuss
how we benefit from the ransom now and how we
can benefit from it in the future. We will also con-
sider how we can respond appreciatively to Je-
hovah’s love, especially during this Memorial sea-
son.
1. What can we do to make Jehovah happy?
2. What will we discuss in this article?

JANUARY 2025 53
 HOW WE BENEFIT NOW
3 We are already benefiting from Christ’s ransom
sacrifice. For example, on the basis of the ransom,
Jehovah forgives our sins. He is not obligated to for-
give us. But he wants to. The grateful psalmist sang:
“For you, O Jehovah, are good and ready to for-
give.”—Ps. 86:5; 103:3, 10-13.
4 Some may feel unworthy of Jehovah’s forgive-
ness. Actually, we are all unworthy. The apostle
Paul understood that he was “not worthy of being
called an apostle.” And yet, he added: “By God’s un-
deserved kindness I am what I am.” (1 Cor. 15:9,
10) When we repent of our sins, Jehovah forgives
us. Why? Not because we deserve it, but because
he loves us. If you are disturbed by feelings of
unworthiness, remember that Jehovah provided the
ransom, not for sinless people, but for repentant
sinners.—Read Luke 5:32; 1 Timothy 1:15.
5 None of us should feel that we are entitled to re-
ceive Jehovah’s mercy even if we have spent many
years in his service. Of course, Jehovah appreciates
3. What is one way that we benefit from the ransom right now?
4. For whom did Jehovah provide the ransom? (Luke 5:32; 1 Timo-
thy 1:15)
5. Can any of us rightly feel entitled to receive Jehovah’s mercy?
Explain.

54 THE WATCHTOWER
our record of faithfulness. (Heb. 6:10) He gave us
his Son as a free gift, not as payment for services
rendered. If we were to claim that we have earned
mercy or that we are entitled to special consider-
ation, we would, in effect, be saying that Christ died
for nothing.—Compare Galatians 2:21.
6 Paul knew that he could not earn God’s fa-
vor. Why, then, did he work so hard in Jehovah’s
service? Not to prove himself deserving, but to
show appreciation for Jehovah’s undeserved kind-
ness. (Eph. 3:7) Like Paul, we continue to serve
zealously, not to earn Jehovah’s mercy, but to show
appreciation for it.
7 Another way that we benefit from the ran-
som right now is that we can have a close, person-
al relationship with Jehovah.
As mentioned in the
preceding article, when we were born, we did not
have a relationship with God. But because of the
ransom, we can enjoy “peace with God” and can

Jehovah forgave his pre-Christian worshippers even before Christ
paid the ransom. Jehovah could do this because he was confident that
his Son would prove faithful to death. Thus, in God’s eyes the ransom
was as good as paid.—Rom. 3:25.

6. Why did Paul work hard in Jehovah’s service?

7. What is another way we benefit from the ransom right now? (Ro-
mans 5:1; James 2:23)

JANUARY 2025 55
therefore draw close to him.—Read Romans 5:1;
James 2:23.
8 Consider just one aspect of our relationship
with Jehovah—the privilege of prayer. Jehovah
hears not only the public prayers of his people when
they are gathered together but also the private
prayers of each one of us. Prayer can calm our heart
and give us peace of mind, but it is far more than
just good therapy. It can deepen our friendship with
God. (Ps. 65:2; Jas. 4:8; 1 John 5:14) While on
earth, Jesus prayed frequently because he knew
that Jehovah was listening and that prayer would
keep his relationship with his Father strong. (Luke
5:16) How grateful we are that, on the basis of Je-
sus’ sacrifice, we can be Jehovah’s friends and even
speak to Him in prayer!
HOW WE CAN BENEFIT IN THE FUTURE
9 How will Jehovah’s faithful worshippers benefit
from the ransom in the future? They will be grant-
ed everlasting life. Many people think that this is im-
possible because humans have been dying for thou-
sands of years. But Jehovah’s original purpose was
8. Why should we be grateful to Jehovah for the privilege of
prayer?
9. How will the ransom benefit faithful worshippers in the future?

56 THE WATCHTOWER
for humans to live forever. If Adam had not sinned,
no one would think of endless life as being too good
to be true. And while everlasting life might seem ex-
traordinary at this time, so is the price that Jeho-
vah paid to restore this prospect to us—the gift of
his own dear Son.—Rom. 8:32.
10 Although everlasting life is a future benefit,
Jehovah wants us to anticipate it right now. The
anointed look forward to a purposeful life in heav-
en as they rule over the earth with Christ. (Rev.
20:6) The other sheep count on living on a paradise
earth free from pain and sorrow. (Rev. 21:3, 4) Are
you one of the other sheep with the prospect of end-
less life on earth? That reward is no mere consola-
tion prize! It is everything humans were designed
for. Life on earth will make us supremely happy.
11Imagine what life will be like for you on the Par-
adise earth. You will have no worries about sickness
or death. (Isa. 25:8; 33:24) Jehovah will fully satis-
fy every proper desire you have. What fields of
interest might you pursue? Physics? Chemistry?
Music? Art? No doubt, there will be a need for ar-
chitects, builders, and farmers. Surely, there will
10. What do the anointed and the other sheep look forward to?
11-12. What are some of the blessings in Paradise that we can an-
ticipate? (See also pictures.)

JANUARY 2025 57
also be a need for support and maintenance ser-
vices, such as preparing food, making tools, and
caring for the beautiful landscape. (Isa. 35:1; 65:21)
With eternity ahead, you will have time to explore
any skill you can think of.
12 What a joy it will be to welcome resurrected
ones back to life! (Acts 24:15) Imagine, too, how
you will enjoy learning more about Jehovah by ex-
amining his numerous works of creation. (Ps. 104:
24; Isa. 11:9) Best of all, how thrilling it will be to
worship Jehovah without the slightest feeling of
guilt! Would you trade these future blessings for
“the temporary enjoyment of sin”? (Heb. 11:25)
Certainly not! These blessings are worth any sacri-
58 THE WATCHTOWER
 What blessings in
Paradise do you look
forward to most?
(See paragraphs 11-12)

fice we must make now. Remember, the Paradise

earth will not always be a future hope. It will eventu-
ally become the present reality. None of this would
be possible if Jehovah had not loved us enough to
provide the gift of his Son!
RESPOND TO JEHOVAH’S LOVE
13How can we respond appreciatively to Jehovah
for having provided the ransom? By giving his work
priority in our life. (Matt. 6:33) After all, Jesus died
“so that those who live should live no longer for
themselves, but for him who died for them and was
13. How can we respond appreciatively to Jehovah’s love? (2 Corin-
thians 6:1)

JANUARY 2025 59
raised up.” (2 Cor. 5:15) We certainly do not want
to miss the purpose of Jehovah’s undeserved kind-
ness.—Read 2 Corinthians 6:1.
14 We can also respond to Jehovah’s love by exer-
cising faith in his direction. How? When we have de-
cisions to make, such as how much secular educa-
tion we need or what type of employment we should
accept, we must consider what Jehovah would want
us to do. (1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Cor. 5:7) When we put our
faith into action, a wonderful thing happens—our
faith in and friendship with Jehovah grow even
stronger. Our hope is reinforced.—Rom. 5:3-5; Jas.
2:21, 22.
15There is still another way that we can respond
appreciatively to Jehovah’s love. It is by using this
Memorial season to show Jehovah how grateful we
are for the ransom. In addition to planning to be
present for the Memorial, we can invite others to at-
tend. (1 Tim. 2:4) Explain to those whom you invite
what will take place at the Memorial. You will find it
helpful to show them on jw.org the videos Why Did
Jesus Die? and Remember Jesus’ Death. Elders should
be sure to invite inactive ones. Imagine the joy both
14. How can we exercise faith in Jehovah’s direction?
15. How can we demonstrate our appreciation during the Memorial
season?

60 THE WATCHTOWER
in heaven and on earth if some of Jehovah’s lost
sheep are moved to return to his flock! (Luke 15:
4-7) At the Memorial, let us make it a point to greet
not only one another but especially those who are
new or who have not attended in a long time. We
want to make them feel welcome!—Rom. 12:13.
16 Can you increase your spiritual activities dur-
ing the Memorial season? Doing so is a fine way to
express appreciation for all that God and Christ
have done for us. The more we engage in Jehovah’s
service, the more we will experience his support
and, as a result, our confidence in him will grow
stronger. (1 Cor. 3:9) Also, be sure to keep up with
the Memorial Bible reading as listed in Examining the
Scriptures Daily or in the chart found in the midweek
meeting workbook. You may even choose to use
those Bible passages as the basis for a study project.
17Of course, your circumstances may not permit
you to do everything suggested in this article. Re-
member, though, Jehovah does not look at how
much you give in comparison with what others give;
he sees what is in your heart. He is pleased when he
16. Why should we consider expanding our ministry during the Me-
morial season?
17. What pleases Jehovah? (See also the box “Ways to Respond to
Jehovah’s Love.”)

JANUARY 2025 61
Ways to Respond
to Jehovah’s Love
˙ Give priority to spiritual
activities.
˙ Increase your ministry
during the Memorial season.
˙ Keep up with the Memorial
Bible reading as listed in
Examining the Scriptures Daily.
˙ Invite others to attend
the Memorial.
˙ Greet new ones at the
Memorial and make them
feel welcome.

62
observes your heartfelt gratitude for his precious
gift, the ransom.—1 Sam. 16:7; Mark 12:41-44.
18 It is only because of the ransom that we have
forgiveness of our sins, a friendship with Jehovah,
and the prospect of everlasting life. May we always
show our gratitude for Jehovah’s love, which moved
him to make these blessings available to us. (1 John
4:19) May we also demonstrate our appreciation for
Jesus, who loved us so much that he gave his human
life in our behalf!—John 15:13.
18. Why are we grateful to Jehovah God and Jesus Christ?

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ How does the ransom benefit us now?

˛ How can the ransom benefit us in the future?

˛ How can we show our gratitude for the ransom?

SONG 154
Unfailing Love
34567 ˙
January 2025
Vol. 146, No. 1 ENGLISH

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 1: March 3-9 2
Give Glory to Jehovah
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 2: March 10-16 15
Husbands, Honor Your Wife
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 3: March 17-23 28
Make Decisions That Please Jehovah
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 4: March 24-30 39
What Does the Ransom Teach Us?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 5: March 31–April 6 52
How We Benefit From Jehovah’s Love

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