We must work hard to be mature and also work hard to remain mature. We must be careful to not think that we already mature, so we not need to do anything again to make our friendship with Jehovah more strong. (1 Cor. 10:12) We must “keep testing” ourselves to make sure that we trying our best to make progress. When the apostle Paul was writing to the Colossians, he encourage them to remain mature. Even though they were already mature Christians, Paul told them to be very careful so they can’t start thinking like the people in the world. (Col. 2:​6-10) Epaphras knew the people in the congregation good-good. So he use to pray all the time for them to “finally stand complete,” or be mature. (Col. 4:12) Wetin we can learn from this? Paul and Epaphras knew that to remain mature, we need God help and we need to apply effort. They wanted the Colossians to remain mature Christians even if they facing problems. w24.04 6-7 ¶16-17

To fear Jehovah mean, to love him so much that we will never want do anything to make him feel bad. We really want learn the difference between right and wrong, and the difference between truth and lies, so that we can make Jehovah happy. (Prov. 2:​3-6; Heb. 5:14) When we scare of human being more than God, it can make us to leave the truth. Think about the example of the 12 men who went to spy on the land that Jehovah promise to give the Israelites. Ten of them were scare of the Canaanites bad way more than the love they were having for Jehovah. They tell the other Israelite them: “We are not able to go up against the people, because they are stronger than we are.” (Num. 13:​27-31) That true, from the way human being can see things, the Canaanites were strong. But the way they say the Israelites will not be able to conquer the Canaanites, show that they were not thinking about Jehovah. w24.07 9 ¶5-6

You think we get good reason to be sure that when Jehovah judge people he can always make the right decision? Yes! Abraham understand good-good that, Jehovah that the perfect, all-wise, merciful “Judge of all the earth.” He na train his Son and gave him the responsibility to do all the judging. (John 5:22) Jehovah and Jesus know what in everybody heart. (Matt. 9:4) So when they judging each person, they will always do “what is right”! So let continue to trust Jehovah and all his decisions. We know that we not qualify to judge, only Jehovah! (Isa. 55:​8, 9) That why we must trust Jehovah and his Son to do all the judging. And we know for sure that our king Jesus will follow his Pa example to show justice and mercy.—Isa. 11:​3, 4. w24.05 7 ¶18

We can learn why it important to really be honest from Jesus first meeting with Nathanael. When Philip brought Nathanael to meet Jesus, something interesting happen. Even though that was Jesus first time seeing Nathanael, he say: “See, truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” (John 1:47) Jesus could see that Nathanael was really honest. Nathanael was not perfect just how we not perfect. But he never use to pretend. Jesus was happy with Nathanael and tell him thank you for being honest. Psalm 15 talk more about how we can treat other people if we want make Jehovah happy. Psalm 15:3 say that somebody who guest in Jehovah tent, “does not slander with his tongue, he does nothing bad to his neighbor, and he does not defame his friends.” If we talk bad about other people, it can really hurt them.—Jas. 1:26. w24.06 10 ¶7, 9; 11 ¶10

If you prepare good for field service, you will not be worrying too much about talking with people. Jesus help his disciples to prepare before going field service. (Luke 10:​1-11) Because they apply what Jesus teach them, they were able to do plenty good things in field service and it made them happy. How we can prepare for field service? We need to think on what to say and how to say it in our own words. It also good to think about what people in the territory will say or do, and how we will answer them. Then when we talking with people, we must try to be relax, smile and be friendly. w24.04 16 ¶6-7

The most important reason why we preach the good news that because we love Jehovah God and his holy name. We see our preaching work to be one of the way to praise our God we love. We agree with our whole heart that Jehovah God get the right to receive the glory, honor, and power from his loyal worshippers. We can give him glory and honor when we share with other people the clear proof that he created everything and that because of him we living. We can give him our power— when we use our time, strength and our material things to do our best in the preaching work. (Matt. 6:33; Luke 13:24; Col. 3:23) So in short, we love to talk about the God we love. And we can also feel move to tell other people about his name and what it mean. w24.05 17 ¶11

Jehovah can give us peace and satisfaction now-now and in the future, he will give us everlasting life. We can put our whole trust in Jehovah, that he want bless us and he get the power to do it. For that reason, we must continue to give our best to Jehovah just like his faithful servant them way back. And that just what Timothy do way back. (Heb. 6:​10-12) Timothy was having strong faith in the living God. (1 Tim. 4:10) So, he was having good reason to work hard for Jehovah and other people. How he do it? The apostle Paul encourage him to continue making progress to be good teacher in the ministry and in the congregation. Paul also tell Timothy to set good example for his brothers and sisters, whether they young or old. And he was having some hard assignments to do. Part of it was giving strong but loving counsel to those who needed it. (1 Tim. 4:​11-16; 2 Tim. 4:​1-5) Timothy was sure that Jehovah was coming bless him.—Rom. 2:​6, 7. w24.06 22-23 ¶10-11

Most of the time, Jehovah use his prophets to warn and correct his people. For example, through Jeremiah God say: “Return, O renegade Israel . . . I will not look down angrily on you, for I am loyal . . . I will not stay resentful forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, for you have rebelled against Jehovah.” (Jer. 3:​12, 13) Through the prophet Joel, Jehovah say: “Return to me with all your hearts.” (Joel 2:​12, 13) He tell Isaiah to say: “Make yourselves clean; remove your evil deeds from my sight; stop doing bad.” (Isa. 1:​16-19) And through Ezekiel Jehovah say: “Do I take any pleasure at all in the death of a wicked person? . . . Do I not prefer that he turn away from his ways and keep living? I do not take any pleasure in the death of anyone, . . . so turn back and live.” (Ezek. 18:​23, 32) Jehovah can be happy when people repent because he want them to continue living forever! w24.08 9 ¶5-6

All God people can receive the spiritual food, the direction, and the protection they need. One way Jehovah show that he can’t pick and choose that by making it possible for people all around the world to be able to read the Bible. They first write the Bible in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. You think the people who can read the Bible in this language them get close friendship with Jehovah more than the people who not able to read this language them? No. (Matt. 11:25.) Jehovah not invite us to be his friend because we know plenty book or because we know the language them they first write the Bible in. But Jehovah can give his wisdom to people all around the world whether they know plenty book or not. They na translate the Bible in plenty different-different languages so that people all over the world can benefit from the teachings in the Bible and learn how they can be Jehovah friends.—2 Tim. 3:​16, 17. w24.06 6-7 ¶13-15

The destruction of Jerusalem that Jesus talk about was not far again. The Christian them needed to use the small time they were having to prepare their self by getting more faith and endurance. (Heb. 10:25; 12:​1, 2) We will soon face the great tribulation that will be more than the one the Hebrew Christians face. (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 16:​14, 16) See some good-good advice that Jehovah gave to the Hebrew Christians that can help us today. In the letter the apostle Paul write to the Hebrews, he encourage his brothers and sisters to do deep study in God Word. (Heb. 5:14–6:1) Paul use the Hebrew Scriptures to explain to his brothers that the way Christians can worship better pass Judaism. Paul knew that when they study and understand the truth good-good, it will help them to know and reject any false teaching. w24.09 8-9 ¶2-3; 10 ¶6

Why Jesus disciples needed encouragement? Some of them left their houses, families, and different-different business just to follow Jesus. (Matt. 19:27) They treat some of them bad because they were Jesus disciples. (John 9:22) The disciples made all this sacrifices because they believe that Jesus was the Messiah. (Matt. 16:16) But when Jesus die, they were discourage, and they were not having any hope again. Jesus understand that it was normal for his disciple them to feel bad when he die. He not look at it like they were not having faith. So the same day he came back to life, he started encouraging them. For example, he appear to Mary Magdalene when she was crying to his tomb. (John 20:​11, 16) He also appear to the two disciples that wor going to one village call Emmaus. And he appear to the apostle Peter. w24.10 13 ¶5-6

Parents, prepare your child to explain why he believe that somebody made everything. Maybe you can discuss with your child the articles on jw.org, “Young People Ask—Creation or Evolution?” Then your child can choose the one that will be more easy to help people understand the truth about the Creator. Encourage him to use easy example and idea to help somebody who get interest in the topic. For example, maybe his schoolmate will say: “I only believe what I can see, and I not see God before.” Then the young Christian can say: “Imagine that you walking way in the forest and nobody around and you see some kindna fine house. Wetin you will say? I sure you will say that somebody build that house. So, if that somebody who get plenty sense build that house, you not think that somebody who get plenty sense made the whole world?” w24.12 18 ¶16

All of us need advice that can help us to make good decisions in life. We can get this advice dem from elders and other mature Christians. If they older than us, we must not feel that their advice that old school thing. Jehovah want us to learn from older people. They na live for long time and they get plenty experience, understanding, and wisdom more than us. Way back, Jehovah use some faithful older people to encourage and guide his people. For example, He use Moses, David, and the apostle John. All of them wor not living the same time, and their situation wor different-different. Before they die, they gave good-good advice to the young people. Each of this faithful older men dem talk about how it important to obey God. So whether we young or old, we can benefit from reading their advice.—Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16. w24.11 8 ¶1-2

Way back in Noah time, God say human being must not eat blood. (Gen. 9:​3, 4) And he gave that same law again to the Israelite dem. He say anybody who eat blood must “be put to death.” (Lev. 7:​27, ftn.) Jesus always obey that Law. (Matt. 5:​17-19) So he wor not telling the people to eat his real flesh or drink his real blood. Jesus wor using his flesh and blood to stand for something. We can see it from what he tell the Samaritan woman. He say: “The water that I will give . . . will . . . impart everlasting life.” (John 4:​7, 14) Jesus wor not saying that the Samaritan woman will get everlasting life just from drinking real water. That the same way he wor not telling the people he talk to in Capernaum that they will live forever if they eat his real flesh and drink his real blood. w24.12 9 ¶4-6

Christian husbands must be careful to not let the wrong way the world can look at women to affect them. Why? Because most of the time, the things that people can be thinking on, that what they can do. The apostle Paul warn the anointed Christian dem in Rome to “stop being molded by this system of things.” (Rom. 12:​1, 2) When Paul write his letter to the Romans, the brother and sister dem in the congregation already being serving Jehovah for some years. But what Paul say show that some people in the congregation wor still allowing the customs and the wrong thinking in the world to affect them. That why he encourage them to change their thinking and behavior. That advice also apply to Christian husbands today. Sad to say, some of them na let the way the world can think to affect them and they can even treat their wife bad. w25.01 9 ¶4

The elder them can be busy. They evangelizers. (2 Tim. 4:5) They can take the lead and preach with zeal in the field service. They can organize the preaching work in the territory, and train us to preach and teach good-good. They also merciful, and they can’t pick and choose when they judging. When somebody in the congregation commit serious sin, the elders can try hard to help the person to get good friendship with Jehovah again. But, they can make sure that the congregation be clean. (1 Cor. 5:​12, 13; Gal. 6:1) The main work they can do that shepherding. (1 Pet. 5:​1-3) They can give good-good talks and try hard to know everybody in the congregation and make shepherding visits. Some elder them can also help with building and taking care of the Kingdom Hall, and organize convention. Apart from the other work they get to do, some of them even working on the Hospital Liaison Committees and Patient Visitation Groups. The elder them can work hard for us! w24.10 20 ¶9

In the Bible, the word redemption mean to be free from sin because of the ransom. The apostle Peter say it like this: “You know that it was not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, that you were set free [lit., “you were ransomed; you were redeemed”] from your futile way of life handed down to you by your forefathers. But it was with precious blood, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, that of Christ.” (1 Pet. 1:​18, 19; footnote.) Because Jesus sacrifice his life for us, we will be free from sin and death, and the suffering it can bring. (Rom. 5:21) So, we get good reason to really be grateful to Jehovah and Jesus that they wor able to free us because of Jesus blood. w25.02 5 ¶15-16

How we can protect our self when we face temptation? Let see what we can learn from the young man Proverbs chapter 7 talk about. He love to one prostitute. Verse 22 tell us that this young man was “quick” to follow her. But the verse them before verse 22 show that he do some wrong thing them that make it more easy for him to sin. Wetin make this young man to sin? First in the evening, he “passed along the street near [the immoral woman’s] corner.” Then, he pass near her house. (Prov. 7:​8, 9) When he see the woman, he not move from there. But he allow her to kiss him, and he listen to her while she talk about her sacrifice she can make to Jehovah. She was doing it because she wanted him to think that she not bad person. (Prov. 7:​13, 14, 21) If he was not coming make all this bad decision them, he was not coming sin. w24.07 16 ¶8-9; 19 ¶19

Jehovah can’t allow those who commit serious sin and refuse to repent to remain in the congregation. Some people can feel that because Jehovah merciful, he must allow somebody who sin and refuse to repent to stay in the congregation. But that not how Jehovah can show mercy. Jehovah merciful, but he can’t accept any kindna behavior. He always want us to live the way he say we must live. (Jude 4) If Jehovah allow people to do all kindna thing dem in the congregation, it will cause serious problem for the congregation. (Prov. 13:20; 1 Cor. 15:33) But still, we learn that Jehovah not want anybody to be destroy. If it possible, he want everybody to be save. He can show mercy to people who na repent and who trying to be friendly with him again. (Ezek. 33:11; 2 Pet. 3:9) So, when the man in Corinth repent and change his bad ways, Jehovah use the apostle Paul to tell the congregation to forgive the man and welcome him back. w24.08 17 ¶7; 18-19 ¶14-15

In the parable about the sheep and the goats, Jesus say he will judge people base on whether they support his anointed brothers. (Matt. 25:​31-46) He will do this judgment during the “great tribulation,” right before Armageddon start. (Matt. 24:21) Just how the shepherd can take the sheep from among the goats, that the same way Jesus will take those who faithfully supporting his anointed brothers from among those who not doing it. The Bible show that Jehovah appoint Jesus to be the Judge. So when Jesus judging people, he will be fair. (Isa. 11:​3, 4) He looking at the way people can act, think, talk and— the way they treat his anointed brothers. (Matt. 12:​36, 37) Jesus will know all the people who support his anointed brothers and their work. One main way people can support Christ brothers, that to help them to do the preaching work. w24.09 20-21 ¶3-4

We can make sure by comparing what we believe with what the Bible say. For example, think about the young person who can be feeling that he not important to God. You think he must just accept that kindna thinking? No, he must “make sure of all things” by trying to know how Jehovah feel about him. When we reading the Bible, we can “hear” Jehovah talking to us. But to know how Jehovah feel about the thing we thinking on, we need to put effort. When we doing our Bible reading, we must try to find scriptures that will help us to deal with our problem. We must use the different-different tools the organization na provide to do deep study on that topic. (Prov. 2:​3-6) And we must ask Jehovah to help us understand how he feel about the thing we thinking on. Then we must look for Bible principles and some good-good information that apply to our situation. w24.10 25 ¶4-5

Jehovah will not bless the effort of anybody who proud and can do things for selfish reason. (1 Cor. 10:​24, 33; 13:4) Sometime, even Jesus apostles wanted to get certain privilege for the wrong reason. Let talk about two of Jesus apostles, —James and John. They ask Jesus to make them big person in his Kingdom. Jesus not tell them thank you for it. But he tell all the 12 apostles say: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your minister, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all.” (Mark 10:​35-37, 43, 44) When Brothers want be ministerial servant because they want serve other people, the congregation can benefit.—1 Thess. 2:8. w24.11 15-16 ¶7-8

When we making decisions, love will make us to respect other people feelings and be modest in the way we dress. (1 Cor. 10:​23, 24, 32; 1 Tim. 2:​9, 10) When we think good-good, it will help us to make decision that will show love and respect for other people. If you want make important decision, think about all the thing dem you can do to make that decision work. Jesus say we must “calculate the expense.” (Luke 14:28) So think about the time, the thing dem you will need, and the effort you will make to make your decision work. Sometime, you can even talk with your family to know what each of them can do to support the decision. Why this kindna planning important? Maybe it will help you to know that you need to make some changes, or that you need to make different decision that will be better. If you ask your family member dem and listen to what they will say, it will be easy for them to help you to make your decision work. w25.01 18-19 ¶14-15

Isaiah tell us the reason why we must be “grateful and happy” in the spiritual paradise. Why? Because that Jehovah himself put this spiritual condition in place. (Isa. 65:​18, 19) No wonder he using us to help people to leave the world organizations, that not teaching them the truth. He want us to help them to come and be part of our beautiful spiritual paradise! We so happy for the blessings we enjoying because we in the truth, and it can move us to tell other people about the good-good things we enjoying. (Jer. 31:12.) We who in the spiritual paradise happy and grateful for the hope we get. The Bible say we will “build houses and live in them [and] plant vineyards and eat their fruitage.” We will “not toil for nothing” because we will be “blessed by Jehovah.” He promise to protect us and give us life that get real meaning. He know what everybody need and “[He will] satisfy the desire of every living thing.”—Isa. 65:​20-24; Ps. 145:16. w24.04 22-23 ¶11-12

We can make Jehovah our Rock when we rely on him with our whole heart. We trust that we will benefit when we obey him even during hard times. (Isa. 48:​17, 18) Every time we see how Jehovah na help us it can make us to trust him even more. Then we will be prepare good-good to face any trial that only Jehovah can help us to endure. Just like big rock Jehovah always the same. He can’t change and his purpose can never change. (Mal. 3:6) When Adam and Eve disobey him, Jehovah not change his purpose for human being. Just what the apostle Paul say, Jehovah “cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13) This one mean that no matter what happen or what other people do, Jehovah will never change his qualities, his purpose, or his standards. Because Jehovah can’t change, we convince that he will help us when we going through problem and he will fulfill his promise them for the future.—Psalm. 62:​6, 7. w24.06 27-28 ¶7-8

If you dating now-now, wetin will help you to decide whether to get marry or not? Try to know each other good-good. Before you started dating, maybe you already know some things about the other person. But now you get the opportunity to know “the secret person of the heart.” This one mean getting to know more about the person you want marry like their spirituality, personality, and the way they can think. After some time, you must be able to answer questions like: ‘This person will be good marriage mate for me?’ (Prov. 31:​26, 27, 30; Eph. 5:33; 1 Tim. 5:8) ‘We able to give each other the love and attention we need? It easy for us to overlook each other mistake?’ (Rom. 3:23) When yor getting to know each other, remember that: For two people to be happy together as husband and wife, not depend on the things they get in common, but it mainly depend on how you will be able to live with each other different-different ways. w24.05 27 ¶5

King David commit serious sin. But when the prophet Nathan tell David about his sin, David was humble and he repent. (Ps. 51:​3, 4, 17, superscription) King Hezekiah sin against Jehovah too. (2 Chron. 32:25) But like David, Hezekiah was humble and he repent. (2 Chron. 32:26) Because of that, Jehovah look at him to be faithful king who “kept doing what was right.” (2 Ki. 18:3) Wetin we learn? We must repent from our sins and try our best never to do it again. Suppose the elder them advice us, even on something that we think it not really serious? We must not feel that Jehovah not love us or the elder them not like our business. Even the good king them in Israel were not too big to receive counsel and correction. (Heb. 12:6) When somebody correct us, we must (1) be humble and accept the correction, (2) make the change we need to make, and (3) continue serving Jehovah with our whole heart. If we repent from our sin, Jehovah will forgive us.—2 Cor. 7:​9, 11. w24.07 21 ¶8; 22 ¶9, 11

The elder dem can move the person who sin from the congregation when he not repent even though the elder dem try to help him over and over. (2 Ki. 17:​12-15) He show by the thing dem he can do that he not willing to obey Jehovah laws. (Deut. 30:​19, 20) They can make one announcement to let the congregation know that the person not Jehovah Witness again. They can’t make this announcement to make the person shame. But they make it to help the brother and sister dem to do what the Bible say. It say, “stop keeping company” with that person, “not even eating with” him. (1 Cor. 5:​9-11) Jehovah gave this direction for good reason. The apostle Paul say: “A little leaven ferments the whole batch of dough.” (1 Cor. 5:6) If somebody refuse to repent and they not move him from the congregation, maybe other people will think that it not important to follow Jehovah laws.—Prov. 13:20; 1 Cor. 15:33. w24.08 27 ¶3-4

We not able to give strength to people like the way Jehovah can do it. But we can still use our strength to help them. For example, maybe we can do some house work or small-small running around for any brother or sister who sick or old. Or we can help to clean and take care of our Kingdom Hall. Don’t forget too, that words get power. You can think about anybody who will benefit if you tell them thank you for what they can do? Or you know anybody who need comfort? If so, make sure to let the person know that you care for them. You can call the person, visit them, or maybe send them letter, email, or text message. You not need to worry too much about what to say. Maybe just saying small thing from your heart, will be what your brother or sister need to remain faithful for the day or to help them bear their problem.—Prov. 12:25; Eph. 4:29. w24.09 28 ¶8-10

If you been ministerial servant for some time now, we know you trying to do some thing dem the Bible say that can make you to be elder. You not think you able to do that “fine work”? What kindna work the elder dem can do? Elders can take the lead in the preaching work, they can teach, shepherd, and encourage the congregation by their example and the things they can say. That the reason why the Bible call this hardworking elder dem “gifts in men.” (Eph. 4:8) How you can qualify to be elder? To be elder not the same as looking for job. Most of the time in the world, if you get the skills that the boss man looking for, he can give you the job. But to be elder, it different. You not only need to know how to preach and teach good-good. But you also need to get the quality dem for elders that 1 Timothy 3:​1-7 and Titus 1:​5-9 talk about. w24.11 20 ¶1-3