Bible Speaks

Why Did "God" Send Jesus Christ  to the Earth? - Answers to your questions. 

“Born to YOU today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 

???

1. Where was Jesus before God sent him to earth?

Jesus lived as a spirit person in heaven before he was born in Bethlehem. He was God’s first creation and the only one created directly by God. Therefore, he is fittingly referred to as God’s only-begotten Son. In heaven, he often spoke as God’s representative. That is why he is called the Word. He also acted as God’s helper and took part in the creation of all other things. (John 1:2, 3, 14) Jesus lived with God in heaven for aeons before humankind was created. —Read Micah 5:2; John 17:5.

???

2. How did God send his Son to earth?

Jehovah transferred the life of Jesus from heaven to the womb of Mary by means of holy spirit. So Jesus was born without the aid of a human father. Angels announced his birth to some local shepherds, who were living outdoors at night as they kept watch over their flocks. (Luke 2:8-12) Thus, Jesus was born, not in the depths of winter, but likely in early October, when the weather was still warm. Some time later, Mary and her husband, Joseph, took Jesus to their home in Nazareth and raised him there. Joseph cared for Jesus as his adopted son. —Read Matthew 1:18-23.

???

When Jesus was about 30 years old, he was baptized, and God publicly announced that Jesus was his Son. Then Jesus began the work that God had sent him to do. —Read Matthew 3:16, 17.

???

3. Why did God send Jesus to earth?

God sent Jesus to teach people the truth. Jesus taught about God’s Kingdom, a government in heaven that will bring peace to all the earth. He provided the hope of everlasting life. (John 4:14; 18:36, 37) Jesus also taught people many things about finding real happiness. (Matthew 5:3; 6:19-21) He taught by example. For instance, he showed how to do God’s will even in difficult circumstances. When he was mistreated, he did not retaliate. —Read 1 Peter 2:21-24.

???

Jesus taught his followers self-sacrificing love. He had enjoyed many privileges living in heaven with his Father, yet he humbly obeyed his Father and came to earth to live among mankind. No one could give us a finer example of love than Jesus. —Read John 15:12, 13; Philippians 2:5-8.

???

4. What did Jesus accomplish by dying?

God also sent Jesus to die for our sins. (John 3:16) We are all sinners, meaning that we are imperfect and sinful. That is why we get sick and die. In contrast, the first man, Adam, was perfect. He had no sin and would never have died or become sick. But he lost his perfection when he disobeyed God. From Adam, we inherited sin and its wages, death. —Read Romans 5:12; 6:23.

???

Jesus, who was a perfect man, did not die for his own sins. He died for our sins. Jesus’ death makes it possible for us to enjoy everlasting life and be blessed by God. —Read 1 Peter 3:18

Read more about Jesus Christ at:

jw.org

"No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him."—John 6:44.

????

There are billions of people on the earth. Thus, it is a real blessing to be among those whom Jehovah has kindly drawn to himself and to whom he has revealed Bible truth. (John 6:44, 45) 

????

Only about 1 in every 1,000 people alive today has an accurate knowledge of the truth, and you are one of them. Should that not give all of us, no matter how we learned the truth, cause for rejoicing? (Read 1 Corinthians 2:12.) Gener says: “My hair stands on end when I think about it. Who am I to be known by Jehovah, the Owner of the universe?” (Ps. 8:4) A Christian sister from the same area said: “Students feel very proud just to be recognized by their teacher. How much more of a privilege it is to be known by Jehovah, the Grand Instructor!”

????

If we make the right decisions, we can have a satisfying life now and put ourselves in line to “inherit the earth”—to have everlasting life. There are so many wonderful blessings in store for us that we cannot even imagine them all. (Matt. 5:5; 19:29; 25:34) Granted, God does not give us things automatically. He requires something of us. (Read 1 John 5:3, 4.) But to serve him faithfully now is definitely worth it!

????

What a great privilege it is to have received so much from God! We have accurate knowledge of his Word and a clear understanding of the truth about him and his purposes. We enjoy the privilege of bearing his name and being his Witnesses. God promises us that he is on our side. (Ps. 118:7) 

????

May all of us, whether young or old, show our appreciation by living our life in a way that manifests a keen desire to give Jehovah “the glory forever.”—Rom. 11:33-36; Ps. 33:12.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2014929?q=john+6%3A44&p=par

Do you have a loving atmosphere in your home? 

??????

Husbands do you so love, show kindness and have consideration to your Wife? 

Wives do you so respect and love to your Husband? 

Most importantly do you have Jehovah first in your Marriage together? 

That is the three-fold cord that will keep a marriage together! ~   

? (Ephesians 5:28, 29) . . .In this way husbands ought to be loving their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself, 29 for no man ever hated his own flesh; but he feeds and cherishes it, as the Christ also does the congregation."

? (1 Peter 1:22, 23) 22 Now that YOU have purified YOUR souls by [YOUR] obedience to the truth with unhypocritical brotherly affection as the result, love one another intensely from the heart."

? (Ecclesiastes 4:11, 12) . . .Moreover, if two lie down together, they also will certainly get warm; but how can just one keep warm? 12 And if somebody could overpower one alone, two together could make a stand against him. And a threefold cord cannot quickly be torn in two. . .'

The apostle Paul wrote that Christian husbands and wives would be “anxious for the things of the world,” having distractions not shared by single Christians. 

In the case of an unmarried person, what may be ample for personal and home care and life’s necessities—food, clothing, shelter—may fall far short of what is needed for a family. 

Because of the intimate relationship of husband and wife, both are rightly anxious or concerned about pleasing each other in providing that which will contribute to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual welfare of the entire family. 

Even without having to contend with sickness, emergencies, limitations, or handicaps, married couples with children are required to devote much more time to “things of the world,” that is, to nonspiritual activities related to human life, than would usually be true of single Christians.

It is particularly important to follow this example in the family. 

When parents show that they appreciate each other, they set the tone for the family. In this era of throwaway marriages, it is all too easy to take a spouse for granted and to magnify flaws and downplay good traits. 

Such negative thinking erodes marriage, turning it into a joyless burden. If your appreciation for your mate is on the wane, ask yourself, ‘Is my spouse really without good qualities?’ 

Think back on the reasons you fell in love and married. Have all those reasons for loving this unique person really vanished? Surely not; so work hard to appreciate the good in your mate, and put your appreciation into words.

Appreciation also helps marriage partners to keep their love free from hypocrisy. 

Such love, fueled by heartfelt appreciation, will allow no room for cruelty behind closed doors, no room for words that hurt and humiliate, no room for the cold shoulder treatment wherein days may pass without a kind or civil word being spoken, and certainly no room for physical violence. 

A husband and wife who truly appreciate each other honor each other. 

They do so not only when they are in public but whenever they are within Jehovah’s sight—in other words, all the time.

www.jw.org

"[Peer] into the perfect law that belongs to freedom."—Jas. 1:25

???

Let Jehovah Lead You to True Freedom

To prepare his servants for that future freedom, Jehovah gave us what James called “the perfect law that belongs to freedom.” (Read James 1:25.) Other Bibles call it “the law that makes us free” (The New English Bible) and “the perfect law of freedom” (The New American Bible). When people think of law, they usually think of being controlled, not of having freedom. Then, what is “the perfect law that belongs to freedom”? And how does that law make us free?

???

At James 1:25, we read that “he who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and who persists in it” will be “happy in his doing it.” The Greek word translated “peers” means to bend down to have a closer look at something. This takes effort. 

????

So if we want the law of freedom to influence our mind and heart, we must make an effort to study the Bible carefully and regularly and to meditate deeply on what we read.

???

Paul wrote about the freedom that Jehovah will give his people on earth. He said: “The eager expectation of the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God.” Then he added: “The creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19-21) 

???

“The creation” means humans who have the hope of living on earth forever and who will benefit from “the revealing” of the anointed “sons of God.” That revealing will begin when the anointed in heaven help Christ destroy all wicked people and bring “a great crowd” into the new system of things.—Revelation 7:9, 14.

???

Humans will then have a very special freedom. They will be free from the influence of Satan and the demons. (Revelation 20:1-3) What a relief that will be! From that time on, the 144,000 kings and priests will use the ransom sacrifice to benefit humans until mankind becomes completely free from sin and imperfection. (Revelation 5:9, 10) 

???

After their faith has been tested, obedient humans will finally have the perfect freedom that Jehovah originally wanted for them, that is, “the glorious freedom of the children of God.” Think! It will no longer be difficult for you to do what God says is right. Your body, heart, and mind will be perfect, and you will be able to imitate God’s qualities perfectly.

???

Do you want to have “the glorious freedom of the children of God”? If you do, let your mind and heart continue to be influenced by “the perfect law that belongs to freedom.” 

?Study the Bible carefully and regularly. 

?Make the truth your way of life. 

?Pray for holy spirit. 

?Benefit fully from the Christian congregation and the spiritual food that Jehovah gives us. 

?Do not let Satan deceive you, as he deceived Eve, and make you think that God’s requirements are too strict. Even though the Devil can be very clever, it is possible not to be defeated by him, “for we are not ignorant of his designs.” 2 Corinthians 2:11.

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

?The flesh: The imperfect human condition (Ephesians 2:3)

?The law of freedom includes everything that Jehovah requires of us

?We fully know the truth when we make it our way of life

?To be really free, we must work hard to have the right desires

?Humans will soon be free from the influence of Satan and the demons

?Do I still want some of the “freedoms” of the world?

?Have I made the truth my way of life?

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/402012522?q=james+1%3A25&p=par

"Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you."—Heb. 13:17.

A strong desire to accomplish Jehovah’s will is seen in the way the elders take the lead in the congregation.

"They arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and older men in Jerusalem."—Acts 15:2.

“There Had Occurred No Little Dissension” ???

The issue of circumcision goes before the governing body

???

One valuable lesson we learn is that we need to trust God’s organization. Consider: The brothers in Antioch knew that the governing body was made up entirely of Christians of Jewish background. Yet, they trusted that body to settle the question of circumcision in harmony with the Scriptures. Why? The congregation was confident that Jehovah would direct matters by means of his holy spirit and the Head of the Christian congregation, Jesus Christ. (Matt. 28:18,20; Eph. 1:22, 23) 

???

When serious issues arise today, let us imitate the fine example of the believers in Antioch by trusting God’s organization and its Governing Body of anointed Christians.

???

We are also reminded of the value of humility and patience. Paul and Barnabas had been personally appointed by holy spirit to go to the nations, yet they did not invoke that authority to settle the issue of circumcision then and there in Antioch. (Acts 13:2, 3) 

???

Moreover, Paul later wrote: “I went up [to Jerusalem] as a result of a revelation”—indicating divine direction in the matter. (Gal. 2:2) Elders today strive to have the same humble, patient attitude when potentially divisive questions arise. Instead of being contentious, they look to Jehovah by consulting the Scriptures and the instruction and guidance provided by the faithful slave.—Phil. 2:2, 3.

???

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102009069?q=acts+15%3A2&p=par

54 minutes ago, David Normand said:

We just had our regional convention and one of the parts spoke about unjust imprisonment and the need to stay focused and never give up in such circumstances. They spoke about Joseph who was unjustly imprisoned and how he stayed strong with Jehovah to the point that the guards entrusted him with weighty responsibility in the prison due to his fine conduct. 

@David Normand  We act properly and Jehovah rewards us. Can you imagine Waiting 13 years? We must wait on Jehovah never knowing how long it will take to praise His Name and perhaps release us from our persecutors.

?????????

@David Normand Sometimes we are unjustly treated. Jehovah knows and sees all! Thank you for your positive encouragement. 

???????

@David Normand Sometimes we are unjustly treated. Jehovah knows and sees all! Thank you for your positive encouragement. 

???????

https://youtu.be/YLZPZcuvsEQ

148 Praise Jah!

Praise Jehovah from the heavens;

Praise him in the heights.

 2 Praise him, all his angels.

Praise him, all his army.

3 Praise him, sun and moon.

Praise him, all shining stars.

 4 Praise him, O highest heavens

And waters above the heavens.

 5 Let them praise the name of Jehovah,

For he commanded, and they were created.

 6  He keeps them established forever and ever;

He has issued a decree that will not pass away. (Psalms 148:1-6).

???

Although his power sustains the universe and the living creatures in it (Ps 136:25; 148:2-6;Mt 5:45), Jehovah is not like an impersonal power plant; his acts prove he is a personal and purposeful God. He is also a historical God, as he has perceptively intervened in human affairs at definite dates of history, at specified places, and with regard to particular persons or peoples. As the “living and true God” (1Th 1:9; Jos 3:10; Jer 10:10), he has shown himself aware of all that is taking place in the universe, reacting according to what has occurred, as well as taking the initiative in furthering his purpose.

???

In every case, his varied expressions of power have been in harmony with his righteousness (Ps 98:1, 2; 111:2, 3, 7;Isa 5:16); they all bring enlightenment to his creatures. They show on the one hand that fear of him “is fitting,” for he is a God “exacting exclusive devotion” and “a consuming fire” against those practicing wickedness, making it “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Jer 10:6, 7; Ex 20:5; Heb 10:26-31; 12:28, 29) He is not to be trifled with.—Ex 8:29.

???

On the other hand, his use of power is even more wonderfully manifest in rewarding righteous-hearted persons sincerely seeking him, strengthening them to do assigned tasks and needful work (Ps 84:5-7; Isa 40:29-31) as well as to endure under stress (Ps 46:1; Isa 25:4), providing for and sustaining them (Ps 145:14-16), protecting, saving, and liberating them in times of danger and aggression. (Ps 20:6, 7) “His eyes are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him.” (2Ch 16:9) Those who come to know him find his name to be “a strong tower” to which they can turn. (Pr 18:10; Ps 91:1-8) 

???

Knowledge of his mighty acts gives assurance that he hears the prayers of his trusting servants and is able to answer, if necessary, with “fear-inspiring things in righteousness.” (Ps 65:2, 5) In a figurative sense, he is “near” and hence can be swift in responding.—Ps 145:18, 19; Jude 24, 25.

Brother free after 20 years of jail for a crime he never committed. Contreras was 20 years old when he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison in 1997 after being accused of attempted murder and robbery.

He said he remembers that September 10, 1996 when he had returned from his night work and went straight to sleep.

" lived an ordinary life, worked as a security guard. I had two years I had graduated from high school and was planning to work on construction, but it was never done ", he said.

That same morning another person stopped at a gas station in compton and fired several times against another man identified as José García and fled in a vehicle waiting for him. Garcia spent 23 days at the hospital, but he survived.

A witness, who was waiting in his car to change the red light, saw the scene and copied the plates from the car where the thugs fled. The vehicle was registered under the name Contreras.

Shortly thereafter, the witness "Identified Contreras" as the gunman.

Contreras said he was arrested a few weeks after the armed attack. "first he was frustrated, but then he was trying not to fall into depression", he said.It's been 20 years." congratulations mijo. I love you so much ", said Maria Contreras to her frame while hugging him profusely in front of the cameras. The Mother said that since sunday - when she learned that contreras would be free - she was counting the hours anxiously.

"yes, justice was done to get my poor son out because he didn't sleep to think about him", he said. " I knew from the beginning that he was innocent. He didn't even have a ticket, much less something else [major crimes]", he said.

His Father, Mr Donato Contreras, said that although he often visited his son in prison, he is now much happier to see him free. "thanks to everyone who helped us and I don't have how to pay them that", he said. "of all my children I think this is the most good of all".When asked if he felt any grudge, Contreras denied his head: " No, none. There's no reason."

For Now, he said, he was waiting for two things: Good Mexican food and April 11. is a Jehovah's witness, and that is the day that his name will remember the anniversary of Jesus's death.

His faith, he said, had prevented him from the spiral of depression.

https://laopinion.com/2017/03/28/hombre-es-liberado-tras-pasar-20-anos-en-la-carcel/

FUNNY BUT IS IT? SOME RIDICULE OUR PREACHING — WHAT IS IMPORTANT? 

?????

The method of preaching from house to house has its basis in the Scriptures. When Jesus sent forth the apostles to preach, he instructed them: “Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving.” How were they to search for deserving ones? Jesus told them to go to people’s homes, saying: “When you are entering into thehouse, greet the household; and if thehouse is deserving, let the peace you wish it come upon it.” Were they to visit without a prior invitation? Note Jesus’ further words: “Wherever anyone does not take you in or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust off your feet.” (Matt. 10:11-14) These instructions make clear that as the apostles “went through the territory from village to village, declaring the good news,” they were to take theinitiative to visit people in their homes.—Luke 9:6.

“Do Not Reprove a Ridiculer”

The teachings of wisdom also include correction and reproof. This feature of wisdom is not welcomed by all. Hence, the closing of the first section of the book of Proverbs contains a warning: “He that is correcting the ridiculer is taking to himself dishonor, and he that is giving a reproof to someone wicked—a defect in him. Do not reprove a ridiculer, that he may not hate you.”—Proverbs 9:7, 8a.

A ridiculer builds up resentment and hatred for the one trying to help make his path straight. A wicked person lacks appreciation for the value of reproof. How unwise to try to teach the beautiful truth of God’s Word to someone who hates the truth or is simply seeking to ridicule it! When the apostle Paul was preaching in Antioch, he encountered a group of Jews who had no love for the truth. 

They tried to embroil him in an argument by blasphemously contradicting him, but Paul simply stated: “Since you are thrusting [the word of God] away from you and do not judge yourselves worthy of everlasting life, look! we turn to the nations.”—Acts 13:45, 46.

In our endeavor to reach honesthearted ones with the Kingdom good news, may we be careful not to get involved in debates and arguments with ridiculers. Christ Jesus instructed his disciples: “When you are entering into the house, greet the household; and if the house is deserving, let the peace you wish it come upon it; but if it is not deserving, let the peace from you return upon you. Wherever anyone does not take you in or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust offyour feet.”—Matthew 10:12-14.

A wise person’s response to reproof is opposite to that of a ridiculer. Solomon states: “Give a reproof to a wise person and he will love you. Give to a wise person and he will become still wiser.” (Proverbs 9:8b, 9a) 

A wise person knows that “no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous; yet afterward to those who have been trained by it it yields peaceable fruit, namely, righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:11) Although the counsel may seem painful, why should we retaliate or be defensive if accepting it is going to make us wiser?

“Impart knowledge to someone righteous and he will increase in learning,” continues the wise king. (Proverbs 9:9b) No one is too wise or too old to keep learning. What a delight it is to see even those in their twilight years accept the truth and make a dedication to Jehovah! May we also endeavor to retain the will to learn and keep the mind active.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2001367?q=shake+the+dust+off+your+feet&p=par

FEED YOUR CHILDREN 

???????????

"In a good pasture I will feed them."—Ezek. 34:14.

Guide your children to serve Jehovah.

 A good shepherd knows that any one of his sheep could stray from the flock. Perhaps it is attracted by grass a short distance away and then to some a bit farther away, thus separating itself from the flock. In a similar manner, a child could drift away gradually on a spiritually dangerous path, being tempted by harmful association or degrading entertainment. (Prov. 13:20) How can you help to prevent such a situation from developing?

?????????

When teaching your children, act quickly if you recognize potential weak spots. Work at fortifying Christian qualities that your children have but that may need to be strengthened. (2 Pet. 1:5-8) 

?????????

The regular period for family worship is an excellent time for you to do that. In outlining this arrangement, the October 2008 Kingdom Ministry stated: “Family heads are encouraged to shoulder their responsibility before Jehovah to ensure that a meaningful, regular program of family Bible study is followed.” Are you taking full advantage of this loving provision to shepherd your children? Trust that your children deeply appreciate your putting priority on taking care of their spiritual need.—Matt. 5:3;Phil. 1:10.

?????????

A good shepherd uses a staff to direct and defend his flock. One of his primary goals is to guide his sheep to “a good pasture.” (Ezek. 34:13, 14) As a parent, do you not have a similar goal spiritually? You want to guide your children to serve Jehovah. You want your children to feel as did the psalmist who wrote: “To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is deep within me.” (Ps. 40:8) 

?????????

Young ones who develop such appreciation will dedicate their life to Jehovah and get baptized. Understandably, they should take such a step when they are mature enough to make that decision and have a genuine desire to serve Jehovah.

?????????

What, though, if your children do not seem to be making spiritual progress—perhaps even questioning their faith? Strive to inculcate in them a love for Jehovah God and an appreciation for all that he has done. (Rev. 4:11) Then when they are in a position to do so, they will be able to make a personal decision about worshipping God.

?????????

In the meantime, though, what if your children begin to express doubts? How can you shepherd them and help them to see that serving Jehovah really is the best way of life and will contribute to their lasting happiness? 

?????????

Try to determine the underlying cause of their doubts. For example, does your son really disagree with Bible teachings, or does he just lack the confidence needed to defend them in front of his peers? Does your daughter really have an issue with the wisdom of God’s standards, or does she just feel lonely or excluded by others?

?????????

For more information, see the article “Family Worship—Vital for Survival!” in The Watchtower of October 15, 2009, pages 29-31.

This aspect is further considered in The Watchtower of February 1, 2012, pages 18-21.

WHAT TYPE OF WISDOM DO YOU WANT? WISDOM FROM MEN OR FROM GOD? HE MADE EVERYTHING AND TELLS US THE BEGINNING AND THE END...IT IS BEYOND THE POWER OF MAN TO DO ANY OF THIS! HE IS INVITING YOU TO LEARN HIS WISDOM AND HIS SECRETS! WILL YOU ACCEPT?

???

?(Proverbs 1:5) A wise person will listen and take in more instruction, and a man of understanding is the one who acquires skillful direction."

?(Psalm 34:11) Come, YOU sons, listen to me; The fear of Jehovah is what I shall teach YOU."

?(Psalm 111:10) The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom. All those doing them have a good insight. His praise is standing forever."

?(Proverbs 1:7) The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. Wisdom and discipline are what mere fools have despised."

?(Proverbs 9:10) The fear of Jehovah is the start of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Most Holy One is what understanding is."

?(1 Chronicles 28:9) “And you, Sol′o·mon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a complete heart and with a delightful soul; for all hearts Jehovah is searching, and every inclination of the thoughts he is discerning. If you search for him, he will let himself be found by you; but if you leave him, he will cast you off forever."

?(Matthew 11:27) All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no one fully knows the Son but the Father, neither does anyone fully know the Father but the Son and anyone to whom the Son is willing to reveal him."

?(John 17:3) This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ."

?????‍??‍???‍???‍⚖️?

The vanity of much of human wisdom. Investigating “the calamitous occupation” that sin and imperfection have brought mankind, King Solomon weighed the value of the wisdom that men in general develop and attain and found it to be “a striving after wind.” 

?????‍??‍???‍???‍⚖️?

The disorder, perversion, and deficiencies in imperfect human society were so far beyond man’s ability to straighten out or compensate for, that those ‘getting an abundance of wisdom’ experienced increased frustration and irritation, evidently because they became acutely conscious of how little they could personally do to improve matters.

???

(Ecclesiastes 1:13-18) 13 And I set my heart to seek and explore wisdom in relation to everything that has been done under the heavens—the calamitous occupation that God has given to the sons of mankind in which to be occupied. 14 I saw all the works that were done under the sun, and, look! everything was vanity and a striving after wind. 15 That which is made crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot possibly be counted. 16 I, even I, spoke with my heart, saying: “Look! I myself have greatly increased in wisdom more than anyone that happened to be before me in Jerusalem, and my own heart saw a great deal of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I proceeded to give my heart to knowing wisdom and to knowing madness, and I have come to know folly, that this too is a striving after wind. 18 For in the abundance of wisdom there is an abundance of vexation, so that he that increases knowledge increases pain."

?(Ecclesiastes 7:29) . . .See! This only I have found, that the [true] God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans.”

The apostle shows God’s provision for ending mankind’s enslavement to corruption and subjection to futility.

?(Romans 8:19-23) . . .For the eager expectation of the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will but through him that subjected it, on the basis of hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 For we know that all creation keeps on groaning together and being in pain together until now."

???

Solomon also found that while such human wisdom produced varied pleasures and proficiency that brought material wealth, it could not bring true happiness or lasting satisfaction. The wise man dies along with the stupid, not knowing what will become of his possessions, and his human wisdom ceases in the grave. (Ec 2:3-11, 16, 18-21; 4:4; 9:10) 

?Even in life, “time and unforeseen occurrence” might bring sudden calamity, leaving the wise without even such basic needs as food. (Ec 9:11, 12) 

?"By his own wisdom man could never find out “the work of the true God,” never gain solid knowledge of how to solve man’s highest problems. (Ec 8:16, 17 )

Disturbing News Reports and Your Children! ?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

?‍?‍?‍????????????‍?‍?‍?

- FOR THAT MATTER WHY ARE YOU WATCHING IT?? - SO MUCH IN THE NEWS IN THIS AGE OF COMPUTERS AND TELEVISION INFRINGE ON OUR PEACE AND RESTFULNESS! - IN THE END THE BIBLE HAS FORETOLD VIOLENCE WILL BE ON THE INCREASE, DO YOU FEEL IT IS OK TO WATCH JUST A LITTLE? 

“My 11-year-old daughter doesn’t like watching the news. She often has nightmares about what she has seen. One time, she watched a report about a person who decapitated a family member. That night she dreamed that she too was being decapitated.”—Quinn.

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

“My six-year-old niece saw reports of tornadoes from elsewhere in the country. For weeks afterward, she was terrified. She would call me on the phone, convinced that a tornado was coming her way and that she was going to die.”—Paige.

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

DO NEWS reports frighten your child? In one survey, nearly 40 percent of parents said that their children had been upset by something they saw in the news and that, as a result, the children had feared that a similar event would happen to them or their loved ones.

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

Why? One factor is that children often interpret the news differently from adults. For example, small children may believe that a tragedy that is broadcast repeatedly is really happening repeatedly.

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

A second factor is that daily reports of disturbing events can distort a child’s view of the world. True, we live in “critical times hard to deal with.” (2 Timothy 3:1) But repeated exposure to disturbing news reports can cause children to develop immobilizing fears. “Children who watch a lot of TV news tend to overestimate the prevalence of crime and may perceive the world to be a more dangerous place than it actually is,” observes the Kaiser Family Foundation.

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

If disturbing news reports are affecting your children, what can you do? Here are a few suggestions.

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

Protect them.

Based on the age, maturity, and emotional makeup of your children, consider setting limits on the amount of exposure they have to the news. Of course, in our information age, children are not ignorant of current events. Even little children may see or hear more than you realize. Therefore, be alert to any signs of fear or anxiety that your children may display.

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

Educate them.

As your children get older, consider watching the news with them. In that setting, you can use the news as an opportunity to teach. Try to emphasize any positive aspects of a report—for example, relief efforts being made to help victims of some disaster.

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

Reassure them.

When a disturbing event is reported, draw out your children to find out how they feel about what happened. “My wife and I take the time to explain to our son, Nathaniel, what he has seen on the news, as well as what precautions we’ve taken to avoid the same tragedy ourselves,” says a father named Michael. “One time, when Nathaniel saw news footage of a house burning to the ground, he feared that our home would be next. To comfort him, we showed him all the smoke alarms in our house. He knows where they are and why they’re there. That helped him feel secure.”

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

Maintain perspective.

Researchers have found that people tend to judge the likelihood of an event by the ease with which examples of that event come to mind. For instance, if you recently heard that a child was abducted, you are likely to conclude that the threat to your child is greater than it is. Of course, it is good to be aware of potential dangers. Nevertheless, experts say that media reports can make us fear events that will probably never happen to us.—Proverbs 22:3, 13.

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

If parents fail to maintain a balanced perspective of the news, they could take fears to an extreme. So could their children. For example, in 2005 an 11-year-old boy got lost in the mountains of Utah in the United States. He was so afraid of kidnappers that he hid from his rescuers for four days. When rescue workers finally found the child, he was weak and dehydrated. Even though the odds of being taken by a stranger were about 1 in 350,000, the boy’s fears led him to risk starvation rather than accept help.

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

“Children ages 3-7 are more frightened by stories of natural disasters and accidents, whereas older children ages 8-12 are more scared by stories about crime and violence.”—Kaiser Family Foundation

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

The lesson? Make sure that you and your children maintain a balanced perspective of the news. The fact is, many calamities are viewed as newsworthy because they are relatively rare—not because they are common.

?‍?‍?‍???‍?‍?‍?

Crime, violence, and natural disasters are tragic realities of our times. As we have seen, however, your efforts to protect, educate, reassure, and provide a balanced perspective will help your children cope with disturbing reports.

Go to this site for more help:

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g201210/disturbing-news-reports-and-your-children/

What Is Kindness?

???

Kindness is displayed by taking an active interest in the welfare of others. It is shown by helpful acts and considerate words.

???

 To be kind means to do good rather than to do anything harmful. A kind person is friendly, gentle, sympathetic, and gracious. He has a generous, considerate attitude toward others. 

???

The apostle Paul admonished Christians: “Clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, mildness, and long-suffering.” (Colossians 3:12) Kindness, then, is part of every true Christian’s figurative attire.

???

Jehovah God has taken the lead in showing kindness. As Paul said, it was when “the kindness and the love for man on the part of our Savior, God, was manifested” that “he saved us through the bath that brought us to life and through the making of us new by holy spirit.” (Titus 3:4, 5) 

???

God ‘bathes,’ or cleanses, anointed Christians in Jesus’ blood, applying the merit of Christ’s ransom sacrifice in their behalf. They are also made new through holy spirit, becoming “a new creation” as spirit-begotten sons of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

???

Moreover, God’s kindness and love extend to “a great crowd,” who have “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”—Revelation 7:9, 14; 1 John 2:1, 2.

???

Kindness is also part of the fruitage of God’s holy spirit, or active force. Paul said: “The fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22, 23) So, then, should not those led by God’s spirit show kindness to others?

"At once abandoning the nets, they followed him." (Matt. 4:20).

???

What helped Peter, Andrew, James, and John take up the full-time ministry? Was it an emotional, spur-of-the-moment decision? Hardly! Over the previous months, these men listened to Jesus, saw him perform miracles, observed his zeal for righteousness, and witnessed the amazing response to his preaching. As a result, their faith in Jehovah and their trust in him became stronger! (Matt. 4:18-22) 

???

How can we imitate Jesus in helping our Bible students to build their trust in Jehovah? (Prov. 3:5, 6) 

?‍♀️??‍♀️

When teaching, we can highlight God’s promise to bless us abundantly if we put Kingdom interests first. (Mal. 3:10; Matt. 6:33) 

?‍♀️??

Although we can use various scriptures to emphasize how Jehovah provides for his people, not to be overlooked is the effect of the example we ourselves set. Sharing experiences from our own life can accomplish much in helping our students develop reliance on Jehovah. 

w11 11/15 4:6, 7

@SHARON LEE MOYER Share with him! 

???

15 hours ago, Wilma said:

Foi em 1958 que eu me batizei.

@Wilma 1968 yet born in Truth. ???

"We pronounce happy those who have endured."—Jas. 5:11

???????

If we endure opposition and persecution with the right attitude, it can build endurance in us. This will help us to weather future sufferings. We read: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials, knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith works out endurance.” (James 1:2, 3) 

???????

Similarly, Romans 5:3-5 informs us: “Let us exult while in tribulations, since we know that tribulation produces endurance; endurance, in turn, an approved condition; the approved condition, in turn, hope, and the hope does not lead to disappointment.” So the more we now endure trials because of our Christian course, the better equipped we will be to endure further trials in this wicked system of things.

???????

Jehovah Will Repay

???????

Any suffering we may yet have to endure will in no way interfere with our enjoyment of everlasting life in God’s new world. All of that will be completely offset by the magnificent conditions in the new world. Isaiah 65:17, 18 tells us: “The former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart. But exult, you people, and be joyful forever in what I am creating.” Consequently, it was appropriate for Jesus’ half brother James to declare: “We pronounce happy those who have endured.” (James 5:11) Yes, if we faithfully endure present suffering, we can benefit now and in the future.

???????

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2007607?q=james5%3A11&p=par

"Do not be lying to one another. Strip off the old personality with its practices, and clothe yourselves with the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it."—Col. 3:9, 10

?‍?‍?‍???????‍?‍?‍?

In a Christian household, what can help family members to treat one another with kindness and goodness? Accurate knowledge of God’s Word plays an important role. 

?‍?‍?‍???????‍?‍?‍?

Some family heads include a study of the fruitage of the spirit as part of their weekly Family Worship evening. Such a consideration is not difficult to arrange. Using the research tools available in your language, select material on each aspect of the spirit’s fruitage. 

?‍?‍?‍???????‍?‍?‍?

You might consider just a few paragraphs per week, spending several weeks on each aspect. As you study the material, read and discuss the cited scriptures. Look for ways to apply what you learn, and pray for Jehovah to bless your efforts.—1 Tim. 4:15; 1 John 5:14, 15 

?‍?‍?‍???????‍?‍?‍?

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011281