Watchtower March 31 through April 6
[For the opening song before the Public Talk, select the song number announced, on the 'Sing Out Joyfully' Page or click here]
Watchtower Study Article 5 [Press play below to hear the MP3 Watchtower audio]
Song 108 God’s Loyal Love. Based Isaiah 55.1 through 3
1. Loyal love! God is love.
We can sense his care from above.
God by means of his precious Son
Paid the ransom for ev’ryone,
Giving hope that we might possess
Life eternal and happiness.
Hey there, all you thirsty ones,
Come and drink life’s water free.
Yes, come drink, you thirsty ones;
God’s loyal love you’ll see.
2. Loyal love! God is love.
All his works give proof of his love.
Love Jehovah has further shown,
Giving Jesus the kingly throne.
God’s own purpose has come to pass.
See! His Kingdom is here at last!
Hey there, all you thirsty ones,
Come and drink life’s water free.
Yes, come drink, you thirsty ones;
God’s loyal love you’ll see.
3. Loyal love! God is love.
May his spirit move us to love.
As we loyally help the meek,
God’s commandments they learn to keep.
We are serving with godly fear,
Preaching boldly for all to hear.
Hey there, all you thirsty ones,
Come and drink life’s water free.
Yes, come drink, you thirsty ones;
God’s loyal love you’ll see.
[End of Song. Press Play below to play this song with Audio Description]
How We Benefit From Jehovah’s Love (March 31 through April 6)
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”1 Timothy 1.15.
[Box] Focus.
How we benefit from the ransom and how we can show Jehovah our gratitude. [End of box]
Question 1. What can we do to make Jehovah happy?
1. Imagine giving someone you love a special gift that is both beautiful and practical. How disappointed 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 appreciation 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!
[Quotation] John 3.16: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Romans 5.7 and 8: For hardly would anyone die for a righteous man; though perhaps for a good man someone may dare to die. 8 But God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [End Quotation]
Question 2. What will we discuss in this article?
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 consider how we can respond appreciatively to Jehovah’s love, especially during this Memorial season.
How We Benefit Now
Question 3. What is one way that we benefit from the ransom right 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 forgive us. But he wants to. The grateful psalmist sang: “For you, O Jehovah, are good and ready to forgive.”
[Quotation] Psalm 86.5: For you, O Jehovah, are good and ready to forgive; You abound in loyal love for all those who call on you. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Psalm 103.3: He forgives all your errors And heals all your ailments; [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Psalm 103.10 through 13: He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor has he repaid us what our errors deserve. 11 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So great is his loyal love toward those who fear him. 12 As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, So far off from us he has put our transgressions. 13 As a father shows mercy to his sons, Jehovah has shown mercy to those who fear him. [End Quotation]
Question 4. For whom did Jehovah provide the ransom? (Luke 5.32; 1 Timothy 1.15)
4. Some may feel unworthy of Jehovah’s forgiveness. 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 undeserved kindness I am what I am.”
[Quotation] 1 Corinthians 15.9 and 10: For I am the least of the apostles, and I am not worthy of being called an apostle, because I persecuted the congregation of God. 10 But by God’s undeserved kindness I am what I am. And his undeserved kindness to me was not in vain, but I labored more than all of them; yet it was not I, but the undeserved kindness of God that is with me. [End Quotation]
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.
[Read scripture] Luke 5.32: I have come to call, not righteous people, but sinners to repentance.” [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] 1 Timothy 1.15: This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these, I am foremost. [End of Read scripture]
Question 5. Can any of us rightly feel entitled to receive Jehovah’s mercy? Explain.
5. None of us should feel that we are entitled to receive Jehovah’s mercy even if we have spent many years in his service. Of course, Jehovah appreciates our record of faithfulness.
[Quotation] Hebrews 6.10: For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones. [End Quotation]
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 consideration, we would, in effect, be saying that Christ died for nothing. Compare Galatians 2.21.
[Quotation] Galatians 2.21: I do not reject the undeserved kindness of God, for if righteousness is through law, Christ actually died for nothing. [End Quotation]
Question 6. Why did Paul work hard in Jehovah’s service?
6. Paul knew that he could not earn God’s favor. Why, then, did he work so hard in Jehovah’s service? Not to prove himself deserving, but to show appreciation for Jehovah’s undeserved kindness.
[Quotation] Ephesians 3.7: I became a minister of this according to the free gift of God’s undeserved kindness that was given me through the operation of his power. [End Quotation]
Like Paul, we continue to serve zealously, not to earn Jehovah’s mercy, but to show appreciation for it.
Question 7. What is another way we benefit from the ransom right now? (Romans 5.1; James 2.23)
7. Another way that we benefit from the ransom right now is that we can have a close, personal relationship with Jehovah.* [Footnote] 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.
[Quotation] Romans 3.25: God presented him as an offering for propitiation through faith in his blood. This was to demonstrate his own righteousness, because God in his forbearance was forgiving the sins that occurred in the past. [End Quotation]
[End of footnote] 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 therefore draw close to him. Read Romans 5.1; James 2.23.
[Read scripture] Romans 5:1: Therefore, now that we have been declared righteous as a result of faith, let us enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [End of Read scripture] [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] James 2.23: and the scripture was fulfilled that says: “Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he came to be called Jehovah’s friend. [End of Read scripture]
Question 8. Why should we be grateful to Jehovah for the privilege of prayer?
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.
[Quotation] Psalm 65.2: O Hearer of prayer, to you people of all sorts will come. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] James 4.8: Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you indecisive ones. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] 1 John 5.14: And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that no matter what we ask according to his will, he hears us. [End Quotation]
While on earth, Jesus prayed frequently because he knew that Jehovah was listening and that prayer would keep his relationship with his Father strong.
[Quotation] Luke 5.16: However, he often went into the desolate areas to pray. [End Quotation]
How grateful we are that, on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can be Jehovah’s friends and even speak to Him in prayer!
Question 8. Why should we be grateful to Jehovah for the privilege of prayer?
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.
[Quotation] Psalm 65.2: O Hearer of prayer, to you people of all sorts will come. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] James 4.8: Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you indecisive ones. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] 1 John 5.14: And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that no matter what we ask according to his will, he hears us. [End Quotation]
While on earth, Jesus prayed frequently because he knew that Jehovah was listening and that prayer would keep his relationship with his Father strong.
[Quotation] Luke 5.16: However, he often went into the desolate areas to pray. [End Quotation]
How grateful we are that, on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can be Jehovah’s friends and even speak to Him in prayer!
How We Can Benefit in the Future
Question 9. How will the ransom benefit faithful worshippers in the future?
9. How will Jehovah’s faithful worshippers benefit from the ransom in the future? They will be granted everlasting life. Many people think that this is impossible because humans have been dying for thousands of years. But Jehovah’s original purpose was 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 extraordinary at this time, so is the price that Jehovah paid to restore this prospect to us, the gift of his own dear Son.
[Quotation] Romans 8.32: Since he did not even spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, will he not also, along with him, kindly give us all other things? [End Quotation]
Question 10. What do the anointed and the other sheep look forward to?
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 heaven as they rule over the earth with Christ.
[Quotation] Revelation 20.6: Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years. [End Quotation]
The other sheep count on living on a paradise earth free from pain and sorrow.
[Quotation] Revelation 21.3 and 4: With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” [End Quotation]
Are you one of the other sheep with the prospect of endless life on earth? That reward is no mere consolation prize! It is everything humans were designed for. Life on earth will make us supremely happy.
Question 11 and 12. What are some of the blessings in Paradise that we can anticipate? (See also pictures)
11. Imagine what life will be like for you on the Paradise earth. You will have no worries about sickness or death.
[Quotation] Isaiah 25.8: He will swallow up death forever, And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, For Jehovah himself has spoken it. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Isaiah 33.24: And no resident will say: “I am sick.” The people dwelling in the land will be pardoned for their error. [End Quotation]
Jehovah will fully satisfy every proper desire you have. What fields of interest might you pursue? Physics? Chemistry? Music? Art? No doubt, there will be a need for architects, builders, and farmers. Surely, there will also be a need for support and maintenance services, such as preparing food, making tools, and caring for the beautiful landscape.
[Quotation] Isaiah 35.1: The wilderness and the parched land will exult, And the desert plain will be joyful and blossom as the saffron. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Isaiah 65.21: They will build houses and live in them, And they will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. [End Quotation]
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!
[Quotation] Acts 24.15: And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. [End Quotation]
Imagine, too, how you will enjoy learning more about Jehovah by examining his numerous works of creation.
[Quotation] Psalm 104.24: How many your works are, O Jehovah! You have made all of them in wisdom. The earth is full of what you have made. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Isaiah 11.9: They will not cause any harm Or any ruin in all my holy mountain, Because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah As the waters cover the sea. [End Quotation]
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”?
[Quotation] Hebrews 11.25: choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin, [End Quotation]
Certainly not! These blessings are worth any sacrifice we must make now. Remember, the Paradise earth will not always be a future hope. It will eventually become the present reality. None of this would be possible if Jehovah had not loved us enough to provide the gift of his Son!
Image Collage: Brothers and sisters enjoying life in Paradise. 1. A couple builds a house. 2. A brother plays a violin. 3. A couple runs toward their resurrected young daughter. 4. A sister molds clay on a potter’s wheel in her workshop. 5. A sister harvests clusters of grapes. 6. A father and his son observe a sloth in a tree. Caption: What blessings in Paradise do you look forward to most?
Question 13. How can we respond appreciatively to Jehovah’s love? (2 Corinthians 6.1)
13. How can we respond appreciatively to Jehovah for having provided the ransom? By giving his work priority in our life.
[Quotation] Matthew 6.33: “Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. [End Quotation]
After all, Jesus died “so that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised up.” (2 Corinthians 5.15) We certainly do not want to miss the purpose of Jehovah’s undeserved kindness. Read 2 Corinthians 6.1.
[Read scripture] 2 Corinthians 6.1: Working together with him, we also urge you not to accept the undeserved kindness of God and miss its purpose. [End of Read scripture]
Question 14. How can we exercise faith in Jehovah’s direction?
14. We can also respond to Jehovah’s love by exercising faith in his direction. How? When we have decisions to make, such as how much secular education we need or what type of employment we should accept, we must consider what Jehovah would want us to do.
[Quotation] 1 Corinthians 10.31: Therefore, whether you are eating or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God’s glory. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] 2 Corinthians 5.7: for we are walking by faith, not by sight. [End Quotation]
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.
[Quotation] Romans 5.3 through 5: Not only that, but let us rejoice while in tribulations, since we know that tribulation produces endurance; 4 endurance, in turn, an approved condition; the approved condition, in turn, hope, 5 and the hope does not lead to disappointment; because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy spirit, which was given to us. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] James 2.21 and 22: Was not Abraham our father declared righteous by works after he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that his faith was active along with his works and his faith was perfected by his works, [End Quotation]
Question 15. How can we demonstrate our appreciation during the Memorial season?
15. There 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 attend.
[Quotation] 1 Timothy 2.4: whose will is that all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth. [End Quotation]
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 in heaven and on earth if some of Jehovah’s lost sheep are moved to return to his flock!
[Quotation] Luke 15.4 through 7: “What man among you with 100 sheep, on losing one of them, will not leave the 99 behind in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he gets home, he calls his friends and his neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous ones who have no need of repentance. [End Quotation]
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!
[Quotation] Romans 1213: Share with the holy ones according to their needs. Follow the course of hospitality. [End Quotation]
Question 16. Why should we consider expanding our ministry during the Memorial season?
16. Can you increase your spiritual activities during 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.
[Quotation] 1 Corinthians 3.9: For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field under cultivation, God’s building. [End Quotation]
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.
How We Can Benefit in the Future
Question 17. What pleases Jehovah? (See also the box “Ways to Respond to Jehovah’s Love.”)
17. Of course, your circumstances may not permit you to do everything suggested in this article. Remember, 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 observes your heartfelt gratitude for his precious gift, the ransom.
[Quotation] 1 Samuel 16.7: But Jehovah said to Samuel: “Do not pay attention to his appearance and how tall he is, for I have rejected him. For the way man sees is not the way God sees, because mere man sees what appears to the eyes, but Jehovah sees into the heart.” [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Mark 12.41 through 44: And he sat down with the treasury chests in view and began observing how the crowd was dropping money into the treasury chests, and many rich people were dropping in many coins. 42 Now a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins of very little value. 43 So he called his disciples to him and said to them: “Truly I say to you that this poor widow put in more than all the others who put money into the treasury chests. 44 For they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her want, put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” [End Quotation]
[Box]
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. [End of box]
[Image Alt:] Collage: Ways we can respond to Jehovah’s love. 1. A publisher fills out an auxiliary pioneer application. 2. A father conducts family worship with his wife and two children. 3. A couple participate in cart witnessing. The husband offers a Memorial invitation to a man. 4. A couple warmly welcomes visitors to the Memorial.
Question 18. Why are we grateful to Jehovah God and Jesus Christ?
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.
[Quotation] 1 John 4.19: We love, because he first loved us. [End Quotation]
May we also demonstrate our appreciation for Jesus, who loved us so much that he gave his human life in our behalf!
[Quotation] John 15.13: No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends. [End Quotation]
[Box] 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? [End of box]
Song 154 Unfailing Love. Based on 1 Corinthians 13.8
1. Look around us now;
See the love on each face
Out there in the world, hard to find.
All these faithful friends
With the love they all show,
Glad to leave that old world behind.
Love never fails; that’s promised.
It always will endure.
Love, unfailing love
That’s what Jehovah gives.
That’s what he is.
Love, unfailing love
That’s what we need to live.
And the love here today,
In our heart may it stay
Unfailing love.
2. Though sometimes it seems
Like the cares of this life
Weigh us down and feel hard to bear,
Giving brings us joy
When we share faith and hope,
Comforted by God’s loving care.
Love will remain; that’s promised.
It always will endure.
Love, unfailing love
That’s what Jehovah gives.
That’s what he is.
Love, unfailing love
That’s what we need to live.
And the love here today,
In our heart may it stay.
Love, unfailing love
That’s what Jehovah gives.
That’s what he is.
Love, unfailing love
That’s what we need to live.
And the love here today,
In our heart may it stay
Unfailing love,
Unfailing love,
Unfailing love.
[End of Song. Press Play below to play this song with Audio Description]
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