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Come Be My Follower - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site

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54<br />

“COMEBEMYFOLLOWER”<br />

addition, wisdom will guide those in positions of responsibility<br />

to acknowledge that they have limitations and<br />

that they need help and support from time to time. Modesty<br />

will enable such ones to accept the help graciously,<br />

recognizing that Jehovah may well use a fellow believer to<br />

become “a strengthening aid” to them.—Colossians 4:11.<br />

18 “Thewisdomfromaboveis...reasonable,”saysJames<br />

3:17. Jesus was reasonable and positive in dealing with his<br />

disciples. He was well aware of their faults, yet he looked<br />

for the good in them. (John 1:47) He knew that they<br />

were going to abandon him on the night of his arrest,<br />

but he did not doubt their loyalty. (Matthew 26:31-<br />

35; Luke 22:28-30) Peter three times denied even knowing<br />

Jesus. Still, Jesus made supplication in Peter’s behalf<br />

and expressed confidence in his faithfulness. (Luke 22:31-<br />

34) On the last night of his earthly life, Jesus in prayer<br />

to his Father did not focus on the mistakes his disciples<br />

had made. Rather, he spoke positively about their course<br />

up to that night, saying: “They have observed your word.”<br />

(John 17:6) Despite their imperfections, he placed in their<br />

hands the earthly interests of his Kingdom. (Matthew 25:<br />

14, 15; Luke 12:42-44) The confidence and faith that he<br />

expressed in them no doubt strengthened them to carry<br />

out the work he commanded them to do.<br />

19 <strong>Follower</strong>s of Jesus have reason to imitate his example<br />

in this regard. If the perfect Son of God was patient<br />

in dealing with his imperfect disciples, how much more<br />

should we as sinful humans be reasonable in our dealings<br />

with one another! (Philippians 4:5) Rather than focusing<br />

on the shortcomings of fellow worshippers, we do<br />

well to look for the good in them. We are wise to remem-<br />

18, 19. (a) What shows that Jesus was reasonable and positive in dealing<br />

with his disciples? (b) Why do we have good reason to be positive<br />

and reasonable in dealing with one another, and how can we do so?

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