In the book of Matthew 21 verse 14 it states that this Good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited Earth for a witness to all the nations and then the end will come.
This is a command that Jesus gave. This is a work that he said his followers would be doing. For those reading who are not witnesses or will become one please note that when you become associated with the organization you are obligated to preach the good news. This is what Jesus said his followers would be doing. Once you learn the truth and have a basic bible knowledge the goal is to teach others.
This isn't a suggestion. It's a command from Jesus himself. The work at times can be hard. I'm sure it's hard for our brothers and sisters who are advanced in age but you know what - they get out there and do their part. There was a sister who couldn't walk anymore. It was because of her age. She was very sad. The part that she was sad about wasn't because she couldn't walk anymore, it was because she felt that her days in Service was over. We call it the Field Ministry. Anyway, the sister felt it was over. No more knocking on doors. She was very sad and upset but she was determined to continue her service.
You know what this sister did? She could have sat at home but instead this sister purchased a wheelchair and her husband would go to a busy streets within the territory and do street work for at least 3 hours a day and this is after the her husband already did Field Ministry in the morning. Another sister I know who was in a wheelchair died two years ago. Her name was sister Davis. She was such an encouragement. She was in a wheelchair, had an oxygen tank, and still made it to every single meeting. I think about times when I missed meetings back in the day because I was tired. This sister made it to every single meeting and she also made it a point to comment at every single meeting.
Just think about what she had to do just to get to a meeting. Then to remove her oxygen mask just to make a comment. Amazing sister. If these sisters and brothers who are advanced in age and are doing more than those who are younger in terms of Field Service and Meeting Attendance then something is wrong. Remember this is a command that Jesus gave that we preach the good news.
How seriously do you take meeting attendance? No doubt most of us feel that we appreciate the meetings. Are some of us allowing unnecessary secular work, tiredness, homework, a slight physical indisposition, or a little bad weather to interfere with our obligation to attend meetings regularly? Since this is a Scriptural requirement, every one of us should give prayerful consideration to the question, How seriously do I take meeting attendance?
Today we follow the pattern set by the early Christians, who met regularly to pray, share experiences, and study God’s Word. We receive instruction on Bible prophecy and doctrine, as well as on godly conduct and Christian morals, along with timely admonition on improving our lives now by careful application of Scriptural principles. In addition, we are reminded of our hope that one day there will be an end to problems and suffering. It is vital that this hope be kept alive.
I'm reminded of an illustration that an Elder gave one day and it made all the sense in the world to me in terms of our meeting attendance and spiritual food that we receive at the meetings. Here is how I remember the illustration
We are all like flashlights without batteries. Then we learn the truth. It's as if Jehovah installed rechargeable batteries in our flashlights. We are bright, we are full of energy. Like any battery it can die but our batteries are different. It's rechargeable but Jehovah is the only one that can recharge our batteries. The spiritual food we receive is the power we get to recharge our batteries.
So at first our lights are bright but over time we start missing meetings. Our power is slowly going away. You ever had a flashlight that you had to hit on the side in order to receive some light? Well the batteries are slowly dying. When we miss meetings our light is slowly dying like that battery. Then, unless changes are made, the light can go away and then we end up like a dead flashlight or we wake up and realize that its Jehovah that powers us, we continue and improve. Our lights remain bright.
It was an interesting illustration. Till tomorrow.....
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