‘Your Life As a Spoil’

“But you are seeking great things
for yourself.

Stop seeking such things.”’

“‘For I am about to bring a calamity
on all flesh,’ declares Jehovah,

‘and wherever you may go,

I will grant you your life
as a spoil.’” Jer. 45:5.

***

Its pull exhilarated
strongly wrong……

Why was I riding
those rapids at all?

No ‘human’ could to me
guarantee

I’d even survive its ‘upcoming’ fall.

Yet, great sounds of laughter
I do recall

as I immediately exited a treacherous river
with its flow that did not stall…

Behind hoots and ridicule
and ‘fraidy-cat’ calls

I acted upon
what I came to ‘appreciate’
after that of which
I’d already come to ‘know’:

“The time left is reduced.

From now on,

let… those who weep” be
“as those who do not weep,

and those who rejoice
as those who do not rejoice,

and those who buy
as those who do not possess,

and those making use of the world
as those not using it to the full;

for the scene of this world is changing.” 1 Cor. 7:29-31.

***

Consider closely [Jesus] . . . , so that you may not get tired and give up.​—Heb. 12:3.

We can stay focused on the preaching work if we reflect on how much Jehovah is doing to help us. For example, he is providing an abundance of spiritual food in the form of printed and digital publications, audio and video recordings, and Internet broadcasts. Just think: On our official website, information is available in over 1,000 languages! (Matt. 24:45-47) Another way we can stay focused on preaching is by following Jesus’ example. He allowed nothing to distract him from bearing witness to the truth. (John 18:37) He was not enticed when Satan offered him “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory”; nor was he tempted when others wanted to make him king. (Matt. 4:8, 9; John 6:15) He was not swayed by a desire for material riches; nor was he deterred by fierce opposition. (Luke 9:58; John 8:59) When we face tests of our faith, we can stay focused if we remember the apostle Paul’s counsel in today’s text. w20.09 9-10 ¶6-7

Photo credit: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/man-standing-in-a-scene-with-a-vintage-antique-royalty-free-image/1129123756 © an hour ago, Lucretia McCloud    hope • love • sad • society • spiritual • teen