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Jehovah Is a God of Organization “God is a God not of disorder but of peace.” (a) Who was God’s first creation, and how did Jehovah use him? (b) What indicates that the angelic creation is organized? JEHOVAH, the Creator of the universe, does things in an organized manner. His first creation was his only-begotten spirit Son, who is called “the Word” because he is God’s principal spokesman. The Word has served Jehovah for ages, for the Bible states: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” We are also told: “All things came into existence through him [the Word], and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.” A little over 2,000 years ago, God sent the Word to the earth, where he faithfully did his Father’s will as the perfect man Jesus Christ. 2 During his prehuman existence, God’s Son served loyally as His “master worker.” (Prov. 8:30) By means of him, Jehovah brought into existence many millions of other spirit creatures in heaven. (Col. 1:16) Regarding such angels, one Bible account informs us: “A thousand thousands kept ministering to [Jehovah], and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.” 7:10) God’s numerous spirit creatures are referred to as the well-organized “armies” of Jehovah. How great is the number of stars and planets, and how are they organized? 3 What can be said about material creation, such as the countless stars and planets? Regarding stars, the Houston, Texas, Chronicle reports on a recent study suggesting that there are “300 sextillion of them, or three times as many as scientists previously calculated.” The report adds: “That is a 3 followed by 23 zeros. Or 3 trillion times 100 billion.” The stars are organized into galaxies, each containing billions or even trillions of stars, as well as many planets. Most galaxies are further organized into groups called clusters and into larger superclusters. Why is it reasonable to conclude that God’s servants on earth would be organized? 4 Like the righteous spirit creatures in heaven, the physical heavens are superbly organized. 40:26) Therefore, it is logical to conclude that Jehovah would organize his servants on earth. He wants them to maintain good order, and that is vitally important because they have so much important work to do. The splendid record of faithful service established by Jehovah’s worshippers past and present provides powerful evidence that he has been with them and that he is “a God not of disorder but of peace.” GOD’S ORGANIZED PEOPLE IN ANCIENT TIMES How was the orderly arrangement for the human family to fill the earth interrupted? 5 When Jehovah created the first humans, he told them: “Be fruitful and become many, fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving on the earth.” (Gen. 1:28) The human family was to grow in an organized way so as to populate the earth and extend Paradise until it covered the entire globe. The outworking of that orderly arrangement was temporarily interrupted by the disobedience of Adam and Eve. (Gen. 3:1-6) In time, “Jehovah saw that man’s wickedness was great on the earth and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only bad all the time.” As a result, “the earth had become ruined in the sight of the true God, and the earth was filled with violence.” Therefore, God purposed to bring about a global flood that would destroy the ungodly. (a) Why did Noah find favor with Jehovah? (See opening image.) (b) What happened to all the unfaithful people in Noah’s time? 6 However, “Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah” because he “was a righteous man” who “proved himself faultless among his contemporaries.” Because “Noah walked with the true God,” Jehovah instructed him to build a huge ark. (Gen. 6:8, 9, 14-16) Its design was well-suited for the preservation of human and animal life. Obediently, “Noah did everything that Jehovah had commanded him,” and with the cooperation of his family, he completed the building work in an organized way. After living things were brought into the ark, “Jehovah shut the door.” 7 In 2370 B.C.E. when the Flood came, Jehovah “wiped every living thing from the surface of the earth,” but he kept faithful Noah and his family safe in the ark. (Gen. 7:23) Everyone on earth today is a descendant of Noah, his sons, and their wives. But all the faithless people outside the ark perished because they had refused to listen to Noah, “a preacher of righteousness.” What evidence of good organization existed in Israel when God instructed his people to enter the Promised Land? 8 More than eight centuries after the Deluge, God organized the Israelites into a nation. Good organization was to involve all aspects of their life and especially their worship. In addition to Israel’s numerous priests and Levites, for example, there were “women who were organized to serve at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” 38:8) When Jehovah God instructed the people of Israel to enter Canaan, however, that generation proved unfaithful, and he told them: “None of you will enter into the land that I swore to have you reside in except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun” because they brought back a good report after spying out the Promised Land. 14:30, 37, 38) In harmony with God’s direction, Moses later commissioned Joshua to be his successor. 27:18-23) When Joshua was about to lead the Israelites into Canaan, he was told: “Be courageous and strong. Do not be struck with terror or fear, for Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.” How did Rahab feel about Jehovah and his people? 9 Jehovah God really was with Joshua wherever he went. For instance, consider what happened as the Israelites were encamped near the Canaanite city of Jericho. In 1473 B.C.E., Joshua sent two men to spy out Jericho, and there they met the prostitute Rahab. She hid them on the roof of her house, concealing them from potential captors sent out by Jericho’s king. Rahab told the Israelite spies: “I do know that Jehovah will give you the land . , for we heard how Jehovah dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you . and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites.” She added: “Jehovah your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” (Josh. 2:9-11) Because Rahab aligned herself with Jehovah’s organization of that time, God saw to it that she and her household were spared when the Israelites conquered Jericho. (Josh. 6:25) Rahab exercised faith, had reverence for Jehovah, and showed respect for his people. A DYNAMIC FIRST-CENTURY ORGANIZATION What did Jesus tell the Jewish religious leaders of his day, and why did he make such a statement? 10 Under Joshua’s leadership, the people of Israel conquered city after city and occupied the land of Canaan. But what happened in later times? Over the centuries, the Israelites repeatedly violated God’s laws. By the time Jehovah sent his Son to the earth, their failure to obey God and listen to his spokesmen was so pronounced that Jesus called Jerusalem “the killer of the prophets.” (Read Matthew 23:37, 38.) God rejected the Jewish religious leaders because of their unfaithfulness to him. Jesus therefore told them: “The Kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.” (a) What proves that in the first century, Jehovah transferred his blessing from the Jewish nation to another organization? (b) The new God-approved organization consisted of whom? 11 In the first century C.E., Jehovah cast off the unfaithful nation of Israel. However, that did not mean that he would be without an organization of loyal servants on earth. Jehovah transferred his blessing to a dynamic new organization centered on Jesus Christ and his teachings. It had its start on the day of Pentecost 33 C.E. At that time, about 120 disciples of Jesus were gathered at a place in Jerusalem when “suddenly there was a noise from heaven, just like that of a rushing, stiff breeze, and it filled the whole house.” Then “tongues as if of fire became visible to them and were distributed, and one came to rest on each one of them, and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak in different languages, just as the spirit enabled them to speak.” (Acts 2:1-4) This amazing event furnished undeniable evidence that Jehovah was backing the new organization, the one consisting of Christ’s disciples. 12 On that thrilling day, “about 3,000 people were added” to the number of Jesus’ followers. Furthermore, “Jehovah continued to add to them daily those being saved.” (Acts 2:41, 47) So effective was the activity of those first-century preachers that “the word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples kept multiplying very much in Jerusalem.” Even “a large crowd of priests began to be obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7) Many sincere individuals thus accepted the truths proclaimed by members of this new organization. Later, Jehovah gave similar evidence of his backing when he started to bring “people of the nations” into the Christian congregation. What was the work of God’s new organization? 13 There was no doubt about the God-given work of Christ’s followers. Jesus himself had set the example for them, for soon after his baptism, he began preaching about “the Kingdom of the heavens.” (Matt. 4:17) Jesus taught his disciples to do the same work. He told them: “You will be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the most distant part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The early followers of Christ definitely understood what was required of them. At Antioch in Pisidia, for example, Paul and Barnabas boldly told their Jewish opposers: “It was necessary for the word of God to be spoken first to you. Since you are rejecting it and do not judge yourselves worthy of everlasting life, look! we turn to the nations. For Jehovah has commanded us in these words: ‘I have appointed you as a light of nations, for you to be a salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 13:14, 45-47) Since the first century, the earthly part of God’s organization has been making known his provision for salvation. MANY PERISH, BUT GOD’S SERVANTS SURVIVE What happened to first-century Jerusalem, but who survived? 14 The Jews in general did not accept the good news, and calamity was to befall them, for Jesus had warned his disciples: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. Then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains, let those in the midst of her leave, and let those in the countryside not enter into her.” (Luke 21:20, 21) What Jesus foretold took place. Because of a Jewish revolt, Roman armies led by Cestius Gallus surrounded Jerusalem in 66 C.E. Those forces suddenly withdrew, however, and that gave Jesus’ followers an opportunity to leave Jerusalem and Judea. According to the historian Eusebius, many fled across the Jordan River to Pella in Perea. In 70 C.E., Roman armies under General Titus returned and devastated Jerusalem. However, faithful Christians survived because they heeded Jesus’ warning. Despite what did Christianity flourish? 15 Despite the hardships, persecution, and other tests of faith experienced by Christ’s followers, Christianity flourished in the first century. (Acts 11:19-21; 19:1, 19, 20) Those early Christians prospered spiritually because they had God’s blessing. To fare well spiritually, what was required of each Christian? 16 To fare well spiritually, each Christian had to put forth personal effort. Diligent study of the Scriptures, regular attendance at meetings for worship, and zealous activity in the Kingdom-preaching work were essential. Such activities contributed to the spiritual health and unity of Jehovah’s people at that time, even as they do today. Those associated with the well-organized early congregations benefited greatly from the willing and helpful efforts of overseers and ministerial servants. (Phil. 5:1-4) And what a delight it must have been when traveling elders, such as Paul, visited the congregations! (Acts 15:36, 40, 41) The similarities between our worship and that of the first-century Christians are remarkable. How grateful we are that Jehovah organized his servants then as well as now! What will be discussed in the next article? 17 As Satan’s world nears its end in these last days, the earthly part of Jehovah’s universal organization is moving ahead at an ever-increasing speed. Are you keeping pace with it? Have you been making spiritual progress? The next article will show how you can do so. ^ par. 16 See the articles “Christians Worship With Spirit and Truth” and “They Keep On Walking in the Truth” in The Watchtower of July 15, 2002. An extensive discussion of the earthly part of God’s organization today has been published in the book Jehovah’s Witnesses
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Jehova – Bog koji voli red i organiziranost Bog nije Bog nereda, nego mira (1. (a) Koga je Bog najprije stvorio i koju je ulogu on imao u izvršenju Božjeg nauma? (b) Na temelju čega možemo zaključiti da su anđeli dobro organizirani? JEHOVI, Stvoritelju cijelog svemira, jako je važno da ono što radi bude skladno i dobro organizirano. Bog je najprije stvorio svog jedinorođenog duhovnog Sina, koji je bio nazvan “Riječ” jer je postao njegov glavni zastupnik. Jehovin Sin od davnina služi svom Ocu, jer Biblija kaže: “U početku bila je Riječ i Riječ je bila kod Boga. (...) Sve je postalo preko njega [Riječi] i bez njega nije postalo ništa.” Prije nešto više od 2 000 godina Bog je tu Riječ — svog Sina, Isusa Krista — poslao na Zemlju. Isus je kao savršen čovjek vjerno služio svom nebeskom Ocu i učinio je sve što mu je on rekao (Ivan 1:1-3, 14). 2 Prije nego što je došao na Zemlju, Božji Sin vjerno je služio svom Ocu kao “vješt graditelj” (Izr. 8:30). Preko njega Jehova je na nebu stvorio milijune drugih duhovnih stvorenja, odnosno anđela (Kol. 1:16). U jednom biblijskom izvještaju koji opisuje kako anđeli služe Jehovi stoji: “Tisuću tisuća služilo mu je, deset tisuća po deset tisuća stajalo je pred njim” (Dan. 7:10). Ta mnogobrojna duhovna stvorenja nazivaju se “vojske” Jehovine. Taj izraz ukazuje na to da su ona izvrsno organizirana (Psal. 103:21). Koliko ima zvijezda i kako su one grupirane? 3 Što možemo reći o materijalnim djelima stvaranja, primjerice o bezbrojnim zvijezdama i planetima? U jednim američkim novinama nedavno je pisalo da su rezultati jednog istraživanja pokazali kako bi broj zvijezda mogao iznositi “300 trilijardi, što je triput više nego što su znanstvenici dosad mislili”. Riječ je o “broju 3 iza kojeg slijede 23 nule, odnosno 300 tisuća milijarda milijardi” (Chronicle iz Houstona). Zvijezde su grupirane u galaksije, koje se sastoje od više milijardi ili čak bilijuna zvijezda te mnoštva planeta. Većina galaksija grupirana je u skupove i superskupove. Sve to svjedoči o tome da njihov Stvoritelj voli red i organiziranost. Zašto je razumno zaključiti kako Bog želi da mu njegovi sluge na Zemlji služe na organiziran način? 4 Nebeska su tijela, kao i vjerna duhovna stvorenja na nebu, izvanredno organizirana (Iza. 40:26). Stoga je logično zaključiti kako je Jehovina volja da mu i njegovi sluge na Zemlji služe na organiziran način. On želi da među njima vlada red i sklad, jer jedino tako oni mogu izvršiti iznimno važan zadatak koji im je povjeren. Jehovini sluge već tisućama godina vjerno služe Bogu, što jasno pokazuje da imaju njegovu podršku te da on “nije Bog nereda, nego mira”. (Pročitaj 1. Korinćanima 14:33, 40.) KAKO SU BOŽJI SLUGE BILI ORGANIZIRANI U STARO DOBA Kako je ispunjenje Božjeg nauma o pretvaranju Zemlje u raj bilo privremeno onemogućeno? 5 Kad je Jehova stvorio prvog muškarca i ženu, rekao im je: “Rađajte se i množite, napunite zemlju i sebi je podložite, i vladajte nad ribama morskim i letećim stvorenjima nebeskim i nad svim stvorenjima što se miču po zemlji!” (1. Jehova nije odjednom stvorio nekoliko milijuna ljudi, nego su Adam i Eva trebali imati djecu, a njihova djeca svoju djecu, i tako redom sve dok ljudi ne bi nastanili cijelu Zemlju i pretvorili je u raj. Ostvarenje Božjeg nauma o pretvaranju Zemlje u raj bilo je privremeno onemogućeno zbog neposlušnosti Adama i Eve (1. S vremenom “Jehova je vidio da je zloća čovjekova na zemlji velika i da su sve misli srca njegova uvijek upravljene samo na zlo”. Zbog čovjekove zloće “zemlja se iskvarila pred pravim Bogom i ispunila se nasiljem”. Stoga je Bog odlučio potopom uništiti sve bezbožne ljude (1. (a) Zašto je Noa “našao milost u očima Jehovinim”? (Vidi ilustraciju na početku članka.) (b) Što se u potopu dogodilo svim bezbožnim ljudima? 6 Međutim, “Noa je našao milost u očima Jehovinim” jer je bio “čovjek pravedan” i “čestit među suvremenicima svojim”. “Noa je hodio s pravim Bogom”, pa mu je on rekao neka sagradi veliku arku (1. Jehova je Noi dao podrobne upute u vezi s gradnjom arke jer je htio da ona bude dobro napravljena kako bi ljudi i životinje u njoj mogli preživjeti potop. Noa je “sve učinio kako mu je Jehova zapovjedio”. On i njegova obitelj dobro su se organizirali te su složno surađivali. Tako su uspješno priveli kraju taj zahtjevan graditeljski pothvat. Nakon što su u arku uveli životinje te sami ušli u nju, Jehova je za njima “zatvorio vrata” (1. 7 Godine 2370. pr. n. e. Jehova je vodama potopa “istrijebio svako biće s površine zemlje”, ali bogobojazni Noa i njegova obitelj koja je s njim bila u arci ostali su na životu (1. Svi ljudi koji danas žive na Zemlji potomci su Noe i njegovih sinova te njihovih žena. No svi bezbožni ljudi koji su ostali izvan arke poginuli su jer nisu poslušali Nou, “propovjednika pravednosti” (2. Po čemu možemo zaključiti da su Izraelci bili dobro organizirani kad im je Bog zapovjedio da uđu u Obećanu zemlju? 8 Više od osamsto godina nakon potopa Bog je organizirao izraelska plemena i od njih stvorio jedan narod. U svim područjima njihovog života, a posebno u službi Bogu, trebao je vladati red i sklad. Stoga je Jehova odredio da neki Izraelci služe kao svećenici i leviti, a usto su i neke žene “na organizirani način služile na ulazu u šator sastanka” (2. Mojs. 38:8, bilješka). No kad je Bog zapovjedio Izraelcima da uđu u Kanaan, većina njih uplašila se i odbila poslušati njegovu zapovijed. Stoga je Jehova rekao tim Izraelcima koji su ga iznevjerili: “Vi nećete ući u zemlju za koju sam se podignute ruke zakleo da ću u njoj prebivati s vama, osim Kaleba, sina Jefuneova, i Jošue, sina Nunova.” Naime, od svih uhoda koji su se vratili iz Obećane zemlje samo su Jošua i Kaleb lijepo govorili o njoj (4. Kasnije je Bog zapovjedio Mojsiju neka postavi Jošuu za svog nasljednika (4. Kad je Jošua trebao uvesti Izraelce u Kanaan, bilo mu je rečeno: “Budi hrabar i jak! Ne boj se i ne plaši se, jer s tobom je Jehova, Bog tvoj, kamo god da pođeš!” (Još. 1:9). Kakav je stav Rahaba pokazala prema Jehovi i njegovom narodu? 9 Jehova Bog doista je bio s Jošuom kamo god je on išao. Naprimjer, razmotrimo što se dogodilo kad su se Izraelci 1473. pr. n. e. utaborili u blizini kanaanskog grada Jerihona. Jošua je poslao dvojicu uhoda da izvide Jerihon. Oni su u tom gradu potražili zaklon kod prostitutke Rahabe, koja ih je sakrila na krovu svoje kuće kako ih ne bi uhvatili vojnici jerihonskog kralja. Rahaba je rekla izraelskim uhodama: “Znam da će vam Jehova sigurno dati ovu zemlju, (...) jer smo čuli kako je Jehova pred vama isušio vode Crvenog mora (...) i što ste učinili dvojici kraljeva amorejskih.” Potom je dodala: “Jehova, Bog vaš, Bog [je] gore na nebu i dolje na zemlji” (Još. 2:9-11). Rahaba je stala na stranu Jehovinog naroda, koji je na organiziran način služio Bogu. Stoga se Jehova pobrinuo da ona i njezina obitelj ostanu na životu, pa su bili pošteđeni kad su Izraelci osvojili Jerihon (Još. 6:25). Rahaba je pokazala da vjeruje u Jehovu te da poštuje njega i njegov narod. KRŠĆANI U 1. STOLJEĆU BILI SU DOBRO ORGANIZIRANI Što je Isus rekao židovskim vjerskim vođama i zašto im je to rekao? Izraelci su pod Jošuinim zapovjedništvom osvajali grad za gradom te su na koncu zaposjeli kanaansku zemlju. No što se dogodilo nakon toga? U narednim stoljećima Izraelci su stalno kršili Božje zakone. Oni su toliko puta odbili poslušati Jehovu i njegove proroke da je Božji Sin u 1. stoljeću Jeruzalem nazvao gradom koji ubija proroke. (Pročitaj Mateja 23:37, 38.) Bog je odbacio židovske vjerske vođe jer mu nisu vjerno služili. Isus im je rekao: “Kraljevstvo Božje uzet će se od vas i dat će se narodu koji donosi plodove njegove” (Mat. 21:43). (a) Kako znamo da je Jehova u 1. stoljeću počeo blagoslivljati jednu novu organiziranu skupinu svojih slugu nakon što je odbacio židovski narod? (b) Tko je sačinjavao tu novu skupinu Božjih slugu? U 1. stoljeću Jehova je odbacio nevjeran izraelski narod. No to nije značilo da na Zemlji više nije trebala postojati dobro organizirana skupina Božjih vjernih slugu. Jehova je počeo blagoslivljati jednu novu organiziranu skupinu svojih slugu koji su prihvaćali Isusa Krista i držali se njegovih učenja. To se dogodilo na Pedesetnicu 33. godine. Tog se dana oko 120 Isusovih učenika okupilo u jednoj kući u Jeruzalemu. “Iznenada je nastala huka s neba kao kod naleta jakog vjetra i ispunila je cijelu kuću.” Tada su ugledali “nešto poput plamenih jezika koji su se razišli te je po jedan sišao na svakoga od njih”. Potom su se svi “ispunili svetim duhom i počeli govoriti raznim jezicima, kako im je duh davao da govore” (Djela 2:1-4). To zadivljujuće očitovanje Božjeg duha pružilo je jasan dokaz da Jehova podupire tu novu organizaciju — kršćansku skupštinu koja se sastojala od Kristovih učenika. Tog značajnog dana Isusovim se učenicima “pridružilo oko tri tisuće duša”. Osim toga, Biblija kaže da im je Jehova “svakodnevno pridruživao one koji su dolazili na put spasenja” (Djela 2:41, 47). Isusovi sljedbenici u 1. stoljeću toliko su djelotvorno propovijedali da je “riječ Božja sve više rasla i veoma se umnožavao broj učenika u Jeruzalemu, a i mnogo je svećenika prihvaćalo vjeru” (Djela 6:7). Mnogo je iskrenih pojedinaca prihvatilo istinita učenja koja su objavljivali pripadnici te nove organizirane skupine Božjih slugu. Jehova je kasnije na sličan način pokazao da podupire kršćansku skupštinu kad je u nju osim Židova počeo dovoditi i “neznabošce”, odnosno ljude iz drugih naroda. (Pročitaj Djela apostolska 10:44, 45.) Koji je zadatak Bog povjerio zemaljskom dijelu svoje organizacije? Bilo je sasvim jasno koji je zadatak Bog povjerio Kristovim sljedbenicima. Isus im je svojim primjerom pokazao što trebaju činiti jer je ubrzo nakon krštenja “počeo propovijedati” o nebeskom Kraljevstvu (Mat. 4:17). Osim toga, poučavao je svoje učenike kako trebaju propovijedati i poticao ih je da to čine. Rekao im je: “Bit ćete mi svjedoci u Jeruzalemu, po svoj Judeji i Samariji i sve do kraja zemlje” (Djela 1:8). Kristovi sljedbenici u 1. stoljeću jasno su razumjeli što trebaju činiti. Naprimjer, u pizidijskoj Antiohiji Pavao i Barnaba odvažno su rekli Židovima koji su im se protivili: “Riječ Božju trebalo je najprije govoriti vama. No kako je vi odbacujete i ne smatrate sebe vrijednima vječnoga života, evo, odlazimo neznabošcima. Jer ovako nam je zapovjedio Jehova: ‘Postavio sam te za svjetlo narodima, da budeš spasenje do kraja zemlje’” (Djela 13:14, 45-47). Dakle, još od 1. stoljeća zemaljski dio Božje organizacije obznanjuje ljudima što je Jehova učinio kako bi im omogućio da se spase. BOŽJI SLUGE OSTAJU NA ŽIVOTU Koja je nevolja snašla Jeruzalem u 1. stoljeću i tko je tu nevolju preživio? Većina Židova nije prihvatila dobru vijest, pa je Jeruzalem čekalo uništenje. Stoga je Isus upozorio svoje učenike rekavši: “Kad vidite da Jeruzalem opkoli vojska i utabori se oko njega, tada znajte da se približilo opustošenje njegovo! Tada neka oni koji budu u Judeji bježe u gore! Oni koji budu u gradu neka ga napuste, a koji budu u selima neka ne ulaze u grad!” (Luka 21:20, 21). Isusove su se riječi ispunile. Židovi su se pobunili protiv Rimljana, pa je rimska vojska pod zapovjedništvom Cestija Gala 66. godine opkolila Jeruzalem. Međutim, Rimljani su se iznenada povukli, što je Isusovim sljedbenicima omogućilo da otiđu iz Jeruzalema i Judeje. Prema zapisima povjesničara Euzebija, mnogi od njih prešli su rijeku Jordan i pobjegli u Pelu, koja se nalazila u Pereji. Godine 70. rimska se vojska vratila. Pod zapovjedništvom generala Tita Rimljani su razorili Jeruzalem. No kršćani koji su vjerno služili Bogu preživjeli su tu nevolju jer su poslušali Isusovo upozorenje. S kojim su se preprekama suočavali kršćani i je li to zaustavilo širenje kršćanstva? Iako su se Kristovi sljedbenici u 1. stoljeću suočavali s nevoljama, progonima i raznim drugim kušnjama, kršćanstvo se nezaustavljivo širilo (Djela 11:19-21; 19:1, 19, 20). Kršćanska je skupština iz dana u dan sve više rasla jer je na njoj počivao Božji blagoslov (Izr. 10:22). Što je svaki kršćanin u 1. stoljeću trebao činiti da bi ostao duhovno jak? Da bi ostao duhovno jak, svaki je kršćanin trebao uložiti puno truda. Morao je marljivo proučavati Božju Riječ, redovito pohađati sastanke na kojima su kršćani slavili Boga te revno propovijedati dobru vijest o Kraljevstvu. Sve je to pridonosilo duhovnom zdravlju i jedinstvu Jehovinih slugu koji su živjeli u to doba, a tako je i s Božjim slugama koji žive u današnje vrijeme. Skupštine u 1. stoljeću bile su dobro organizirane. Starješine i sluge pomoćnici spremno su pomagali svojim suvjernicima, a oni su cijenili njihov trud (Filip. 1:1; 1. Članovi skupštine sigurno su bili presretni svaki put kad bi im neki putujući nadglednik, poput apostola Pavla, došao u posjet (Djela 15:36, 40, 41). Vrijedno je istaknuti da mi danas služimo Bogu na vrlo sličan način kao i kršćani u 1. stoljeću. Uistinu smo zahvalni Jehovi na tome što je u prošlosti tako dobro organizirao svoje sluge te što se brine da i mi danas budemo izvanredno organizirani. Što ćemo razmatrati u sljedećem članku? Sotonin se svijet u ovim posljednjim danima sve više bliži kraju, a zemaljski dio Jehovine organizacije sve više napreduje. Držiš li korak s Jehovinom organizacijom? Napreduješ li i ti u duhovnom pogledu? Idući članak govori o tome što trebamo činiti da bismo napredovali u duhovnom pogledu i držali korak s Božjom organizacijom. ^ odl. 16 Vidi članke “Kršćani obožavaju Boga duhom i istinom” i “Oni hode u istini”, koji su objavljeni u izdanju Stražarske kule od 15. srpnja 2002. Brošura Tko danas vrši Jehovinu volju? sadrži neke zanimljive pojedinosti o zemaljskom dijelu Božje organizacije.