My beloved children of Zion, you have been working earnestly and diligently, with sincere hearts, to save even one soul. Your devoted efforts will shine forever in the glorious kingdom of heaven. Let us be strengthened as we look forward to the day when our Heavenly Father will praise and comfort us for all eternity.
In this world, there are countless things that arouse greed when seen with our eyes. Many people think that believing in God and obeying His word restricts their freedom, while the world appears to offer liberty and pleasure. However, true blessing and salvation come only through listening to and following the word of God. Therefore, let us continue to lead even one more soul to God’s side with diligence and love.
We should live each day drawing near to the word of God. If our minds are not fixed on His word, the devil will find a way to turn our hearts toward the things of the world. When we draw near to worldly things, greed arises, pride follows, and disputes and quarrels begin. Evil thoughts then corrupt the heart, leading one to lose the truth altogether (1 Ti 6:3–5). The word of God allows us to have frequent communion with Him. Those who read the Bible every day draw very near to God. Our Father said, “If you miss Me, read the Bible often.”
The Bible teaches that in the last days, people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and unholy (2 Ti 3:1–5). The people of the world pursue their own gain rather than showing generosity. When they find something good, they desire to keep it only for themselves. Yet if we always act selfishly, no one will be there to help us in times of need. Though it may sometimes seem that we suffer loss when we act for the sake of others, in truth, whatever we give with love always returns to us. Therefore, let us not be swept away by the world, but put on the full armor of God through His word.
God taught us to do good to all people as we have opportunity, and reminded us that love is the greatest virtue (Gal 6:10–14; 1 Co 13:2–13). These words must not remain as mere knowledge; we must put them into practice.
Love is patient, and when patience is lost, conflict arises. If someone speaks unpleasantly, do not respond right away; endure it for a moment. As you endure, wisdom grows and gentle words come forth. But when anger takes hold, harsh words inevitably follow. Once we give in to anger, evil thoughts arise, so we must not let anger rule over us.
Many quarrels stem from the desire to win an argument or from the unwillingness to yield or apologize first. When we stubbornly think, “Why should I apologize?”, reconciliation can be delayed for months, sometimes even leading to hostility. Let us instead have mature faith and a yielding heart. We apologize not necessarily because we are wrong, but to bring about harmony. When we lay aside pride and take the first step toward peace with humility, the other person’s heart softens, and reconciliation soon follows. Both are blessed, and both find joy. When we are considerate and quick to apologize, like “Loving Brothers,” we can live in harmony throughout our lives.
It is a blessing to give. Though it may seem as if we lose something when we share with others, in truth, we lose nothing; God sees and blesses us. Those who once received help from us will remember and come to our aid in our time of need. This is the way of a righteous life. Loving to give is the mark of God’s children. God gave us even His life, saying, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (Jn 13:15).
Even if we face inconvenience or hardship in this world, let us endure with faith, for we are on our way to the beautiful kingdom of heaven. Let us follow God, who sacrificed Himself on the cross for His children, by sharing His love with all people and proclaiming the Passover that leads to eternal life. Since Father promised salvation to the humble, let us cherish and love one another, so that we may all become the very embodiment of love and receive abundant blessings in heaven from our Father.
