*** Text for May-01-10 ***
Saturday, May 1
Put a mark on the foreheads of the men that are sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that are being done.-Ezek. 9:4.
Following that marking work, six men with slaughtering weapons are commanded to execute all those who do not have the mark. (Ezek. 9:1-6) Ezekiel's vision highlights one reason why our ongoing search for people who are "sighing and groaning" is so urgent. It involves lives. Soon, Jehovah's heavenly executional forces, represented by the six men with weapons, will destroy those who do not have the symbolic mark. Concerning that coming judgment, the apostle Paul wrote that the Lord Jesus, accompanied by "his powerful angels," will bring "vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus." (2 Thess. 1:7, 8) Notice that people will be judged on the basis of their response to the good news. Hence, the proclamation of God's message must continue unabated right to the end.-Rev. 14:6, 7. w08 7/15 1:10, 12
Now if one of the jw's felt the huge burden this places on them, (lives are at stake) it becomes even more onerous when taking into consideration that the efforts put forth in the ministry for the purpose of saving lives (their own in the sense of avoiding bloodguilt) is not even the most important purpose of that ministry or more properly stated that "door to door preaching".
*** w08 7/15 p. 6 par. 14 The House-to-House Ministry-Why Important Now? ***
As important as the preservation of human life is, there is a far greater reason for preaching from house to house. In the prophecy recorded at Malachi 1:11, Jehovah declares: "From the sun's rising even to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and . . . a presentation will be made to my name, even a clean gift; because my name will be great among the nations." In fulfillment of this prophecy, Jehovah's dedicated servants are publicly praising his name in all the earth as they humbly carry out their ministry. (Ps. 109:30; Matt. 24:14) Rendering "a sacrifice of praise" to Jehovah is our foremost reason for preaching publicly and from house to house.-Heb. 13:15