WEDNESDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2020 MORNING
2 Corinthians 11:16-33 New International Version (NIV)
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!
Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
The true Christian life is not about status or self-promotion. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, this is what God is calling you to stop boasting in your strengths. Start to embrace your weaknesses and look for opportunities to give yourself away in service to him and others.
JUMATANO TAREHE 23 SEPTEMBA 2020 ASUBUHI
2WAKORINTHO 11:16-33
16 Nasema tena, mtu asidhani ya kuwa mimi ni mpumbavu; lakini mjaponidhania hivi, mnikubali kama mpumbavu; ili mimi nami nipate kujisifu ngaa kidogo.
17 Ninenalo silineni agizo la Bwana, bali kama kwa upumbavu, katika ujasiri huu wa kujisifu.
18 Kwa sababu wengi wanajisifu kwa jinsi ya mwili, mimi nami nitajisifu.
19 Ninyi, kwa kuwa mna akili, mnachukuliana na wajinga kwa furaha.
20 Maana mwachukuliana na mtu akiwatia utumwani, akiwameza, akiwateka nyara, akijikuza, akiwapiga usoni.
21 Nanena kwa jinsi ya kujidhili kana kwamba sisi tulikuwa dhaifu. Walakini, akiwa mtu anao ujasiri kwa lo lote, (nanena kipuuzi), mimi nami ninao ujasiri.
22 Wao ni Waebrania? Na mimi pia. Wao ni Waisraeli? Na mimi pia. Wao ni uzao wa Ibrahimu? Na mimi pia.
23 Wao ni wahudumu wa Kristo? (Nanena kiwazimu), mimi ni zaidi; katika taabu kuzidi sana; katika vifungo kuzidi sana; katika mapigo kupita kiasi; katika mauti mara nyingi.
24 Kwa Wayahudi mara tano nalipata mapigo arobaini kasoro moja.
25 Mara tatu nalipigwa kwa bakora; mara moja nalipigwa kwa mawe; mara tatu nalivunjikiwa jahazi; kuchwa kucha nimepata kukaa kilindini;
26 katika kusafiri mara nyingi; hatari za mito; hatari za wanyang'anyi; hatari kwa taifa langu; hatari kwa mataifa mengine; hatari za mjini; hatari za jangwani; hatari za baharini; hatari kwa ndugu za uongo;
27 katika taabu na masumbufu; katika kukesha mara nyingi; katika njaa na kiu; katika kufunga mara nyingi; katika baridi na kuwa uchi.
28 Baghairi ya mambo ya nje, yako yanijiayo kila siku, ndiyo maangalizi ya makanisa yote.
29 Ni nani aliye dhaifu, nisiwe dhaifu nami? Ni nani aliyekwazwa nami nisichukiwe?
30 Ikinibidi kujisifu, nitajisifia mambo ya udhaifu wangu.
31 Mungu, Baba wa Bwana Yesu, aliye mtukufu hata milele, anajua ya kuwa sisemi uongo.
32 Huko Dameski liwali wa mfalme Areta alikuwa akiulinda mji wa Wadameski, ili kunikamata;
33 nami nikatelemshwa ndani ya kapu, katika dirisha la ukutani, nikaokoka katika mikono yake.
Maisha ya kweli ya Kikristo siyo heshima au kujikweza. Ikiwa wewe ni mfuasi wa Yesu Kristo, hili ndilo Mungu alilokuitia; uache kujivunia nguvu zako na uanze kujisifia udhaifu wako. Tafuta fursa za kujitoa kwa ajili ya kumtumikia Mungu na kuwatumikia wengine.
