THURSDAY 16TH AUGUST 2018 MORNING
2 Corinthians 11:7-15 New International Version (NIV)
7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
The Apostle Paul in the above verses is answering some criticisms which he has received about his ministry. He wants the Christians to know that his motives are pure in desiring to service God faithfully and being a blessing to the church.
He also warns them that there are false teachers who are trying to deceive them.
Let us pray that those who preach the gospel would preach the pure message of the gospel and correctly interpret the Bible. Let us search the Scriptures ourselves and not rely on being fed by others.
ALHAMISI TAREHE 16 AGOSTI 2018 ASUBUHI
2 KORINTHO 11:7-15
7 Je! Nalifanya dhambi kwa kunyenyekea ili ninyi mtukuzwe, kwa sababu naliwahubiri Injili ya Mungu bila ujira?
8 Naliwanyang'anya makanisa mengine mali yao, nikitwaa posho langu ili niwahudumie ninyi.
9 Nami nilipokuwa pamoja nanyi na kuhitaji sikumlemea mtu. Maana hao ndugu waliokuja kutoka Makedonia walinipa kadiri ya mahitaji yangu; nami katika mambo yote najilinda nafsi yangu nisiwalemee hata kidogo; tena najilinda.
10 Kama vile ile kweli ya Kristo ilivyo ndani yangu, hakuna mtu atakayenifumba kinywa katika kujisifu huku, katika mipaka ya Akaya.
11 Kwa nini? Je! Ni kwa sababu siwapendi ninyi? Mungu anajua.
12 Lakini nifanyalo nitalifanya, ili niwapinge hao watafutao nafasi wasipate nafasi; ili kwamba katika neno hilo wajisifialo waonekane kuwa kama sisi.
13 Maana watu kama hao ni mitume wa uongo, watendao kazi kwa hila, wanaojigeuza wawe mfano wa mitume wa Kristo.
14 Wala si ajabu. Maana Shetani mwenyewe hujigeuza awe mfano wa malaika wa nuru.
15 Basi si neno kubwa watumishi wake nao wakijigeuza wawe mfano wa watumishi wa haki, ambao mwisho wao utakuwa sawasawa na kazi zao.
Mtume Paulo katika mistari hapo juu anajibu maneno ya watu ambayo walikuwa na maswali kuhusu huduma yake. Paulo anataka kuonyesha alikuwa na nia safi katika huduma kumtumikia Mungu na kanisa kwa uaminifu. Pia anawaonya wakristo kwamba kuna watu ambao wanafundisha uongo.
Sisi tuwe waangalifu tusidanganywe na mafundisho ya uongo. Tuwe na bidii kusoma na kutafakari Neno la Mungu sisi wenyewe, tusisubiri kulishwa kila wakati.