TUESDAY 7TH JANUARY 2020 MORNING
Ephesians 2:11-22 New International Version (NIV)
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands) 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
A unity marked by welcoming and hospitality in the church expresses God’s reconciliation and transformation of humanity. This reconciliation comes through the blood of Christ. Jesus has brought peace and reconciliation by joining every Christian into one faith.
JUMANNE TAREHE 7 JANUARI 2020 ASUBUHI
WAEFESO 2:11-22
11 Kwa ajili ya hayo kumbukeni ya kwamba zamani ninyi, mlio watu wa Mataifa kwa jinsi ya mwili, mnaoitwa Wasiotahiriwa na wale wanaoitwa Waliotahiriwa, yaani, tohara ya mwilini iliyofanyika kwa mikono;
12 kwamba zamani zile mlikuwa hamna Kristo, mmefarakana na jamii ya Israeli, wageni wasio wa maagano ya ahadi ile. Mlikuwa hamna tumaini, hamna Mungu duniani.
13 Lakini sasa, katika Kristo Yesu, ninyi mliokuwa mbali hapo kwanza mmekuwa karibu kwa damu yake Kristo.
14 Kwa maana yeye ndiye amani yetu, aliyetufanya sisi sote tuliokuwa wawili kuwa mmoja; akakibomoa kiambaza cha kati kilichotutenga.
15 Naye akiisha kuuondoa ule uadui kwa mwili wake; ndiyo sheria ya amri zilizo katika maagizo; ili afanye hao wawili kuwa mtu mpya mmoja ndani ya nafsi yake; akafanya amani.
16 Akawapatanisha wote wawili na Mungu katika mwili mmoja, kwa njia ya msalaba, akiisha kuufisha ule uadui kwa huo msalaba.
17 Akaja akahubiri amani kwenu ninyi mliokuwa mbali, na amani kwao wale waliokuwa karibu.
18 Kwa maana kwa yeye sisi sote tumepata njia ya kumkaribia Baba katika Roho mmoja.
19 Basi tangu sasa ninyi si wageni wala wapitaji, bali ninyi ni wenyeji pamoja na watakatifu, watu wa nyumbani mwake Mungu.
20 Mmejengwa juu ya msingi wa mitume na manabii, naye Kristo Yesu mwenyewe ni jiwe kuu la pembeni.
21 Katika yeye jengo lote linaungamanishwa vema na kukua hata liwe hekalu takatifu katika Bwana.
22 Katika yeye ninyi nanyi mnajengwa pamoja kuwa maskani ya Mungu katika Roho.
Umoja unaodhihirika katika wema na ukarimu ndani ya kanisa ni kielelezo cha jinsi Mungu alivyompatanisha kwake, na kumfanya upya mwanadamu. Upatanisho huu unafanyika kwa njia ya damu ya Yesu Kristo. Yesu ameleta amani na upatanisho kwa kuwaunganisha Wakristo wote katika imani moja.
