ALHAMISI TAREHE 19 AGOSTI 2021
Matendo ya Mitume 12:20-24, ASUBUHI
20 Naye Herode alikuwa amewakasirikia sana watu wa Tiro na Sidoni; wakamwendea kwa nia moja, na wakiisha kufanya urafiki na Blasto, mwenye kukitunza chumba cha mfalme cha kulalia, wakataka amani; kwa maana nchi yao ilipata riziki kwa nchi ya mfalme.
21 Basi siku moja iliyoazimiwa, Herode akajivika mavazi ya kifalme, akaketi katika kiti cha enzi, akatoa hotuba mbele yao.
22 Watu wakapiga kelele, wakisema, Ni sauti ya Mungu, si sauti ya mwanadamu.
23 Mara malaika wa Bwana akampiga, kwa sababu hakumpa Mungu utukufu; akaliwa na chango, akatokwa na roho.
24 Neno la Bwana likazidi na kuenea.
Mungu huwapinga wenye kiburi, lakini huwapa wanyenyekevu neema;
Asubuhi ya leo tunasoma habari za Herode aliyevaa mavazi ya kifalme, akakaa kwenye kiti chake na kutoa hotuba, wasikilizaji wake wakasema ni sauti ya Mungu, siyo mwanadamu! (Huyu ni Herode Agripa I, mjukuu wa Herode Mkuu)
Kwa sababu hakumpa Mungu utukufu, alipigwa na Bwana, akaliwa na chango hadi kufa! Uhakika nilio nao tukio hili lilikuwa mahubiri tosha kwa waliokuwepo, na ndiyo maana mstari wa 24 unasema "Neno la Bwana likazidi kuenea"
Kwa maana hiyo, maisha yasiyompa Mungu utukufu hayana maana. Tukiishi maisha hayo tutaishia kupigwa, tutaangamia. Yaani hatutauona ufalme wa Mungu. Tusijikweze kwa lolote, wala mafanikio yetu yasitufanye kujiona wa muhimu kuliko wengine, bali tuwe wanyenyekevu, maana hatma yetu iko mikononi mwa Mungu.
Alhamisi njema.
THURSDAY 19TH AUGUST 2021, MORNING
ACTS 12:20-24 (NIV)
20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.
God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble;
This morning we read about Herod dressed in royal apparel, sitting on his throne and giving a speech, his listeners said it was the voice of God, not man! (This is Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great)
Because he did not give the glory to God, he was struck by the Lord, and was devoured by worms to death! The certainty I have of this event was enough sermon for those present, and that is why verse 24 says "The word of the Lord went on growing and spreading."
In that sense, a life that does not glorify God is meaningless. If we live that life we will we will perish. That is, we will not see the kingdom of God. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another, for we are in the right hand of God.