WEDNESDAY 3RD MARCH 2021 MORNING
Matthew 14:1-12 New International Version (NIV)
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
God calls us to turn from behavior that is wrong, and to turn back to him. God could have left us condemned in our sin and doomed to everlasting hell, God loved us humans whom He had created and He found a way in which He could redeem us from our sins and bring us back into a relationship with Himself.
John knew what he believed. He knew he believed the truth and he acted accordingly. What do you believe? Are you living according to it?
JUMATANO TAREHE 3 MACHI 2021 ASUBUHI
MATHAYO 14:1-12
1 Wakati ule mfalme Herode alisikia habari za Yesu, akawaambia watumishi wake,
2 Huyo ndiye Yohana Mbatizaji; amefufuka katika wafu; na kwa hiyo nguvu hizo zinatenda kazi ndani yake.
3 Maana Herode alikuwa amemkamata Yohana, akamfunga, akamtia gerezani, kwa ajili ya Herodia, mke wa Filipo nduguye.
4 Kwa sababu Yohana alimwambia, Si halali kwako kuwa naye.
5 Naye alipotaka kumwua, aliwaogopa watu, maana walimwona Yohana kuwa nabii.
6 Hata ilipofika sikukuu ya kuzaliwa kwake Herode, binti Herodia alicheza mbele ya watu, akampendeza Herode.
7 Hata akaahidi kwa kiapo ya kwamba atampa lo lote atakaloliomba.
8 Naye, huku akichochewa na mamaye, akasema, Nipe hapa katika kombe kichwa cha Yohana Mbatizaji.
9 Naye mfalme akasikitika; lakini kwa ajili ya viapo vyake, na kwa ajili ya wale walioketi chakulani pamoja naye, akaamuru apewe;
10 akatuma mtu, akamkata kichwa Yohana mle gerezani.
11 Kichwa chake kikaletwa katika kombe, akapewa yule kijana; akakichukua kwa mamaye.
12 Wanafunzi wake wakaenda, wakamchukua yule maiti, wakamzika; kisha wakaenda wakampasha Yesu habari.
Mungu anatuita ili tuziache njia zilizo mbaya, na kumgeukia yeye. Mungu angeweza kutuacha tuhukumiwe na dhambi zetu na kuangamizwa katika jehanamu ya milele. Lakini yeye alitupenda kwa kuwa sisi ni watu wake aliyewaumba; na aliandaa njia ya kutuokoa kutoka utumwa wa dhambi na kutupatanisha na nafsi yake mwenyewe. Yohana alifahamu alichoamini. Alitambua kwamba aliamini kweli na akaishi sawa na kweli hiyo. Je, wewe unaamini katika nini? Maisha yako yana ushuhuda gani?
