SUNDAY 6TH AUGUS , 8TH SUNDAY AFTER HOLY TRINITY
THEME: THE GOODNESS OF GOD DRAWS US TO REPENT.
Psalm 119:153-160, Luke 19:1-10, Judges 10:6-10
Psalm 119:153-160New International Version (NIV)
153 Look on my suffering and deliver me,
for I have not forgotten your law.
154 Defend my cause and redeem me;
preserve my life according to your promise.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek out your decrees.
156 Your compassion, Lord, is great;
preserve my life according to your laws.
157 Many are the foes who persecute me,
but I have not turned from your statutes.
158 I look on the faithless with loathing,
for they do not obey your word.
159 See how I love your precepts;
preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love.
160 All your words are true;
all your righteous laws are eternal.
Luke 19:1-10New International Version (NIV)
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Judges 10:6-10New International Version (NIV)
Jephthah
6 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, 7 he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, 8 who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. 9 The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim; Israel was in great distress. 10 Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”
Many times the Israelites rebelled against God and started worshipping Idols. God decided to punish the Israelites for their rebellion and He used their enemies to attack and defeat them. After much suffering the Israelites turned to God in repentance and He forgave them.
Let us not wait to repent. As soon as you realize that you have sinned turn to God in repentance. Confess your sins to God and ask Him to forgive you.
JUMAPILI TAREHE 6 AGOSTI SIKU YA BWANA YA 8 BAADA YA UTATU
Zaburi 119:153-160, Luka 19:1-10, Waamuzi 10:6-10
Zaburi 119:143-160
153 Uyaangalie mateso yangu, uniokoe, Maana sikuisahau sheria yako.
154 Unitetee na kunikomboa, Unihuishe sawasawa na ahadi yako.
155 Wokovu u mbali na wasio haki, Kwa maana hawajifunzi amri zako.
156 Ee Bwana, rehema zako ni nyingi, Unihuishe sawasawa na hukumu zako.
157 Wanaonifuatia na watesi wangu ni wengi, Lakini sikujiepusha na shuhuda zako.
158 Nimewaona watendao uhaini nikachukizwa, Kwa sababu hawakulitii neno lako.
159 Uangalie niyapendavyo mausia yako, Ee Bwana, unihuishe sawasawa na fadhili zako.
160 Jumla ya neno lako ni kweli, Na kila hukumu ya haki yako ni ya milele.
Luka 19:1-10
1 Naye alipoingia Yeriko alipita katikati yake.
2 Na tazama, palikuwa na mtu, jina lake Zakayo, mkubwa mmoja katika watoza ushuru, naye ni tajiri.
3 Huyu alikuwa akitafuta kumwona Yesu ni mtu wa namna gani, asiweze kwa sababu ya umati wa watu, maana ni mfupi wa kimo.
4 Akatangulia mbio, akapanda juu ya mkuyu apate kumwona, kwa kuwa atakuja kuipitia njia ile.
5 Na Yesu, alipofika mahali pale, alitazama juu, akamwambia, Zakayo, shuka upesi, kwa kuwa leo imenipasa kushinda nyumbani mwako.
6 Akafanya haraka, akashuka, akamkaribisha kwa furaha.
7 Hata watu walipoona, walinung'unika wote, wakisema, Ameingia kukaa kwa mtu mwenye dhambi.
8 Zakayo akasimama, akamwambia Bwana, Tazama, Bwana, nusu ya mali yangu nawapa maskini, na ikiwa nimenyang'anya mtu kitu kwa hila namrudishia mara nne.
9 Yesu akamwambia, Leo wokovu umefika nyumbani humu, kwa sababu huyu naye ni mwana wa Ibrahimu.
10 Kwa kuwa Mwana wa Adamu alikuja kutafuta na kuokoa kile kilichopotea.
Waamuzi 10:6-10
6 Kisha wana wa Israeli walifanya tena yaliyo maovu mbele za macho ya Bwana, wakawatumikia Mabaali, na Maashtorethi, na miungu ya Shamu, na miungu ya Sidoni, na miungu ya Moabu, na miungu ya wana wa Amoni, na miungu ya Wafilisti; nao wakamwacha Bwana, wala hawakumtumikia yeye.
7 Hasira za Bwana ziliwaka juu ya Israeli, akawauza na kuwaua mikononi mwa Wafilisti, na mikononi mwa wana wa Amoni.
8 Nao wakawasumbua na kuwaonea wana wa Israeli mwaka huo; waliwaonea wana wa Israeli wote waliokuwa ng'ambo ya pili ya Yordani katika nchi ya Waamori, iliyoko huko Gileadi, muda wa miaka kumi na minane.
9 Wana wa Amoni nao wakavuka Yordani ili wapigane na Yuda, na kupigana na Benyamini, na nyumba ya Efraimu; basi hivyo Israeli walikuwa wanasumbuliwa sana.
10 Ndipo wana wa Israeli wakamlilia Bwana, wakisema, Sisi tumekufanyia dhambi, kwa sababu tumemwacha Mungu wetu, na kuyatumikia Mabaali.
Waisraeli waliitwa na Mungu kuwa watu wake wa kipekee. Lakini walimwaasi Mungu mara kwa mara. Waisraeli walimwabudu miungu wengine. Mungu alikasarika na tabia zao. Mungu aliruhusu maadui kuwatesa. Mwishoni Waisraeli waliamua kutubu.
Toba ni muhimu sana katika maisha yetu. Kila wakati uponaguswa kwamba umetenda dhambi tubu na uache.
Tuishi maisha ya toba kila siku.
