TUESDAY 21ST JANUARY 2020 MORNING
Romans 11:13-24 New International Version (NIV)
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. In as much as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
God’s promises to Israel were not based upon human merit or works but on sovereign grace; and they were unthreatened by Israel’s disobedience.
Apostle Paul desires that we respond to God’s grace with humility and praise toward God rather than with pride. Just as no amount of good works could merit God’s grace, no amount of sin and rebellion can prevent His grace.
JUMANNE TAREHE 21 JANUARI 2020 ASUBUHI
WARUMI 11:13-24
13 Lakini nasema na ninyi, mlio watu wa Mataifa. Basi, kwa kadiri nilivyo mtume wa watu wa Mataifa, naitukuza huduma iliyo yangu,
14 nipate kuwatia wivu walio damu moja na mimi na kuwaokoa baadhi yao.
15 Maana ikiwa kutupwa kwao kumeleta upatanisho kwa ulimwengu, je! Kukubaliwa kwao kutakuwa nini kama si uhai baada ya kufa?
16 Tena malimbuko yakiwa matakatifu, kadhalika na donge lote; na shina likiwa takatifu, matawi nayo kadhalika.
17 Lakini iwapo matawi mengine yamekatwa, na wewe mzeituni mwitu ulipandikizwa kati yao, ukawa mshirika wa shina la mzeituni na unono wake,
18 usijisifu juu ya matawi yale; au ikiwa wajisifu, si wewe ulichukuaye shina, bali ni shina likuchukualo wewe.
19 Basi utasema, Matawi yale yalikatwa kusudi ili nipandikizwe mimi.
20 Vema. Yalikatwa kwa kutokuamini kwao, na wewe wasimama kwa imani yako. Usijivune, bali uogope.
21 Kwa maana ikiwa Mungu hakuyaachia matawi ya asili, wala hatakuachia wewe.
22 Tazama, basi, wema na ukali wa Mungu; kwa wale walioanguka, ukali, bali kwako wewe wema wa Mungu, ukikaa katika wema huo; kama sivyo, wewe nawe utakatiliwa mbali.
23 Na hao pia, wasipokaa katika kutokuamini kwao, watapandikizwa; kwa kuwa Mungu aweza kuwapandikiza tena.
24 Kwa maana ikiwa wewe ulikatwa ukatolewa katika mzeituni, ulio mzeituni mwitu kwa asili yake, kisha ukapandikizwa, kinyume cha asili, katika mzeituni ulio mwema, si zaidi sana wale walio wa asili kuweza kupandikizwa katika mzeituni wao wenyewe?
Ahadi za Mungu kwa taifa la Israeli hazikutegemea haki au matendo yao, bali neema yake iliyo kuu; naye asingeziondoa ahadi hizo kwa sababu ya kukengeuka kwao.
Shauku ya Mtume Paulo ni kuona tukiipokea neema ya Mungu kwa unyenyekevu na Kumtukuza, badala ya kiburi.
Hatuna matendo mema yanayostahili neema ya Mungu, hali kadhalika hakuna dhambi na uasi vinavyoweza kuzuia neema yake.
