SUNDAY 1ST JANUARY 2017
THEME: START EVERYTHING IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
Psalm 44:1-8, Philippians 3:13-16, Luke 13:6-9
Psalm 44[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[b]
1 We have heard it with our ears, O God;
our ancestors have told us
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.
2 With your hand you drove out the nations
and planted our ancestors;
you crushed the peoples
and made our ancestors flourish.
3 It was not by their sword that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
and the light of your face, for you loved them.
4 You are my King and my God,
who decrees[c] victories for Jacob.
5 Through you we push back our enemies;
through your name we trample our foes.
6 I put no trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.
8 In God we make our boast all day long,
and we will praise your name forever.[d]
Footnotes:
- Psalm 44:1 In Hebrew texts 44:1-26 is numbered 44:2-27.
- Psalm 44:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 44:4 Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew King, O God; / command
- Psalm 44:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Philippians 3:13-16 New International Version (NIV)
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Following Paul’s Example
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Luke 13:6-9 New International Version (NIV)
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
As we start this New Year let us commit our lives to Jesus. Let us put God first. Perhaps your life is the like the fig tree in the parable. Perhaps you didn’t bear much fruit last year. God is merciful to you. He is giving you another chance. What can you do this year so that your life is fruitful and pleasing to God?
JUMAPILI TAREHE 1 JANUARI 2017 SIKU YA MWAKA MPYA
WAZO KUU: ANZA YOTE KATIKA JINA LA YESU KRISTO
Zaburi 44:1-8, Filipi 3:13-16, Luka 13:6-9
Zaburi 44:1-8
1 Ee Mungu, tumesikia kwa masikio yetu Baba zetu wametuambia, Matendo uliyoyatenda siku zao, siku za kale.
2 Wewe kwa mkono wako uliwafukuza mataifa, Ukawakalisha wao. Wewe uliwatesa watu wa nchi, Ukawaeneza wao.
3 Maana si kwa upanga wao walivyoimiliki nchi, Wala si mkono wao uliowaokoa; Bali mkono wako wa kuume, naam, mkono wako, Na nuru ya uso wako, kwa kuwa uliwaridhia.
4 Ee Mungu, Wewe ndiwe mfalme wangu, Uagize mambo ya wokovu kwa Yakobo.
5 Kwa nguvu zako tutawaangusha watesi wetu; Kwa jina lako tutawakanyaga watupingao.
6 Maana sitautumainia upinde wangu, Wala upanga wangu hautaniokoa.
7 Bali Wewe ndiwe uliyetuokoa na watesi wetu; Na watuchukiao umewaaibisha.
8 Tumejisifia Mungu mchana kutwa, Na jina lako tutalishukuru milele.
Filipi 3:13-16
13 Ndugu, sijidhanii nafsi yangu kwamba nimekwisha kushika; ila natenda neno moja tu; nikiyasahau yaliyo nyuma, nikiyachuchumilia yaliyo mbele;
14 nakaza mwendo, niifikilie mede ya thawabu ya mwito mkuu wa Mungu katika Kristo Yesu.
15 Basi sisi tulio wakamilifu na tuwaze hayo; na hata mkiwaza mengine katika jambo lo lote, Mungu atawafunulia hilo nalo.
16 Lakini, hapo tulipofika na tuenende katika lilo hilo.
Luka 13:6-9
6 Akanena mfano huu; Mtu mmoja alikuwa na mtini umepandwa katika shamba lake la mizabibu; akaenda akitafuta matunda juu yake, asipate.
7 Akamwambia mtunzaji wa shamba la mizabibu, Tazama, miaka mitatu hii naja nikitafuta matunda juu ya mtini huu, nisipate kitu; uukate, mbona hata nchi unaiharibu?
8 Akajibu akamwambia, Bwana, uuache mwaka huu nao, hata niupalilie, niutilie samadi;
9 nao ukizaa matunda baadaye, vema! La, usipozaa, ndipo uukate.
Tunapoanza mwaka mpya, tujikabidi kwa Yesu. Tutafute kufanya mapenzi ya Mungu katika mambo yote. Labda wewe ni kama mti kwenye mfano wa Yesu. Labda hujazaa sana matunda mwaka jana. Mungu ni mwenye huruma anakupa nafasi tena. Utafanyaje ili uzae sana mwaka huu? Utafanyaje ili maisha yako yapendeze mbele ya Mungu?