THE SEED
“If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.” Genesis 4:24 (KJV)
In this brief yet deep verse, we encounter the words of Lamech, a descendant of Cain. Rather than showing remorse for his actions, Lamech boasts about killing a man and declares that his vengeance should far exceed even Cain’s. This statement reflects a heart hardened by pride and devoid of repentance; a dangerous place to be. Cain, though guilty of murder, was still given a mark of protection by God as a symbol of divine justice. But Lamech twists this act of mercy into a reason for arrogant self-justification. Instead of seeking God’s forgiveness, he amplifies his sin and glorifies revenge. His declaration shows how far humanity had fallen in just a few generations after Eden. This verse warns us against nurturing pride in our hearts and justifying our wrongs. Do we measure our wrongs with others when we are supposed to be sorry for them and ask for forgiveness? When we glorify ourselves instead of humbling ourselves before God, we distance ourselves from His grace. God is merciful, but He responds to humility and not arrogance. Let us examine our humility, are our hearts clinging to pride, or are we willing to repent and be restored?
BIBLE READING: Proverbs 16:18–20
PRAYER: Father, deliver me from the pride that leads to destruction. Help me to walk humbly before You, to repent quickly, and to live in the freedom of Your mercy. Amen.
EWU ÀÌRÒNÚPÌWÀDÀ KÚRÒ NÍNÚ ÌGBÉRAGA
IRUGBIN NAA
“Bí a bá gbẹ̀san Kaini ní ìlọ́po meje, nítòótọ́ Lameki ní ìlọ́po mẹtadinlọgọrin.” Jẹ́nẹ́sísì 4:24
Nínú ẹsẹ ṣókí tí ó sì jinlẹ̀ yìí, a pàdé ọ̀rọ̀ Lámékì, àtọmọdọ́mọ Kéènì. Dípò kí Lámékì kábàámọ̀ ohun tó ṣe, ó fọ́nnu nípa pípa ọkùnrin kan, ó sì sọ pé ẹ̀san òun gbọ́dọ̀ ju ti Kéènì pàápàá lọ. Gbólóhùn yìí ṣe àfihàn ọkàn kan tí ìgbéraga le tí kò sì sí ìrònúpìwàdà; ibi ti o lewu lati wa. Bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé Kéènì jẹ̀bi ìpànìyàn, Ọlọ́run ṣì fi àmì ìdáàbòbò bò ó gẹ́gẹ́ bí àmì ìdájọ́ òdodo àtọ̀runwá. Ṣùgbọ́n Lámékì yí ìṣe àánú yìí padà sí ìdí kan fún ìdáláre onírera. Dípò kí Ọlọ́run dárí jì í, ńṣe ló ń mú ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ rẹ̀ gbòòrò sí i, ó sì ń gbé ẹ̀san ga. Ìkéde rẹ̀ fi bí ẹ̀dá ènìyàn ṣe jìnnà tó nínú ìran díẹ̀ lẹ́yìn Édẹ́nì. Ẹsẹ yìí kìlọ̀ fún wa láti má ṣe jẹ́ kí ìgbéraga dàgbà nínú ọkàn wa àti dídá àwọn àṣìṣe wa láre. Ǹjẹ́ a máa ń díwọ̀n àṣìṣe wa lọ́dọ̀ àwọn míì nígbà tó yẹ ká káàánú wọn ká sì tọrọ ìdáríjì? Nigba ti a ba ṣe ara wa logo dipo ki a rẹ ara wa silẹ niwaju Ọlọrun, a ya ara wa kuro ninu ore-ọfẹ Rẹ. Alaanu ni Ọlọrun, ṣugbọn O dahun si irẹlẹ kii ṣe igberaga. E je ki a ye irele wa wo. Se okan wà ro mo igberaga tabi a setan lati ronupiwada, ki a si mú wa bo sipo?
BIBELI KIKA: Òwe 16:18–20
ADURA: Baba, gba mi lowo igberaga ti o n yori si iparun. Ran mi lọwọ lati rin ni irẹlẹ niwaju Rẹ, lati ronupiwada kíákíá, ati lati gbe ni ominira ti aanu Rẹ. Amin.