THE SEED
“So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.” — 2 Corinthians 2:7 (KJV)
In the house of God, believers come from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Some may be going through personal struggles, both physically and spiritually, which can cause them to act in ways that are not always right. As fellow believers, our role is not to judge or condemn them, but to show them love, encourage them, and help restore them in faith. When someone falls into sin or strays from the right path, our responsibility is to extend grace, just as Christ has shown grace to us. Instead of pushing them away or making their burdens heavier, we should help them find restoration through God’s love and forgiveness. A great example of this is found in the story of Onesimus, a runaway slave who wronged his master, Philemon. After encountering Apostle Paul in prison, Onesimus repented and became a believer. Paul then sent him back to Philemon, urging him to forgive and accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ. Through this act of love and reconciliation, Onesimus was not only restored physically but also spiritually. In our Christian journey, we should strive to be instruments of healing and restoration rather than condemnation. We are called to encourage one another. Let us be compassionate and help restore those who are hurting.
BIBLE READING: Philemon 1:10-16
PRAYER: Lord, help me to be a source of comfort and restoration to those who are struggling. May I never be a stumbling block, but rather a vessel of Your love and grace in Jesus’ name, Amen.
KI A KO LATI MA TU AWON ENIYAN NINU
IRUGBIN NAA
“Nítorí náà, ní ìdàkejì, ó yẹ kí ẹ dárí jì í, kí ẹ sì tù ú nínú, kí irú ẹni bẹ́ẹ̀ má baà jẹ́ kí ìbànújẹ́ tí ó pọ̀ jù gbé e mì.” 2 Kọ́ríńtì 2:7 (KJV)
Nínú agboolé Ọlọ́run, onírúurú èèyàn ló wà, àṣà ìbílẹ̀ wọn yàtọ̀ síra, ìrírí wọn sì yàtọ̀ síra. Àwọn kan lè ní ìṣòro tara àti tẹ̀mí, èyí sì lè mú kí wọ́n hùwà lọ́nà tí kò tọ́. Gẹ́gẹ́ bí onígbàgbọ́ ẹlẹgbẹ́ wa, kì í ṣe ojúṣe wa láti dá wọn lẹ́jọ́ tàbí láti dá wọn lẹ́bi, bí kò ṣe láti fi ìfẹ́ hàn sí wọn, láti fún wọn níṣìírí, àti láti ràn wọ́n lọ́wọ́ láti padà sínú ìgbàgbọ́. Bí ẹnì kan bá dẹ́ṣẹ̀ tàbí tó ṣìnà, ojúṣe wa ni láti fi inú rere àìlẹ́tọ̀ọ́sí hàn sí i, bí Kristi ti fi inú rere àìlẹ́tọ̀ọ́sí hàn sí wa. Dípò tí a ó fi máa lé wọn kúrò lọ́dọ̀ wa tàbí tí a ó fi máa mú kí ẹrù wọn túbọ̀ wúwo sí i, ńṣe ló yẹ ká ràn wọ́n lọ́wọ́ kí wọ́n lè rí ìmúpadàbọ̀sípò nípasẹ̀ ìfẹ́ àti ìdáríjì Ọlọ́run.Àpẹẹrẹ kan tó ta yọ nípa èyí ni ìtàn ti Ónẹ́símù, ẹrú kan tó sá kúrò lọ́dọ̀ ọ̀gá rẹ̀, Fílémónì. Lẹ́yìn tí Ónẹ́símù pàdé àpọ́sítélì Pọ́ọ̀lù lọ́gbà ẹ̀wọ̀n, ó ronú pìwà dà, ó sì di onígbàgbọ́. Lẹ́yìn náà ni Pọ́ọ̀lù rán an padà sọ́dọ̀ Fílémónì, ó sì rọ̀ ọ́ pé kó dárí ji Ónẹ́símù kó sì gbà á gẹ́gẹ́ bí arákùnrin nínú Kristi. Nípasẹ̀ ìfẹ́ àti ìpadàrẹ́ yìí, kì í ṣe pé Ónẹ́símù padà sípò nípa tara nìkan ni, àmọ́ ó tún padà sípò nípa tẹ̀mí pẹ̀lú. Nínú ìrìn àjò Kristẹni wa, a gbọ́dọ̀ sapá láti jẹ́ ohun èlò fún ìwòsàn àti ìmúpadàbọ̀sípò dípò ká jẹ́ ohun èlò fún ìdájọ́. A ní láti máa mú okanOkan ara wa le. Ẹ jẹ́ ká máa fi àánú hàn, ká sì máa ran àwọn tó ń jìyà lọ́wọ́.
BIBELI KIKA: Fílémónì 1:10-16.
ADURA: Olúwa, ràn mí lọ́wọ́ kí n lè jẹ́ orísun ìtùnú àti ìtura fún àwọn tó ń jìyà. Kí n má ṣe jẹ́ ohun ìkọsẹ̀, ṣùgbọ́n kí n jẹ́ ohun èlò ìfẹ́ àti oore-ọ̀fẹ́ Rẹ ní orúkọ Jésù, Àmín.