INTERCESSION: A CHRISTIAN DUTY
THE SEED
“…Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord…” Genesis 18: 27, NKJV
Abraham did a fantastic job interceding in prayer for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, not just his nephew. He asked God to spare them if He found righteous people there. He was convinced that in both cities combined, there would be at least 10 good people. Sadly, this was not the case. But he tried. If Abraham was concerned only with his problems and needs, he would not have engaged the Lord in this intercession. Remember, he had been waiting desperately for a promised son from God for 24 years. Whatever happened to Sodom, could not affect his life. Yet, he prayed. We similarly cannot restrict all of our prayer life to our needs and the needs of our immediate family. And I do not just mean, remembering to pray for members of our church or people we work with. We should care for others that are not even connected to us. It is possible that if anything had happened to Lot, his family would have come to Abraham for help, since he was their nearest relative. Sometimes, another person’s problem can become our problem if it isn’t dealt with. Imagine, if robbers came to a neighbour’s house in the middle of the night. Will it not concern you? Therefore, the safety of your neighbour is in your interest as well. Even if this isn’t the case, we, children of God have been entrusted with the grace of God in our lives. Our community and the world should be a better place because of us. This is the way Abraham saw it, it is what Jesus Christ would have done.
BIBLE READING: Genesis 18: 23 – 33
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to be concerned for the needs and welfare of other people, just like you are, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ÀDÚRÀ GBIGBA FÚN ẸNIKEJI: JẸ́ OJÚṢE KRISTẸNI.
IRUGBIN NAA
“Abrahamu sí dáhùn o sí wípé, Wo ó èmi tí dáwọ́le e láti ba Olúwa sọ̀rọ̀, èmi ẹnití ńṣe erupẹ àti eérú”. Genesis 18 :27.
Ábúráhámù ṣe iṣẹ́ àgbàyanu láti máa gbàdúrà fún àwọn ìlú Sódómù àti Gòmórà, kì í ṣe ọmọ ẹ̀gbọ́n rẹ̀ nìkan. Ó ní kí Ọlọ́run dá wọn sí, tó bá rí àwọn olódodo níbẹ̀. O ni idaniloju pe nínú awọn ilu mejeeji ni àpapọ̀ a o ri eniyan rere mẹwa o kere ju. O bá ní nínú jẹ́ pé ọ̀ràn yí kó rí bẹ́ẹ̀. Ṣugbọn o gbiyanju. Tí Ábúráhámù bá bìkítà nípa àwọn ìṣòro àti àìní rẹ̀ nìkan, ì bá ma ti bá Olúwa jíròrò ní ikorita yìí. Rànti pe o ti ń woju Ọlọrun fún ọmọ ìlérí lati ọdọ Ọlọrun fún ọdún mẹ́rin lé ní ogójì. Ohunkohun ti o wu kó ṣẹlẹ si Sodomu ko le ni ipa lori igbesi aye rẹ. Síbẹ̀ o gbadura.
Bákan náà, a kò lè da gbogbo ìgbé ayé àdúrà wa duro sí ori àwọn àìní wa àti àwọn àìní ìdílé nikan. Ati pe emi ko ni ero láti gbàdúrà fún àwọn ọmọ ìjọ wa tàbí àwọn ènìyàn tí a ń bá ṣiṣẹ́ nìkan. O yẹ ki a bikita fun awọn miiran ti ko sun mọ wa. Ó ṣeé ṣe kó jẹ́ pé bí ohun kan bá ṣẹlẹ̀ sí Lọ́ọ̀tì ni, ìdílé rẹ̀ ì bá ti wá bá Ábúráhámù fún ìrànlọ́wọ́ níwọ̀n bi ó ti jẹ́ ìbátan wọn tímọ́tímọ́. Nigba miiran iṣoro eniyan miiran le di iṣoro wa, ti a ko ba yanju rẹ. Fojú inú wò ó bí àwọn ọlọ́ṣà bá wá sí ilé aládùúgbò kan ní ọ̀gànjọ́ òru. Ǹjẹ́ kò ní kan ọ́? Nitorina aabo aladugbo rẹ, jẹ anfani rẹ pẹlu. Paapa ti eyi ko ba ri bẹ, àwa ọmọ Ọlọ́run ni a ti fi oore-ọ̀fẹ́ Ọlọ́run lé lọ́wọ́ nínú yé wa. Agbegbe wa ati aye ti a ngbe yẹ ki o jẹ aye ti o dara julọ nitori wa. Bí Ábúráhámù ṣe rí i nì eyi, irú ohun tí Jésù Kristi le ṣe, nì eleyi.
BIBELI KIKA: Jẹ́nẹ́sísì 18:23-33
ADURA: Baba wa ọ̀run, ràn mí lọ́wọ́ láti ní ìmọ̀lára nípa àìní atí ìtọ́jú àwọn ẹlòmíràn gẹgẹ bí ìwọ ti rí ni orúkọ Jesu. Àmín.