THE SEED
“When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us” Titus 3:4-5
The Greek word that is translated as “kindness” in Galatians 5:22 sounds similar to the Greek word for “Christ.” In the days of the early church, that sometimes led to confusion among unbelievers. They weren’t always sure if Christians actually believed in a person called Christ, or if they practiced a religion that focused on kindness. When you think about it, that confusion was actually quite a compliment to the first Christians! How wonderful it would be if kindness stood out in the impression that we Christians gave to unbelievers today. Unfortunately, kindness may not always be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Christians and the church. This is why we must be diligent in our prayers that the Holy Spirit produce the fruit of kindness in us. As Paul writes in today’s Scripture reading, the kindness of God was the only thing strong enough to conquer our foolishness, disobedience, and bondage to sin. We must pray that the power of God’s kindness that saved us will also be the power that continually transforms our character. This is what the ministry of the Holy Spirit is all about. He wants to make kindness flourish in our lives so that when others notice it they will naturally think of Christ.
BIBLE READING: TITUS 3:1-8
PRAYER: Thank you, heavenly Father, for treating us kindly in Christ. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that others will see Jesus living in us. We pray in his name. Amen.
IṢORE
IRUGBIN NAA
“Ṣugbọn nigbati iṣeun Ọlọrun Olugbala wa ati ìfẹ rẹ sí énìyàn farahàn.” Titu 3:4-5
Ọ̀rọ̀ Gíríìkì tí wọ́n túmọ̀ sí “inú rere” nínú Gálátíà 5:22 ńda bíi ti ọ̀rọ̀ Gíríìkì náà fún “Kristi.” Ní àwọn ìbẹrẹ ọjọ́ ninu ìjọ, eyiti awọn nkan yọrí sí ìdàrúdàpọ̀ láàárín àwọn aláìgbàgbọ.Wọn ko ní idaniloju nigbagbogbo boya awọn Kristiani gbagbọ nítòótọ́ niti ẹnikan ti a npe ni Kristi, tabi ti wọn ṣe ẹsin ti o da lori iṣeun. Nígbà tí o bá ronú nípa, ìdàrúidàpọ̀ ti o jẹ́ ìgbóríyìn fún àwọn Kristẹni àlakọ́bẹ̀rẹ̀ ní ti gidi! Ẹ wo ⁰):,bí yóò ti jẹ́ àgbà yanu tó, bí inú rere bá yọ̀ nínú èrò tí àwa Kristẹni ni fún àwọn alá ìgbàgbọ́ l Ó ṣeni láàánú pé inú rere lè máà jẹ́ ohun àkọ́kọ́ tó máa ń wá sọ́kàn nígbà ti áwọn èèyàn bá ń ronú nípa àwọn Kristẹni àti ìjọ. Ìdí nìyí tí a fi gbọ́dọ̀ jẹ́ aláápọn nínú àdúrà wa pé kí Ẹ̀mí Mímọ́ mú èso inú rere jáde nínú wa. Gẹ́gẹ́ bí Pọ́ọ̀lù ṣe kọ̀wé nínú ìwé mímọ́ l’òde òní, inú rere Ọlọ́run ni ohun kan ṣoṣo tó lágbára láti ṣẹ́gun ìwà òmùgọ̀, àìgbọràn, àti ìdè ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ wa. A gbọdọ gbadura pe agbara ti iṣeun Ọlọrun ti o ti gba wa la, yio tun máà yi iwa wa padà nigba gbogbo. Èyí ni ìṣe ti iṣẹ iransẹ jẹ nipa ti Ẹmí Mimọ. Ó fẹ́ jẹ́ kí inú rere gbilẹ̀ nínú ìgbésí ayé wa kí àwọn ẹlòmíràn bá kíyè sí i, wọ́n lè ronú nípa ti Kristi nípa ti ara.
BIBELI KIKA: Titu 3:1-8
ADURA: O ṣeun, Baba ọrun, ti o fi inu rere ṣe wa ninu Kristi. Kun wa pẹlu Ẹmi Mimọ rẹ ki awọn ẹlomiran le ri Jesu ti ngbe inu wa. À ń gbàdúrà lórúkọ rẹ̀. Amin.