Day 2:

                
                            Our Greatest Gift to God: Our Being:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Rom. 12:1

Christ taught His disciples that the amount of divine attention given to any object is proportionate to the rank assigned to it in the creation of God. He called their attention to the birds of the air. Not a sparrow, He said, falls to the ground without the notice of our heavenly Father. And if the little sparrow is regarded by Him, surely the souls of those for whom Christ has died are precious in His sight. The value of man, the estimate God places upon him, is revealed in the cross of Calvary. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And will not God judge those who cause pain or disappointment to the ones for whom Christ has given His life? Then let men be careful how, by word or action, they cause one of God’s children sorrow or grief. (The Signs of the Times, Nov. 17, 1898)

Christ made a complete sacrifice in our behalf, when He gave Himself as an offering for sin; and He asks us to give ourselves entirely to Him. He asks for the whole heart; He will accept nothing less than the undivided affections. “God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (The Signs of the Times, Feb. 1, 1899)

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Cor. 6:19, 20, KJV)

Whether we give ourselves to the Lord or not, we are His. Ye are not your own; ye are bought with a price. We are the Lord’s by creation, and we are His by redemption. Therefore we have no right to think that we can do as we please. All we handle is the Lord’s. We have no right of ourselves to anything, not even to an existence. All our money, time, and talents belong to God, and are lent us by Him that we may accomplish the work He has given us to do. He has given us the charge, “Occupy till I come.” Luke 19:13. (Our High Calling, p. 42)

The love of Christ in the heart is what is needed. Self is in need of being crucified. When self is submerged in Christ, true love springs forth spontaneously. It is not an emotion or an impulse, but a decision of a sanctified will. It consists not in feeling, but in the transformation of the whole heart, soul, and character, which is dead to self and alive unto God. Our Lord and Saviour asks us to give ourselves to Him. Surrendering self to God is all He requires, giving ourselves to Him to be employed as He sees fit. Until we come to this point of surrender, we shall not work happily, usefully, or successfully anywhere. (Letter 97, 1898)

I see before me today those whom I know God can use if they will put their dependence in Him. … It is an honor to follow the Saviour. And it is by obeying the instructions that He has given that you are to be prepared to meet Him when He comes. If you will ask God to help you to overcome what is un-Christlike in your dispositions, He will prepare you for entrance into heaven, where no sin can enter. Those who daily give the life to Jesus, and who follow on to know Him, will be greatly blessed. Say, Christ gave His life for me, and I must give my life for Him. If you give yourselves wholly to Him, you will be conquerors in the warfare against sin. The Lord Jesus will be your helper, your support, your strength, if you will receive and obey Him. (The Youth’s Instructor, June 9, 1914)

In the parable the pearl is not represented as a gift. The merchantman bought it at the price of all that he had. Many question the meaning of this, since Christ is represented in the Scriptures as a gift. He is a gift, but only to those who give themselves, soul, body, and spirit, to Him without reserve. We are to give ourselves to Christ, to live a life of willing obedience to all His requirements. All that we are, all the talents and capabilities we possess, are the Lord’s, to be consecrated to His service. When we thus give ourselves wholly to Him, Christ, with all the treasures of heaven, gives Himself to us. We obtain the pearl of great price. (Maranatha, p. 72) 

Questions for Personal Reflection:

1. You are so precious in God’s eyes that He did everything to make you His own. How does this make you feel?

2. Think about what Jesus gave for you so that heaven could be yours. Is it worth giving yourself daily to Him? Isn’t it the most reasonable thing to do?

 SIKU YA-2:         UHAI WETU- ZAWADI YETU KUU KWA MUNGU:

 “Basi, ndugu zangu, nawasihi, kwa huruma zake Mungu, itoeni milli yenu iwe dhabihu iliyo hai, takatifu, ya kumpendeza Mungu, ndiyo ibada yenu yenye maana.” Warumi 12:1

Mapendekezo ya Utaratibu wa Kipindi cha Maombi Kusifu (kama dakika 10) Anzeni kipindi cha maombi kwa kumsifu Mungu jinsi alivyo: Yeye ni mwaminifu, Yeye anajua yote n.k. Msifu Mungu kwamba amesubiri kwa muda mrefu ili wewe uweze kumpatia moyo wako wote. Mshukuru Mungu kwamba haitaji tu sehemu yako lakini anakuhitaji wewe na talanta zako zote na mapungufu yako.

 Msifu Mungu kwa namna ambazo anakufundisha kukaa ndani Yake. Kuungama na Kudai Ushindi dhidi ya dhambi (kama dakika 5) Muombe Mungu akuonyeshe dhambi ambazo unahitaji kuziunganma kwa uwazi na zile unazohitaji kuziungama faraghani. Dai ushindi juu ya dhambi hizo. Muombe Mungu msamaha kama hukuwa ukisalimisha maisha yako kila siku Kwake? Muombe Mungu msamaha kwa nyakati ambazo ulitumia muda wako, pesa na talanta kwa ajili yako mwenyewe na si kwa ajili Yake na kwa utukufu Wake. Mshukuru Mungu kwamba anakusamehe kulingana na 1Yohana 1:9. Sala na Maombezi (takribani dakika 35) Muombe Mungu aondoe cho chote kile ambacho ambacho kinakuzuia kusalimisha muda, fedha, nguvu, uwezo, hofu na nia yako. Mwambie Mungu unataka kumilikiwa kikamilifu na Kristo. Muombe ili Mungu akusaidie kuomba kama Yesu, “walakini si mapenzi yangu, bali yako yatendeke” (Luka 22:42) Je kuna jambo lo lote linalokuzuia kumpa Yeye uhai wako na moyo wako wote? Mwambie Yeye mambo hayo.

 Muombe akufanye uwe radhi kuyasalimisha Kwake. Omba kwa ajili ya wanafamilia yako na marafiki ambao hawajajitoa kikamilifu kwa Kristo. Muombe awafanye wawe wawe radhi kusalimisha uhai wao Kwake. Omba kwamba mchungaji wako wa mtaa na viongozi wa kanisa katika ngazi zote watoe maisha yao yote kwa Mungu. Omba kwa ajili ya vijana wa kanisa letu kupata furaha katika kusalimisha maisha yao kwa Kristo na kumfuata. Wainue vijana wa kanisa lako kwa majina yao kupitia kwa maombi. Omba kwamba kila kiongozi wa kanisa duniani ashikilie kwa kina mtazamo wa kiroho na wa kiinjilisti. Msihi Bwana awalinde wachungaji na washiriki dhidi ya kupoteza utambulisho wa jinsi tulivyo kama Kanisa la Waadventista Wasabato, kanisa la masalio la Mungu katika kipindi cha mwisho. Utume Katika Miji Mikuu – Omba kwa ajili ya Divisheni ya Trans-Europian na miji wanayojitahidi kuileta kwa Kristo: London, Zagreb, Tallinn, Dublin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Budapest, Bergen, Randstad, Warsaw, Belgrade, Gothenburg, omba kwa ajili ya watu kupata njaa kali kwa ajili ya neno la Mungu. Omba ili kwamba watu saba au zaidi katika orodha yako waone hitaji lao na kufungua mioyo yao kwa Roho Mtakatifu. Omba kwa ajili ya mahitaji binafsi uliyo nayo. Shukrani (takribani dakika 10) Mshukuru Mungu kwamba atajibu kulingana na mapenzi Yake na kwa wakati Wake. Mshukuru Mungu kwamba yupo tayari kuchukua moyo wako wenye dhambi na kuufanya kuwa safi na mtakatifu. Mshukuru Mungu kwamba Yesu alikuwa tayari kuishi na kufa, sio kwa ajili Yake lakini kwa mapenzi yake Yule aliyemtuma. Mshukuru Mungu kwa kujifunua kwa namna ya pekee katika maisha yako kwatika kipindi hiki cha siku kumi.

Mapendekezo ya Nyimbo “Tawala Ndani Yangu” no 147, “Nina Haja Nawe” no.126, Univute Karibu” no 148, “Yote Namtolea Yesu” no 122, “Karibu Sana Univute no. 33.

Kristo aliwafundisha wanafunzi Wake kwamba kiwango cha uangalifu wa kimbingu kwa kitu cho chote huwa sawia na kiwango cha jukumu lililopo kwa kitu hicho katika uumbaji wa Mungu. Kristo alivuta usikivu wa wanafuzi wake kwa mfano wa ndege wa angani. Hakuna shomoro, alisema haanguki chini asipojua Baba wa mbinguni. Na kama ndege huyo mdogo hutambuliwa na Mungu, kwa hakika roho za wale ambao Kristo aliwafia ni za thamani mbele Zake. Thamani ya mtu, kiwango ambacho Mungu anakiweka juu ya mwanadamu, hufunuliwa katika msalaba wa Kalvari. “Kwa maana jinsi hii Mungu aliupenda ulimwengu, hata akamtoa Mwanawe pekee, ili kila mtu amwaminiye asipotee, bali awe na uzima wa milele.” Je Mungu hatawahukumu wale ambao wanasababisha maumivu au huzuni kwa wale ambao Kristo alitoa uhai Wake kwa ajili yao? 

Hivyo wanadamu sasa wawe waangalifu kwa namna ambavyo kwa maneno au matendo wanawasababishia watoto wa Mungu huzuni na majonzi. Kristo alitoa kafari kamili kwa niaba yetu, pale alipojitoia mwenyewe kama sadaka ya dhambi na anatutaka sisi kujitoa kikamilifu Kwake, Yesu anahitaji moyo wote; hatapokea pungufu ya upendo usiogawanyika. “Mungu ni Roho, na wote wamwabuduo wamwabudu katika roho na kweli. Au hamjui ya kuwa mwili wenu ni hekalu la Roho Mtakatifu aliye ndani yenu, mliyepewa na Mungu? Wala ninyi si mali yenu wenyewe; maana mlinunuliwa kwa thamani. Sasa basi, mtukuzeni Mungu katika miili yenu. (1Wakorintho 6: 19,20) Iwe tunajitoa kwa Mungu au la, sisi ni Wake. Ninyi si mali yenu wenyewe; mlinunuliwa kwa thamani. Sisi ni mali ya Bwana kwa uumbaji na sisi ni mali Yake kwa ukombozi. Hivyo hatuna haki ya kufikiria kwamba tunaweza kufanya vile tupendavyo. Yote tunayoshikilia ni mali ya Bwana. Hatuna haki sisi wenyewe kwa jambo lo lote, hata kuwepo haipo. Fedha zako zote, wakati na talanta vyote ni mali ya Mungu na vimeazimwa kwetu na Yeye ili kwamba tukamilishe kazi ambayo ametupatia. Ametupatia agizo, “Fanyeni biashara hata nitakapokuja” Upendo wa Kristo katika moyo ndicho kinachohitajika. Ubinafsi wapaswa kusulubishwa. Wakati ubinafsi unapozamishwa katika Kristo, upendo wa kweli utatiririka kwa uhiari. Sio hisia wala msukumo lakini uamuzi nia iliyotakaswa. Haipo katika hisia lakini katika kubadilishwa kwa moyo wote, roho na tabia, ambayo imefia nafsi na kuishi kwa ajili ya Kristo. Bwana wetu na Mwokozi wetu anatuhitaji tujitoe Kwake. 

Kusalimisha ubinafsi wetu kwa Mungu ndiyo yote anayohitaji, kujtoa kwake kutumika kama apendavyoYeye. Ni hadi tutakapofika katika hatua hii ya kujisalimisha, ndipo tutaweza kufanya kazi kwa furaha, kwa faida na kwa mafanikio po pote pale. Mbele yangu leo ninaona wale ambao Mungu anaweza kuwatumia kama watamtegemea Yeye ….Ni heshima kumfuata Mwokozi. Na ni kwa kutii maagizo aliyotoa kwamba utaandaliwa kwa ajili ya kukutana Naye pindi ajapo. Kama utamwomba Mungu akusaidie kushinda tabia isiyo ya Kikristo katika mwenendo wako, atakuandaa kwa ajili ya kuingia mbinguni, mahali ambapo dhambi haiwezi kuingia. Wale ambao kila siku wanatoa maisha yao kwa Kristo, na wale ambao wanatafuta kumjua, watabarikiwa sana. Sema hivi, Kristo alitoa maisha Yake kwa ajili yangu, nami lazima nitoe maisha yangu Kwake. Kama utajitoa kikamilifu Kwake, utakuwa mshindi katika vita dhidi ya dhambi. Bwana Yesu Kristo atakuwa msaada kwako, atakuwa mdhamini kwako, nguvu zako kama utampokea na kumtii Yeye. Katika kisa, lulu haitolewi kama zawadi. Mfanyabiashara aliinunua kwa gharama ya vyote alivyokuwa navyo. Maswali mengi juu ya hili, Kristo anaelezewa katika Maandiko kama zawadi. Yeye ni zawadi, lakini kwa wale tu ambao wanajitoa wenyewe, nafsi, mwili na roho, mwili, kwake bila kuzuia cho chote. Tunapaswa tujitoe wenyewe kwa Kristo, kuishi maisha ya utii wa hiari kwa matakwa Yake yote. Vile vyote tulivyo, talanta zetu na uwezo wetu tulio nao ni vya Bwana, kuwekwa wakfu kwa huduma Yake. Tutakapojitoa kikamilifu Kwake, Kristo pamoja na hazina zote za mbinguni, hujitoa mwenyewe kwetu. Nasi tunapata lulu ya thamani. 

Maswali ya Kujitathmini:

 Wewe ni wa thamani sana mbele za macho ya Mungu kiasi kwamba alifanya yote kukufanya uwe wake. Hili hukufanya ujisikieje? 

 Fikiri juu ya kile ambacho Yesu alikupatia ili mbingu iwe yako. Je inakstahili kujitoa Kwake kila siku? Je msingi kufanya?