Discern the Times 1
Bible passage: Romans 12:2
“2. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will. "
Dear believers! What do believers think when they look at this world?
Do you think, ‘The world has developed so much that it has become more convenient and worth living in?’ Are there some people who think, ‘It’s great if you have a little bit of money, there’s a lot to eat, a lot to see, and transportation is so convenient that you can go out and have fun’? This is a story from about 4,000 years ago. Lot, who was Abraham's nephew, left Abraham and moved to live in the city of Sodom because it seemed to him to be developed and prosperous. He may have been satisfied at first, but as he lived with the people of Sodom, his spirit became increasingly damaged by their reckless lifestyle, lewdness, and corruption.
2 Peter 2:7-8 says, “and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard). ” Here, this righteous person refers to Lot, and being distressed means being in pain and suffering as if being tortured.
Kuzitambua Nyakati 1
Mstari wa Biblia: Warumi 12:2
“Wala msiifuatishe namna ya dunia hii; bali mgeuzwe kwa kufanywa upya nia zenu, mpate kujua hakika mapenzi ya Mungu yaliyo mema, ya kumpendeza, na ukamilifu.”
Wapendwa waumini! Waumini hufikiri nini wanapoutazama ulimwengu huu?
Je, unafikiri, “Ulimwengu umeendelea sana hivi kwamba maisha yamekuwa rahisi na yenye kuvutia zaidi?” Je, kuna watu wanaofikiri, “Ni vizuri ukiwa na pesa kidogo, kuna chakula kingi, mambo mengi ya kuona, na usafiri ni rahisi kiasi kwamba unaweza kwenda kujiburudisha”? Hili ni tukio la takriban miaka 4,000 iliyopita. Lutu, mpwa wa Ibrahimu, alimwacha Ibrahimu na kwenda kuishi katika mji wa Sodoma kwa sababu ulimwonekania kuwa umeendelea na kustawi. Huenda mwanzoni aliridhika, lakini alipokuwa akiishi pamoja na watu wa Sodoma, roho yake ilizidi kuathiriwa na maisha yao ya uzembe, uasherati na upotovu.
2 Petro 2:7–8 inasema kwamba Mungu alimwokoa Lutu, mtu mwenye haki, aliyekuwa akiteswa na mwenendo wa ufisadi wa watu wasio na kanuni. Lutu, aliyeishi kati yao siku baada ya siku, alihuzunika moyoni kwa sababu ya matendo yao maovu aliyoyaona na kuyasikia. Hapa, mtu huyo mwenye haki ni Lutu; na kuhuzunika kwake kulimaanisha maumivu na mateso makali.
