You Must Fill the Gap to Survive

Bible passage: 1 Samuel 15:17-23
“17. Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18. And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.' 19. Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?" 20. "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.”

The following happened at a department store in Korea on June 29th, 1995. The department store was booming due to the overflow of customers. 

The department store was the largest department store in Seoul at the time, and many people were having a great time shopping, eating out, and having fun. However, people were not able to predict what would happen one minute later. In order to sell more products to more customers, the department store removed the walls supporting the building one by one to expand the space and attract more stores. Then, the weight of the heavy building shifted downward, and small cracks began to appear in the ceiling. When the department store employee saw the small crack, he thought, “This is still okay. 

It’s a very small crack.” However, that small gap was a signal for the beginning of a huge disaster that was about to come. The crack in the ceiling was really small, but the huge building collapsed in an instant, and the people who were spending a peaceful time inside the building were instantly swept into disaster. If department store officials had seen the small gap in the first place and taken it as a serious problem, such a sad tragedy could have been prevented. The dictionary meaning of ‘gap’ is ‘a space between two objects’. Originally, things that were supposed to be put together like this space was created between them.

 In some ways, this gap is so small compared to the whole object that it may not be considered a big deal. 1 fell apart, so a However, keep in mind that everything can be blown away due to a small gap that may seem insignificant. Families, human relationships, managements, buildings, and even any alliance or solid logic begin to collapse due to a gap. The background of the scripture is like this. At that time, Israel had not yet formed a state and was under serious threat from neighboring countries. 

The people of Israel, like other pagan nations, demanded a king, and Saul was chosen as the first king of Israel. He was a man without blemish physically. 1 Samuel 9:2 says that Saul was ‘a choice and handsome young man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel’. In 1 Samuel 10:1, Saul received the word “the LORD has anointed you a ruler over His inheritance. ” In verse 7, he received the word, “God is with you. ” In verse 10, ‘the Spirit of God came upon him mightily.’ In verse 24, it was declared that he was the one chosen by the LORD. As God's chosen one, he was at first well-pleasing to God. At the time he was chosen, he was perfect in appearance, personality, character, and faith. Why did King Saul's life, which had been so flawless, completely collapse? Looking at the life of King Saul, who had no gaps at first, today I will preach under the title, ‘You Must Fill the Gap to Survive, ’ for Youth Mission Group Devotional Service. 1. King Saul was unable to close the small gap between him and God. The relationship between God and us was originally connected as one with no gaps. 

2 However, because of Adam's sin, a gap arose and the gap widened between God and humans. Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” But the problem here is that people don't feel the seriousness of this. Even though one sees a gap, he doesn’t feel at all that a serious problem has emerged between God and him. Looking at the case of King Saul, the main character of today's scripture, after Saul became king, he went to war with the Philistines. First, he had to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings to God, and King Saul offered the sacrifices that a prophet or priest should have offered. 

1 Samuel 13 says, So, Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. ” King Saul overstepped his authority to offer burnt offerings that only prophets and priests should have offered. 1 Samuel 13:11-12 says, “But Samuel said, “What have you done?” therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” A gap began to appear between King Saul and God. It would have been nice if he had immediately acknowledged his mistake and repented, but King Saul made an excuse. 

He gives reasons and excuses, saying that it was because Samuel came late, and shifts responsibility to Samuel, saying that he had no choice but to do it and that it was not his fault. By making excuses and shifting responsibility, the gap between God and King Saul was widening. And in the end, in 1 Samuel 13:13, Saul receives a harsh rebuke. “Samuel said to Saul, “You have done a foolish thing; You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you;” Afterwards, King Saul went to war with Amalek, and God said in 1 Samuel 15:3, “Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” But in 1 Samuel 15:9, Saul once again does not keep the Word of God. It says, “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.” In the end, God says in 1 Samuel 15:11 that he regrets making Saul king. 

He said, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” The gap of faith and trust between God and King Saul was completely expanded. Nevertheless, King Saul does not try to close the gap between him and God, but only excuses his situation and disobeys. Prophet Samuel ultimately concludes Saul's life in 1 Samuel 15:23 saying, “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being This kind of people believe in God only when it is convenient for them. king. ” They say they believe in God, but they seek God only when they need Him and when it is beneficial to them. 

They go to worship only when they want to go, pray to God only when they want to pray, and at other times, they live as if there is no God. It creates a gap with God; that is, Living at a distance from God. There are many young people around who say the following. “There is no need of believing too much! What’s the point in believing so hard? Just believe in moderation and go to heaven.” To believe in moderation is neither to believe nor not to believe. And this is not faith. There is a time in the Bible when people believed in God like that. They say they believe in God. Although they said they were God's people, they only sought God when necessary, but usually served an idol called Baal. 

To them, the prophet shouted asking: ‘How long will you waver between the two?’ 1 Kings 18:21 says, “Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.” How long will you remain lukewarm? Revelation 3:15-16 says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” Remember that a gap with God can completely destroy your life. We must keep in mind that having a gap with God is not a normal state, but a serious state. If you feel and realize that the distance between you and God has widened and that a gap has appeared, you must make efforts to close that gap. There is a man named Augustine who is called a saint of the Middle Ages. 

 His mother, Monica, was a sincere Christian. However, as a young man, Augustine lived a debauched life, contrary to his mother's expectations. When he was young, he followed his mother's example and believed in God, but now he believed in a foreign religion. He was driven by money, lived with a wealthy widow older than himself, and became consumed with alcohol and sin. He was living a life where the gap between him and God was widening. However, his mother was not disappointed and prayed for her son with her tears. One day, while passing by, he had the experience of hearing the voice of God. It was the moment when his mother Monica's prayers were answered. That voice was the word from Romans 13:12, which says, “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” After this mysterious experience of hearing the Word of God, Augustine repented thoroughly, to the point where he even wrote a famous book called ‘Confessions’ in which he wrote about his repentance. During that time, he indulged in debauchery through alcohol and sin, and completely filled the gap with God with repentance, tears, and change, and became a revered figure, called a saint in the Middle Ages. In order to bridge the wide gap caused by sin and evil, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross, thereby filling the gap between us and God with His love and blood. Closing the gap with God and living as one with Him makes us happy. 

John 15:4 says, “Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” A life of finding God in the little things in life and being thankful for it, living with happiness and joy in our lives, a life enjoying God in that way is a beautiful life. Even in the midst of a life that no one can rejoice in, he who can call the name of God, find Him and thank Him in any case even in such circumstances is one who lives a life of relying only on God and such life is what God wants. 6 God wants a life that no one can be happy about, but a life that calls on God's name even in such situations, can seek God and give thanks, and lives a life that relies only on God no matter what. At that time we should confess like this, “My life lasts only one minute and one second, and I cannot live without God. All times are times when I need God and rely on Him.” Are there people who live at a distance from God? I hope that all of our youth mission group members and the rest of believers will quickly and thoroughly fill the gap between them and God by yearning for the Word more and loving Jesus Christ more. I hope that you will live as one with God, with no gap or distance from Him.

 2. King Saul became isolated from not only Samuel, but also many people. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” If you please God, that is, if there is no gap between you and God, the gap in your relationship with others will be filled and there will be harmony. If you think about it the other way around, it means that if a gap opens up between you and God, a gap opens up between you and other people as well. Looking at the words in 1 Samuel 15:25-26a, we can see that the trust relationship between King Saul and Prophet Samuel was completely broken. King Saul said to Samuel, "Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the LORD.” But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you;" So, in verse 35, we can see that the human relationship between Samuel and King Saul was completely cut off. 

It says, “Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again,” Because King Saul did not close the gap between him and God, the gap kept widening between him and prophet Samuel, and David too, and many other priests, and even with his son Jonathan, who should have been closest to him. He lived a life full of gaps. Let us not be like King Saul, who didn’t close the gap between him and Samuel and rather kept widening it. Because King Saul did not close the gap with God, the gap in his relationship with people widened. King Saul's relationship not only with Samuel, but also with David, his son-in-law, became very strained. Even more so, a gap opened up between him and his eldest son, Jonathan, the son he should have been closest to. 

In 1 Samuel 20:30,33, Saul even calls his son, “son of a perverse and rebellious woman!” and “hurled his spear at him to kill him.” A gap also appeared in the relationship with the priests, the servants of God. 1 Samuel 22: 18,19 says, “The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men. He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.” He committed an evil act by having the Gentile Edomite, his servant the Israelite priests, including Ahimelech, and his family. Shouldn’t there be a gap between you and servant of the Lord? However, King Saul brutally killed the priests, who are today's servants of the Lord. 

Therefore, it is not very good for a gap to appear in human relationships. In the letter sent by Apostle Paul to Timothy, there is this sad content. In 2 Timothy 4:10-11, 14-16, he records, “but all deserted me; Only Luke is with me.” ‘Doeg,’ kill all 8 Among those who were with Apostle Paul, there were people who loved the world and had a gap with Paul, but instead of filling the gap with repentance and love, they harmed Apostle Paul's ministry and went on to oppose Apostle Paul and then abandoned Apostle Paul. It teaches the lesson that if you do not fill the gaps, saying, ‘The Lord will reward you according to what you have done,’ your life will eventually fall apart. Satan is always looking for an opportunity to hinder Christians from living like Christians. Even if there is only a slight gap or a moment of distraction, Satan will not miss the opportunity. Therefore, when confronting Satan, the most important thing is to prevent Satan from taking advantage. So, Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:25-27, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. 

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” He advises, ‘do not give the devil an opportunity.’ When we speak untruth and practice untruth, we provide the devil with an opportunity to take advantage of our lives. So, you must throw away lies and speak the truth, and even if you get angry, do not harbor anger, but quickly throw it away, and repent and turn around before the sun sets. When we practice untruths such as lies, anger, and hatred, the devil creeps into our thoughts, hearts, and lives through that small gap and begins his work. It is very important to prevent gaps between spouses, parents and children at home. It is important to prevent gaps between believers. 9 When a gap arises between us, Satan sees that gap as an opportunity to attack us. If we practice untruth, it is the same as giving Satan an opportunity like saying, “attack me.” Among people, there are people who, when they see a gap, try to fill it. 

Such people are evangelical, vital, and productive people. On the other hand, there are people who create gaps and widen them. Such people are worldly, destructive, and devilish. What type of person are you? It can be said that there are two types of people in the church. One type of person is a person who builds bridges, and another type of person is a person who builds walls. There is a peace maker, a ‘bridge builder’ of love and a bridge of harmony between believers so that they can build bridges and they can understand each other, serve each other, and become one. On the contrary, there are ‘fence builders’, or ‘Discord makers’, who only assert themselves, complain, associate only with people they like, and create and divide sides. We hope that our Youth Mission Group members will not be ‘people who build walls,’ but rather become ‘people who build bridges.’ So, let us become a youth mission group with no gaps, no walls, and no discord between us, and become a bridge of evangelism that spreads the gospel of holiness to the world, imitating Jesus Christ, who made us one with God, and spread the love of God.

 I pray that you will become a bridge of love that delivers love to the world and a bridge of power that delivers the fiery work of the Holy Spirit to the ends of the earth in Africa. In Chapter 6 of Genesis, when Noah built the ark, he filled the gaps in the ark with bitumen. It was God's instruction. Genesis 6:14 says, “So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.” Noah obeyed God's word and filled the gaps between the cypress trees that made the ark with bitumen, and only then was he able to build a perfect ark that did not leak water. If there had been a gap between the cypress trees, water would have leaked in and Noah's family on the ark would not have been safe. We too must use bitumen or pitch to bridge the gaps that have prevented us from becoming one and achieving harmony. We must fill the gap caused by hatred and strife with love, understanding, forgiveness, and the bitumen of truth. If there is a gap between believers or even between family members, the gap must be filled with the bitumen of love. I hope that we, Manmin believers, will think of each other as ‘Manmin family’ and, with the intimacy of family, we will fill any gaps between us with the silicon of love, understanding, and forgiveness. In the Bible, Apostle Paul called believers brothers and sisters in faith. And he encouraged them to treat each other like family. 

1 Timothy 5:1-2 says, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” Just as family members do not criticize, misunderstand, or put each other in trouble, understand each other even when they have shortcomings, embrace each other when they have hurts, provide strength when something is difficult, and fill in gaps when there are gaps, you, dear Manmin believers, treat each other as family. I hope that you will live together as one in love. 3. King Saul was unable to close the huge gap that had formed within him. 1 Samuel 16:14 says, “Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him.” The gap between God and others, including God's servant Samuel, created a huge gap in King Saul's personality, faith, and life, and eventually God left him, and an evil spirit came to work in his place. It gets to the point where this happens. 

As the gap grows and deepens, it becomes uncontrollable later. So, the collapse becomes severe. Normally, he should have done a good job of ‘filling the gap,’ but King Saul neglected it without making any effort to close the gap. Just as air escapes through a small hole in a balloon and air escapes from a small gap in a tire, truth escapes from the soul, love escapes from the heart, and under the weight of the weakened heart, it becomes empty. You feel empty, lonely, and hopeless. In fact, although King Saul was a king, how difficult and lonely must he have been mentally? He would have lived a very difficult life with no one to open up and talk to honestly, no true friends around him, no love from God, no recognition from the people, and a sense of mental exhaustion and emotional pressure. Why did this happen? Because he was unable to bridge the gap in his relationship with himself. In the parable of the prodigal son appears in Luke Chapter 15, the prodigal son left his father and became a failure in life, having to eat the pods eaten by pigs. He filled the gap between 'reality and his inner self', such as feelings of failure, frustration, guilt, and desolation, with thorough self-reflection, obedience and love for his father, and took the place of his son, not his hired servant, and he was able to recover. 

As we live in an unfair and uncertain modern society, we may feel that there is a large gap between reality and our ideals. To all the youth mission group members who are holding their devotional service today, as we look at this world that does not tolerate our dreams and ideals, we should not suffer from a sense of separation, but rather bridge the gap between us and the world with the power of God, the grace of the Lord, and the help of the Holy Spirit. I believe that we must fill it up and create a character without gaps, faith without gaps, and a life without gaps. While I was reading an article, I was moved to tears by hearing stories of people who really had no flaws in their character and conscience, and I felt a great challenge as I wondered if I could really act like these people in a situation like this. I had a big challenge, so I'd like to introduce it to you. This is the story of how Britain built the world's largest cruise ship, the Titanic, in 1912, and on its first voyage it hit an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic. 

This incident was also made into a movie. Since the movie was made mainly for box office success, the actual story was unknown, but the ‘vice captain’, who was the only survivor among the crew at the time, revealed the true story of the accident. When it hit a huge iceberg, a small crack appeared in the hull, which gradually grew larger and the ship sank. It was a major accident in which 1,514 people died. This is the story of people who maintained their character, conscience, and human dignity even in life-or-death situations, and although the ship sank because a gap occurred, these people had no gap at all in their character and life. Let me read the article written by the survivor ‘Vice Captain’. ‘The captain gave an order to rescue the women and children first ahead of the sinking. I called loudly, ‘Women and children, come here!’, but only a few women and children abandoned their families and tried to board the lifeboat alone.’ 

 After the first lifeboat went down to sea, Mr. Astor, then the richest man in the world, sent his five-month pregnant wife into the lifeboat, sat on her deck, and shouted to her boat as it went away. "I Love You!" A sailor who was watching this asked her husband, Mr. Aster, to get on the boat, but Mr. Aster flatly refused. “Shouldn’t people have at least a minimum of conscience?” He then gave up the last remaining seat to an Irish woman next to her. Although he was a wealthy man with enough fortune to build ten Titanic ships, he turned down every opportunity to survive. It was the great man's only choice to protect his conscience with his own life. Mr. Guggenheim, who was a successful banker, said this while changing into a fancy evening dress even at the moment when his life was in danger. “Even if I die, I will keep my integrity and die like a gentleman.” In the note that Mr. Guggenheim gave to his wife, this was written: “There will be no women on this ship who die without being rescued due to my selfishness. I will die like a gentleman only if I live a life worthy of a fool.” At a survivors' meeting in Lausanne, Greece, Mrs. Smith recalled the woman who gave her her seat and said: “At that time, when my two children boarded the lifeboat, it was full and there was no room for me. At this time, a woman stood up and pulled me to the lifeboat and said, “Come up. 

The kids need their mommy!” The remarkable woman left no name behind. Her people erected a monument to her “Her Nameless Mother.” Among the victims were many prominent figures in society, such as billionaire 'Asted', famous newspaperman 'Hempstead', army major 'Bart', and famous engineer 'Luobure', but all of them gave up their seats to the ordinary rural women by their side. When the ship began to sink, people cried out to each other in the last moments of life and death, “I love you! I love you!” On that day, we were all able to see what great character, humanity, and love are all about. The Titanic hit an iceberg, cracked the hull, created gaps, and water seeped in, eventually sinking, but there were no flaws in their personalities and lives.’ In addition, many other people's impeccable character and love are recorded, but I only briefly mentioned them here. Ephesians 4:15 says, “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,” Dear Youth Mission Group members and beloved Manmin Church members, if there are gaps in our character, let us fill them with the character of the Lord. If there is a gap in our love, let us fill it with the love of the Lord. If there is a gap in our hearts, let us fill it with the heart of the Lord. If there is a gap in our inner world, let us strive to reach the full stature of the Lord by doing what is true in love. If there is a gap in our soul, let us fill it with the holiness of the Lord.

 Conclusion To achieve this, he tells us to catch the little fox that destroys the vineyard of life. Song of Songs 2:15 says, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” Did it say it's not just a fox, but a little fox? After all, it is not something huge that destroys our lives or families, but as the saying goes, it is just a small hole that causes the dam to collapse. What do you think is the little fox that is destroying your life? Aren’t we just neglecting this now? “It's too small. Oh well, who doesn't commit sin? All humans make mistakes to this extent, right?” Do you think this way? 15 However, it can be a weapon that will completely destroy our lives. King Saul, who had no gap at first, developed a gap between him and God, and people, and within himself. He left the gap unfilled and faced a tragedy that completely destroyed his life. 

1. King Saul was unable to close the small gap between him and God. 

2. King Saul was unable to close the gap with those around him, including Prophet Samuel.

 3. King Saul was unable to close the huge gap that had formed within him. The Youth Mission Group and our Manmin members who are holding a devotional service today will help us overcome the gap with God that leads to failure in life, the gap with people around us, and the gap within ourselves through the love of God, the grace of the Lord, and the Holy Spirit that leads to holiness. I pray in the name of the Lord that you will fill it with fiery work and that everyone will reach the full stature of the Lord. - END - 

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Lazima Ujazie Pengo Ili Uokoke

Andiko la Biblia: 1 Samweli 15:17–23
“17. Samweli akasema, Ingawa ulikuwa mdogo machoni pako mwenyewe, je, hukuwa kichwa cha makabila ya Israeli? BWANA akakutia mafuta uwe mfalme wa Israeli. 18. BWANA akakutuma, akisema, Nenda ukawaangamize kabisa Waamaleki waovu; upigane nao mpaka waishe. 19. Mbona hukuitii sauti ya BWANA? Mbona ulizifuata nyara na kufanya yaliyo mabaya machoni pa BWANA? 20. Sauli akasema, Nimeitii sauti ya BWANA; nimekwenda katika safari aliyonituma BWANA, nikamleta Agagi mfalme wa Amaleki.”

Jambo lifuatalo lilitokea katika duka kuu nchini Korea tarehe 29 Juni 1995. Duka hilo lilikuwa na biashara nyingi kwa sababu wateja walikuwa wamefurika.

Wakati huo lilikuwa duka kuu kubwa zaidi mjini Seoul, na watu wengi walikuwa wakifurahia kununua, kula na kujiburudisha. Hata hivyo, hakuna aliyeweza kutabiri jambo ambalo lingetokea dakika moja baadaye. Ili kuuza bidhaa nyingi kwa wateja wengi zaidi, duka hilo liliondoa kuta zilizokuwa zikisaidia jengo, moja baada ya nyingine, ili kupanua nafasi na kuvutia maduka zaidi. Kisha uzito wa jengo kubwa ukasogea chini na nyufa ndogo zikaanza kuonekana kwenye dari. Mfanyakazi wa duka alipoona ufa huo mdogo, akafikiri, “Bado ni sawa.”

“Ni ufa mdogo sana.” Hata hivyo, ufa huo mdogo ulikuwa ishara ya mwanzo wa maafa makubwa yaliyokuwa karibu kutokea. Ufa kwenye dari ulikuwa mdogo kweli, lakini jengo kubwa lilibomoka mara moja, na watu waliokuwa wakifurahia wakati wa amani ndani yake wakakumbwa ghafla na maafa. Kama maafisa wa duka wangeuona ufa huo mwanzoni na kuuchukulia kuwa tatizo kubwa, huenda msiba huo wa kusikitisha ungeweza kuzuiwa. Maana ya kamusi ya “pengo” ni “nafasi kati ya vitu viwili.” Pengo hutokea pale vitu ambavyo vilipaswa kuunganishwa vinapotengana.

Kwa namna fulani, pengo hili huwa dogo sana likilinganishwa na kitu kizima, kwa hiyo huenda lisichukuliwe kuwa jambo kubwa. Hata hivyo, kumbuka kwamba kila kitu kinaweza kuharibika kwa sababu ya pengo dogo linaloonekana lisilo na umuhimu. Familia, mahusiano, usimamizi, majengo, hata muungano au hoja inayoonekana imara huanza kubomoka kwa sababu ya pengo. Huo ndio muktadha wa andiko la leo. Wakati huo Israeli ilikuwa bado haijaunda taifa na ilikuwa chini ya tishio kubwa kutoka kwa mataifa jirani.

Watu wa Israeli, kama mataifa mengine ya kipagani, walitaka mfalme, na Sauli akachaguliwa kuwa mfalme wa kwanza wa Israeli. Kimwili hakuwa na kasoro. 1 Samweli 9:2 inasema Sauli alikuwa kijana mteule na mzuri, na hakukuwa na mtu aliyekuwa mzuri zaidi yake kati ya wana wa Israeli. Katika 1 Samweli 10:1, Sauli aliambiwa, “BWANA amekutia mafuta uwe mkuu juu ya urithi wake.” Katika mstari wa 7 aliambiwa, “Mungu yu pamoja nawe.” Katika mstari wa 10 Roho wa Mungu akamjia kwa nguvu, na mstari wa 24 ukatangaza kwamba ndiye aliyechaguliwa na BWANA. Akiwa mteule wa Mungu, mwanzoni alimfurahisha Mungu. Alipochaguliwa, alikuwa mkamilifu kwa sura, utu, tabia na imani. Kwa nini maisha ya Mfalme Sauli, yaliyokuwa bila dosari, yalianguka kabisa? Tunapotazama maisha ya Sauli, aliyekuwa hana mapengo mwanzoni, mahubiri yangu ya ibada ya Huduma ya Vijana leo yana kichwa “Lazima Ujazie Pengo Ili Uokoke.”

1. Mfalme Sauli hakuweza kuziba pengo dogo kati yake na Mungu. Hapo mwanzo, uhusiano kati ya Mungu na sisi ulikuwa umeunganishwa kikamilifu bila mapengo.

Hata hivyo, kwa sababu ya dhambi ya Adamu, pengo likatokea na kutengana kati ya Mungu na wanadamu kukazidi. Isaya 59:2 inasema, “Maovu yenu yamewafarikisha ninyi na Mungu wenu, na dhambi zenu zimeuficha uso wake msiuone, hata hataki kusikia.” Tatizo ni kwamba watu hawahisi uzito wa jambo hili. Mtu anaweza kuliona pengo lakini asitambue kwamba tatizo kubwa limetokea kati yake na Mungu. Katika kisa cha Sauli, mhusika mkuu wa andiko la leo, baada ya kuwa mfalme alienda vitani na Wafilisti. Kwanza alipaswa kumtolea Mungu sadaka za kuteketezwa na sadaka za amani, lakini Mfalme Sauli akatoa dhabihu ambazo zilipaswa kutolewa na nabii au kuhani.

1 Samweli 13 inasema Sauli aliagiza: “Nileteeni sadaka ya kuteketezwa na sadaka za amani.” Kisha akaitoa sadaka ya kuteketezwa. Mfalme Sauli alivuka mamlaka yake kwa kutoa dhabihu ambazo makuhani na manabii pekee walipaswa kutoa. Katika 1 Samweli 13:11–12 Samweli akamwuliza, “Umefanya nini?” Sauli akajibu kwamba alijilazimisha kutoa sadaka kwa sababu Wafilisti walikuwa karibu kumshambulia Gilgali na alikuwa bado hajamwomba BWANA apate kibali. Pengo kati ya Mfalme Sauli na Mungu lilianza kutokea. Ingekuwa vizuri kama angekiri kosa lake mara moja na kutubu, lakini Sauli alitoa visingizio.

Alitoa sababu na visingizio akisema Samweli alikuwa amechelewa, kisha akahamishia lawama kwa Samweli kana kwamba hakuwa na budi kufanya hivyo na haikuwa kosa lake. Kwa kutoa visingizio na kukwepa wajibu, pengo kati ya Mungu na Sauli likazidi kupanuka. Mwishowe, katika 1 Samweli 13:13, Sauli akakemewa vikali: “Samweli akamwambia Sauli, Umetenda upumbavu; hukulishika agizo la BWANA, Mungu wako.” Baadaye Sauli akaenda vitani na Amaleki, na Mungu akasema katika 1 Samweli 15:3, “Basi sasa, nenda ukawapige Amaleki, ukawaharibu kabisa vyote walivyo navyo, wala usimwache; bali uwaue mwanamume na mwanamke, mtoto na mtoto anyonyaye, ng’ombe na kondoo, ngamia na punda.” Lakini katika 1 Samweli 15:9 Sauli hakulitii tena Neno la Mungu. Sauli na watu wakamhurumia Agagi na kondoo, ng’ombe, wanakondoo walionona na vitu vyote vizuri, wakakataa kuwaangamiza kabisa, lakini kila kitu kilichodharauliwa na kisichofaa wakakiangamiza kabisa. Mwishowe, katika mstari wa 11 Mungu akasema anajuta kumfanya Sauli kuwa mfalme.

Mungu alisema, “Najuta kwa kuwa nimemfanya Sauli kuwa mfalme; maana amegeuka na kuniacha, wala hakuyatimiza maneno yangu.” Pengo la imani na tumaini kati ya Mungu na Mfalme Sauli lilipanuka kabisa. Hata hivyo, Sauli hakujaribu kuliziba pengo kati yake na Mungu; alitoa visingizio tu kuhusu hali yake na akaendelea kutotii. Katika 1 Samweli 15:23, nabii Samweli anahitimisha kuhusu maisha ya Sauli: “Kwa maana kuasi ni kama dhambi ya uchawi, na ukaidi ni kama uovu na kuabudu sanamu. Kwa kuwa umelikataa neno la BWANA, yeye naye amekukataa wewe usiwe mfalme.” Watu wa aina hii humwamini Mungu tu inapowafaa. Wanasema wanamwamini Mungu, lakini humtafuta tu wanapomhitaji au wanapoona wanaweza kunufaika.

Huenda wakaenda ibadani wanapotaka, na kumwomba Mungu wanapotaka, lakini nyakati nyingine huishi kana kwamba hakuna Mungu. Hivyo hutengeneza pengo kati yao na Mungu na kuishi mbali naye. Vijana wengi husema, “Hakuna haja ya kuamini sana! Kuna faida gani ya kujitahidi mno? Amini kiasi tu, halafu uende mbinguni.” Kuamini kiasi si kuamini wala kutokuamini; huko si imani. Biblia inasimulia watu walioamini Mungu kwa namna hiyo. Walisema ni watu wa Mungu na walimtafuta alipowahitajika, lakini kwa kawaida walimtumikia Baali, sanamu ya kipagani.

Nabii aliwauliza kwa sauti: “Mtasita-sita kati ya mawazo mawili hata lini?” 1 Wafalme 18:21 inasema, “Eliya akawakaribia watu wote, akasema, Mtasita-sita kati ya mawazo mawili hata lini? BWANA akiwa ndiye Mungu, mfuateni; bali Baali akiwa ndiye Mungu, mfuateni yeye. Watu hawakumjibu neno.” Utaendelea kuwa vuguvugu mpaka lini? Ufunuo 3:15–16 inasema, “Nayajua matendo yako, ya kuwa hu baridi wala hu moto; ingekuwa heri kama ungekuwa baridi au moto. Basi kwa sababu una uvuguvugu, wala hu baridi wala moto, nitakutapika utoke katika kinywa changu.” Kumbuka kwamba pengo kati yako na Mungu linaweza kuharibu maisha yako kabisa. Pengo hilo si hali ya kawaida, bali ni hali mbaya sana. Ukihisi na kutambua kwamba umbali kati yako na Mungu umeongezeka na pengo limetokea, jitahidi kuliziba. Kulikuwa na mtu aliyeitwa Augustine, anayejulikana kama mtakatifu wa Zama za Kati.

Mama yake, Monica, alikuwa Mkristo mwaminifu. Hata hivyo, Augustine alipokuwa kijana aliishi maisha ya upotovu, kinyume na matarajio ya mama yake. Alipokuwa mdogo alifuata mfano wa mama yake na kumwamini Mungu, lakini baadaye akaamini dini ya kigeni. Alitawaliwa na tamaa ya fedha, akaishi na mjane tajiri aliyemzidi umri, na akazama katika ulevi na dhambi. Pengo kati yake na Mungu lilikuwa likipanuka. Lakini mama yake hakukata tamaa; alimwombea mwanawe kwa machozi. Siku moja akiwa njiani, Augustine alipata uzoefu wa kusikia sauti ya Mungu. Huo ndio ulikuwa wakati maombi ya mama yake Monica yalipojibiwa. Sauti hiyo ilikuwa ujumbe wa Warumi 13:12: “Usiku umeendelea sana, mchana umekaribia. Basi na tuyavue matendo ya giza, na kuzivaa silaha za nuru.” Baada ya tukio hilo la ajabu la kusikia Neno la Mungu, Augustine alitubu kabisa, kiasi cha kuandika kitabu chake maarufu, Maungamo, akieleza toba yake. Alikuwa amejifurahisha katika ulevi na dhambi, lakini kwa toba, machozi na mabadiliko aliziba pengo kati yake na Mungu, akawa mtu anayeheshimiwa na kuitwa mtakatifu wa Zama za Kati. Ili kuziba pengo pana lililosababishwa na dhambi na uovu, Mungu alimtuma Mwanawe wa pekee, Yesu, afe msalabani na kwa upendo na damu yake azibe pengo kati yetu na Mungu. Tunafurahi tunapoziba pengo kati yetu na Mungu na kuishi tukiwa kitu kimoja naye.

Yohana 15:4 inasema, “Kaeni ndani yangu, nami ndani yenu. Kama vile tawi lisivyoweza kuzaa peke yake, lisipokaa ndani ya mzabibu; kadhalika nanyi, msipokaa ndani yangu.” Maisha mazuri ni kumwona Mungu katika mambo madogo ya kila siku na kumshukuru, na kuishi kwa furaha na shangwe pamoja naye. Hata katika hali ambayo hakuna mtu mwingine angefurahia, mtu anayeweza kuliitia jina la Mungu, kumtafuta na kumshukuru katika hali yoyote, anaishi kwa kumtegemea Mungu pekee; hayo ndiyo maisha anayotaka Mungu. Mungu anataka tuendelee kumwita hata katika hali ngumu, kumtafuta, kumshukuru na kumtegemea yeye pekee. Tunapaswa kukiri hivi: “Maisha yangu hudumu dakika moja na sekunde moja tu; siwezi kuishi bila Mungu. Kila wakati ninamhitaji Mungu na kumtegemea.” Je, kuna wanaoishi mbali na Mungu? Natumaini washiriki wote wa Huduma ya Vijana na waumini wengine wataziba haraka kabisa pengo kati yao na Mungu kwa kutamani zaidi Neno na kumpenda Yesu Kristo zaidi. Ishi ukiwa kitu kimoja na Mungu, bila pengo wala umbali kati yenu.

2. Mfalme Sauli alijitenga na Samweli na pia na watu wengi. Mithali 16:7 inasema, “Njia za mtu zikimpendeza BWANA, huwafanya hata adui zake kuwa na amani naye.” Tukimpendeza Mungu, yaani, pengo lisipokuwepo kati yetu na Mungu, mapengo katika mahusiano yetu na wengine huzibwa na amani hutokea. Kinyume chake, pengo likifunguka kati yetu na Mungu, pengo hufunguka pia kati yetu na watu wengine. Maneno ya 1 Samweli 15:25–26 yanaonyesha kwamba uhusiano wa tumaini kati ya Mfalme Sauli na Nabii Samweli ulikuwa umevunjika kabisa. Sauli akamwomba Samweli, “Basi sasa, nakuomba, unisamehe dhambi yangu, urudi pamoja nami, ili nimwabudu BWANA.” Lakini Samweli akamwambia, “Sitarudi pamoja nawe.” Katika mstari wa 35 tunaona kwamba uhusiano wao wa kibinadamu ulikatika kabisa.

Inasema, “Samweli hakwenda tena kumwona Sauli hata siku ya kufa kwake.” Kwa kuwa Sauli hakuziba pengo kati yake na Mungu, pengo likazidi kupanuka kati yake na Nabii Samweli, Daudi, makuhani wengi na hata mwanawe Yonathani, ambaye alipaswa kuwa mtu wa karibu zaidi naye. Maisha yake yakajaa mapengo. Tusiwe kama Sauli aliyeshindwa kuziba pengo kati yake na Samweli na badala yake akalipanua. Kwa kuwa hakuziba pengo na Mungu, pengo katika mahusiano yake na watu likapanuka. Uhusiano wake na Samweli na Daudi, mkwewe, ukawa mbaya sana. Zaidi ya hayo, pengo likatokea kati yake na mwanawe mkubwa Yonathani, ambaye alipaswa kuwa wa karibu zaidi naye.

Katika 1 Samweli 20:30, 33, Sauli alimwita mwanawe “mwana wa mwanamke mpotovu na mwasi,” kisha akamtupia mkuki ili amuue. Pengo likatokea pia katika uhusiano wake na makuhani, watumishi wa Mungu. 1 Samweli 22:18–19 inasema mfalme alimwamuru Doegi: “Geuka ukawapige makuhani.” Doegi, Mwedomu, akawapiga, akawaua makuhani 85 siku hiyo. Pia akaupiga kwa upanga Nobu, mji wa makuhani, pamoja na wanaume, wanawake, watoto, watoto wachanga, ng’ombe, punda na kondoo. Sauli alitenda uovu kwa kumwamuru Doegi, Mmwedomu, auawe makuhani Waisraeli waliokuwa watumishi wa Mungu, kutia ndani Ahimeleki, pamoja na familia zao. Je, kuwe na pengo kati yako na mtumishi wa Bwana? Hata hivyo, Sauli aliwaua kikatili makuhani, waliokuwa watumishi wa Bwana.

Kwa hiyo si jambo jema pengo linapotokea katika mahusiano ya kibinadamu. Katika barua ambayo Mtume Paulo alimwandikia Timotheo kuna maneno ya kusikitisha. Katika 2 Timotheo 4:10–11 na 14–16 anaandika kwamba wote walimwacha, na Luka pekee alikuwa pamoja naye. Miongoni mwa waliokuwa pamoja na Paulo kulikuwa na watu walioupenda ulimwengu na kujitenga naye. Badala ya kuziba pengo kwa toba na upendo, walidhuru huduma ya Paulo, wakampinga na hatimaye kumwacha. Hili linatufundisha kwamba tusipoziba mapengo, maisha yetu yataanguka; Bwana atatulipa sawasawa na matendo yetu. Shetani hutafuta daima nafasi ya kuwazuia Wakristo kuishi kama Wakristo. Hata pengo dogo au muda mfupi wa kutokuwa macho hautapita bila yeye kutumia nafasi hiyo. Kwa hiyo, tunapokabiliana na Shetani, jambo muhimu zaidi ni kumzuia asipate nafasi. Paulo alisema katika Waefeso 4:25–27: “Basi uvueni uongo, mkaseme kweli kila mtu na jirani yake, kwa maana tu viungo, kila mmoja kiungo cha mwenzake.”

“Mwe na hasira, ila msitende dhambi; jua lisichwe na uchungu wenu bado haujawatoka; wala msimpe Ibilisi nafasi.” Anatuonya tusimpe Ibilisi nafasi. Tunaposema uongo na kutenda yasiyo ya kweli, tunampa Ibilisi nafasi ya kutumia maisha yetu. Kwa hiyo tuache uongo na tuseme kweli; hata tukikasirika, tusihifadhi hasira moyoni, bali tuiondoe upesi, tutubu na kugeuka kabla jua halijachwa. Tunapotenda yasiyo ya kweli kama uongo, hasira na chuki, Ibilisi huingia kwa siri katika mawazo, mioyo na maisha yetu kupitia pengo hilo dogo na kuanza kazi yake. Ni muhimu sana kuzuia mapengo kati ya wanandoa, wazazi na watoto nyumbani, na kati ya waumini. Shetani huona pengo kati yetu kama nafasi ya kutushambulia. Tukitenda yasiyo ya kweli ni sawa na kumpa Shetani nafasi na kusema, “Nishambulie.” Miongoni mwa watu kuna wanaojitahidi kuziba pengo wanapoliona.

Watu hao hueneza Injili, huleta uhai na huzaa matunda. Kwa upande mwingine, kuna wanaotengeneza mapengo na kuyapanua. Watu hao hufuata ulimwengu, huharibu na kutenda kama Ibilisi. Wewe ni mtu wa aina gani? Tunaweza kusema kuna aina mbili za watu kanisani: wajenzi wa madaraja na wajenzi wa kuta. Wajenzi wa madaraja ni wapatanishi, wanaojenga daraja la upendo na maelewano kati ya waumini ili waelewane, watumikiane na kuwa kitu kimoja. Kinyume chake, wajenzi wa ua na wachochezi wa migawanyiko hujisisitiza wenyewe tu, hulalamika, hushirikiana na watu wanaowapenda pekee, na kugawa watu katika makundi. Tunatumaini washiriki wa Huduma ya Vijana hawatakuwa wajenzi wa kuta, bali wajenzi wa madaraja. Tuwe huduma ya vijana isiyo na mapengo, kuta wala migawanyiko; tuwe daraja la uinjilisti linaloeneza Injili ya utakatifu ulimwenguni na upendo wa Mungu, tukiiga mfano wa Yesu Kristo aliyetufanya tuwe kitu kimoja na Mungu.

Ninaomba muwe daraja la upendo linalopeleka upendo kwa ulimwengu na daraja la nguvu linalopeleka kazi ya moto ya Roho Mtakatifu hadi miisho ya Afrika. Katika Mwanzo sura ya 6, Nuhu alipokuwa akijenga safina, aliziba mapengo yake kwa lami. Hilo lilikuwa agizo la Mungu. Mwanzo 6:14 inasema, “Ujifanyie safina ya mti wa mvinje; fanya vyumba ndani ya safina, ukaipake lami ndani na nje.” Nuhu alitii Neno la Mungu na kujaza kwa lami mapengo kati ya mbao za mvinje zilizounda safina; ndipo alipoweza kujenga safina imara ambayo maji hayakuingia. Kama kungekuwa na mapengo kati ya mbao, maji yangeingia na familia ya Nuhu isingekuwa salama. Sisi pia tunapaswa kutumia lami kuziba mapengo yaliyotuzuia kuwa kitu kimoja na kuishi kwa maelewano. Tuzibe pengo lililosababishwa na chuki na ugomvi kwa upendo, kuelewana, kusameheana na kweli. Pengo likiwepo kati ya waumini au hata wanafamilia, lazima lijazwe kwa lami ya upendo. Natumaini sisi waumini wa Manmin tutafikiriana kama familia ya Manmin na, kwa ukaribu wa kifamilia, tujaze mapengo yoyote kwa silikoni ya upendo, kuelewana na kusameheana. Katika Biblia, Mtume Paulo aliwaita waumini ndugu na dada katika imani na kuwatia moyo watendeane kama familia.

1 Timotheo 5:1–2 inasema, “Mzee usimkemee, bali umwonye kama baba; na vijana kama ndugu; wanawake wazee kama mama; wanawake vijana kama ndugu wa kike, katika usafi wote.” Kama wanafamilia wasivyokosana, kutoelewana au kuumizana kwa makusudi, bali huelewana hata mmoja anapokuwa na mapungufu, humkumbatia aliyeumizwa, humtia moyo anayepitia shida na kuziba mapengo yanapotokea, ninyi waumini wapendwa wa Manmin, tendeaneni kama familia. Natumaini mtaishi pamoja kama kitu kimoja katika upendo. 3. Mfalme Sauli hakuweza kuziba pengo kubwa lililotokea ndani yake. 1 Samweli 16:14 inasema, “Basi Roho wa BWANA akamwacha Sauli, na roho mbaya kutoka kwa BWANA ikamtesa.” Pengo kati ya Mungu na Sauli, na kati yake na wengine wakiwemo watumishi wa Mungu kama Samweli, likaleta pengo kubwa katika utu, imani na maisha ya Sauli. Hatimaye Mungu akamwacha, na roho mbaya ikaanza kutenda badala yake. Hali inaweza kufikia kiwango hicho.

Pengo linapokua na kuwa kubwa, baadaye huwa gumu kudhibiti, na kuanguka huwa kukubwa. Sauli alipaswa kujitahidi kuziba pengo, lakini akalipuuza bila kufanya juhudi yoyote. Kama hewa inavyotoka kwenye tundu dogo la puto au tairi, kweli inaweza kutoka rohoni na upendo ukatoka moyoni; moyo unapodhoofika unakuwa mtupu. Unajisikia mtupu, mpweke na kukosa tumaini. Ingawa Sauli alikuwa mfalme, lazima aliteseka sana na kuhisi upweke moyoni. Huenda hakuwa na mtu wa kumweleza yaliyo moyoni kwa uaminifu, hakuwa na rafiki wa kweli, hakuwa na upendo wa Mungu wala kutambuliwa na watu, na alilemewa na uchovu wa akili na shinikizo la hisia. Kwa nini hali hii ilitokea? Hakuweza kuziba pengo katika uhusiano wake na nafsi yake mwenyewe. Katika mfano wa mwana mpotevu katika Luka 15, mwana huyo alimwacha baba yake na maisha yake yakashindwa, mpaka akalazimika kula maganda yaliyoliwa na nguruwe. Aliziba pengo kati ya hali halisi na nafsi yake ya ndani—hisia za kushindwa, kukata tamaa, hatia na ukiwa—kwa kujitafakari kikamilifu, kumtii na kumpenda baba yake. Alirudi akiwa mwana, si mtumishi wa kuajiriwa, naye akarejeshwa.

Tunapoishi katika jamii ya kisasa isiyo ya haki na isiyo na uhakika, tunaweza kuhisi pengo kubwa kati ya hali halisi na matarajio yetu. Nawaambia washiriki wote wa Huduma ya Vijana wanaoshiriki ibada hii ya kujitolea leo: tunapoutazama ulimwengu huu usioruhusu ndoto na matarajio yetu, tusiteseke kwa kujihisi tumetengwa; badala yake tulizibe pengo kati yetu na ulimwengu kwa nguvu za Mungu, neema ya Bwana na msaada wa Roho Mtakatifu. Ninaamini tunapaswa kulijaza na kujenga tabia isiyo na mapengo, imani isiyo na mapengo na maisha yasiyo na mapengo. Niliposoma makala moja, niliguswa hadi machozi niliposikia hadithi za watu waliokuwa hawana dosari katika tabia na dhamiri zao. Nilijiuliza kama kweli ningeweza kutenda kama wao katika hali kama hizo, na nikapata changamoto kubwa. Ningependa kuwashirikisha hadithi hiyo. Ni kuhusu jinsi Uingereza ilivyojenga meli kubwa zaidi ya abiria duniani, Titanic, mwaka 1912; katika safari yake ya kwanza iligonga jiwe la barafu na kuzama katika Bahari ya Atlantiki ya Kaskazini.

Tukio hili lilifanywa pia kuwa filamu. Kwa kuwa filamu ilitengenezwa hasa ili kuvutia watazamaji, ukweli wa tukio haukujulikana sana, lakini nahodha msaidizi, aliyekuwa mtu pekee wa wafanyakazi aliyeokoka, alieleza ukweli wa ajali hiyo. Meli ilipogonga jiwe kubwa la barafu, ufa mdogo ulitokea kwenye ganda lake, ukazidi kupanuka na meli ikazama. Lilikuwa janga kubwa ambamo watu 1,514 walikufa. Hii ni hadithi ya watu waliodumisha tabia, dhamiri na utu wao hata walipokabiliwa na maisha na kifo. Ingawa meli ilizama kwa sababu ya pengo, watu hawa hawakuwa na pengo katika tabia na maisha yao. Niruhusuni nisome makala iliyoandikwa na nahodha msaidizi aliyeokoka: “Nahodha aliamuru wanawake na watoto waokolewe kwanza kabla meli haijazama. Nilipiga kelele, ‘Wanawake na watoto, njooni hapa!’ lakini ni wanawake wachache tu walioacha familia zao na kujaribu kupanda boti ya uokoaji peke yao.”

Baada ya boti ya kwanza ya uokoaji kushushwa baharini, Bwana Astor, aliyekuwa tajiri zaidi duniani wakati huo, alimtuma mke wake aliyekuwa na ujauzito wa miezi mitano kwenye boti, akasimama kwenye sitaha na kuipigia kelele boti ilipokuwa ikiondoka: “Nakupenda!” Baharia aliyekuwa akitazama alimwomba mumewe, Bwana Astor, apande boti, lakini Astor alikataa kabisa. “Je, watu hawapaswi kuwa na angalau kiwango cha chini cha dhamiri?” Kisha akamwachia kiti cha mwisho kilichobaki mwanamke mmoja wa Ireland aliyekuwa karibu naye. Ingawa alikuwa tajiri wa kutosha kujenga meli kumi za Titanic, alikataa kila nafasi ya kujiokoa. Hilo ndilo chaguo pekee alilofanya ili kulinda dhamiri yake kwa uhai wake mwenyewe. Bwana Guggenheim, aliyekuwa mfanyabiashara wa benki aliyefanikiwa, alisema hivi alipokuwa akivaa mavazi mazuri ya jioni hata wakati maisha yake yalikuwa hatarini: “Hata nikifa, nitalinda uadilifu wangu na kufa kama muungwana.” Katika ujumbe aliomwachia mkewe aliandika: “Hakutakuwa na mwanamke katika meli hii atakayekufa bila kuokolewa kwa sababu ya ubinafsi wangu. Nitakufa kama muungwana tu ikiwa nitaishi maisha yanayostahili mtu mpumbavu.” Katika mkutano wa waliookoka mjini Lausanne, Ugiriki, Bi. Smith alikumbuka mwanamke aliyemwachia kiti chake akasema: “Wakati watoto wangu wawili walipopanda boti ya uokoaji, ilikuwa imejaa na hakukuwa na nafasi yangu. Wakati huo mwanamke mmoja alisimama, akanivuta kwenye boti na kusema, ‘Panda.

Watoto wanamhitaji mama yao!” Mwanamke huyo wa ajabu hakuacha jina. Watu wake walimjengea mnara wa kumbukumbu wakauita “Mama Asiyejulikana.” Miongoni mwa waliofariki walikuwa watu mashuhuri wengi, kama bilionea Astor, mwandishi maarufu wa habari Hempstead, meja wa jeshi Bart na mhandisi maarufu Luobure, lakini wote waliwaachia nafasi zao wanawake wa kawaida wa mashambani waliokuwa karibu nao. Meli ilipoanza kuzama, watu walipigiana kelele katika dakika za mwisho za maisha na kifo, “Nakupenda! Nakupenda!” Siku hiyo tuliona maana ya tabia njema, utu na upendo. Titanic iligonga jiwe la barafu, ganda lake likapasuka na mapengo yakatokea, maji yakaingia na hatimaye ikazama, lakini tabia na maisha yao hayakuwa na dosari.” Kuna hadithi nyingine nyingi za watu wenye tabia na upendo usio na dosari, lakini nimezitaja kwa ufupi tu. Waefeso 4:15 inasema, “Tukiishika kweli katika upendo, na kukua hata tumfikie yeye katika yote, yeye aliye kichwa, Kristo.” Ndugu wa Huduma ya Vijana na washiriki wapendwa wa Kanisa la Manmin, pengo likiwa katika tabia zetu, tulijaze kwa tabia ya Bwana. Pengo likiwa katika upendo wetu, tulijaze kwa upendo wa Bwana. Pengo likiwa mioyoni mwetu, tulijaze kwa moyo wa Bwana. Pengo likiwa ndani yetu, tujitahidi kufikia kimo kamili cha Bwana kwa kutenda yaliyo kweli katika upendo. Pengo likiwa rohoni mwetu, tulijaze kwa utakatifu wa Bwana.

Hitimisho. Ili kufanikisha hili, Neno la Mungu linatuambia tuwakamate mbweha wadogo wanaoharibu shamba la mizabibu la maisha yetu. Wimbo Ulio Bora 2:15 inasema, “Tukamatieni mbweha, mbweha wadogo, waziharibuo mizabibu; maana mizabibu yetu ina maua.” Je, haisemi mbweha wadogo badala ya mbweha tu? Si jambo kubwa linaloharibu maisha au familia zetu; kama msemo usemavyo, tundu dogo ndilo linalosababisha bwawa kupasuka. Unafikiri ni mbweha gani mdogo anayeharibu maisha yako? Je, si kwamba tunalipuuza jambo hilo sasa? “Ni dogo sana. Basi, nani asiyetenda dhambi? Wanadamu wote hukosea kwa kiwango hiki, sivyo?” Je, unafikiri hivyo? Hata hivyo, jambo hilo linaweza kuwa silaha itakayoharibu maisha yetu kabisa. Sauli, aliyekuwa hana pengo mwanzoni, aliacha mapengo yatokee kati yake na Mungu, kati yake na watu, na ndani yake mwenyewe. Hakuyaziba, na akakumbwa na msiba ulioharibu maisha yake kabisa.

1. Mfalme Sauli hakuweza kuziba pengo dogo kati yake na Mungu.

2. Mfalme Sauli hakuweza kuziba pengo kati yake na watu waliomzunguka, kutia ndani Nabii Samweli.

3. Mfalme Sauli hakuweza kuziba pengo kubwa lililotokea ndani yake. Ibada ya Huduma ya Vijana na waumini wenzetu wa Manmin leo itusaidie kushinda pengo kati yetu na Mungu linaloleta kushindwa maishani, pengo kati yetu na watu wanaotuzunguka, na pengo lililo ndani yetu, kupitia upendo wa Mungu, neema ya Bwana na msaada wa Roho Mtakatifu unaotuongoza kwenye utakatifu. Ninaomba katika jina la Bwana kwamba Mungu atujaze kazi ya moto ya Roho wake na kwamba kila mmoja wetu afikie kimo kamili cha Bwana. - MWISHO

Rudi kwenye Mahubiri