Umiliki wa Mungu

“Mimi ni wako, uniokoe!”— Zaburi 119:94 

"I am Yours; save me!”- Psalm 119:94.

Andiko letu hapo juu ni johari ya ukweli, na linaonyesha kanuni kuu ya kibinafsi katika wokovu wetu wenyewe. Umiliki wa Mungu na ufuasi wetu vimeunganishwa pamoja. Maneno haya matano yanajumuisha vipengele vitatu: kwanza Taarifa, kisha Ombi, na kusababisha Kusadikika. Tutazizingatia kwa utaratibu huo.

Our text above is a jewel of truth, and it expresses the great personal principle in our own salvation. God’s ownership and our discipleship are bound together. These five words embody three elements: first a Statement, then a Request, in turn leading to Conviction. We shall consider them in that order.

"MIMI NI WAKO" - Ni Taarifa kubwa kama nini ikiwa kweli kwa upande wetu, kwa mengi basi inafuata! Je, tunaweza kuthubutu kumwambia Mungu wetu - "Mimi ni Wako?" Ni ajabu sana kama tunaweza kwa sababu ya mapendeleo na uwezekano unaotokea.” Kwa kauli kama hiyo Bwana anajibu: “Usiogope, kwa maana nimekukomboa, nimekuita kwa jina lako; wewe ni wangu” ( Isaya 43:1 ) Jinsi maneno haya yanavyorudia na kurudia tena ujumbe wa ukombozi wa Bwana wetu Yesu aliyebarikiwa!

"I AM YOURS" - What a tremendous Statement if true in our case, for so much then follows! Dare we say to our God - "I am Yours?” How wonderful if we can because of the resulting privi¬leges and possibilities. To such a statement the Lord replies: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are Mine" (Isaiah 43:1). How these words echo and re-echo the redemption message of our blessed Lord Jesus!

Ni kweli jinsi gani usemi huu wa Mungu: “Wewe ni Wangu,” kwa maana milki ni mara nne na imefunuliwa waziwazi ndani ya Mwanawe, Yesu.” Kwanza, kwa uumbaji: “Vyote vilifanyika kwa huyo; wala pasipo yeye hakikufanyika cho chote kilichofanyika” ( Yohana 1:3 ) Pili, kwa ukombozi, kwa ajili ya Yesu “alijitoa mwenyewe kuwa ukombozi kwa ajili ya wote” ( 1 Timotheo 2:6 ) Tatu, kwa kuzaliwa upya: “ kuoshwa kwa maji katika Neno” ( Waefeso 5:26 ) Nne, kwa kujitoa kwetu katika kutii Warumi 6:13 : “Jitoeni wenyewe kwa Mungu, kama walio hai katika wafu.” Acheni tuongeze maelezo haya manne. .

How true is this statement of God: “You are Mine," for the pos¬session is fourfold and revealed ex¬plicitly in His Son, Jesus. First, by creation: "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3). Second, by redemption, for Jesus "gave Himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:6). Third, by regenera¬tion: "the washing of water by the Word" (Ephesians 5:26). Fourth, by our dedication in obedience to Romans 6:13: "Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead." Let us enlarge on these four constituents.

Uumbaji wetu ni wa ajabu kiasi gani. “Mikono yako ndiyo iliyonifanya na kuniumba” (Zaburi 119:73). "Jueni ya kuwa Bwana ndiye Mungu; ndiye aliyetuumba, wala si sisi wenyewe; tu watu wake na kondoo wa malisho yake" (Zaburi 100:3). “Nitakusifu kwa maana nimeumbwa kwa jinsi ya kutisha na ya ajabu; kazi zako ni za ajabu; na nafsi yangu yajua hayo” (Zaburi 139:14).

How wonderful is our creation. "Your hands have made me and fashioned me" (Psalm 119:73). "Know that the Lord He is God: it is He that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture" (Psalm 100:3). "I will praise You; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Your works; and that my soul knows right well" (Psalm 139:14).

Ukombozi wetu ni wa gharama gani. “Nanyi mfahamu kwamba mlikombolewa si kwa vitu viharibikavyo, kwa fedha na dhahabu, mpate kutoka katika mwenendo wenu usiofaa mlioupokea kwa mapokeo ya baba zenu; ( 1 Petro 1:18, 19 ). “Ambaye katika yeye tuna ukombozi, yaani, masamaha ya dhambi” (Wakolosai 1:14).

How costly is our redemption. "Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradi¬tion from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18, 19). "In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14).

Ni ajabu jinsi gani kuzaliwa upya kwetu. “Mungu, ambaye ni mwingi wa rehema, kwa upendo wake mkuu aliotupenda, hata tulipokuwa wafu kwa sababu ya dhambi, alituhuisha pamoja na Kristo.” ( Efe. 2:4, 5 ) “Baada ya hayo wema na upendo Mungu Mwokozi wetu alionekana kwa wanadamu, si kwa matendo ya haki tuliyoyatenda sisi, bali kwa rehema yake; Kristo Mwokozi wetu; ili tukiisha kuhesabiwa haki kwa neema yake, tufanywe warithi, sawasawa na tumaini la uzima wa milele” (Tito 3:4-7).

How amazing is our regenera¬tion. "God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ” (Eph. 2:4, 5). “After that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we had done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of re¬generation, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7).

Jinsi asili na kuwa ni kujisalimisha kwetu. "Miili yenu ni Hekalu la Roho Mtakatifu aliye ndani yenu, mliyepewa na Mungu, wala ninyi si mali yenu wenyewe. Kwa maana mmenunuliwa kwa thamani; basi, mtukuzeni Mungu katika miili yenu na katika roho zenu. ( 1 Wakorintho 6:19, 20 ). "Ninyi nanyi, kama mawe yaliyo hai, mmejengwa mwe nyumba ya roho, ukuhani mtakatifu, mtoe dhabihu za roho, zinazokubalika kwa Mungu kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo" (1 Petro 2:5).

How natural and becoming is our self-surrender. "Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own. For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). "You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priest¬hood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5).

Tafakari tu hii inahusisha nini katika kujiweka wakfu kwetu. Tangu sasa huwezi kuandika barua hiyo, kwa maana mkono wako si wako mwenyewe - ni wake. Huwezi kwenda mahali hapo, kwa kuwa miguu yako si yako sasa - ni Yake. Huwezi kusema maneno hayo, kwa kuwa ulimi huo si wako - ni Wake. Anaona ndani ya moyo wako na kusema, "Wewe ni Wangu." Unaona ndani ya moyo Wake na kusema, "Ndiyo, Bwana, mimi ni wako," na tunaimba:

Just ponder what this involves in our consecration. Henceforth you cannot write that letter, for your hand is not your own - it is His. You cannot go to that place, for your feet are not yours now - they are His. You cannot say those words, for that tongue is not yours - it is His. He sees into your heart and says, "You are Mine." You see into His heart and say, "Yes, Lord, I am Yours," and we sing:

“Ee Mungu wangu, pokea upendo wangu, Namimina miguuni pako hazina yake;

Nichukue mwenyewe - natamani kuwa milele, tu, yote kwa ajili Yako."

"Take my love, my God; I pour at Thy feet its treasure-store;

Take myself - I wish to be ever, only, all for Thee."

NIOKOE - Katika nafasi ya pili, tunayo katika maandishi ya kichwa chetu, ombi ¬"Niokoe." Niokoe kutoka kwa nini? Kwa urahisi, kutoka kwa upotovu wa mara tano dhahiri zaidi. Tunahitaji wokovu kutoka kwa dhambi zetu zinazotusumbua kila siku. Zaidi ya hayo, tunahitaji wokovu kutoka kwa ubinafsi, uharibifu wa maisha ya Kikristo. Kisha, tunahitaji wokovu kutoka kwa hofu katika nyanja zake zote; hata ile ya kushuhudia wema wa Mungu kwa “kukiri kwa vinywa vyetu” (Rum. 10:9). Pia tunahitaji wokovu kutokana na kuridhika na baraka zetu wenyewe za kiroho, lakini kupuuzwa kwa utumishi wa Kikristo. Tunahitaji kuokolewa kutoka kwa yote yanayozuia ufuasi kamili.

SAVE ME - In the second place, we have in our heading text, the request ¬"Save me." Save me from what? Simply, from a five-fold dereliction most obvious. We need salvation from our daily besetting sins. Fur¬ther, we need salvation from self, the ruina¬tion of the Christian life. Then, we need salvation from fear in all its aspects; even that of witnessing to God's goodness by "confessing with our mouths" (Rom. 10:9). We also need salvation from contentment with our own spiritual blessing, but a neglect of Christian service. We need to be saved from all that hin¬ders full discipleship.

Lakini sio tu suala la "niokoe kutoka," lakini pia "niokoe." "Kwa maisha matakatifu ambayo ni kielelezo cha Kristo katika kazi zetu za kila siku; kwa furaha ya kudumu katika Bwana; kwa kujitoa kwa maisha kwa niaba ya wengine." Je, ombi letu la utimilifu huu wa wokovu linaweza kutimizwa kimungu katika kila jambo? Fikiria Efe. 3:20: “Yeye aweza kufanya mambo ya ajabu mno kuliko yote tuyaombayo au tuyawazayo, kwa kadiri ya nguvu itendayo kazi ndani yetu.” Kisha furahini pamoja na paean ya Yuda (fu. 24, 25 Rotherham): “Kwake Yeye awezaye kuwalinda ninyi msijikwae na kuwaweka mbele ya utukufu wake bila mawaa pamoja na kushangilia; kwa Mungu peke yake Mwokozi wetu kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo Bwana wetu una utukufu, ukuu, mamlaka, na mamlaka, kabla ya nyakati zote zilizopita na sasa na hata nyakati zote zinazokuja. Amina!"

But it is not only a matter of "save me from,” but also a "save me to.”  "To a holy life which exemplifies that of Christ in our daily tasks; to a constant joy in the Lord; to a laying down of one's life on behalf of others." Can our request for this fullness of salvation be divinely ful¬filled in every respect? Consider Eph. 3:20: "He is able to do ex¬ceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Then rejoice with Jude's paean (vs. 24, 25 Rotherham): "Unto Him who is able to guard you from stumbling and to set you in the presence of His glory without blemish with exultation; unto God alone our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, greatness, dominion, and author¬ity, before all the by-gone age and now and unto all the coming ages. Amen!"

Ee Upendo usioniacha niende, Nailaza nafsi yangu iliyochoka Kwako;

Ninakurudishia maisha ninayodaiwa, ambayo katika vilindi vyako vya bahari, mtiririko wake

Inaweza kuwa tajiri, kamili zaidi.

O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee;

I give Thee back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths, its flow

May richer, fuller be.

KUTHIBITISHWA - Uzingatiaji wetu wa tatu wa vifungu viwili unaongoza kwenye usadikisho wa ukweli wa taarifa hizi za kina; ile ya hitimisho la sauti. Umiliki wa Mungu unahusisha wajibu kwa upande wake kwetu. Anaposema mimi ni Wake, si jambo la kukosa heshima kuamini kuwa ni wajibu Wake "kuniokoa." Ikiwa mimi kwa upande wangu nikimtumaini Yeye, Yeye kwa upande wake ataniokoa. Kwa jinsi mimi ni wake, anatamani kuokoa kwa wokovu kamili, "hakika kabisa" (Waebrania 7:25). “Kwa maana yeye hujishughulisha sana kwa mambo yenu” (1 Petro 5:7).

CONVICTION - Our third consideration of the two clauses leads to a conviction of the factualness of these profound statements; that of a sound conclu¬sion. God's possessive ownership in¬volves obligations on His part to us. When He says I am His, it is not ir¬reverent to believe it is His respon-sibility to "save me." If I for my part, trust Him, He on His part, will save. Inasmuch as I am His, He is desirous to save to a full salvation, "to the uttermost" (Hebrews 7:25). “For He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

Kwa unyenyekevu wa akili, tunaweza kujifanyia sisi wenyewe maonyesho Yake ya ajabu. Kama vile, kwa mfano, "vito vyangu (hazina yangu maalum)" (Malaki 3:17); na "ya thamani machoni pangu" (Isaya 43:4); na “Nimekuchora katika vitanga vya mikono yangu” (Isaya 49:16). (Maneno ya utukufu yaliyoshirikiwa na Israeli wa asili pamoja na Israeli wa kiroho.) "Aweza kusema nini zaidi ya wewe kusema?"

In humbleness of mind, we may appropriate to ourselves His won¬derful expressions. Such, for in¬stance, as "My jewels (My special treasure)" (Malachi 3:17); and "Pre¬cious in My sight" (Isaiah 43:4); and "I have graven you upon the palms of My hands" (Isaiah 49:16). (Glorious words shared by natural Israel with spiritual Israel.) "What more can He say than to you He has said?"

Kwa mioyo yenye kung’aa, hebu tuchunguze upya riziki mbalimbali za Mungu kwa niaba yetu; "kikombe kinachopita." Alitununua - “Mlinunuliwa kwa bei” ( 1Kor. 7:23 ) Alituchagua sisi – “Watu ulionipa katika ulimwengu” ( Yoh. 17:6 ) Anatusafisha – “Kwa ajisafishe kwa nafsi yake watu wa milki ya Mungu” ( Tito 2:14 ) Anatugeuza – “Wakageuzwa wafanane na sura ile ile” ( 2Kor. 3:18 ) Alituinua – “akatuketisha pamoja katika ulimwengu wa roho katika Kristo. Yesu” (Efe. 2:6).

With glowing, hearts, let us survey anew God’s manifold provi¬sions on our behalf; the "cup that runs over." He purchased us - “You are bought with a price" (1 Cor. 7:23). He selected us - "The men whom You gave me out of the world" (John 17:6). He cleanses us - "To purify unto Himself a peculiar people" (Titus 2:14). He transforms us - "Changed into the same Image" (2 Cot. 3:18). He ex¬alted us - "Made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).

Kweli, "Nusu ya neema ya Mungu haikuambiwa kamwe." “Bwana ndiye Mchungaji wetu” na sisi ni “kondoo wa malisho yake.” “Kwa neema tumeokolewa” (Waefeso 2:5) na sasa tuna karama kuu – “Roho Mtakatifu wa ahadi, ambaye ni arabuni ya Mungu. urithi wetu hata ukombozi wa milki yake iliyonunuliwa, iwe sifa ya utukufu wake” (Waefeso 1:13, 14); “Roho Mtakatifu wa Mungu, ambaye kwa yeye mlitiwa muhuri hata siku ya ukombozi” (Waefeso 4:30) )

Truly, "Of grace divine the half was never told." “The Lord is our Shepherd" and we are "the sheep of His pasture." "By grace we are saved" (Ephesians 2:5) and now possess the ultimate gift - "the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemp¬tion of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:13, 14); "the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4: 30).

"Ninasimama wote kwa mshangao, na kutazama bahari ya upendo;

Na juu ya mawimbi yake huja amani, kama hua wa mbinguni."

"l stand all astonished with wonder, and gaze on the ocean of love;

And over its waves to my spirit comes peace, like a heavenly dove."

Basi, kwa kuzingatia neema isiyo na kifani ya Mungu kwetu, inayomiminwa katika “ahadi kubwa na za thamani zipitazo,” je, tunaweza kuwa na akili yenye mashaka ( Luka 12:29 ) kuhusu utunzaji wake wa mwisho na usio na mwisho? Asema Mtakatifu Paulo, “Kuwa na uhakika. ya neno hili, ya kwamba yeye aliyeianza kazi njema katika mtaimaliza hata siku ya Kristo Yesu” ( Flp. 1:6 )… na Waebrania 10:22, 23 : “Na tukaribie kwa moyo wa kweli. kwa utimilifu wa imani, hali tumenyunyiziwa mioyo tuache dhamiri mbaya, tumeoshwa miili kwa maji safi. Tushike sana ungamo la tumaini letu bila kuyumba; kwa maana Yeye aliyeahidi ni mwaminifu.” Ukarimu huo wa kustaajabisha hugusa hisia zetu za ndani kabisa!

In view, then, of God's matchless grace to us, outpoured in "exceeding great and precious promises,” can we be of doubtful mind (Luke 12:29) as to his ultimate and endless care? Says St. Paul, "Being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6)…and Hebrews 10:22, 23: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for He is faithful that promised." Such lavish benevolence moves our deepest emotions!

"O, maneno yenye joto sawa na shukrani yanawezaje kutangaza

Hiyo inang'aa ndani ya moyo wangu wa ndani? Lakini Unaweza kuisoma hapo.”

"O, how can words with equal warmth the gratitude declare

That glows within my inmost heart? But Thou can read it there."

Kwa himizo la Kimungu, “Tafuteni uso Wangu,” mioyo yetu imeitikia, “Uso wako, Bwana, nitautafuta!” na majibu zaidi ya busara: "Jambo moja nimelitaka kwa Bwana, ambalo nitalitafuta; ili nipate kukaa nyumbani mwa Bwana siku zote za maisha yangu, niutazame uzuri wa Bwana, na kutafakari hekaluni mwake.” ( Zaburi 27:4, 8 ) Ni kwa njia gani nyingine tungeweza kuitikia lakini kama tulivyotenda Yehova. Mtunga Zaburi: “Nimrudishie Bwana nini Kwa ukarimu wake wote alionitendea? Nitakitwaa kikombe cha wokovu, na kuliitia Jina la Bwana. Nitaziondoa nadhiri zangu kwa Bwana mbele ya watu wake." (Zaburi 116:12-14).

To the Divine exhortation, "Seek My face," our hearts have responded, "Your face, Lord, will I seek!” with the rational further reaction: "One thing have I desired of tile Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple" (Psalm 27:4, 8). How else could we react but as did the Psalmist: "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord in the presence of His people." (Psalm 116:12-14).

Labda Mtakatifu Paulo ameeleza vyema utimilifu wa kujitolea kwa Kikristo: "Nimesulubiwa pamoja na Kristo; lakini ni hai; wala si mimi, bali Kristo yu hai ndani yangu; na uhai nilio nao sasa katika mwili, ninaishi nao. imani ya Mwana wa Mungu, ambaye alinipenda na kujitoa nafsi yake kwa ajili yangu” (Gal. 2:20). Na katika Efe. 3:17-19: “Kristo akae mioyoni mwenu kwa imani, mkiwa na shina na msingi katika upendo, mpate kufahamu pamoja na watakatifu wote jinsi ulivyo upana, na urefu, na kimo, na kina; mpate kujua upendo wa Kristo upitao maarifa yote, mjazwe utimilifu wote wa Mungu."

Perhaps St. Paul has best expressed the fullness of' Christian dedication: "I am crucified with Christ: never¬theless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). And in Eph. 3:17-19: "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God."

"Uwe na njia yako, Bwana, uwe na njia yako mwenyewe!

Shikilia kuwa kwangu kabisa! Jaza roho yako mpaka wote wataona

Kristo pekee, daima, anayeishi ndani yangu!"

"Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy spirit 'till all shall see

Christ only, always, living in me!"

W. J. Siekman ©CDMI