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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
THE SAVIOUR AND THE JUDGE
THE SAVIOUR AND THE JUDGE
A parable [story with a meaning]
Once, in a village in Ghana, there lived a young man called Solomon, who never worked. He stole all the things he needed.
One day he stole a man’s goat. Some people chased after him with sticks and stones trying to beat him. Solomon realized that the people were chasing him and he left the goat on the ground so that he could run faster.
Hidden
The chase continued until Solomon found a narrow path leading to an old man’s house. He reached the house and asked the old man to keep him safe. Solomon told him that some people were chasing him. The old man took Solomon to a room and shut the door.
When the people arrived, they asked him to bring the thief to them. But the old man said that there was no-one there. Because he was well known in the area and an important person, the people believed him and went home.
When they had left, the old man called Solomon and asked him why the people were chasing him. Solomon told his story and the old man, his saviour, said he must never steal things again.
Caught!
Some days later, Solomon went to the same village and stole a bag of rice. This time he was caught near the old man’s house. Solomon could not get in because the old man was not there. The people took Solomon to the police.
After a few weeks, Solomon was sent to the court. When he came into the court-room, Solomon was very happy. The judge was the same old man, his saviour. The charge was read to the judge, who asked the people to bring the bag of rice to him. He asked, “How many grains of rice are there in the bag?” The people said there were too many to count. The judge said, “You must go to the prison for the rest of your life.”
Solomon started to cry. He reminded the judge that only a short time ago he was his saviour. The judge told Solomon, “At that time I was your saviour, but now I am your judge.”
This story reminds us about Jesus. Now he is our ‘saviour’ because he came to the world to take the punishment that we should have for our wrong doings. Even though he did nothing wrong, he died the death of a criminal-someone who has broken the law. Jesus died in our place so he can be our saviour, just as the old man was Solomon’ saviour.
But one day, when we die, Jesus will be our judge. He will ask if we have turned away from wrong things and asked him to be our saviour. If we can answer ‘yes’, he will take us to his wonderful heaven to be with him for ever.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Matthew 6:1-18 (New King James Version)
Matthew 6
Do Good to Please God
1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.[a]The Model Prayer
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.[b] 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.[c]
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Fasting to Be Seen Only by God
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
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