Apostle Grace Lubega
John 3:30 (KJV); He must increase, but I must decrease.
In his past life, before his encounter on the road to Damascus, Paul the apostle was called Saul. After his transformation, he is prominently referred to as Paul.
The name Paul is translated to mean, ‘small or little.’
Paul had a reputation within the Jewish community. He was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). It was no simple matter that he could be given authority to round up Christians and take them for trial in Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2).
In his transformative experience, the apostle understood the necessity of becoming less to allow God to become more.
In our theme scripture, John the Baptist shares a similar experience, of the Lord increasing and him decreasing.
The lives of these two men teach us a fundamental lesson: no man can find his destiny in God without understanding the transaction that puts him out of the picture and God in the picture; that reduces the man in prominence so that God can grow more prominent; that moves God to the centre while the man moves to the sidelines.
Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 3:8
GOLDEN NUGGET: No man can find his destiny in God without understanding the transaction that puts him out of the picture and God in the picture; that reduces the man in prominence so that God can grow more prominent; that moves God to the centre while the man moves to the sidelines.
PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank You for this truth. What an honour to know You and be known of You. You are the centre of my life and the foundation of my salvation. I yield to Your work in me, as You bend me, kill me and consume me. I am continually reminded that life is all about You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
OKUZUULA ENTUUKO
Omutume Grace Lubega
Yokaana 3:30 (KJV); Ye kimugwanira okukula, naye nze okutoowala.
Mu bulamu bwe obwayita, nga tannaba kufuna kulabikirwa ku luguudo e Ddamasiko, Pawulo omutume, yali ayitibwa Sawulo. Oluvannyuma lw’okukyusibwa kwe, asinga kumanyikibwa nga Pawulo.
Erinnya Pawulo livvuunulwa okutegeeza, ‘mutono oba kitono’.
Pawulo yalina erinya mu Bayudaaya. Yali Mufalisaayo era omwana w’Omufalisaayo (Ebikolwa By’Abatume 23:6). Teyali nsonga ntono nti yali asobola okuweebwa obuyinza okukwata abakristaayo abatwale mu kuwozesebwa e Yerusaalemi (Ebikolwa By’Abatume 9:1-2).
Mu nsisinkano ye ey’okukyusibwa, omutume yategeera obwetaavu bw’okutoowala okuganya Katonda okweyongera.
Mu kyawandiikibwa kyaffe ekigguddewo, Yokaana omubatiza agabana ensisinkano y’emu, eya Mukama okweyongera nga ye atoowala.
Obulamu bw’abasajja bano ababiri butusomesa essomo ery’omugaso ddala: tewali muntu asobola okuzuula entuuko ye mu Katonda nga tategedde kuwaanyisa okumuggyawo mu kifaananyi ne kuteekawo Katonda; okukendeeza omuntu mu kumanyikibwa Katonda asobole okukula mu kumanyikibwa; okuleetera Katonda okubeera mu masekkati, ng’omuntu bwe yeeyongerayo ku mabbali.
Alleluya!
YONGERA OSOME: Abakkolosaayi 1:18, Abaefeso 3:8
AKASUMBI KA ZAABU: Tewali muntu asobola okuzuula entuuko ye mu Katonda nga tategedde kuwaanyisa okumuggyawo mu kifaananyi ne kuteekawo Katonda; okukendeeza omuntu mu kumanyikibwa, Katonda asobole okukula mu kumanyikibwa; okuleetera Katonda okubeera mu masekkati, ng’omuntu bwe yeeyongerayo ku mabbali.
ESSAALA: Kitaffe omwagalwa, Nkwebaza ku lw’amazima gano. Nga kya kitiibwa okukumanya n’okumanyibwa Ggwe. Ggwe massekati g’obulamu bwange era n’omusingi gw’obulokozi bwange. Neewaayo eri omulimu Gwo mu nze, nga bw’onzikakkanya, bw’onzita era n’okummalawo. Nzijukizibwa olutata nti obulamu bwetoloolera ku Ggwe, mu linnya erya Yesu, Amiina.
OKUZOORA ORUGYENDO
Entumwa Grace Lubega
Yohaana 3:30; We ashemereire kuguma naakura, naanye nkaguma ningaruka ahansi.
Omu magara gye atakabugabugaine na Ruhanga aha muhanda arikuza Damasiko, Paulo entumwa akaba nayetwa Saulo. Bwanyima y’okuhinduka kwe, namanywa munonga nka Paulo.
Eiziina Paulo nirivunurirwa kumanyisa ‘kakye.’
Paulo akaba aine ekitiinisa omuri buyudaayaa. Akaba ari Omufarisaayo kandi omwana w’omufarisaayo (Ebyakozirwe Entumwa 23:6). Kikaba kitari kintu kikye kuheebwa obushoborozi kuboha Abakristaayo akabatwara Yerusaalemu kugyezibwa (Ebyakozirwe Entumwa 9:1-2).
Omu by’okuhinduka kwe, Entumwa akeetegyereza omugasho gw’okuba mukye kwenda ngu aikirize Ruhanga abe muhango.
Omu mutwe gw’ebyahandiikirwe byaitu, Yohaana omubatiza akaraba omu kintu nk’ekyo, ekya Mukama kuguma naakura, we akaguma nagaruka ahansi.
Amagara g’abantu aba nigatwegyesa bikuru: tihariho muntu orikuzoora orugyendo rwe omuri Ruhanga ateetegyereize ebirikumwiha omu kishushani bikata Ruhanga omu kishushani; ekyo nikikyendeeza omuntu kwenda ngu Ruhanga amanywe munonga; ekyo nikiriza Ruhanga ahagati rero omuntu aza aharubaju.
Hallelujah!
SHOMA NEEBI: Abakolosai 1:18, Abaefeso 3:8
EZAABU: Tihariho muntu orikuzoora orugyendo rwe omuri Ruhanga ateetegyereize ebirikumwiha omu kishushani bikata Ruhanga omu kishushani; ekyo nikikyendeeza omuntu kwenda ngu Ruhanga amanywe munonga; ekyo nikiriza Ruhanga ahagati rero omuntu aza aharubaju.
OKUSHABA: Taata omukundwa, Ninkusiima ahabw’amazima aga. Kani omugisha kukumanya naiwe okamanya. Ori ahagati y’amagara gangye kandi omusingi gw’okujunwa kwangye. Ninyorobera omurimo gwaawe omuriinye, waba n’ompenda, nonyita kandi okanyijura. Ninguma ninyijuka ngu amagara nahabwaawe wenka, omu eiziina rya Yesu, Amiina.
NONGO ANYIMI
Lakwena Grace Lubega
Jon 3:30 (KJV); En myero omedde, ento an myero adok piny.”
Ikwone macon, ma peya onongo en orwate ki Lubanga i yo ma ceto i Damascus. Paul ma lakwena ni onongo yam kilwongo nyinge ni caul. Iyunge lokke ne, en dong nyinge oywek ni Paulo.
Nying ni Paulo ni tere gonye ni “nok onyo tidi”
Paulo onongo tyer ki nying marac ikin Lujudaya. En obedo la paricayo dok wod pa la paracayo (Tic pa lukwena 23:6). Pe obedo ginma yot ni onongo twere me miyo ki en twero me coko Lukricitayo dok tero gin ma pido ikomgi i jerucalem (Tic pa Lukwena 9:1-2).
Ikwo me lokkene, lakwena meno oniang ber pa dok piny dok yee ki Lubanga me medde.
Ikwan wa matin me Lok acoya, Jon Labatica waco pi gin acel-lu ma en ekato ki iye, me Rwot medde dok en dok piny.
Kwo pa jo aryo man pwonyo wan ikom guti me kwo ma piretek: ngatmo pe twero nongo anyim ne i Lubanga labongo niang aloka loka ma keto en woko pa cal me ginmo ni dok keto Lubanga i cal-lu; man dwoko piny ngatma tyer ka ywek i timo ginmo ni wek Lubanga oywek makato; man tero Lubanga i dyere makun nongo dano moni dok i bute.
Alelua!
KWAN MUKENE: Jo Kolocai 1:18, Jo Epeco 3:8
LWOD MADIT: Ngatmo pe twero nongo anyim ne i Lubanga labongo niang aloka loka ma keto en woko pa cal me ginmo ni dok keto Lubanga i cal-lu; man dwoko piny ngatma tyer ka ywek i timo ginmo ni wek Lubanga oywek makato; man tero Lubanga i dyere makun nongo dano moni dok i bute.
LEGA: Wora me amara, Apwoyi pi ada man. Man gum kom mada me ngeyo in dok me In ngeyo an calo megi. In aye dye kwona dok gutti me larre na. An amine bot ginma itye ka timo ne i an, macalo i bano an, ineko an dok iloyo kwona woko. Kare ducu wia po ni kwo tyer ducu pi in, inying Yesu, Amen.
KUPATA HATIMA
Mtume Grace Lubega
Yohana 3:30 (KJV); Yeye hana budi kuzidi, bali mimi kupungua.
Katika maisha yake ya zamani, kabla ya mkutano wake kwenye barabara ya Dameski, mtume Paulo aliitwa Sauli. Baada ya mabadiliko yake, anajulikana sana kama Paulo.
Jina Paulo linatafsiriwa kumaanisha, ‘ndogo au kidogo.’
Paulo alikuwa na sifa katika jamii ya Wayahudi. Alikuwa Mfarisayo na mwana wa Mfarisayo (Matendo 23:6). Halikuwa jambo rahisi kwamba angeweza kupewa mamlaka ya kuwazunguka Wakristo na kuwachukua kwa ajili ya majaribio huko Yerusalemu (Matendo 9:1-2).
Katika uzoefu wake wa mabadiliko, mtume alielewa umuhimu wa kupungua ili kumruhusu Mungu kuzidi.
Katika andiko letu kuu, Yohana Mbatizaji anashiriki katika uzoefu kama huo, wa Bwana kuzidi na yeye kupungua.
Maisha ya watu hawa wawili yanatufundisha somo la msingi: hakuna mtu anayeweza kupata hatima yake katika Mungu bila kuelewa shughuli ambayo inamwondoa kwenye picha na Mungu katika picha; hilo linampunguza mtu katika umaarufu ili Mungu aweze kuwa maarufu zaidi; hiyo inamsukuma Mungu katikati wakati mtu anahamia pembeni.
Haleluya!
MASOMO YA ZIADA: Wakolosai 1:18, Waefeso 3:8
UJUMBE MKUU: Hakuna mtu anayeweza kupata hatima yake katika Mungu bila kuelewa shughuli ambayo inamwondoa kwenye picha na Mungu katika picha; hilo linampunguza mtu katika umaarufu ili Mungu aweze kuwa maarufu zaidi; hiyo inamsukuma Mungu katikati wakati mtu anahamia pembeni.
SALA: Baba Mpenzi, Nakushukuru kwa kweli hii. Ni heshima kuu kukujua na kujulikana kwako. Wewe ni kitovu cha maisha yangu na msingi wa wokovu wangu. Ninajisalimisha kwa kazi Yako ndani yangu, Unaponipinda, kuniua na kuniteketeza. Ninazidi kukumbushwa kwamba maisha yote yanakuhusu Wewe, kwa jina la Yesu, Amina.