Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
DAILY ENCOUNTER
GOSPEL OF MATHEW
MATHEW 15
"Faith and Tradition"
The traditional belief verses the rational faith characterised Jesus Ministry in his intellectual interactions with the Pharisees and Scribes.
In chapter 15, the question is why His disciples should eat before washing their hands.
The Jews emphasy on the physical cleanness was translated and seen as righteousness. They emphasized more on the outward lip, physical and traditional worship over inward spiritual conviction of the Spirit.
This is also an emphasy that with time we have seen in our current context. Christianity is taken as a status outward profession without inward spiritual renewal. People have tended to justify their faith by traditional Christian practices absent a deep spiritual Meaning.
Christ here in chapter 15 challenges us to develop a spiritual rational centred faith that will transform our social, spiritual, and economic lifestyle.
May our faith give birth to traditional Christian practices that are spiritual and meaningful.
Shalom.
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YOUR DAILY ENCOUNTER
Saturday 14.9.2024
Matthew: 14:25-36
FOCUS ON GOD
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Peter like most of us started with great intentions to reach where Jesus intended for Hin. To go to Him and walk on water, defying gravity and all odds at the time. Yet, He lost focus and looked at the troubled sea, the strong wind and He became afraid. He doubted, He remembered the challenges before him, he remembered his mortality and the many failures he had. He doubted and started sinking to the level of his problems.
Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter. What a great assurance that God is with us even in our lowest of moments and ready to reach out to us and bring salvation.
Amen🙏🏾
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Your Daily Encounter
27th August 2024 - Tuesday
Matthew 12: 9-14
A Man With A Paralysed Hand
Some of the Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus of doing wrong, so they tried to trap him by asking if it was against the law to heal on the Sabbath The teaching of the Pharisees was that only if someone’s life was in danger was it permitted to give medical assistance on the Sabbath.
Jesus taught that the right thing to do is to help someone in need, that human need is more important than the law. He uses the example of a sheep falling into a pit. He says that a Pharisee would save the sheep and points out that human life is superior to a sheep.
There is no mention of faith in this miracle.
The Pharisees failed to trick Jesus so they began to make plans to kill him.
At the time of Jesus, Jews were very strict in following the Law of Moses. The Pharisees placed law above human need but through Jesus healing this man he showed the importance of Faith in action rather than Sticking to the laws without doing a good deed.
Shalom.
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Your Daily Encounter
26th August 2024 - Monday
Matthew 12:1-7
The Question About The Sabbath
The Pharisees had established 39 categories of actions forbidden on the Sabbath,based on interpretations of God's laws and on Jewish custom. By picking Wheatland and rubbing it on their hands,the disciples were technically harvesting, according to the Pharisees. Jesus and the disciples were picking grain because they were Hungry not because they wanted to harvest the grain for a profit..
They were not working on the Sabbath. The Pharisees, however could not (and did not want to ) see beyond their laws technicalities. They had no room for compassion and they were determined to accuse Jesus of wrong doing.
The Pharisees were so concerned about religious rituals that they missed the whole purpose of the temple . God is more important than the created instruments of worship.
Our heart attitude towards God comes first only then can we properly obey and observe religious regulations and rituals.
The creator is always greater than his creation, thus, Jesus had the authority to overrule their traditions and regulations.
Shalom.
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DAILY ENCOUNTER
MATHEW 2:1-12
18th JUNE 2024
"THE MAGI'S DECLARATION"
The image of the wise men is painted well by the evangelist Mathew with very deep insights pointing to the Divinity of Christ.
We see the three wise men paying baby Jesus homage and offering him gifts. We see three persons wearing crowns. The evangelist Matthew does not tell us that they were three men or three kings but only emphasis on the compromise that King Herod wished on them.
The term Magi is a plural form of magoi in Greek language, which means Zoroastrian priests.1 They earned the title wise men because of their skills in interpreting dreams and understanding astrology. They were well known for telling fortunes and preparing daily horoscopes. They were scholars of their day and enjoyed access to the Kings of their time. These are the kind of people that were used to unvail to us the birth of Jesus.
The Magi’s declaration of Jesus as a divine person and a King is the earliest revelation we see in Scriptures immediately after His birth. The story teaches us that Jesus is our King and we should put him first in our life. The Magi could collude with King Herod, but for them, Jesus Christ is greater and more powerful than Herod. They endured a long journey from Persia to Bethlehem to meet Jesus, the King. They risked their lives for the sake of Jesus. They rejoiced when they met him. Matthew tells us that they paid Jesus' homage, not Herod. Are we willing to put Jesus first in our lives? This is a personal question that requires a thoughtful response.
Shalom
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Your Daily encounter
21st May 2024
Mark 14:1-9
Topic : Just as I am .
In this book of mark chapter 14:1-9 ( read together with Luke 7:37) a woman anoints Jesus' feet Guess who this woman is? A sinful woman. Suffice it to say, a most sinful woman. So sinful (in the eyes of the Pharisee) was this woman that they said that if Jesus were a prophet He would have known who was touching her.
But Jesus let the woman anoint his feet .
I appreciate the courage of this woman. Many of us, bearing in mind our sins hesitate going to Christ. But this woman walked out of the dark shadow of sin and went to Jesus. There comes a moment when we have to come clean with God. A moment when you unveil your past, your struggles and sins. Come to Chris just as you are. Don't wait to be 💯 to come to Christ. This woman came out of the public shame , breaking the alabaster jar, she broke away with the past and she found acceptance in Christ Jesus. In waiting to be perfect so that we can come to God we are trying to save ourselves and in so doing forfeit the salvation that comes through Christ alone.
Jesus awaits you, just as you are.
Shalom....
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YOUR DAILY ENCOUNTER
25.04.2024
COMPASSIONATE JESUS I
MARK 6:30-32
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
In these verses, we have,
I. The return to Christ of the apostles whom he had sent forth (v. 7), to preach, and work miracles. Ministers are accountable both for what they do, and for what they teach; and must both watch over their own souls, and watch for the souls of others, as those that must give account, Heb. 13:17. Let us also learn from the apostles, to be accountable to those we are working under either in church or elsewhere.
II. The tender care Christ took for their rest, after the fatigue they had (v. 31); He said unto them, perceiving them to be almost exhausted, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Christ is concerned about your wellbeing of your body ,soul and mind. He knows you cannot deliver unless the three are in balance.
He is inviting me and you to “come all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest”. Cast all your burdens to him today
#ackstjamescathedralkbu
#yourdailyencounter
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YOUR DAILY ENCOUNTER
24.04.2024
Strand : FUTILE REQUESTS
MARK 6:23-27
23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.
27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,
Brethren, any oath of unrighteousness is not binding in any way. In fact, such oath is to be repented, not fulfilled. Herod from this narrative used this oath to get rid of John the Baptist. But of what benefit was John’s head, to this young girl who consults her mother on the kind of gift to ask from the king.
Lost opportunities are never recovered; Imagine being given a blank cheque, then you just draw peanuts, say Ksh. 100. Once you write this, you cannot undo it.
When you come before the Lord in prayer, make it meaningful. Let it count, by not making futile requests!
#ackstjamescathedralkbu
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YOUR DAILY ENCOUNTER
23.04.2024
Title : GO!
MARK 6:6-13
6 Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.
7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.
9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.
10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.
13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Brethren we are called to go out there and preach the gospel.
Do you take this personally or you believe others are supposed to do it?
But I belief all of us want to be filled with power to drive out demons amongst other miracles. The reason the power has not been availed is simply because you are not where this power will be manifest. And that is in the field of ministry, as you visit the sick and pray with them, the healing will be manifest; among other things you should be doing.
Have an empowered week!
#ackstjamescathedralkbu
#yourdailyencounter
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YOUR DAILY ENCOUNTER
22.04.2024
MARK 6: 1-6
Topic : Jesus Rejected by His Own
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.
2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?
3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”
5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.
In a social system where status was understood as fixed (i.e., your status at birth defined who you would always be) and honor/shame considerations were important, did they simply regard it as impossible for Jesus to amount to anything? The people of Nazareth indicate this negative perception when they identify Jesus as a “carpenter” (i.e., a low-status manual laborer) and as the “son of Mary” (i.e., hinting at a questionable fatherhood).
The identity of Jesus is a consistent issue in Mark. In the gospel, we hear the opinions of rulers, religious authorities, crowds, disciples, and family members. For the author of Mark, the important question keeps coming around to “who do you — the reader — say that Jesus is?” And if you do honor Jesus as a prophet (or more than a prophet), who does that make you? Does it mean new allegiances that supersede traditional country and family values? As you answer those questions, Mark is leading you into a confession of faith.
Because people think they know who Jesus is, they end up asking disdainfully, “Who does he think he is?” The people at Jesus home town miss a big opportunity of the manifestation of God’s power as recorded in V5.
My prayer is that you don’t miss the blessings set up for you this week, month and year because of your unbelieve. Embrace Jesus and he will make your life complete.
#ackstjamescathedralkbu
#yourdailyencounter
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