Some people told Jesus how Pilate murdered some people and offered as sacrifices in the temple and Jesus asked them; do you think they were greater sinners than all the rest? Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
This is the message the church needs to hear today. We hear about God's judgement on others, we hear people die through accidents, earthquakes, through fires and other ways and we concerned on the outside but inside we think we are better than them. What a pity. Unless we repent, we will also perish. God will judge us. He has given us time to repent of our wickedness and sins which are hidden carefully from the eyes of others but God sees them. Repent before God's judgement reaches you.
Ecc 8:11 says Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.
The little time we are given is for us to repent not to continue indulging in sin.
A man had a fig tree which for three years he came looking for fruit but found none. He told the keeper to cut it down but the keeper asked him to give the tree another chance to put manure around it and fertilizer and if it still does not bear fruit after one year, he will have to cut it down. We had read earlier in chapter 3 that we must bear fruit that prove our repentance. Yes you claim to have repented, but what in your life proves so? Have you straightened up the crooked things in your life? Have you smoothened the rough places in your life starting with the way you use your tonger and especially when under provocation? Have humbled yourself where you were proud? Have you apologized to those you have hurt, have you returned things that are not yours?
We see that the tree had been given three years and only one year was added making it four after which it had to be cut down. To everyone God has given specific time through which they are supposed to have born fruits of repentance. God will not always wait for you. Once that time elapses, God's judgement will fall on you. God's judgement may come in form of death, or God touching what you love, or exposing you, or sicknesses, financial struggles or through many other forms. Even in the judgements, God is still calling back in repentance but it's unfortunate that the devil blinds our eyes to think there are some other reasons why those things happen because we don't judge ourselves. We have developed a very bad habit of blaming others for our misfortunes. Why don't you consider them as Gods judgement.
If you want to destroy yourself, learn to blame others and justify yourself but if you want to make progress in your christian life, learn to judge yourself rightly and stop pointing your fingers on others.
Jesus on Sabbath healed a woman who had suffered for 18 years and the synagogue official was extremely angry and said to the crowd they should come to be healed on Sabbath. Jesus exposed his hypocrisy saying that he Also untied his oxen to drink water on Sabbath. We see how religiosity and legalism blinds people. Instead of of praising God that good deed was done, he looked trying to find what was wrong with a microscope and found that it was on Sabbath. He never saw His own sin.
Do you try to find something wrong in the good that others do? Do you judge others instead of judging yourself? You are a disciple of the Pharisees. Resign from that and learn to look for something good to appreciate in others instead of trying to find something wrong and condemn others. Learn to judge yourself and see what is wrong with you to see areas in your life you need to improve, where you need to change, what you need to stop so that you can become a better person every moment.
You are blessed to be a blessing
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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
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