Tafadhali usiudhike na swali hili! Chukua dakika chache kufikiria baadhi ya mambo yafuatayo na, kwa unyoofu, jaribu Ukristo wako.
Please do not be offended by this question! Take a few minutes to consider some of the following points and, in honest sincerity, put your Christianity to the test.
Wakristo wa kweli ni wale ambao wamemkubali Yesu Kristo kama Mwokozi wao binafsi. Wametambua kwamba wao ni watenda-dhambi, wametubu dhambi zao na wamemwomba Yesu aje maishani mwao akiwa Bwana Mwenye Enzi Kuu. Je, umefanya hivi?
Real Christians are those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. They have recognized that they are sinners, have repented of their sins and have asked Jesus to come into their lives as Sovereign Lord. Have you done this?
Wakristo wa kweli si wale wanaomjua tu Yesu Kristo. Hata makafiri wanajua kitu juu Yake. Ni muhimu tumjue Yeye kwa njia ya ndani. Tunafanya hivyo baada ya kuongoka kwetu, kwa kujifunza na kutafakari juu ya maisha yake na mafundisho yake, kwa kutumia muda katika maombi, na kwa kutembea katika nyayo zake. Hii inachukua muda na kujitolea kila siku. Je, hayo ni mambo katika maisha yako?
Real Christians are not those who merely know about Jesus Christ. Even heathens know something about Him. It is essential that we know Him in an intimate way. We do this after our conversion, by studying and meditating on His life and His teachings, by spending time in prayer, and by walking in His footsteps. This takes time and a daily commitment. Are those things in your life?
Wakristo wa kweli ni wale ambao wamekuwa wanafunzi wa Yesu Kristo. Yesu alisema katika Marko 8:34 “Mtu ye yote akitaka kunifuata, na ajikane mwenyewe, ajitwike msalaba wake, anifuate. “Ina maana gani kujikana wenyewe? Inamaanisha kuacha haki zetu binafsi, matamanio na matamanio yetu huku tukitafuta kufanya mapenzi ya Mungu peke yake. Inamaanisha nini kubeba msalaba wetu? Inamaanisha kwamba tuko tayari kukabili jaribu lolote, mnyanyaso, na kuteseka kwa ajili ya Kristo. Inamaanisha nini kumfuata Yesu? Inamaanisha kuchochewa na tamaa kwa Baba yetu wa Mbinguni kama ilivyokuwa kwa Yesu aliyesema, “Kufanya mapenzi yako, Ee Mungu wangu, ndiyo furaha yangu!” Je, unafurahia mapenzi ya Mungu kwako?
Real Christians are those who have become disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Mark 8:34 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. “ What does it mean to deny ourselves? It means to give up our personal rights, desires and ambitions while seeking to do God’s will alone. What does it mean to take up our cross? It means that we are willing to undergo any trial, persecution, and suffering for Christ. What does it mean to follow Jesus? It means being motivated by the desire to our Heavenly Father as it was for Jesus who said, “I delight to do your will, O, my God!” Do you delight in God’s will for you?
Wakristo wa kweli wamepitia mabadiliko ya asili. Wamezaliwa mara ya pili na sasa ni viumbe vipya katika Kristo Yesu. “Hata imekuwa, mtu akiwa ndani ya Kristo amekuwa kiumbe kipya; ya kale yamepita tazama yamekuwa mapya” (2 Wakorintho 5:17). Wamepokea Roho Mtakatifu, wakiongozwa na kusukumwa na Mungu. Wameacha njia zao za zamani na sasa wanatembea katika upya wa maisha. “Basi, zifisheni zote za asili yenu ya kidunia: uasherati, uchafu, tamaa mbaya, tamaa mbaya na kutamani, ambayo ndiyo ibada ya sanamu. Kwa sababu ya haya, ghadhabu ya Mungu inakuja. Ulikuwa unatembea katika njia hizi, katika maisha uliyoishi hapo awali. Lakini sasa mnapaswa kuachana na mambo yote kama haya: hasira, ghadhabu, uovu, matukano na lugha chafu kutoka kwa midomo yenu. Msiambiane uongo, kwa kuwa mmevua utu wa kale pamoja na matendo yake, mkavaa utu mpya, unaofanywa upya upate ufahamu kwa mfano wa Muumba wake. Hapa hakuna Myunani wala Myahudi, kutahiriwa au kutotahiriwa, mgeni wala Msikithi, mtumwa au mtu huru, bali Kristo ni yote, na yu ndani ya yote. Kwa hiyo, kwa kuwa mmekuwa wateule wa Mungu, watakatifu na wapendwao, jivikeni moyo wa rehema, wema, unyenyekevu, upole na uvumilivu. Vumilieni nyinyi kwa nyinyi na sameheaneni kila jambo mtakalokuwa nalo dhidi ya nyinyi kwa nyinyi. Sameheni kama Bwana alivyowasamehe ninyi. Na juu ya wema wote hao jivikeni upendo, ambao huwaunganisha wote katika umoja mkamilifu” (Wakolosai 3:5-14). Je, haya ni baadhi ya mambo uliyofanya na unaendelea kufanya?
Real Christians have undergone a change of nature. They have been born again and are now new creatures in Christ Jesus. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). They have received the Holy Spirit, being directed and influenced by God. They have put away their former ways and now walk in newness of life. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:5-14). Are these some of the things you have done and are continuing to do?
Wakristo wa kweli watatumia muda mwingi katika maombi. Yesu alitumia saa nyingi kumwomba Baba yake aliye mbinguni. Wakati fulani aliomba usiku kucha. Hivi ndivyo Yesu alivyojifunza mapenzi ya Mungu kwake. Maombi yalikuwa chanzo cha uhakikisho na nguvu kwa Yesu. Iliburudisha roho Yake na kumtia moyo kila siku kukabiliana na adui. Maombi ni pumzi muhimu ya Mkristo. Daudi alisali kwa unyoofu na unyoofu katika Zaburi 139:23, 24 : “Ee Mungu, unichunguze, uujue moyo wangu, unijaribu, uyajue mawazo yangu ; njia ya milele.” Je, unatumia muda pamoja na Bwana katika maombi?
Real Christians will spend much time in prayer. Jesus spent many hours praying to His Father in heaven. At times He would pray all night. This was how Jesus learned what God’s will was for Him. Prayer was a source of reassurance and power to Jesus. It refreshed His spirit and encouraged Him daily to face the enemy. Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath. David prayed with honesty and earnestness in Psalm 139:23, 24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Are you spending time with the Lord in prayer?
Wakristo wa kweli watatafuta fursa za kuwafanyia wengine mema. “Tena tusichoke katika kutenda mema; maana tutavuna kwa wakati wake, tusipozimia roho. Kwa hiyo kadiri tupatavyo nafasi na tuwatendee watu wote mema, na hasa jamaa ya waaminio” (Wagalatia 6:9, 10). Yesu alikuwa na huruma nyingi kwa wagonjwa na wenye kuteseka. Aliponya watu wengi. “Alikwenda huku na huko akitenda mema” katika kila fursa. Je, unafanya mema Mungu anapokupa fursa?
Real Christians will seek opportunities to do good for others. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9, 10). Jesus had great compassion for the sick and afflicted. He healed many people. “He went about doing good” at every opportunity. Are you doing good when God presents you with the opportunity?
Tunakutia moyo ufikirie kwa uzito maswali haya na kukualika uombe kijitabu “Jambo Hili Moja Ninalofanya.” Tuma ombi lako kwa anwani ifuatayo - tutafurahi kusikia kutoka kwako.
We encourage you to give serious thought to these questions and invite you to request the booklet “This One thing I Do.” Send your request to the following address – we would be glad to hear from you.
32 Chapel Lane, Somersworth, NH 03878
Kusoma Biblia - Mwongozo
Studying The Bible - A Guide