Gospel News — Jan-Apr 2013

30

will suddenly come. What do you think will happen to those found not doing his will? Be awake, that he may find you doing his work, since he will come at any time, any day (Mark 13:32-37).

"For by grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned" (Romans 12:3). Can a drunken man judge rightly? Absolutely not. When one is drunk, a person can do anything he/she thinks to be right even though it is evil.

Just as beer is not good for human health, so is evildoing. We know that doing evil is bad but we continue sinning deliberately. Are we different from a drunkard? Surely not, my brethren and sisters; let us stay awake and be sober-minded. If we want to be drunk – why not drink up spiritual drink, feeding on spiritual food, the word of God.

But you are not in darkness, brothers and sisters, for that day to surprise you as a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day; we are not of the night or of the darkness. So let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love: for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as you are doing. Amen.

Your Duty to Love (Psalm 133:1)

Bro David Yelulani (Banket, Zimbabwe)

Throughout the ages, the world has experienced the disastrous consequences of disunity. The church, instead of being one in the spirit as Jesus prayed, is divided and precious time is wasted as the various denominations and groups argue over comparatively minor issues instead of uniting in the strife against misunderstanding. War, civil unrest and acts of aggression and terrorism are shaking civilisation to its foundation, and these dreadful acts seem to be increasing rather than decreasing.

A variety of reasons are put forward concerning the causes of these divisions and the unrest, but the root cause must surely be the complete disregard by man of our Lord's command to "Love one another, as I have loved you." It seems to be beyond all doubt that obedience to that command would solve all the problems confronting mankind and the world in these critical times.

The starting point is not at international level but with you. The ordinary Christian is called to love, to be compassionate, understanding and tolerant, to forget pride and prejudice and to be sympathetic to the views of others. The smallest pebble dropped in a pond will send ripples throughout that pond. Your act of Christian love could be the beginning of a ripple effect across the length and breadth of the country. Why not put this into effect? After all, it is your duty.

Life and Death

Bro Fred Mumba (Mufulira, Zambia)

Many people think that the Bible says that God has already chosen those who are going to be saved. Whether you are doing right things or bad things, if you are already chosen, then you will be saved. But is this right?