“ Chimwemwe cha Yehova ndicho mphamvu yanu.” Nehemiya 8:10

Kulowa m’chaka chinanso cha ulendo wachipembedzo, palibe mwana wachikhulupiriro amene ayenera kukumbutsidwa mawu olosera a Mbuye wathu: . chimene chikudza pa dziko; pakuti mphamvu zakumwamba zidzagwedezeka ” (Lk. 21:25, 26).

Lero ndi tsiku la chipwirikiti cha dziko chimene chingatsogolere ku “ nthaŵi ya masautso, monga siinayambe yakhalapo chiyambire mtundu wa anthu ,” wonenedweratu ndi mneneri Danieli ( 12:1 ). Liridi tsiku la chipwirikiti m’mbali iriyonse ya moyo, kaya ndi makhalidwe, chikhalidwe, ndale, zachuma, zachuma, kapena chipembedzo. Zochitika kulikonse zikutsimikizira kuyandikira kwa ufumu wodabwitsa wapadziko lonse wa Mulungu, umene unalonjezedwa ndi kuuyembekezera kwanthaŵi yaitali ndi kupempherera - “ chokhumba cha amitundu onse ” (Hagai 2:7). “ Ali pafupi, ngakhale pakhomo (Mateyu 24:33). “ Kulira kungakhaleko usiku, koma m’maŵa kukondwa kumabwera ” (Masalimo 30:5).

Umboni umenewu, wosonyeza kuti mapeto a chiyembekezo chachikristu ali pafupi, amazindikiridwa ndi chikhulupiriro chokha. Koma kwa iwo amene -- “ Awona kukongola kwa ukwati pakhomo lotseguka ; ndipo dziwani “ kuti iwo akulowamo ali odalitsidwa kunthawi za nthawi ” -- m’menemo mukhala kukwezedwa kwa mkati mwa mzimu – chisangalalo cha mutu wathu wa mutu. Ichi ndi chisangalalo mosasamala kanthu za mikhalidwe yathu yamakono, kaya ndi kudwala kwakuthupi, kusungulumwa, kusowa chiyanjano, zosamalira za moyo, zosowa zachuma kapena kukula kwa msinkhu. Kodi kuda nkhawa ndi zimenezi kungasokoneze chikhulupiriro m'makonzedwe a Atate wathu? Ayi! M’malo mwake, tiyeni titsanzire chikhulupiriro cha munthu wakale ( Habakuku. 3:17, 18 ) amene, pokhala wopanda zosoŵa zonse zakuthupi, anakondwerabe mwa Mulungu wa chipulumutso chake. Ndi cholemba ichi cholimbikitsa chimwemwe chomwe tingalimbikitsire ife eni ndi owerenga athu onse pamene tikulowa m'chaka chomwe chikubwerachi.

Mbuye wathu anali munthu wachisoni komanso wodziwa chisoni. Komabe mokondwera ndi kuchita chifuniro cha Atate wake, ndi chifukwa cha chimwemwe choikidwa pamaso pake, Iye anapirira mtanda, ananyoza manyazi, natisiyira ife monga cholowa chamakono chimwemwe chake kuti chathu chidzale (Yohane 15:11). “ Umo alemekezedwa Atate wanga, kuti mubale chipatso chambiri ” (Yohane 15:8).

N’zochititsa chidwi kuti Paulo Woyera, potchula zinthu zisanu ndi zinayi zimene zimapanga zipatso zauzimu ( Agalatiya 5:22, 23 ), akuphatikizapo chimwemwe. Ena asanu ndi atatuwo amafunikira kulanga kwa nthawi, koma chimwemwe chidabwera msanga m'maganizo mwathu kuchokera pamene tinalandira chifundo cha Mulungu. Mulungu anatipatsa “ mafuta achisangalalo m’malo mwa maliro . “Chisangalalo chathu mwa Ambuye ” chimalemekeza kwambiri Atate wathu chifukwa cha kumvera moleza mtima pamene tikukumana ndi zokumana nazo zoyesa zimene zimatifikitsa ku uchikulire wauzimu, zimene zimatitheketsa kumvera ndi mtima wonse langizo la mtumwi Paulo lakuti, “ Kondwerani nthaŵi zonse ” ( 1 Atesalonika 5:16 ) ).

     Tiyeni tione magwero ena a chisangalalo, omwe ndi athu, omwe amapereka mphamvu kuti tipirire mu tsiku lathu loipa. Timandandalika zisanu ndi ziŵiri, ndipo lililonse likukulitsidwa Mwamalemba.

      Mulungu - Wopambana, ndi Atate wathu wa Kumwamba Mwiniwake. Kulunjika maganizo athu kwa Iye ndiko kudzazidwa ndi chimwemwe! “Ndili wokondwa kuti Atate wanga amandikonda!” “Tawonani, chikondicho Atate watipatsa, kuti titchedwe ana a Mulungu” (1 Yohane 3:1). “...akondwere onse akukhulupirira Inu; afuule mokondwera nthawi zonse chifukwa Inu muwateteza; iwo akukonda dzina lanu akondwere mwa Inu.” ( Sal. 5:11 ) Anthu okonda dzina lanu asangalale mwa inu. Yehova amasonkhanitsa moyandikira kwambiri mtima Wake ana Ake okhulupirika ndi okhulupirika kwakuti amamva kutentha kwa chikondi Chake ndi chinenero cholabadira cha m’mitima yawo n’chakuti “Ndidzakhala m’chihema Chanu m’chitchinjirizo Chanu kosatha.”

     Yesu -- Kodi kulingalira za Mbuye wathu sikubweretsa chisangalalo m'mitima yathu nthawi yomweyo? Kodi mkwatibwi amasangalala ndi mkwati wake? “Wokondedwa wanga ndi wanga, ndipo ine ndine wake...(iye ndiye) duwa la ku Saroni, ndi duwa la m’zigwa...loposa 10,000...inde, akongola konsekonse” ( Nyimbo ya Solomo. 2:16, 1; “Amene simunamuona, mumkonda…ndi kondwerani ndi chimwemwe chosaneneka ndi cha ulemerero” (1 Petro 1:8). “Zinthu izi ndalankhula ndi inu, kuti chimwemwe changa chikhale mwa inu, ndi kuti chimwemwe chanu chisefukire” (Yohane 15:11). Ndiponso, bwanji ponena za chiyembekezo cha kumuona Iye monga momwe Iye aliri—“nkhope ndi nkhope, mu ulemerero Wake wonse?” - Chiyembekezo choposa malingaliro! Ngakhale tsopano, chimwemwe chathu chisefukire pakuzindikira kukhalapo kwake m’moyo wathu watsiku ndi tsiku – “Khristu akhala mwa ine” (Agalatiya 2:20).

     Choonadi Chaumulungu - Kodi kudziŵa uthenga waumulungu wa choonadi sikubweretsa chisangalalo m'mitima yathu? “Mawu anu anapezeka ndipo ndinawadya; ndipo mawu anu anali kwa ine chisangalalo ndi chisangalalo cha mtima wanga…” (Yeremiya 15:16). “Kuunika kumafesedwa olungama, ndi chisangalalo kwa oongoka mtima” ( Salmo 97:11 ). “Malemba anu ndiwo anali nyimbo yanga m’nyumba yaulendo wanga” ( Salmo 119:54 ). Chisangalalo chathu m’Mawu a Mulungu chikhale gwero lokhazikika lamphamvu lamkati.

     Abale - Nanga bwanji abale athu mwa Ambuye, amene adzakhala mbali ya banja lathu lamuyaya la kumwamba? Kuchokera kwa mlembi wachikristu: “...Amakondana wina ndi mnzake kuchokera ku lingaliro latsopano la chifuno, chifuniro, mogwirizana ndi Mulungu, ndipo ubwenzi wawo wina ndi mnzake ukukula mokulira pamene iwo awonana mphamvu ya wina ndi mnzake pomenya nkhondo yabwino ya chikhulupiriro yolimbana ndi choipa. zisonkhezero za dziko, thupi, ndi mdani. Ngakhale lilime, kapena cholembera sizingathe kulongosola moyenerera chikondicho, ubwenzi umene uli pakati pa Zolengedwa Zatsopano zimenezi mwa Kristu Yesu, amene zinthu zakale zapita, ndipo zonse zakhala zatsopano.”

     Angelo - Kodi tidzanena chiyani za gulu lakumwamba, gulu la angelo osawerengeka ( Ahebri 12:22 ), “zikwi khumi kuchulukitsa ndi zikwi khumi, ndi zikwi zikwi” ( Chivumbulutso 5:11 )? Iwo anafuula mokondwera pamene Yehova anaika maziko a dziko lapansi ( Yobu 38:7 ), ndi kutamanda Mulungu pa kubadwa kwa Yesu ( Luka 2:13 ). Iwo ndi “mizimu yotumikira, yotumidwa kukatumikira iwo amene adzalandira cholowa cha chipulumutso.” ( Ahebri 1:14 ), amene “angelo awo apenya nkhope ya Atate wanga nthaŵi zonse” ( Mateyu 18:10 ). “Kuli chimwemwe pamaso pa angelo a Mulungu chifukwa cha wochimwa mmodzi amene walapa” (Luka 15:10). Chisoni chawo chidzakhala chachikulu paukwati wa Mwanawankhosa! Lolani chipatso ichi cha chisangalalo chichuluke ndi kulimbitsa “manja akulefuka, ndi maondo olefuka” ( Ahebri 12:12 )

     Masautso - Kodi tingapeze chimwemwe chamakono mu icho chimene chingatilimbikitse ife kupirira mpaka chigonjetso chomaliza? Taonani malemba awa: “Odala muli inu m’mene anthu adzada inu…adzakulekanitsani inu…adzatonza inu…..kutayani dzina lanu monga loipa, chifukwa cha Mwana wa munthu. Kondwerani tsiku limenelo, tumphani ndi kukondwera; pakuti onani, mphotho yanu ndi yaikulu Kumwamba (Luka 6:22). Ndipo Yakobo akulemba ( 1:2 ) kuti: “Abale anga achiyese chimwemwe chokha m’mene mukugwa m’mayesero amitundumitundu.” Paulo, amene anakondwera ndi zowawa zake ( Akolose 1:24 ), amatipatsa mau a mtengo wapatali awa a chilimbikitso pa Aroma 5:3-5 : “…tikondwera m’zisautso; podziwa kuti chisautso chichita chipiriro; chipiriro, chochita; chidziwitso, chiyembekezo; ndipo chiyembekezo sichichititsa manyazi; chifukwa chikondi cha Mulungu chatsanulidwa m’mitima mwathu mwa Mzimu Woyera, wopatsidwa kwa ife.” Ndipo 2 Akorinto 4:17 amati “…pakuti chisautso chathu chopepuka cha kanthawi, chitichitira ife kulemera kwakukulu kwakukuru ndi kosatha kwa ulemerero; pamene sitipenyerera zowoneka, koma zosapenyeka...” Uphungu wotero ulidi wodzetsa chimwemwe kwa Mkristu aliyense. Timasindikiza ndi mawu a Paulo: “…tidziwa kuti Mulungu amachitira ubwino wa iwo amene akonda Mulungu, iwo amene aitanidwa monga mwa kutsimikiza kwa mtima wake” ( Aroma 8:28 ). Ichi ndi chidaliro chosangalatsa cha chikhulupiriro!

     Anthu - Timaona anthu osauka - osati tsoka lawo lamakono koma tsogolo lawo, pamene chisangalalo chosatha (Yesaya 35:10) chidzakhala gawo lawo lodalitsika. Kenako tidzagawana ndi Mbuye wathu wokondedwa mu ntchito yachisangalalo ya Zakachikwi ya madalitso ochuluka pozungulira monga Atate wathu wa Kumwamba anakonzeratu. Inde, “ cholengedwa chikuyembekezera mwachidwi kuti ana a Mulungu avumbulutsidwe ” ( Aroma 8:19 )! Mu ufumu umenewu, wokonzedwa kuchokera ku maziko a dziko, gawo laulemerero lopezeka kaamba ka munthu aliyense monga mphatso yamuyaya ya Mulungu kupyolera mwa Kristu, pamene lisiyanitsidwa ndi chisoni chawo chamakono, ngakhale tsopano limadzaza mitima yathu ndi chisangalalo chosefukira ndi kubweretsa misozi yachisangalalo. ku maso athu. Alleluya ndi Alleluya! Kupatula pa zisangalalo zisanu ndi ziwiri izi... pali chisangalalo kupitirira Zakachikwi! Pali zisangalalo zamtsogolo zomwe zikuyembekezera Mpingo pambuyo pa kutha kwa ntchito yakukonzanso padziko lapansi - mibadwo ikubwera yomwe Paulo Woyera akulozera mu Aefeso 2:7. Pano, chophimba kukumvetsetsa kwathu sichinabwezedwebe mmbuyo, ndipo malingaliro ndi ofooka kwambiri kuti alowe mu tsogolo laulemerero. Muli lingaliro lochepa m’Mawu a Mulungu, koma limakhala loona kuti “... tsopano ndizindikira mopereŵera; koma pamenepo ndidzadziwa monga ndidziwika ”

( 1 Akor. 13:12 ). Patsalabe madalitso osaneneka, pakuti kwalembedwa kuti “…tukodi ubwino wanu, umene mwasungira iwo akuopa Inu” (Masalmo 31:9). “ Adzakhuta ndi zonona za m’nyumba mwanu; ndipo mudzawamwetsa mumtsinje wa zokondweretsa zanu ” ( Salmo 36:8 ).

Kanthawi pang'ono, ndi chipiriro, Ambuye, ine ndikanati ndifunse, 'Mpaka liti?' Pakuti ndingathe bwanji ndi chiyembekezo cha ulemerero wotere ndi cha kwathu, Ndi chimwemwe chondilindira, osakhumba kuti nthawiyo ifike? Kodi ndingaletse bwanji chikhumbo, ndi kupondereza kubuula?

Komabe mtendere mtima wanga, ndipo tonthola, lilime langa! Khalani bata bere langa lovutitsidwa! Ola lililonse likadutsa limakonzekeretsa inu mpumulo wosatha. Udziwa bwino, nyengo imene Mulungu wako wakuikira ndiyo yabwino, Nthanda yawala; kuwala kuli kum'mawa.

Ndiye, Ambuye Yesu, mwamsanga onetsani, Ulemerero Wanu ndi kuwala Kwanu, Ndipo tengerani ana olakalakika a Mulungu kwawo ndi kutsiriza, usiku wotopa wa dziko.

Tiyembekeze mopanda mantha chimaliziro chathu...Tidzaona nkhope yake m'chilungamo; tidzakhuta tikadzuka m’chifaniziro chake (Masalimo 17:15). M’masiku ano a ulendo wathu wapadziko lapansi umene watsala, ndipo mmene chikho chathu chachimwemwe chikusefukira, mtima uliwonse udzaimbe ndi chitamando kwa Atate wathu wakumwamba ndi Ambuye wathu Yesu wodalitsika, akulabadira, pansi pa kupsinjika kulikonse, mawu a Paulo pa Afilipi 4:4 : “ Kondwerani mwa Ambuye nthawi zonse; ndinenanso, Kondwerani !

“The Joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10

Entering this, another year of pilgrimage, no child of faith need be reminded of our Master’s predictive words: ....upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and foreboding on what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Lk. 21:25, 26).

Ours is a day of world confusion which might well lead to the “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation,” forecast by the prophet Daniel (12:1). It is truly a day of upheaval in every sphere of life, be it moral, social, political, financial, economic, or religious. Events everywhere increasingly evidence the proximity of God’s wonderful worldwide kingdom, long promised and awaited and prayed for - “the desire of all nations” (Haggai 2:7). “It is near, even at the doors (Matthew 24:33). “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

These evidences, that the culmination of Christian hope is close at hand, are recognized only by faith. But for those who -- “See the marriage splendor within the open door;” and know “that those who enter are blest forevermore” -- there abides that inner exaltation of spirit - that joy of our heading text. This is a joy regardless of our present circumstances, whether they are physical infirmity, loneliness, lack of fellowship, cares of life, financial needs or increasing age. Shall anxieties concerning these mar faith in our Father’s provision? No! Rather, let us emulate the faith of one of old (Habakkuk. 3:17, 18) who, bereft of all physical necessities, did yet rejoice in the God of his salvation. It is this note of strengthening joy that we would urge upon ourselves and all our readers as we enter the coming year.

Our Master was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. Yet with a delight in doing His Father’s will, and for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, despised the shame, and left to us as a present heritage His joy that ours might be full (John 15:11). “Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:8).

It is remarkable that St. Paul, in listing nine elements that comprise spiritual fruitage (Galatians 5:22, 23), includes joy. The other eight require the disciplines of time, but joy was an immediate reaction of mind from our first apprehension of divine benevo- lence. God gave to us “the oil of joy for mourning.” Our “joy in the Lord” increasingly glorifies our Father as in patient obedience we undergo the trying experiences intended to bring us to spiritual maturity, enabling us to heartily comply with the Apostle Paul’s exhortation - “Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

     Let us take inventory of some sources of joy, which are ours, which provide the strength to persevere in our evil day. We list seven, each being Scripturally amplified.

      God - Foremost, is our Heavenly Father Himself. To direct our thoughts to Him is to become filled with joy! “I am so glad that My Father loves me!” “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). “...let all those that put their trust in you rejoice; let them ever shout for joy because you defend them; let them also that love your name be joyful in you” (Psa. 5:11). So close to His heart does Jehovah gather His loyal and faithful children that they feel the warmth of His love and the responsive language of their hearts is “I will abide in Your tabernacle under Your protection forever.”

     Jesus -- Does not contemplation of our Master bring instant joy to our hearts? Does a bride rejoice in her bridegroom? “My beloved is mine, and I am his...(he is) the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys...the chiefest among ten thousand...yea, he is altogether lovely” (Song of Sol. 2:16, 1; 5:10, 16). “Whom not having seen, you love...and rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11). In addition, what of the prospect of seeing Him as He is - “Face to face, in all His glory?” - A prospect exceeding imagination! Even now, may our joy abound in the realization of His presence in our daily lives - “Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

     Divine Truth - Does not the knowledge of the Divine message of truth bring joy to our hearts? “Your words were found and I did eat them; and your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart...” (Jeremiah 15:16). “Light is sown for the righteous, and (the resulting) gladness for the upright in heart” (Psalm 97:11). “Your statutes have been my song in the house of my pilgrimage” (Psalm 119:54). May our joy in God’s Word be a constant source of inner strength.

     Brethren - What of our brethren in the Lord, who will be part of our eternal family in heaven? From a Christian writer: “...They love each other from the new standpoint of intention, will, harmony with God, and their friendship for one another grows increasingly as they perceive each other’s energy in fighting the good fight of faith against the evil influences of the world, flesh, and Adversary. Nor tongue, nor pen can properly express the love, the friendship, which subsists between these New Creatures in Christ Jesus, to whom old things have passed away, and all things have become new.”

     Angels - What shall we say as regards the heavenly host, the innumerable company of angels (Hebrews 12:22), the “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Revelation 5:11)? They shouted for joy when the Lord laid earth’s foundations (Job 38:7), and praised God at Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:13). They are “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14), whose “angels do always behold the face of my Father” (Matthew 18:10). “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents” (Luke 15:10). Great will be their paean at the marriage of the Lamb! Let this fruit of joy abound and strengthen “the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Hebrews 12:12).

     Tribulations - Can we find present joy in that which will strengthen us to endure unto final victory? Consider these scriptures: “Blessed are you when men shall hate you...separate you from their company...reproach you...cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold your reward is great in heaven (Luke 6:22). And James writes (1:2): “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” Paul, who rejoiced in his own sufferings (Colossians 1:24), gives us these precious words of encouragement in Romans 5:3-5: “...we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation works patience; patience, experience; experience, hope; and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.” And 2 Corinthians 4:17 states “...for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things seen, but at the things unseen...” Such counsel is truly cause for joy to every Christian. We seal it with Paul’s words: “...we know that God works all things together for the good of them that love God, to those called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). This is the joyful confidence of faith!

     Humankind - We consider poor humanity - not their present woeful lot but their coming future, when joy unending (Isaiah 35:10) will be their blessed portion. Then will we share with our beloved Master in the joyful Millennial work of lavishing blessing all around as our Heavenly Father has before determined. Yes, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed” (Romans 8:19)! In this kingdom, prepared from the foundation of the world, the glorious portion available for every human being as an eternal gift of God through Christ, when contrasted with their present misery, does even now fill our hearts with overflowing joy and bring tears of gladness to our eyes. Alleluia and Alleluia! Aside from these seven joys...there are the joys beyond the Millennium! There remains the future joys awaiting the Church after the work of earthly restitution is completed - the ages to come to which St. Paul refers in Ephesians 2:7. Here, the veil to our understanding has not yet been drawn back, and imagination is too feeble to penetrate the glorious future. There is a dim perception in God’s Word, but it remains true that “...now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known”

(1 Cor. 13:12). There yet remain blessings untold, for it is written “...how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for them that fear you” (Psa. 31:9). “They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of your house; and You shall make them drink of the river of thy pleasures” (Psalm 36:8).

A little while, with patience, Lord, I fain would ask, ‘How long?’
For how can I with such a hope of glory and of home,
With such a joy awaiting me, not wish the hour were come?
How can I keep the longing back, and how suppress the groan?”

Yet peace my heart, and hush, my tongue! Be calm my troubled breast!
Each passing hour prepares thee more for everlasting rest.
Thou knowest well, the time thy God appoints for thee is best,
The morning star already shines; the glow is in the east.

Then Oh, Lord Jesus, quickly show, Thy glory and Thy light,
And take God’s longing children home and end, earth’s weary night.

     Let us fearlessly await our consummation...We shall behold His face in righteousness; we shall be satisfied when we awake in His likeness (Psalm 17:15). In these days of our earthly pilgrimage which remain, and in which our cup of joy runs over, may each heart sing with praise to our Heavenly Father and our blessed Lord Jesus, heeding, under every stress, Paul’s words in Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always: Again I say, Rejoice!”

W. J. Siekman
© CDMI