“Iridda cidhiidhsan ka gala, waayo, iriddu waa weyn tahay, jidkuna waa ballaadhan yahay kan xagga baabbi’idda u kaca, oo kuwa ka galaa waa badan yihiin. Waayo, iriddu waa cidhiidhsan tahay, jidkuna waa yar yahay kan xagga nolosha u kaca, kuwa helaana waa yar yihiin.” – Matayos 7:13-14
Many people are searching for the way to freedom and prosperity. They want to live in peace and have enough food to feed their families. They want to enjoy good health and health care. But what do we say to the hungry, the sick, the dying, the oppressed and those living in war torn countries with no way out?
We tell them:
“Iridda cidhiidhsan ka gala, waayo, iriddu waa weyn tahay, jidkuna waa ballaadhan yahay kan xagga baabbi’idda u kaca, oo kuwa ka galaa waa badan yihiin. Waayo, iriddu waa cidhiidhsan tahay, jidkuna waa yar yahay kan xagga nolosha u kaca, kuwa helaana waa yar yihiin.” – Matayos 7:13-14
“Markaasaa Ciise wuxuu Toomas ku yidhi, Anigu waxaan ahay jidka iyo runta iyo nolosha. Ninna Aabbaha uma yimaado, xaggayguu ku yimaado maahee.” – Yooxanaa 14:6
If you have Jesus Christ in your heart you have life – in fact you have eternal life.
“Ciise ayaa ku yidhi, Anigu waxaan ahay sarakicidda iyo nolosha. Kii i rumaystaa, in kastoo uu dhinto, wuu noolaan doonaa.” – John 11:25
This is a message of hope.
Jesus gives peace in the midst of suffering. Jesus gives joy in the face of sadness. Jesus is the path of peace and joy even if our lives are surrounding by pain and suffering.
Don’t listen to evil people
Many people talk about themselves and say that they are really nice and good people. Most people want to talk good about themselves to others. Many people say that they are following God and doing God’s will for their lives.
Here is what Jesus said:
“Iska jira nebiyada beenta ah, kuwa idiinku imanaya iyagoo qaba dharka idaad, laakiin hoosta ka ah yeey wax boobaysa. Midhahooda ayaad ku garan doontaan. Canab ma laga guraa geed qodxan leh? Berdena ma laga guraa yamaarugga? Sidaasaa geed kasta oo wanaagsanu midho wanaagsan u dhalaa, geedkii xumina midho xun u dhalaa. Geed wanaagsanu midho xun ma dhali karo, geed xumina midho wanaagsan ma dhali karo. Geed kasta oo aan midho wanaagsan dhalin waa la jaraa oo dabka lagu tuuraa. Sidaa darteed waxaad iyaga ku garanaysaan midhahooda.” – Matayos 7:15-20
If people say that they are good and following God then you will see the good works that they are doing in the name of God. If a person says they are good and following God but their lives are filled with violence and evil works then we know that these people of not from God because God is love and those who follow God live lives that are filled with love.
“Gacaliyayaalow, aynu isjeclaanno; waayo, Ilaah baa leh jacaylka; oo mid walba oo jecel, wuxuu ka dhashay Ilaah, Ilaah buuna yaqaan. Oo ka aan jeclaynina Ilaah ma yaqaan; waayo, Ilaah waa jacayl.” – 1 Yooxanaa 4:7-8
We cannot fool God
Many people might say to us that they believe in God and follow His ways. And sometimes we believe these people but really they do not follow God. They are liars. Their lives are filled with selfishness, greed and violence. And they fool us. We think they are good people but God knows their hearts.
God knows are hearts and He sees everything that everyone does. We cannot fool God or hide from Him. He sees everything that everyone on the earth does.
And after we die we will stand before God and His throne and he will judge us according to what we have done here on earth. And many people who thought they were going to go to heaven will not go to heaven. They were evil people who hated others and did not worship God or follow His ways.
“Ma aha qof kasta oo igu yidhaahda, Rabbow, Rabbow, kuwa boqortooyadii jannada gelayaa, laakiin kii sameeya doonista Aabbahayga jannada ku jira, kaasaa gelaya. Maalintaas qaar badan baa igu odhan doona, Rabbow, Rabbow, miyaannan magacaaga wax ku sii sheegin, oo miyaannan magacaaga jinniyo ku saarin, oo miyaannan magacaaga wax badan oo xoog leh ku samayn? Markaasaan ku odhan doonaa, Weligay idinma aqoon, iga taga, dembifalayaalow. Haddaba qof kasta oo ereyadaydan maqla oo yeela, waxaa loo ekaysiinayaa nin caqli leh oo gurigiisa ka dul dhisay dhagaxa. Roobkii ayaa da’ay, daadkiina waa yimid, dabayshiina waa dhacday, wayna ku dhaceen gurigaas, ma uuna dumin, waayo, waxaa laga dul dhisay dhagaxa. Qof kasta oo ereyadaydan maqla oo aan yeelin, waxaa loo ekaysiinayaa nin doqon ah oo gurigiisa carrada ka dul dhisay. Roobkii waa da’ay, daadkiina waa yimid, dabayshiina waa dhacday, wayna ku dhaceen gurigaas, wuuna dumay, dumiddiisuna waa weynayd. – Matayos 7:21-27
God knows your heart
Many Christians are tortured for their faith in different countries and by different government or religious groups. This is nothing new to Christians in many parts of the world. In some parts of the world Christians do not experience very much persecution.
In the 1980’s there was a woman who lived in Ethiopia and she was arrested by the Communist government for her faith in Jesus Christ. She was tortured for her faith in Jesus Christ but she did not stop believing in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
This woman was tortured badly for her faith in Jesus Christ. Her tortures hung her from a tree and whipped and beat her; they cut her feet; and they made her life very difficult and gave her a lot of pain.
But this woman was not angry with her torturers. She felt sorry for them. She wanted them to be freed from their anger and violence. This woman felt Jesus Christ with her in the prison where she was in jail for her faith. She was not alone. We are never alone if we believe in Jesus Christ.
Prayer
“Lord Jesus Christ. We ask you Oh Lord to guide us and to help us live our lives here on this earth in a way that will show that we believe in you. We do not want to lie to others and pretend to be someone that we are not. We want to follow you in our words and in our actions.
We pray for those who are violent and causing harm to other people. We pray Lord God that you would reveal yourself to them that they would love you and love other people.
We ask these things in Jesus name.”