البشارة كما دوّنها متى 1

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Giving is a powerful act that reflects the heart of God and His desire for us to live generously. Throughout the Bible, we find numerous teachings that emphasize the importance and impact of giving. Whether it’s through offering our time, resources, or love, the act of giving not only blesses others but also enriches our own lives. Here are seven Bible verses that highlight the power of giving and encourage us to embrace a life of generosity.

1. Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

When we give to others, especially those in need, we are not only helping them but also experiencing the joy and fulfillment that comes from generosity. It reminds us that true happiness is found in selflessness.

2. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

The emphasis on giving cheerfully reminds us that our attitude matters. God values a heart that gives freely and joyfully, knowing that our contributions can lead to abundant blessings.

3. Proverbs 11:25 “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

Generosity is not just about meeting the needs of others; it also brings personal renewal and prosperity. When we give, we often receive in return, not necessarily in material wealth, but in spiritual and emotional well-being. The act of giving refreshes both the giver and the recipient.

4. Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Jesus emphasizes the abundance that comes from giving. The imagery of a generous measure being returned to us illustrates that our giving will not go unnoticed or unrewarded. When we give with an open heart, we can expect God’s blessings to overflow in our lives.

5. Matthew 6:3-4 “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

We should give quietly and humbly, without seeking recognition or praise. The focus is on the sincerity and purity of our giving. God sees our acts of kindness, even when they are done in secret, and He will reward us accordingly. It reminds us that true giving is done for the benefit of others, not for personal glory.

6. Hebrews 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Sharing what we have with others is a sacrifice that pleases God. This verse highlights the importance of being mindful of others’ needs and taking action to meet them. It serves as a reminder that our acts of generosity are not just good deeds; they are expressions of our faith and love for God.

7. James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

All we have comes from God. Recognizing that every gift we receive is from Him encourages us to be generous in sharing those gifts with others. When we give, we are participating in God’s work, distributing His blessings to those around us.

Conclusion

The Bible teaches that giving is a powerful way to express our faith, love, and gratitude. These verses reveal that generosity not only impacts those we help but also enriches our own lives, bringing us closer to God and His purposes. Whether through our resources, time, or compassion, giving allows us to reflect God’s love in a tangible way, creating a ripple effect of blessings that extend far beyond what we can see. By embracing a spirit of generosity, we open ourselves up to experience the fullness of life that God desires for us.

Addictions come in many shapes and forms, whether it’s lust, alcohol, substances, gambling, gaming, or even excessive use of your mobile phone and social media. There is professional help to get as well as counselling from your priest or pastor.

Also, read the Bible and lay your addiction before God in prayer. Here are some passages from the Word of God to reflect upon.

James 1:14-15 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

We all have weaknesses within us that can make us fall and lead to an addiction. Acknowledging this, and admitting that you struggle with addiction is an important step to be free from it.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Addictions don’t come from God, but from the world and our desires, lusts and pride. We can rely on God wanting us to be free from any addiction.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

You may feel that you can’t break your addiction. But the Bible tells us that God can. God will provide the way of escape. Turn to God, turn from your addiction. Let God fill you with his presence.

1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Addiction is many times when something takes control over you. Those things that are not helpful in your life and dominate your thoughts and desires you may need to cut out of your life.

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Addictions come from this world and not from God. In the end, addictions replace God as the number one in our lives. It’s not just about addictions, but also about our souls.

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Lay your struggles before God. Ask for God’s protection and deliverance.

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

This is the promise of Jesus Christ, that when he sets us free, it is real freedom.

This article is not intended as a replacement for medical or therapeutic help or treatment for addiction, but a complement and inspiration to those who battle addiction.

نسب يسوع

(لوقا 3‏:23‏-38)

1 هذا نسَبُ يسوعَ المسيحِ اَبنِ داودَ اَبنِ إبراهيمَ: 2 إبراهيمُ ولَدَ إسحق. وإسحق وَلَدَ يَعقوبَ. ويَعقوبُ ولَدَ يَهوذا وإخوتَه. 3 ويَهوذا ولَدَ فارِصَ وزارَحَ مِنْ ثامارَ. وفارِصُ ولَدَ حَصْرونَ. وحَصْرونُ ولَدَ أرامَ. 4 وأرامُ ولَدَ عَمّينادابَ. وعَمّينادابُ ولَدَ نَحْشونَ. ونَحْشونُ ولَدَ سَلَمونَ. 5 وسَلَمونُ ولَدَ بُوعَزَ مِنْ راحابَ. وبُوعَزُ ولَدَ عُوبيدَ مِنْ راعُوثَ. وعُوبيدُ ولَدَ يَسّى. 6 ويَسّى ولَدَ داودَ المَلِكَ.

وداودُ ولَدَ سُلَيْمانَ مِن اَمرأةِ أوريّا. 7 وسُلَيْمانُ ولَدَ رَحْبَعامَ. ورَحْبَعامُ ولَدَ أبيّا. وأبيّا ولَدَ آسا. 8 وآسا ولَدَ يوشافاطَ. ويوشافاطُ ولَدَ يُورامَ. ويُورامُ ولَدَ عُزّيّا. 9 وعُزّيّا ولَدَ يُوثامَ. ويُوثامُ ولَدَ أحازَ. وأحازُ ولَدَ حَزْقِيّا. 10 وحَزْقِيّا ولَدَ مَنَسّى. ومَنَسّى ولَدَ آمونَ. وآمونُ ولَدَ يوشِيّا. 11 ويوشِيّا ولَدَ يَكُنيّا وإخوَتَه زَمَنَ السبيِ إلى بابِلَ.

12 وبَعْدَ السّبي إلى بابِلَ يَكُنِيّا ولَدَ شَأَلْتَئيلَ. وشَأَلْتَئيلُ ولَدَ زَرُبابِلَ. 13 وزَرُبابِلُ ولَدَ أبيهُودَ. وأبيهُودُ ولَدَ ألِياقيمَ. وألِياقيمُ ولَدَ عازُورَ. 14 وَعازُورُ ولَدَ صادُوقَ. وصادُوقُ ولَدَ أَخيمَ. وأخيمُ ولَدَ أليُودَ. 15 وأليُودُ ولَدَ أليعازَرَ. وأليعازَرُ ولَدَ مَتّانَ. ومَتّانُ ولَدَ يَعقوبَ. 16 ويَعقوبُ ولَدَ يوسفَ رَجُلَ مَرْيمَ التي ولَدَتْ يَسوعَ الذي يُدعى المَسيحَ.

17 فمَجْموعُ الأجْيالِ مِنْ إبراهيمَ إلى داودَ أرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ جيلاً. ومِنْ داودَ إلى سَبْيِ بابِلَ أرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ جيلاً. ومِنْ سَبْيِ بابِلَ إلى المَسيحِ أرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ جيلاً.

ميلاد يسوع

(لوقا 2‏:1‏-7)

18 وهذِهِ سيرَةُ ميلادِ يَسوعَ المَسيحِ: كانَت أُمّهُ مَريَمُ مَخْطوبَةً ليوسفَ، فَتبيّنَ قَبْلَ أنْ تَسْكُنَ مَعَهُ أنّها حُبْلى مِنَ الرّوحِ القُدُسِ. 19 وكانَ يوسفُ رَجُلاً صالِحًا فَما أرادَ أنْ يكْشِفَ أمْرَها، فَعزَمَ على أنْ يَترُكَها سِرّا.

20 وبَينَما هوَ يُفَكّرُ في هذا الأمْرِ، ظَهَرَ لَه مَلاكُ الرّبّ في الحُلُمِ وقالَ لَه: «يا يوسفُ اَبنَ داودَ، لا تخَفْ أنْ تأخُذَ مَرْيمَ اَمرأةً لكَ. فَهيَ حُبْلى مِنَ الروحِ القُدُسِ، 21 وسَتَلِدُ اَبناً تُسمّيهِ يَسوعَ، لأنّهُ يُخَلّصُ شعْبَهُ مِنْ خَطاياهُمْ».

22 حَدَثَ هذا كُلّه لِيَتِمّ ما قالَ الرّبّ بلِسانِ النّبيّ: 23 «سَتحْبَلُ العَذْراءُ، فتَلِدُ اَبْناً يُدْعى «عِمّانوئيلَ»، أي اللهُ مَعَنا.

24 فلمّا قامَ يوسفُ مِنَ النّومِ، عَمِلَ بِما أمَرَهُ مَلاكُ الرّبّ. فَجاءَ باَمْرَأتِهِ إلى بَيتِه، 25 ولكِنّهُ ما عَرَفَها حتى ولَدَتِ اَبْنَها فَسَمّاهُ يَسوعَ.

Ligwurna la Yasuuⓐ

1 Kitham ga ligwurna la Yasuuⓐ al Masiiẖ, gwina gwiro ŋari ŋa Daawud, gwina gwiro ŋari ŋa Ibraahiim. 2 A Ibraahiim liŋa Isẖaaguŋw; a Isẖaag liŋa Yaⓐguubuŋw; a Yaⓐguub liŋa Yahuudhuŋw a limegen; 3 a Yahuudha liŋa Faaris̱uŋw a Zaarah di Thaamaar; a Faaris̱ liŋa H̱as̱ruunuŋw; a H̱as̱ruun liŋa Araamuŋw; 4 a Araam liŋa Ⓐammiinaadaabuŋw; a ⓐammiinaadaab liŋa Naẖshuunuŋw; a Naẖshuun liŋa S̱almuunuŋw; 5 a S̱almuun liŋa Buuⓐazuŋw di Raaẖaab; a Buuⓐaz liŋa ⓐuubiiduŋw di Raaⓐuuth; a ⓐuubiid liŋa Yassuŋw; 6 a Yassa liŋa Daawuduŋw gwina gwimaji ŋwuro malik. A Daawud gwina gwiro malik liŋa Sulemaanuŋw di ŋeda gwina gwiro kwa gwa Uriiya; 7 a Sulemaan liŋa Raẖabⓐaamuŋw; a Raẖabⓐaam liŋa Abiiyuŋw; a Abiiya liŋa Asuŋw; 8 a Asa liŋa Yahuushaafaatuŋw; a Yahuushaafaat liŋa Yuuraamuŋw; a Yuuraam liŋa ⓐuzziiyuŋw; 9 a ⓐuzziiya liŋa Yuuthaamuŋw; a Yuuthaam liŋa Aẖaazuŋw; a Aẖaaz liŋa H̱izgiiyuŋw; 10 a H̱izgiiya liŋa Manassuŋw; a Manassa liŋa Amuunuŋw; a Amuun liŋa Yuushiiyuŋw; 11 a Yuushiiya liŋa Yakuniyuŋw a limegen, gi lamun lina limaludhini gi Baabil. 12 A dina malodha Baabil, a Yakuniya liŋa Shaaltiyiiluŋw; a Shaaltiyiil liŋa Zarubbaabiluŋw; 13 a Zarubbaabil liŋa Abiihuuduŋw; a Abiihuud liŋa Aliyaagiimuŋw; a Aliyaagiim liŋa ⓐaazuuruŋw; 14 a ⓐaazuur liŋa S̱aaduuguŋw; a S̱aaduug liŋa Akhiimuŋw; a Akhiim liŋa Aliyuuduŋw; 15 a Aliyuud liŋa Aliiⓐaazaruŋw; a Aliiⓐaazar liŋa Mattaanuŋw; a Mattaan liŋa Yaⓐguubuŋw; 16 a Yaⓐguub liŋa Yuusufuŋw gwina gwiro kwoma gwa Maryam, gwina gwiliŋidhi Yasuuⓐuŋw, gwina gwan al Masiiẖ. 17 Ligwurna kwiriny galo peth di Ibraahiim a ro di Daawud liro die‐a‐kworoŋo; a ro di Daawud di alodha Baabil alro minoŋ die‐a‐kworoŋo; a dina malodha gi Baabil di ma al Masiiẖ liŋina alro die‐a‐kworoŋo.

Liŋini gwa Yasuuⓐ

18 A Yasuuⓐ al Masiiẖ liŋini minoŋ. A Yuusuf abiŋi dhaga Maryam gwai gwina gwiro nana gwa Yasuuⓐ kwereny nanaŋ lati laiciyo no, ŋwubujini gwuthi ŋare kari ganu ŋadhi Dhigirim dhina Dhiŋir. 19 A Yuusuf gwina gwiro kwoma gwuŋun, gwiro kwiji gwiŋir, athuŋw bupo dari gwuŋw teje galo gi je ganu ja liji no, ŋwari gwuŋw dhiŋa nyim. 20 Abi dina muŋw ireye je galo gi dhuŋun ibidhe, a malaak gwa Kweleny uŋina dugun gi dhiŋidi, ŋwaicinu, Yuusuf, gwina gwiro ŋari ŋa Daawud, athaŋa dhinyii daŋodha Maryamuŋw gwaŋa ruje kwa gwuŋa no; dhuŋun ibidhe dhina dhimaje kaŋinu dugun dhigeto Dhigirim dhina Dhiŋir. 21 A ŋeda gwaji gwaliŋa ŋare, a ŋaji ŋaŋa dhedha jiriny jan Yasuuⓐ; ŋinena adhuŋwaji ŋwugilaŋiye lijo luŋun ŋidi ganu ŋegen ŋina ŋike. 22 A dhuŋun ibidha peth uthi je ganu dhina dhabiŋu Kweleny nebi gwai, 23 ŋwarnu, Aŋadhi kwaio, gwina gwoma gwati gwuthi kwoma no, gwaji gwuthi ŋare, a ŋaji ŋuŋw liŋa a ŋaji ŋaldhedha jiriny jan ⓐimmaanuwiil, gwina gwuthi maⓐna gwiro minoŋ Kalo gathanalije. 24 A Yuusuf dire ŋwar, ŋware ŋinena abiŋaijina malaak gwa Kweleny, ŋwodha, ŋwuruje kwa gwuŋun. 25 Athil gwi aiciyo no di dina maji muŋw liŋedha ŋare; ŋwudhedha jiriny jan Yasuuⓐ.