1 Buṯrus 1 - HBN & GNTD

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.

In today’s fast-paced world, where digital distractions abound and societal norms constantly evolve, people often grapple with questions of identity, belonging, and purpose. Easter, with its celebration of Christ being raised from the dead, offers a totally cool story of how things change and get fresh again, a reminder of what really took place in Jerusalem that speaks directly to the challenges and aspirations of the current generation.

The Promise of a fresh start:

At the heart of Easter lies the promise of a fresh start, a promise fulfilled through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8 (ESV), “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The crucifixion of Jesus, foretold in the scriptures, serves as the ultimate expression of God’s boundless mercy and grace, offering you the gift of reconciliation and forgiveness. Easter’s message offers the promise of a fresh start and a renewed sense of purpose.

Hope Amidst Uncertainty:

In a world plagued by uncertainty and unrest, Easter offers a signal of hope. The resurrection of Jesus Christ reminds you that even in the darkest of times, there is light and life beyond the shadows. As you navigate the difficulties of modern life, the promise of Easter serves as a source of comfort and assurance, guiding you through moments of doubt and despair.
1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) : “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

The Promise of Eternal Life:

Easter holds forth the promise of eternal life, a hope that surpasses the boundaries of time and space. Jesus declares in John 11:25-26 (ESV), “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?. Through His resurrection, Jesus offers the assurance of life beyond the grave, inviting you into a relationship marked by joy, peace, and everlasting fellowship with God.

The Call to Renewal:

Easter extends a timeless invitation to renewal, a call to embrace the life-changing power of Christ’s resurrection in your own life. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Just as Christ emerged from the tomb in glorious resurrection, you too are invited to cast off the shackles of sin and embrace the abundant life that comes through faith in Him.

Conclusion:

As you journey through the Easter season, may you pause to reflect on the profound truths found within the Word of God. May you embrace the promise of redemption, rejoice in the triumph of resurrection, and respond to the call to renewal with a heart full of faith and gratitude. And may the timeless message of Easter continue to inspire and uplift you, bringing you even closer to the love and grace of our Risen Savior.

Salaam

1 Buṯrus, gwina gwiro gweta gwina gwukejinu gwa Yasuuⓐ al Masiiẖ, gi liji lina liro jileny lina libai galo kalo peth ga Buntus, a Qalaaṯiiya, a Kabbaduukiiya, a Asiiya, a Bithiiniiya, 2 lina luthinu ganu gi dhuŋun dha liŋa gwina gwiro kwerkwereny gwa Kalo gina giro Babo, jure gwai gwa Dhigirim, duthi nyuni a jigeje gwa ŋin ŋa Yasuuⓐ al Masiiẖ. Danya oinyadhe niⓐma a audhaijiye galo.

Shukr gwan dhunijo gwina gwuthi Masiiẖi gwa gilaŋ

Easter: The awesome story of how we're saved and brought back to life

Easter, the cornerstone of the Christian faith, holds a profound significance for believers worldwide. Beyond its traditional observance, Easter offers a timeless message of hope, renewal, and redemption—a message that resonates deeply with every generation. In an era marked by uncertainty and rapid change, the timeless truths of Easter provide a steadfast anchor for young hearts seeking meaning and purpose. In today’s fast-paced world, where digital distractions abound and societal norms constantly evolve, people often grapple with questions of identity, belonging, and purpose. Easter, with its celebration of Christ being raised from the dead, offers a totally cool story of how things change and get fresh again, a reminder of what really took place in Jerusalem that speaks directly to the challenges and aspirations of the current generation. The Promise of a fresh start: At the heart of Easter lies the promise of a fresh start, a promise fulfilled through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8 (ESV), “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The crucifixion of Jesus, foretold in the scriptures, serves as the ultimate expression of God’s boundless mercy and grace, offering you the gift of reconciliation and forgiveness. Easter’s message offers the promise of a fresh start and a renewed sense of purpose. Hope Amidst Uncertainty: In a world plagued by uncertainty and unrest, Easter offers a signal of hope. The resurrection of Jesus Christ reminds you that...

Alorthadha Kaloŋa a Babo gwa Kweleny gwega gwina gwan Yasuuⓐ al Masiiẖ. Gi dhuŋun dha ina gwuŋun gwina gwoinyadho gwimiji liŋa manaŋ dhunijo gwai gwina gwimidho dire gwai dai gwa Yasuuⓐ al Masiiẖ, 4 gi ŋeleny ŋina ŋati ŋadigire i ŋaro ŋirle, a ŋine ŋati ŋerna no, ŋina ŋigitinu gi Sama ŋan nyaŋa, 5 nyaŋa lina lithedhinu ŋoma ŋai ŋa Kalo imaan gwai di gilaŋ gwina gwaro peth duŋwaŋini gi lamun lina liro gidon. 6 Gi dhuŋun ibidha nyaŋa liŋir dugore, abi ŋinena aram nyaŋa laka dugore ŋwamun coŋ idheje gwai gwitigwiter. 7 Di idheje gwa imaan gwalo, gwina gwibuthanu luro gi dahab dhina dhaji dherna, dhina dhidhejinu iga yai, gwabujini dorthadha a neye a majdh di aŋini gwa Yasuuⓐ al Masiiẖ, 8 gwina gwati gwaŋadhanya no, nyabuminyi; a minoŋ gwina gwati gwathanya aŋa ŋinena no, abi gwathanya uminyi a nyiŋir dugore iŋir gwai dugore gwina gwati gwabiŋinu no a gwina gwimajidhinu. 9 Danyapai ŋida ŋina ŋiro gidon ŋan imaan gwalo, ŋina ŋiro gilaŋ gwa dugor dalo. 10 Gilaŋ gwina gwibupo nebiŋa, albupe momaŋ lina labiŋu dhuŋuna dhan niⓐma gwan nyaŋa. 11 Albupe lamun leta i lamun lina labiŋulai Dhigirim dha al Masiiẖ dhina dhijo degen ganu dhabiŋu kwereny umi ŋiya gwai gwa al Masiiẖ, a majdh gwina gwigwujo. 12 Dhina dhaŋinu degen, dhati dhan ŋediŋa no, ŋwuban ŋiro ŋegen ŋan alŋa gi ŋidi ŋina ŋimajiliŋai abiŋaijo liji lai lina labiŋaijaje Dhuŋuna dhina Dhiŋir Dhigirim dhai dhina Dhiŋir dhina dhukejinu gi Sama, ŋidi ŋina ŋathil malaayka bupe gwuleny dilaŋa.

Dhuŋun dhiŋir dhina dhuthi Masiiẖi

13 A minoŋ genul gash gi liriny la afkaar gwalo, nyaje momaŋ, nyabrico dhunijuŋw gwalo peth ŋwuje gi niⓐma gwina gwaji gwila dagalo di aŋini gwa Yasuuⓐ al Masiiẖ; 14 gwiro ŋinena keleŋa gina guthi nyuni, athanya gwujo dhuŋuna dhina dhike dhina dhibujanya kwereny nanaŋ nyaŋa lati laliminu no, 15 abi gwiro ŋinena gwimajurniye gwiŋir didirel, ruiyul nyaŋa ko liŋir didirel gi dhuŋun peth dha midhe gwalo; 16 dhulinu minoŋ, Ruiyul liŋir didirel, gwiro ŋinena ruinyina gwiŋir didirel. 17 Ada nyaŋa limathurniye jiriny jai ja Babo gwina gwathakimiye gweta gweta gwiro ŋinena ŋiro ŋuŋun athuŋw nujenu gweta no, midhul gi ŋwamun ŋwina ŋwijanyaŋwai mina ŋidheny ŋai. 18 Nyaliŋa darnu nyaŋa lati libibrinu ŋidi ŋai ŋina ŋatherna, ŋiro ŋinena faḏḏa i dahab, gi dhuŋun dha midhe gwalo gwina gwati gwuthi je ganu gwina gwapanya di baboŋa lalo gi dhuŋun dhina dhathilapai no; 19 abi ŋin ŋai ŋina ŋipa luro ŋiro ŋinena ŋa lirainy lina lati luthi dhara i ŋirle no, ŋin ŋa al Masiiẖ. 20 Gwiliŋinu ro kwerkwereny, kwereny nanaŋ gidhila gati gigitinu no, ŋwubaŋini gi ŋwamun ŋwina ŋwiro gidon gwan nyaŋa, 21 gwina gwuminyanyagwai Kaloŋa gina gidireyo dai, ŋwudhedha majdh; di imaan gwalo a dhunijo gwalo je di Kalo. 22 Juriyul dugore dalo utheje gwai nyuni gwina gwiro titiganu Dhigirim dhai di uminyi gwa ŋimega gwina gwiŋir; nyuminyejiye gweta gweta dugor dai dina dijuro gwuleny. 23 Nyaŋa limaliŋini manaŋ, lati liro ŋinena lulaŋ lina lerna no, ŋwubiro lina lathije gwortal dhuŋun dhai dha Kalo dhina dhimidho a dhina dhathije gwortal. 24 Ŋinena ro aŋinu peth ŋinena karo, a majdh peth gwa kwiji gwiro ŋinena laur la karo. Karo gathudhe a laur luŋun lathide, 25 abi dhuŋun dha Kweleny dhathije gwortal. A dhuŋun dhiro ibidha dhina dhabiŋaijajidhai.

1 From Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ—

To God's chosen people who live as refugees scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 2 You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by his blood.

May grace and peace be yours in full measure.

A Living Hope

3 Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy he gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death. This fills us with a living hope, 4 and so we look forward to possessing the rich blessings that God keeps for his people. He keeps them for you in heaven, where they cannot decay or spoil or fade away. 5 They are for you, who through faith are kept safe by God's power for the salvation which is ready to be revealed at the end of time.

6 Be glad about this, even though it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many kinds of trials you suffer. 7 Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 You love him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him, although you do not now see him. So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express, 9 because you are receiving the salvation of your souls, which is the purpose of your faith in him.

10 It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you. 11 They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ's Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow. 12 God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

A Call to Holy Living

13 So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. 15 Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. 16 The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

17 You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. 18 For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; 19 it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. 20 He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.

22 Now that by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves and have come to have a sincere love for other believers, love one another earnestly with all your heart. 23 For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal. 24 As the scripture says,

“All human beings are like grass,

and all their glory is like wild flowers.

The grass withers, and the flowers fall,

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

This word is the Good News that was proclaimed to you.