Matama 5 - KBTP & KJV

Have I not commanded you Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

As we step into a brand-new year, it’s easy to get caught up in the “New Year, New Me” vibe. Social media is buzzing with resolutions, glow-ups, and vision boards. But let’s pause for a second, what if a fresh start isn’t just about what we do but about what God is doing in us?

1. A Promise of Renewal

The Bible is full of stories where God hits the reset button. Think about Noah. After the flood, God gave humanity a second chance. The rainbow became a symbol of His promise to never give up on us. Genesis 9:13 says, “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” This covenant reminds us that no matter how overwhelming life gets, God is always faithful to renew His relationship with us. He’s not just a God of second chances but of endless chances, each wrapped in His love and grace.

2. Grace for the Israelites

The Israelites messed up countless times, yet God’s grace led them into the Promised Land. His faithfulness shows us that no mistake is too big for a fresh start. Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Even in seasons of wandering and waiting, God was their guide and protector. This narrative is a powerful reminder that God’s presence remains constant, even when we lose our way.

3. Becoming a New Creation

Through Jesus, we’re not just given a clean slate, we’re made new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This verse is a reminder that God’s transformation starts within. Being a new creation doesn’t mean life gets easier; it means we’re empowered by the Holy Spirit to live differently. It’s about leaving behind the labels and lies that once defined us and stepping boldly into the identity God has given us.

4. Letting Go of the Past

Sometimes life feels messy, and it’s hard to move forward. But God’s Word encourages us to release what’s behind. Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” God’s plans for us are always forward-focused. Letting go doesn’t mean pretending the pain or mistakes never happened. It means trusting God to use even our brokenness for His glory and to lead us into something better.

5. Daily Renewal Through Mercy

God’s mercies aren’t just for the start of the year, they’re new every single morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 proclaims, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” This means every day is a fresh start. No matter how badly yesterday went, today is a chance to start over with God’s compassion as our foundation. His love is unshakable, and His faithfulness is unending.

6. Bold Steps of Faith

A fresh start often requires bold moves, like stepping out in faith. Joshua 1:9 encourages us, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Trust that God’s got your back as you move forward. Taking bold steps can feel scary, but it’s often where we grow the most. It’s in these moments of uncertainty that we discover the depth of God’s strength and provision.

7. Trusting in His Plans

As we embrace a new year, we can find peace in knowing that God’s plans are always for our good. Jeremiah 29:11assures us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This promise doesn’t mean life will be problem-free, but it does mean that God’s purposes are perfect. Even when things don’t make sense, we can trust that He is working all things together for our good.

How to Make It Practical

Pray About It: Ask God to show you what areas of your life need a reset. Be honest with Him; He can handle it.
Find Your Squad: Surround yourself with people who point you toward Jesus. Life hits different when you’ve got a community that lifts you up.
Set God-Centered Goals: Instead of just focusing on fitness or finances, think about how you can grow spiritually this year. Maybe it’s reading your Bible daily or serving others.

A Fresh Start for Everyone

Whether you’re stepping into this year with excitement or dragging last year’s baggage behind you, remember this: God specializes in fresh starts. He’s not limited by our failures or fears. His love is bigger, His grace is stronger, and His plans are better than anything we could imagine.

So, as you kick off this year, don’t just strive for change, invite God into your journey. He’s ready to write a new chapter in your story. Are you?

Milayo ili gumi

(Kufuluka 20:1-17)

1 Mushe kadana Baiziraela bose kabadwa kati, “Hwililani milayo yandinoleba mu zebe dzenyu mu zhuba lino imwi Baiziraela mose, muyizwidiye mube ne njele kuyishinga. 2 Yahwe Ndzimu wedu bakathama tjidumano naswi mu Horebu. 3 Yahwe abazothama tjidumano itjetji na bobatategulu bedu, koga bakatjithama naswi iswi banotjila sangwenu mu zhuba lino. 4 Yahwe bakalebeleka namwi makalingisana pa dombo kudwa pakati pe moto, 5 imi ndili mile pakati kwa Yahwe namwi, ngoti makabe mutja ngekwe moto ngono mukasitathe dombo.” Yahwe bakabe beti,

6 “Ndimi Yahwe Ndzimu wenyu ibo bakamudusa mu shango ye Egipiti mu ng'umba ye busungwa.” 7 “ ‘Musitongobe ne mimwe midzimu mbeli kwangu.’ ” 8 “ ‘Musitongozwithamila zwifano zwakabezhiwa kene ifano tje tjimwe tji kudzimu pezhugwi kene tje tjimwe tjimu shango pasi kene tjimu vula pasi kwe shango.’ ” 9 “Musitongozwikotamila kene kuli kuzwishingila ngoti imi Yahwe Ndzimu wenyu ndi Ndzimu una fupa, ndolobela bana matjinyo a botate babo kunoti mu tjizekugwana tje butatu ne tje bunna tjinondibenga, 10 koga ndolakidza ludo gusingazunguzike ku zwiwulu zwe banondida kakale belondolodza milayo yangu.”

11 “ ‘Usitongo danila zina la Yahwe Ndzimu uwo suli, ngoti Yahwe abatowontola asina nlandu iye unodanila zina labo suli. 12 Londolodza zhuba le Sabata kuliyengemadza sekwa wakalayiwa ndi Yahwe Ndzimu uwo. 13 Mu mazhuba ali kutathatu ushinge uwidze mishingo iyo, 14 koga zhuba le butendeka i Sabata la Yahwe Ndzimu uwo, mulili usitongo shinga nshingo kene uli upi, iwe kene nkololo uwo, kene nkololokadzi uwo, kene nlandalume uwo, kene nlandakadzi uwo, kene ngabe iyo, kene donki iyo, kene imwe ye ng'ombe dzidzo, kene ntaya unogala nawe, kuyita kuti nlandalume ne nlandakadzi uwo anyaluluke sawe. 15 Ukumbule kuti wakabe uli nlanda mu shango ye Egipiti, ngono Yahwe Ndzimu uwo bakakudusa nge tjiazha tjakasima nge luboko gwakatambunuka, ndizo Yahwe Ndzimu uwo bakakulaya kulondolodza zhuba le Sabata.’ ”

16 “Kudza tate babo na mmeyabo Yahwe Ndzimu uwo sekwabakakudwa kuti mazhuba awo abe malefu nekuti kukuyendile zubuyanana mu shango yaunopiwa ndi Yahwe Ndzimu uwo.”

17 “Usitongo bulaya nthu.

18 “Usitongo thama bupombgwe.

19 “Usitongo kwiba.

20 “Usitongo pa butendeki gwe manyepkhwa ngekwe mbakidzani uwo.

21 “Usitongo yemula nkadzi we mbakidzani nawe, kene kuli kuyemula ng'umba ye mbakidzani nawe, kene nnda uwe, kene nlandalume uwe, kene nlandakadzi uwe, kene ngabe iye, kene donki iye, kene tjimwe koga tje mbakidzani uwo.”

Lutjo gwe bathu

(Kufuluka 20:18-21)

22 Matama iyawa akalebgwa ndi Yahwe ku gubungano lenyu mose pa dombo kudwa pakati kwe moto mu gole ne zhalima lakati zwititi, belebeleka nge hwi gulu ngono bakasitongo paphidza. Ngono bakaakwala mu zwileiti zwe mabgwe zwibili, ngono bakandipa izo. 23 Ngono makati muhwa hwi lidwa pakati kwe zhalima, dombo ilo lithuta nge moto, makazha pejo nami imwi misholo yose ye njudzi dzenyu ne bakulu benyu. 24 “Ngono mukabe muti, ‘Bonani, Yahwe Ndzimu wedu batilakidza tjedza tjabo ne bukulu gwabo kakale tahwa hwi labo lidwa pakati kwe moto, mu zhuba ilelino tabona Ndzimu ulebeleka ne nthu ngono nthu utjatjila zwe.’ ” 25 “ ‘Ngono ngwenu wali ini tingafa? Ngoti moto ihwoyu nkulukulu unowotitshwayila, ha tingadwilila tihwa hwi la Yahwe Ndzimu wedu towofa. 26 Ngoti ndiyani kene pakati kwe ludzi gwe nthu wakatongo hwa hwi le Ndzimu unotjila ulebeleka kudwa pakati kwe moto saswi sekwa takahwa ngono katjila? 27 Sedzela pejo uhwe kose kunowolebgwa ndi Yahwe Ndzimu wedu ube utibudza kose kunowolebgwa ndi Yahwe Ndzimu wedu kukuli, ngono towohwa ngono tikakuthama.’ ”

28 “Ngono Yahwe bakahwa matama enyu pamakabe mulebeleka nami, ngono Yahwe bakati kundili, ‘Ndahwa matama e bathu ibaba abaleba kukuli, baleba zubuyanana kose ikoku kwabaleba. 29 Kwakanaka ha babe begala bana nkumbulo wakajali misiyose, benditja kakale belondolodza milayo yangu kuti kubayendile zubuyanana ibo ne bana babo nge kusingapele.’ ” 30 Yenda uswike ubadwe uti, “Bgwililani ku mishasha yenyu.” 31 “Koga iwe ima ipapa nami ngono ndowokubudza milayo yose yawunowobadiya kuti bayishinge mu shango yandinobapa kuti bayithuwe.”

32 “Ndizo ibeni ne njele kushinga sekwa madwiwa ndi Yahwe Ndzimu wenyu, musitongo pambukila ku luboko luji kene ku lumeshwe. 33 Muyende mu zila yamakadwiwa ndi Yahwe Ndzimu wenyu kuti ndizo mutjile ne kuti kumuyendile zubuyanana ne kuti mutjile tjibaka tjilefu mu shango yamunowothuwa.”

1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. 2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. 4 The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, 5 (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,

6 ¶ I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me. 8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, 10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. 11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. 13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: 14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. 15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

16 ¶ Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 17 Thou shalt not kill. 18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery. 19 Neither shalt thou steal. 20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. 21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

22 ¶ These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.

23 And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; 24 And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. 25 Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have , and lived? 27 Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it , and do it . 28 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. 29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! 30 Go say to them, Get you into your tents again. 31 But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. 32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.