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ABOUT 1 000 members of Jehovah’s Witnesses thronged Checheche expandable hall for conventions in Chipinge last Sunday to enjoy spiritual food made possible by the discreet slave that provides such food in abundance every other day through-out the world; indeed, Checheche was one of the scores or so of venues in Zimbabwe where people gathered to partake in the timely food hand-outs to Jehovah’s people in the country.
Aptly titled, ‘’Follow God,’’ the one day special convention was a good reminder that the system of things is about to disappear and a new world order without discrimination and other vices would be ushered in with Jesus Christ as the King as Jehovah returns the earth to the Edenic situations where peace ruled supreme with Jehovah as the over lord.
Ephesians 5:1 was the lead verse. Following in the footsteps of someone requires careful walking lest one won’t be able to place one’s foot on the exact position the other person has set his foot. Therefore, the Sunday programme looked at how modern Christians can model their lives around God.
Peter Mudesva, the Travelling Overseer, started the ball rolling with his first talk where he emphasised the crucial importance of Witnesses being friends of Jehovah.
“If one is not a friend of Jehovah, he can’t possibly see him, neither can he do good things. It is in light of this that 3 John 11 states that we must not follow that which is evil but that which is good. In that sense, those who follow God have seen him,’’ he said.
Righteousness goes hand in hand with following God. With that in mind, Tendai Sita, the other speaker said it is important to emulate a good model.
“We want to emulate a model. We want to emulate Jehovah. There has to be justice in the family. According to Jeremiah 9:24, God exercises loving kindness, justice and righteousness among his many attributes. Accordingly, there should be justice in the family. By so doing, we are following God,’’ Tendai Sita said.
He dwelt on the issue of infidelity as a major cause of concern in the family; he chastised those people who compare their spouses with other people.
“Have time with your kids and wives where people talk about anything they came across during the day. Rather than take the whole evening to Whatsapp or surf the Internet, close liaison with your family would yield huge dividends for you and your family. Wives need to be loved and the same applies to men; they too need respect and love,’’ he continued.
A series of talks were given that targeted the family and how it can withstand the tumult that characterise modern marriages that are quickly annulled.
Raymond Ndimutseyi gave an analogy about the spectre of cheating that visits many a couple. He compared a spring and a dam as sources of water.
“Men and women, you are privileged to drink from a spring or borehole; and what do you do? You go out and obtain water from a dam where donkeys, pigs, cattle, goats and many other foul mouthed creatures quench their thirst. That is the same with a woman or man who leaves the matrimonial bed and go out to look for partners outside the confines of the marriage bed,’’ he advised.
Jehovah’s Witnesses must not be discriminatory when they are in the field ministry. In fact, they are well known because of their preaching work. They take to heart the words written at Job 34:19 which states that the rich and the poor were all created by God.
In the spirit of following God, it is important to be colour blind for all people were created by the same God in his image.
There were 933 members who attended the afternoon public talk which was delivered by Peter Mudesva. He said there were many religions and sects but as a Christian, it was important to see whether what we were doing was in tandem with what God wanted.
“There are 19 religions in the world and more than 10 000 sects that claim that they are the holy ones. The question is which one must I follow? Revelation 18:4,5 is very clear about that. Get away from Babylon and you would get direction,’’ he said.
Babylon is a biblical allusion to the great state of the early civilisation filled with inequity that resembles the current crop of religious leaders who are unwilling to follow God in every way.
Givemore Sikanda, the convention overseer talked about the spirit of cowardice that threatens to split the people of God.
“Cowardice is never a virtue notwithstanding the adage that kunetyoihakunachiriro. 2 Timothy 1vs 6,7 are clear on what Jehovah thinks about people who are afraid to minister to everyone in his name.
“He argues that he never gave anyone the spirit of fear but that of power, love and of a sound mind,’’ he added.
At the end of the special convention, many congregants expressed happiness at the spiritual food that came at an opportune time.
Timothy Manquee, an elder from Chako congregation, noted that the discreet slave always gave food for the occasion every time.
Online Reporter