Sundaymail Editor
TODAY is the beginning of Holy Week, and lest we forget, Jesus is alive. We celebrate the eternal life that He bestowed on us.
Peter testifies about Jesus and our triumph over death in Acts of the Apostles 2:22-24 (MSG version) saying: “Fellow Israelites, listen carefully to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man thoroughly accredited by God to you – the miracles and wonders that God did through Him are common knowledge – this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you. And you pinned Him to a cross and killed Him. But God untied the death ropes and raised Him up. Death was no match for Him.”
Any wonder that He is alive, and will remain so because “death was no match for Him.”
It is this resurrected Messiah whose name we glorify not only during this Easter period, but every time for He takes care of the affairs of our nation Zimbabwe.
As a nation celebrating Holy Week, it is essential to remind each other about the importance of the peace, unity and love that Jesus has given us.
It is important to meditate on these words day and night and ensuring that when we talk about peace, it is the kind of peace the Lord speaks about in John 14:27:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the word gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.
The word of God also says in Psalms 127:1-2, “Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise up early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for he grants sleep to those he loves”.
I am also reminded about what the Lord Jesus says in the book of John 10:10: “The thief comes ONLY to steal and kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”.
If Jesus gave us His peace, how is it that we do not only fail to embrace that peace, but the lack of peace in our midst is also a form of disobedience and refusal to accept the Lord’s peace and sharing it with others?
The devil’s mission and Christ’s triumph over that mission which we should also embrace is demonstrated in Mark 4:35-41, Matthew 8:18, 23-27 and Luke 8:22-25 when Jesus calmed the storm.
I will use Mark’s version:
“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “‘Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
“He said to his disciples, Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
“They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
As a nation, we have a mission to accomplish in order to prosper spiritually and materially. Indeed, the devil is trying his best to kill, steal and destroy that mission.
But, He who has taken us this far is telling us that we should go yonder side. When He says this, who can challenge Him?
Even the devil our enemy cannot, for Jesus Christ made him “a stool for resting our feet.”
This is why throughout the Bible we are reminded to fear not: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Storms will always come, but let us have faith in Him who silenced the wind and the waves. He is faithful, and He can silence the winds and storms in Zimbabwe, including storms of unforgiveness and disunity.
Let us as a nation realise that in every situation, He is there. We cannot limit His abilities and say that since there is a drought and the economy is in bad shape, He is too small to deliver us, therefore let us go it alone.
Prayer is the best way and the word of God says in 1 Timothy 2:1-2: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
It is in this spirit that I pray for this nation using Pastor Charles Charamba’s lyrics in “Nyika Zimbabwe”, for like David the psalmist, he prayed for everything that constitutes Zimbabwe – its leadership, people, natural resources, etc. Below is part of the prayer from “Nyika Zimbabwe”:
Makatipa zvipo zvinoshamisa,
Baba munyika inozve,
Tinotenda!
Tine masango, tine mhuka
Zvinoyevedza, tinotenda!
Tine zvicherwa nezviwanikwa,
Zvinokosha, tinotenda!
Makatipa chido chekusevenza,
Isu maZimbabwe, tinotenda!
Makatipa rudo, tinodanana,
Isu maZimbabwe tinotenda!
Nyika yeZimbabwe, nyika ino,
Nyika Zimbabwe makaida Baba!
Ilizwe leZimbabwe, lelilizwe,
Nyika yeZimbabwe,
Makaida Baba!
Tiri vana venyu, tiri vana venyu,
Ishe Baba mutirangarire!
Singabantwabakho, singabantwabakho,
Nkosi Baba sihlaukhele!
Lord, we are your children,
Your sons and daughters,
Zimbabweans at large,
Remember us Oh Lord!
Nevanotungamira nyika ino yeZimbabwe,
Mwari Baba, muvarangarire!
Navose vanogara mudare reParamende,
Mwari Baba, mugovenavo!
Navose vanoshanda vachichengeta nyika,
Mwari Baba, mugovenavo!
Vafundisi vedu, vamakazodza,
Kufudza mweya, mugovenavo!
Muve namadzishe, madzimambo, masadunhu,
Matare emhosva!
Zivo ngaiwande kunana chiremba,
Navakoti zvirwere zvipere!
Nemvura Baba, ngainaye,
Mhuka nesu, tiwane upenyu!
Navose vanofuma kunoshandira nyika,
Mwari Baba, muvarangarire!
Nyika yeZimbabwe, lelilizwe
Nyika Zimbabwe, muirangarire!
Thus as a nation, we are bound together by one Lord, one love and one Spirit. Glory be to the Lord Jesus Christ, and may His favour prevail over Zimbabwe even in times of adversity!
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