2017-12-11
Genesis 6:22 NIV
Noah’s ark measured 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits in width, and 30 cubits in height. A cubit is the equivalent of 17.5 inches. That means the ark was the length of one and a half football fields. The internal volume of the ark was 1,518,750 cubic feet – the equivalent of 569 train boxcars. If the average animal was the size of a sheep, it had capacity for 125,000 animals. To put that into perspective, there are 2,000 animals from 400 different species at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. That means you could fit sixty National Zoos on board Noah’s ark. And since it was the first boat ever built, it’s not like it came with an instruction manual. It was back-breaking work that required blood, sweat, and tears. And it took an incredible amount of faith to build the ark. Who builds a boat in the desert? Who hammers away for 120 years on something they might not even need? Who banks their entire future on something that has never happened before? According to Jewish tradition, Noah didn’t just start building the ark. He planted trees first. After they were fully grown, he cut down the trees, sawed them into planks, and built the boat. And here’s an interesting piece of information: Not until the late nineteenth century did a ship that size get constructed again. Yet that design ratio is still considered the golden mean for stability during storms at sea. Noah’s act of obedience literally changed the world. And obedience will change your world too, so do what God has told you.
Soul food: Gen 44-46; John 18:1-24; Ps 105:1-7; Ecc 5:13-16
Genesis 6:22 NLV
Noag se ark was 300 ellemate lank, 50 ellemate breed en 30 ellemate hoog. ‘n Ellemaat is die ekwivalent van 44.45 cm. Dit beteken dat die ark ongeveer die lengte van een en ‘n half rugbyvelde was. Die interne volume van die ark was 43 000 kubieke meter – die ekwivalent van 569 treinwaens. As die gemiddelde dier die grootte van ‘n skaap was, het dit die kapasiteit vir 125 000 diere gehad. Om dit in perspektief te plaas, is daar 2 000 diere van 365 verskillende spesies by die Johannesburgse Nasionale Dieretuin. Dit beteken dat jy sestig nasionale dieretuine in Noag se ark kon inpas. Omdat dit ook die eerste boot was wat ooit gebou is, het dit nie met aanwysings gekom nie. Dit was rugbrekende werk wat bloed, sweet en trane gekos het. Dit het ‘n wonderbaarlike hoeveelheid geloof geneem om die ark te bou. Wie bou ‘n boot in die woestyn? Wie timmer iets vir 120 jaar aanmekaar wat hulle dalk nie eers gaan nodig kry nie? Wie reken hulle hele toekoms op iets wat nog nooit vantevore gebeur het nie? Volgens Joodse tradisie, het Noag nie net eendag die ark begin bou nie. Hy het eers die bome geplant. Nadat hulle volgroeid was, het hy hulle afgekap, in planke gesaag en die boot gebou. Hier is ‘n interessante brokkie inligting: Eers in die negentiende eeu is daar weer ‘n boot van hierdie grootte gebou. Tog word die ark se ontwerp en ratios steeds as die goue reël vir stabiliteit in storms op see gesien. Noag se daad van gehoorsaamheid het letterlik die wêreld verander. Gehoorsaamheid sal jou wêreld ook verander, doen dus wat God vir jou sê.
Sielskos: Gen 44-46; Joh 18:1-24; Ps 105:1-7; Pred 5:13-16
2017-12-10
Zechariah 4:6 NLT
Zerubbabel was called to rebuild the temple. It was a huge undertaking, so God told him, “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord…’Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way” (vv. 6-7 NLT). When God calls you, you need to know: (1) You may have to walk alone. When God uses you, people often assume you’re strong and don’t need anything. They don’t realize you’re just a regular person who’s half scared to death at times, and who’s more amazed by your success than they are. And when nobody stands with you or ministers to you, you become vulnerable to discouragement. (2) You need God’s help or you’re in trouble. Samson discovered this: “He awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him” (Judges 16:20-21 NIV). God stepped back and let Samson see that it was the Lord doing it, and not himself. So you must live with a sense of dependence on God. (3) It’s God’s power, not yours, that makes the difference. If you’re waiting for God to give you exceptional equipment before you decide to get into the fight, you’re not going to experience victory. God’s “strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The way you know you’re truly anointed is when God takes substandard equipment and performs supernatural feats. And that only happens when you say, “Lord, I don’t see how You could do this through me, but I’m trusting You to.” That’s when He gets involved!
Soul food: 1 Kings 17:17-24; Mark 5:21-43; John 11:1-45
Sagaria 4:6 NLV
Serubbabel is geroep om die tempel te herbou. Dit was ‘n massiewe taak, dus het God vir hom gesê, ‘…Nie met mag of krag nie, maar deur my Gees, sê die Here die Almagtige. Wie is jy, grote berg? Voor Serubbabel word jy sommer ‘n gelyk pad!..’ (verse 6-7 NLV). Wanneer God jou roep, moet jy weet: 1) Jy gaan dalk alleen moet stap. Wanneer God jou roep, neem mense dikwels aan dat jy sterk is en niks nodig het nie. Hulle besef nie dat jy net ‘n gewone mens is wat soms vreesbevange is en meer verwonderd oor jou sukses as hulle is nie. Wanneer niemand by jou staan of jou versterk nie, kan jy maklik ontmoedig word. 2) Jy het God se hulp nodig, anders gaan jy moeilikheid kry. Simson het dit ontdek: ‘…Hy het uit die slaap wakker geword en by homself gedink: ‘Ek sal weer uit die ding uitkom soos al die vorige kere.’ Maar hy het nie geweet dat die Here hom verlaat het nie. Die Filistyne het hom vasgebind…’ (Rigters 16:20-21 NLV). God het teruggestaan en vir Simson laat besef dat dit die Here was wat hom sterk gemaak het, nie hyself nie. Jy moet dus in afhanklikheid van God lewe. 3) Dis God se krag, nie joune nie, wat die verskil maak. God se ‘…krag kom juis in swakheid tot volle verwesenliking…’ (2 Korintiërs 12:9 NLV). Jy weet dat jy waarlik gesalf is wanneer God gebroke toerusting neem en bonatuurlike seges daarmee behaal. Dit gebeur egter net wanneer jy sê, ‘Here, ek kan nie sien hoe U dit deur my kan doen nie, maar ek vertrou U om dit te doen.’ Dís wanneer Hy betrokke raak!
Sielskos: 1 Kon 17:17-24; Mark 5:21-43; Joh 11:1-45
2017-12-09
Matthew 23:5 NKJV
Here’s a working definition of the word hypocrisy: “to be seen by men.” Jesus had a no-tolerance policy when it came to hypocrisy. Why? Because He knew it turns people against God. Instead, He taught: (1) Expect no credit for your good deeds. None. If no one notices, you aren’t disappointed. If someone does, you give the credit to God. Stop and ask yourself this question: “If no one knew of the good I do, would I still do it?” If not, you’re doing it “to be seen” by people. (2) Give your financial gifts in secret. Money stirs the phony within us. We like to be seen earning it. And we like to be seen giving it. So Jesus said, “When you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3 NLT). (3) Don’t fake your spirituality. When you go to church, don’t select a seat just to be seen, or sing just to be heard. If you raise your hands in worship, raise holy ones, not showy ones. When you talk, don’t doctor your vocabulary with trendy religious terms. Nothing nauseates more than a fake “Praise the Lord,” or a shallow “Hallelujah,” or an insincere “Glory be to God.” Ever watch children in a playground shouting, “Watch me!” That’s acceptable because they’re still immature, but it’s not acceptable in God’s kingdom. Silence the trumpets. Cancel the parade. Enough with the name-dropping. If accolades come, politely deflect them before you believe them. Slay the desire to be noticed. Stir the desire to serve God. In other words, don’t be a hypocrite!
Soul food: Gen 42-43; John 17:1-26; Ps 95; Ecc 5:10-12
