2018-01-04
Psalm 119:96 NIV
The Psalmist wrote, “To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless.” What does that mean? It means each time you read a Scripture you’ll see something different in it. It’s like shining light on a diamond. Each time you turn it slightly, you see another facet of its beauty. That’s why the Bible is different from any other book you’ll ever read. You’ll learn things about God from personal experience and from listening to the thoughts and experiences of others, but you’ll get to know Him better through the reading of His Word than any other way. You can study the same Scripture over and over again, dig into it, leave it for three or four months, and when you come back to it there is much more to find. The key is this: Stick with it! There’s no limit to the number of questions you can ask, no limit to the observations you can make, and no limit to the applications you can make. So don’t give up! The best attitude to have in Bible study is the one Jacob had when he wrestled with the angel of the Lord: “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Genesis 32:26 NKJV). As a result God gave him a new name, a new nature, a new walk, and a new future. Bible study has no shortcuts; it takes effort. But if you’re diligent and patient you’ll reap great rewards. Once you’ve felt the joy and satisfaction that comes from finding a great spiritual truth on your own, and applying it to your life, you’ll never approach Bible study the same way again.
Soul food: 2 Thes 1-3; Matt 4:1-11; Ps 90:7-17; Prov 1:5-9
Psalm 119:65 NLV
Die Psalmdigter het geskryf, ‘Selfs volmaaktheid het sy perke, maar U gebooie ken geen grense nie.’ Dit beteken dat jy elke keer wat jy ‘n Skrifgedeelte lees, iets anders daarin sal sien. Dit is soos ‘n lig wat op ‘n diamant skyn. Elke keer wat jy die diamant effens draai, sal jy ‘n ander faset van sy skoonheid sien. Dis hoekom die Bybel anders is as enige boek wat jy ooit sal lees. Jy sal dinge oor God uit persoonlike ervarings en deur na ander mense se gedagtes en ervarings te luister, leer, maar jy sal Hom beter as op enige ander manier leer ken wanneer jy sy Woord lees. Jy kan dieselfde Skrifgedeelte oor en oor bestudeer, dit analiseer, dit los vir drie of vier maande en wanneer jy daarna terugkom, sal jy nog meer daarin vind. Die sleutel is: Hou aan! Daar is geen beperking op die aantal vrae wat jy kan vrae, geen beperking op die observasies en toepassings wat jy kan maak nie. Moet dus nie opgee nie! Die beste benadering wat jy in Bybelstudie kan hê, is die een wat Jakob gehad het toe hy met die engel van die Here gestoei het: ‘…Ek sal jou nie laat gaan nie tensy jy my seën’ (Genesis 32:26 NLV). Gevolglik het God vir hom ‘n nuwe naam, ‘n nuwe geaardheid, ‘n nuwe manier van stap en ‘n nuwe toekoms gegee. Bybelstudie het geen kortpaaie nie; dit vereis inspanning. As jy egter ywerig en geduldig is, sal jy groot beloning ontvang. As jy eers die vreugde en bevrediging ervaar wanneer jy ‘n groot geestelike waarheid op jou eie ontdek en dit in jou lewe toepas, sal jy nooit weer Bybelstudie op dieselfde manier benader nie.
Sielskos: 2 Tess 1-3; Matt 4:1-11; Ps 90:7-17; Spr 1:5-9
2018-01-03
Romeine 14:10 NLV
Die oordeelsdag sal deur twee dinge gekarakteriseer word: beloning en berou! Jesus verwys hierna in die verhaal van die drie slawe wat elk munte ontvang het om vir hulle eienaar te belê. Die eerste twee slawe het dit goed belê en is daarvoor beloon, terwyl die derde slaaf sy munte begrawe het en daarvolgens geoordeel is. Die eerste twee het hulle opsies oorweeg, na die syfers gekyk en die risiko geneem. Gevolglik het hulle eienaar gesê, ‘…Uitstekend! Jy is ‘n voortreflike slaaf; een op wie ek kan staatmaak…’ (Matteus 25:21 NLV). God beloon egter nie dwaasheid nie. Voor jy dus iets doen, bespreek dit eers met Hom (sien Spreuke 3:5-6). Die derde slaaf het egter gesê, ‘Daarom was ek te bang om iets te waag en het maar liewer u muntstuk in die grond gaan wegsteek…’ (Matteus 25:25 NLV). Hy het die algemeenste en tragiese fout, wanneer dit by gawes kom, gemaak: Hy het nie sy meester daarmee bevoordeel nie. Sommige mense belê hulle talente en gee aan God die eer, terwyl ander hulle talente misbruik en Hom verdrietig maak. Sommige mense eer Hom met ‘vrugte’, terwyl ander Hom met verskonings beledig. Hoe voel God oor sulke mense? ‘En daardie nikswerd slaaf – gooi hom uit in die donkerte daar buite…’ (Matteus 25:30 NLV). Vrees is die teenoorgestelde van geloof, en ‘As jy nie glo nie, is dit onmoontlik om God tevrede te stel…’ (Hebreërs 11:6 NLV). Neem dus hierdie jaar ‘n tree in geloof; God sal jou nie in die steek laat nie. Selfs as jy op pad na sukses struikel, sal Hy jou aanmoedig om aan die dag te dink wanneer jy sy hand op jou skouer sal voel en sal hoor: ‘…Uitstekend! Jy is ‘n voortreflike slaaf; een op wie ek kan staatmaak…’
Sielskos: 1 Tess 4-5; Matt 3:11-17; Ps 90:1-6; Spr 1:1-4
Romans 14:10 TLV
Judgment day will be characterized by two things: rewards and regrets! Jesus highlights this in the story of three servants who were given talents to invest on behalf of their master. The first two invested well and were rewarded, while the third one buried his talent and was judged accordingly. The first two considered their options, crunched the numbers, took the plunge, and were willing to risk failure. As a result their boss said, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV). Now, God doesn’t reward foolishness. So before you make a move, talk it over with Him (See Proverbs 3:5-6). The third servant, however, said, “I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground” (Matthew 25:25 NKJV). He made the most common and tragic mistake when it comes to giftedness: He failed to benefit his Master with his talent. Some invest their talents and give God credit, while others misuse theirs and give Him grief. Some honor Him with “fruit,” while others insult Him with excuses. And how does God feel about the latter? “Get rid of this ‘play-it-safe’ who won’t go out on a limb” (Matthew 25:29 MSG). Fear is the opposite of faith, and “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Hebrews 11:6). So this year step out in faith; God won’t let you down. Take a risk; He won’t fail you. Even if you stumble on your way to success, He encourages you to envision the day when you’ll feel His hand on your shoulder and hear the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Soul food: 1 Thes 4-5; Matt 3:11-17; Ps 90:1-6; Prov 1:1-4
2018-01-02
Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
Incredible though it may seem, when Israel encountered difficulties in the wilderness, they wanted to return to their old life of slavery in Egypt. The security of the known was less threatening to them than the challenges of the unknown. So the Lord said to them, not once, but twice, “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid…[of] them…the Lord your God will…go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor [forsake] you.” Why did He say that? Because it’s in taking action that you overcome your fear! When you challenge your fears, you master them. When you wrestle with your problems, they lose their grip on you. When you dare to confront the things that scare you, you open the door to the future. A wise man once said, “Take the bull by the horns until you have him screaming for mercy.” Almost without exception every man and woman in the Bible whom God called to do great things felt inadequate, and told Him so. And how did God respond to them? “I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NLT). Author John Mason writes: “The desire for safety stands against every great and virtuous dream. Security, many times, is the first step toward stagnation. Boldness in vision is the first, second, and third most important thing. If you dare nothing, you should expect nothing.” So whatever opportunity or obstacle you’re facing today, factor God in. With Him on your side, what you have is always greater than whatever you lack.
Soul food: 1 Thes 1-3; Matt 3:1-10; Ps 116; Ecc 12:13-14
