2018-02-06
Jeremiah 31:16 NKJV
Are you living under a cloud of guilt, feeling like a failure because your child has gone astray? Don’t do it! The Bible teaches that sometimes children simply won’t listen to the counsel of their parents. Solomon was probably giving a word of personal testimony when he wrote, “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1 NKJV). Jesus didn’t hold the father accountable for the fact that his prodigal son went astray (See Luke 15:11). And if you did your best, God doesn’t hold you accountable either. The truth is that bad parents sometimes turn out good children, and good parents sometimes have children who go bad. God’s first two children were placed in a perfect paradise, yet they rebelled. Ultimately, we’re all given the power to choose. There comes a time when every child is no longer a child, and has to take responsibility for his or her actions. So if you’ve done your best as a parent, don’t let the Devil put a guilt trip on you. And if you’ve failed as a parent, it’s not the unpardonable sin. Not only will God forgive you, but you can also claim this wonderful promise: “Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future…that your children shall come back to their own border” (Jeremiah 31:16-17 NKJV). Don’t give up on your children, because God hasn’t. Keep praying and believing, and allow Him to work on them.
Soul food: Num 22-24; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 108; Prov 3:31-32
2018-02-05
Genesis 28:16 NIV
One night Jacob had a dream. He saw a ladder with angels on it extending all the way up to heaven, and God said to him, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go” (v. 15 NIV). The next morning Jacob said, “The Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” When it comes to recognizing God at work in your life, you can be spiritually tuned in, or be like Jacob and not be “aware” of Him. It was business as usual for Moses the day he noticed the burning bush – not an uncommon sight in a hot desert climate. Except this time the bush kept burning, and “when…he turned aside to look, God called to him” (Exodus 3:4 NKJV). You’ll have some of your greatest encounters with God in the everyday experiences of life. But you have to be open and receptive, otherwise you’ll miss Him. Author William Barry says: “Whether we’re aware of it or not, at every moment of our existence we’re encountering God…who is trying to catch our attention…to draw us into a reciprocal conscious relationship.” And you never know where He’ll appear, or through whom He’ll speak. After the resurrection, Mary Magdalene thought Jesus was just the gardener. Paul writes, “Wake up…sleeper” (Ephesians 5:14 NIV). You can be awakened by a miraculous healing, a restored relationship, or even a great trial. Don’t just look for God in your triumphs; look for Him in your troubles too. Theologian Frederick Buechner said, “There is no event so commonplace but that God is present, leaving you room to recognize or not to recognize Him.”
Soul food: Num 19-21; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 111; Prov 3:29-30
Genesis 28:16 NLV
Een nag het Jakob ‘n droom gehad. Hy het ‘n leer met engele daarop gesien wat al die pad na die hemel toe gestrek het, en God het vir hom gesê, ‘Ek sal by jou wees en jou beskerm waar jy ook al gaan…’ (vers 15 NLV). Die volgende oggend het Jakob gesê, ‘…Die Here is op hierdie plek, en ek het dit nie geweet nie!’ Wanneer God in jou lewe aan die werk is, kan jy geestelik daarop ingestel wees, of jy kan soos Jakob wees en nie daarvan bewus wees nie. Dit was ‘n alledaagse dag toe Moses die brandende bos opgemerk het – nie ‘n ongewone gebeurtenis in die warm woestynklimaat nie. Hierdie keer het die bos egter aanhou brand en ‘Toe die Here sien dat Moses naderkom om ondersoek in te stel, het Hy uit die bos na hom geroep…’ (Eksodus 3:4 NLV). Jy sal van jou grootste ontmoetings met God in die alledaagse ervarings van die lewe ervaar. Jy moet egter oop en ontvanklik daarvoor wees, anders sal jy Hom misloop. Die skrywer William Barry sê: ‘Of ons nou bewus is daarvan of nie, ons kom God op elke oomblik van ons bestaan teë. Hy probeer ons aandag trek om met ons in ‘n wedersydse, bewustelike verhouding te wees.’ Jy weet nooit waar Hy te voorskyn sal kom, of deur wie Hy sal praat nie. Paulus skryf, ‘…Word wakker, jy wat slaap…’ (Efesiërs 5:14 NLV). Jy kan wakker word vir ‘n wonderbaarlike genesing, ‘n herstelde verhouding of selfs ‘n groot toets. Moenie net na God vir jou oorwinnings kyk nie, kyk ook na Hom wanneer jy moeilikheid ondervind. Die teoloog Frederick Buechner het gesê, ‘Daar is geen alledaagse gebeurtenis waar God nie teenwoordig is nie en laat jou sodoende ruimte om Hom te herken of nie te herken nie.’
Sielskos: Num 19-21; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 111; Spr 3:29-30
2018-02-04
Efesiërs 5:33 NLV
Paulus skryf, ‘…die vrou moet haar man respekteer.’ Gee aandag aan die woord ‘moet.’ Dit is ‘n bevel van die Here, nie ‘n voorstel of ‘n onderwerp wat oop is vir debattering nie. Let egter op: Die Bybel sê nie dat ‘n vrou haar man moet liefhê nie, maar dit sê wel dat sy hom moet respekteer. Mans, voor julle egter op die troon gaan sit en bevele begin uitdeel, dit beteken dat jy moet bewys dat jy waardig is om gerespekteer te word! Om jou man te respekteer beteken dat jy hom moet eer en waardeer. Wat ‘n vrou van haar man benodig, is dat hy haar hart aanraak en wat ‘n man van sy vrou benodig, is dat sy sy kop aanraak. Dit word sy ego genoem. Mans begeer dat hulle ego’s gevoed word. Wanneer jy nie jou man se ego voed nie, mag hy dalk weerloos wees wanneer hy iemand anders teëkom wat dit wel sal doen! As ‘n vrou, is jy deur God geskep met die vermoë om jou man se ego op ‘n gesonde manier te voed, deur hom te respekteer en te eer. Daar is niks gevaarliker in ‘n huweliksverhouding as disrespek nie. Wanneer ‘n man nie gerespekteer voel nie, sal hy teen jou rebelleer, homself uit die situasie verwyder, of passief word. God het twee eenvoudige reëls gegee om ‘n suksesvolle huwelik te bou. Die eerste is vir mans om hulle vrouens lief te hê en die tweede is vir vrouens om hulle mans te respekteer. Wanneer jy volgens God se reëls optree, kry jy God se resultate. As jy dus God se seën oor jou huis wil hê, begin om dinge op sy manier te doen.
Sielskos: Eks 20:12; Jer 35:1-19; Spr 1:8; Joh 19:25-27
Ephesians 5:33 NLT
Paul writes, “The wife must respect her husband.” Pay close attention to the word “must.” This is a command from the Lord, not a suggestion or a topic that’s open to debate (See Ephesians 5:33 NLT). Notice, the Bible doesn’t say a woman must “love” her husband, but it does say that she must “respect” him. And guys, before you take the throne and start handing out decrees, that means you must prove yourself worthy of respect! To respect your husband is to hold him in esteem and honor. What a woman needs from a man is located in her heart, and what a man needs from a woman is located in his head. It’s called his ego. You say, “I’m not going to feed his ego!” That would be like your husband saying, “I’m not going to feed your heart.” Men long to have their egos fed. When you fail to feed your husband’s ego, he may end up vulnerable to somebody else who feeds it for him! As a wife, you were created by God with the ability to feed your husband’s ego in a healthy manner, by respecting and honoring him. There’s nothing more dangerous in a marriage relationship than disrespect. When a man doesn’t feel respected, he will either rebel against you, remove himself, or become passive. God has given two simple rules for building a successful marriage. The first is for husbands to love their wives, and the second is for wives to respect their husbands. And when you operate by God’s rules you get God’s results. So if you want God’s best, and His blessing at home, start doing things His way.
Soul food: Exo 20:12; Jer 35:1-19; Prov 1:8; John 19:25-27
