2018-08-11
Psalm 120:2 NLV
Wanneer jy doelbewus ‘n vals indruk skep, noem die Bybel jou iemand ‘…wat die leuen liefhet en beoefen’ (Openbaring 22:15 NLV). Dit mag dalk hard klink, veral as jy net ‘n ekstra geldjie wou maak, iemand se gevoelens wou spaar of jouself beter wou laat lyk. Geen mens sal so ‘n standaard daarstel nie, maar God doen. En Hy is ernstig daaroor. Kyk maar na Ananias en Saffira. Toe hierdie paartjie ‘n vals indruk wou skep oor hoeveel hulle gegee het, het hulle in die teenwoordigheid van die apostels dood neergeslaan. Gevolglik het ‘Niemand anders… dit sommer gewaag om by hulle aan te sluit nie…’ (Handelinge 5:13 NLV). Hoe lank sou jy in daardie kerk gehou het? Petrus het gesê, ‘…Jy het nie vir mense gelieg nie, maar vir God’ (vers 4 NLV). Dit laat dinge anders lyk, nie waar nie? Daar word ‘n verhaal vertel van ‘n man wat gaan visvang het, maar niks gevang het nie. Hy het toe oppad huis toe by die mark gestop en drie visse gekoop. Toe het hy vir die winkeleienaar gesê, ‘Gooi hulle vir my – sodoende kan ek as ek by die huis kom vir my vrou sê dat ek hulle gevang het.’ Salomo het gesê, ‘Ek praat die volle waarheid… Alles wat ek sê is reg. Daar is niks daarin wat krom of verdraai is nie’ (Spreuke 8:7-8 NLV). Sommige van die ergste leuens is dié wat ons onsself vertel en begin glo. ‘n Leuenaar se grootste probleem is dat hy of sy niemand anders kan glo nie, omdat jy jou buurman beoordeel volgens die manier wat jy jou eie lewe leef. As jy dus ‘n probleem het om die waarheid te praat, bid, ‘Here, red my van lippe wat lieg, en van ‘n tong wat mislei.’
Sielskos: 1 Kro 10:1-12:22; Luk 12:22-34; Ps 119:25-32; Spr 20:25-27
Psalm 120:2 KJV
When you deliberately create a false impression, the Bible calls it dealing in “falsehood…error, deception, cheating” (Revelation 22:15 AMPC). That may sound harsh, especially if all you had in mind was making an extra dollar, sparing someone’s feelings, or trying to make yourself look better. No human being would set such a standard, but God does. And He’s serious about it. Case in point: Ananias and Sapphira. When this couple tried to create a false impression about their giving, they dropped dead in the presence of the apostles. As a result, “No one else dared join them” (Acts 5:13 NIV). How long would you have lasted in that church? Peter said, “You have not lied to men but to God” (v. 4 NIV). That puts a whole new slant on it, doesn’t it? The story’s told of a guy who went fishing and caught nothing. So he stopped by the market on his way home and bought three fish. Then he told the shop assistant, “Throw them to me – that way when I get home I can tell my wife I caught them.” Solomon said, “My mouth speaks what is true…All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse” (Proverbs 8:7-8 NIV). Some of the worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves, and end up believing. And another thought: A liar’s biggest problem is they can’t believe anybody else, because “how you live your life is how you judge your neighbor.” So if you have a problem telling the truth, pray, “Deliver my soul…Lord, from lying lips, and…a deceitful tongue.”
Soul food: 1 Chr 10:1-12:22; Luke 12:22-34; Ps 119:25-32; Prov 20:25-27
2018-08-10
Genesis 21:10 NLV
Toe Abraham probeer het om God se plan te verhaas en dit deur goed-bedoelde, maar ondeurdenkte menslike pogings probeer vervul het, is Ismael gebore. Miskien het jy al self iets soortgelyk probeer. Ons almal het ons ‘Ismael’ – ‘n goeie idee wat nie God se idee was nie. Dit kan jou lewe kompliseer. Dus het God vir Abraham gesê, ‘…Raak ontslae van die slavin en haar seun!..’ Met ander woorde: ‘Dis tyd om jou verlede te hanteer. Hierdie ding hou jou terug en totdat jy dit hanteer het, kan jy nie vorentoe na jou doelwit beweeg nie. Kry dit uit jou lewe uit en moenie terugkyk nie!’ Soms kan jou wonderwerk (Isak) en jou fout (Ismael) vir ‘n tydperk saam onder jou dak woon. Dinge kan so goed in een area van jou lewe wees, en tog so sleg in ‘n ander area. Daar kom egter ‘n tyd wanneer God sê, ‘As gevolg van die planne wat Ek vir jou het, moet jy hierdie ding uit jou lewe laat gaan.’ Dis nie maklik nie. Dis pynlik om dit wat jou vlees na smag of kosbaar ag, te laat gaan. Jy het egter net twee opsies: Om deur jou emosies gelei te word en God se beste mis te loop, of om te sê, ‘So lief soos wat ek vir hierdie persoon of ding is, het ek die Here liewer.’ Wanneer jy gewillig is om weg te loop van iets wat jy gedink het jy moet hê, omdat jy liewer vir God is, word dit ‘n ‘…voortdurende lofoffer aan God…’ (Hebreërs 13:15 NLV) genoem. Wanneer jy dit aan God offer, posisioneer jy jouself om ‘n nuwe vlak van sy seën te ontvang. Praat God vandag oor iets soortgelyks in jou lewe met jou? Indien dit die geval is, laat dit gaan!
Sielskos: 1 Kro 7:20-9:44; Luk 12:13-21; Ps 119:17-24; Spr 20:22-24
Genesis 21:10 NKJV
When Abraham tried to hurry the plan of God and fulfill it through well-intentioned but misguided human effort, Ishmael was born. Perhaps you have tried something similar yourself. We all have our “Ishmaels” – a good idea that wasn’t a God idea. And it can complicate your life. So God told Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son.” In other words: “It’s time to deal with your past and clean out your closet. This thing is holding you back, and until you deal with it you can’t move forward to your destiny. Get it out of your life and don’t look back!” Sometimes your miracle (Isaac) and your mistake (Ishmael) can live together for a while under the same roof. Things can be so good in one area of your life, yet so bad in another. But there comes a time when God says, “Because of the plans I have for you, you must put this thing out of your life.” And that’s not easy. It’s painful letting go of what your flesh craves or cherishes. But you have only two options: Be led by your emotions and miss out on God’s best, or say, “As much as I love this person or thing, I love the Lord more.” When you’re willing to walk away from something you thought you had to have because you love God more, that’s called “the sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15). And when you offer it up to God, you position yourself to experience a new level of His blessing. Is God speaking to you today about something similar in your life? If so, let it go!
Soul food: 1 Chr 7:20-9:44; Luke 12:13-21; Ps 119:17-24; Prov 20:22-24
2018-08-09
Romans 10:17 NKJV
Every day fear and faith will arise inside you, and you get to decide which one will prevail. Somebody wrote, “Two natures beat within my breast; the one is foul, the other blessed. The one I love, the other I hate; the one I feed will dominate.” Fear and faith will always be present in your life, and the one you feed will come out on top. You can’t expect fear to simply disappear. If you focus on your fears, entertain them, and give in to them, they’ll increase. The way to overcome them is to starve them. Don’t give them your time or energy. Don’t feed them with gossip, negative news reports, or frightening movies. Focus on your faith, and each day feed it through God’s Word (See Romans 10:17). The more energy and time you devote to your faith, the stronger it will become. Anytime you feel afraid of something but do it anyway, you reprogram your attitude. In other words, when you feel afraid, it means “go” instead of “stop”; it means “fight harder” instead of “give up.” The most important step you can take to overcome fear is trusting God to do the thing you think you can’t do. No matter how strong a hold fear may have on you, it can be overcome. That’s because fear is in your mind, and your mind can be renewed by the Word of God. Here’s the key: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 NKJV).
Soul food: 1 Chr 6:1-7:19; Luke 12:1-12; Ps 119:9-16; Prov 20:19-21
