2018-09-08
Ezekiel 48:35 KJV
During Israel’s twenty-fifth year of captivity, Ezekiel the prophet received from God His name Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is there. God described Israel’s future home, Jerusalem, saying, “And the name of the city…shall be, The Lord is there [Jehovah-Shammah].” It applied not only to the Lord of the old covenant, but equally to Jesus, the Lord of the new covenant. His name, “Immanuel,” like Jehovah-Shammah, means, “the Lord is with us” (See Isaiah 7:14). And it means at all times, in all places, under all circumstances, and for all of us, God is ever available and ever present! David proclaimed: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me and your strength will support me” (Psalm 139:7-10 NLT). Do you remember how fear, loneliness, and helplessness disappeared when you were in your mom’s or dad’s presence? In Israel’s deepest despair God’s response was always, “I am with you.” Those words guaranteed that their needs would always be met! And today God is saying to you, “I’m with you,” and “neither death, life, angels, spirit-powers, present or future fears, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation will ever separate us” (See Romans 8:38-39). That promise extends to all God’s redeemed children – reach out and grasp it.
Soul food: Josh 19:24-21:45; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 112; Prov 23:13-15
2018-09-07
Jeremia 23:6 NLV
Die naam Jehova Tsidkenu: Die Here is ons geregtigheid, is deur Jeremia aan God gegee toe hy die koms van Jesus, die Verlosser, aangekondig het: ‘…Daar sal ‘n tyd kom wanneer Ek weer ‘n wettige afstammeling uit Dawid se familie koning sal maak… Sy naam sal wees: ‘Die Here ons geregtigheid’…’ (verse 5-6 NLV. Voor Jesus gekom het, het ons geregtigheid in ons eie inspanning gelê. ‘Wanneer ons al die bepalings gehoorsaam wat die Here ons God gee, sal ons regverdig wees’ (Deuteronomium 6:25 NLV). Ons het daardie geregtigheidstoets absoluut gefaal! ‘Die Here ons geregtigheid,’ het egter ons oplossing geword. ‘Want Hy het Hom wat geen sonde geken het nie, sonde vir ons gemaak, sodat ons kan word geregtigheid van God in Hom’ (2 Korintiërs 5:21 AFR53). Dis slegs in Jesus wat ons die geregtigheid van God word! Jy moenie reg optree sodat jy geregverdig voor God kan voel nie, of sodat jy ‘n voorraad goeie werke kan opbou om te gebruik wanneer jy dit nodig ag nie. Jy moet deurentyd van die ‘geregtigheid’ wat Christus in jou rekening deponeer, gebruik. Dis nutteloos om binne-in jouself vir nederigheid, geduld, goedheid, liefde ens te soek. Dis nie daar nie! Jy moet hulle deur geloof uit die voorraad wat Jesus vir jou gestoor het, kry. Skuldige harte kan vergifnis daaruit kry, angstige siele kan vrede daaruit kry en moeë geeste kan krag uit Jehova Tsidkenu kry. Jy het redding alleenlik deur geloof gekry. Op dieselfde manier moet jy geregtigheid en alles anders wat jy mag nodig kry, deur geloof in dit wat God vervul het en vir jou gestoor het in Jesus, Die Here ons geregtigheid, kry!
Sielskos: Jos 16:1-19:23; Luk 20:9-19; Ps 20; Spr 23:10-12
Jeremiah 23:6 NLT
The name Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our righteousness, was given by God through Jeremiah, announcing the coming of Jesus the redeemer: “I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line…And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness'” (vv. 5-6 NLT). Before Jesus came, our righteousness lay in our own efforts. “We will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands…God has given us” (Deuteronomy 6:25 NLT). We absolutely failed that righteousness test! But “The Lord our righteousness” became our solution. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV). Notice: It’s only “in Jesus” that we “become the righteousness of God”! You’re not to try to do right so you can feel righteous before God, or to generate a supply of good works to draw from when needed. You’re to draw continually from the “righteousness” deposited in your account by Christ. It’s useless to look within yourself for humility, patience, kindness, love, etc. They’re not there! You must take them by faith from the supply stored up for you in Jesus. Guilty hearts can draw forgiveness, anxious spirits can draw peace, and weary souls can draw strength from Jehovah-Tsidkenu. You received salvation by faith alone. And in the same way you must draw righteousness, and everything else you need, by faith in what God has accomplished and stored up for your use in Jesus, The Lord our righteousness!
Soul food: Josh 16:1-19:23; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 20; Prov 23:10-12
2018-09-06
Judges 6:16, 23 NIV
The name Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our peace, was discovered by Gideon when God told him to lead Israel against the Midianites – a position he felt was far beyond his capacity. “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest…and I am the least in my family” (v. 15 NIV). Here’s how the Lord responded: “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites…Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” A frightened Gideon believed God and before the battle was even fought or the victory won, by faith he saw the peace already secured. So he built an altar to Jehovah-Shalom, “the Lord is peace!” We often assume we’ll only have peace when our situation changes. Then like Gideon we learn that inward peace doesn’t depend on altering our outward circumstances; it depends on believing God is with you and experiencing His inner peace. Jesus promises: “Peace I leave with you; my peace [inner, faith-based] I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives [outward, circumstantial]. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV). However inadequate you may feel to face the challenges today, remember Christ’s words: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace…take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). Notice: Your job is to “take heart,” and trust Jehovah-Shalom to handle the rest!
Soul food: Josh 14-15; Luke 20:1-8; Ps 142; Prov 23:7-9
Rigters 6:16, 23 NLV
Die naam Jehova Salom: Die Here is ons vrede, is deur Gideon ontdek toe die Here hom beveel het om Israel teen die Midianiete te lei – ‘n posisie wat hy gevoel het ver bo sy vuurmaakplek is. ‘…hoe kan ek Israel red? My familie is een van die swakstes… Ek is die onbelangrikste lid van my gesin’ (vers 15 NLV). Hier is hoe die Here gereageer het: ‘Ek is dan saam met jou!… Jy sal al die Midianiete verslaan asof jy net teen een man veg.’ ‘n Bang Gideon het God geglo en voor die geveg plaasgevind of gewen is, het hy deur geloof reeds die vrede gesien wat die Here verseker het. Dus het hy ‘n altaar vir Jehova Salom gebou: ‘…Die Here is Vrede…’ (vers 24 NLV). Ons aanvaar dikwels dat ons eers vrede sal hê wanneer ons omstandighede verander. Dan leer ons soos Gideon dat innerlike vrede nie van die verandering van ons uiterlike omstandighede afhang nie; dit hang van ons geloof af dat God met ons is en dat ons sy innerlike vrede ervaar. Jesus belowe: ‘Ek laat vir julle vrede na; my vrede deel Ek met julle. Ek gee nie soos die wêreld gee nie. Julle moet regtig nie ontsteld of beangs word nie’ (Johannes 14:27 NLV). Hoe onbeholpe jy vandag dalk mag voel om jou uitdagings te trotseer, onthou Christus se woorde: ‘Ek sê hierdie dinge vir julle sodat julle in My rus en vrede kan vind. In die wêreld sal julle swaarkry beleef, maar skep moed: Ek het die wêreld reeds oorwin’ (Johannes 16:33 NLV). Let op, jou werk is om moed te skep en Jehova Salom te vertrou om die res te hanteer!
Sielskos: Jos 14-15; Luk 20:1-8; Ps 142; Spr 23:7-9
