2019-01-29
Mark 4:9 MSG
Studies show we forget 50 percent of what we hear immediately, 80 percent within a day, and 97 percent within a week. So what’s the solution? When you listen, make understanding your goal, not just remembering facts. Great learners are great listeners; that’s why they always have a flow of fresh ideas. The truth is, you’ll never know how close you are to a breakthrough or a blessing until you learn to listen. Be honest. How often have you said you’re going to spend more time listening to the people in your life who matter? Start doing it, because if you don’t show up for life’s “special moments,” before you know it there will be none left to show up for. The people who really listen to us become the most important people in our lives. If you want to be one of them, you must do three things: (1) Look directly at the speaker. Don’t belittle someone by catching up on work, talking on the phone, or tweeting and texting while they’re talking. Focus on them! (2) Don’t interrupt. When you do that, people think you don’t place much value on what they’re saying. Or that you’re trying to impress them with how much you know. Or you’re too excited by what you have to add to the conversation to let them finish. (3) Suspend your judgment. Wait to hear the whole story before you respond. If you don’t, chances are you’ll miss the most important things the speaker has to say. Can you think of anyone you haven’t been listening to lately? The good news is it’s not too late to become a good listener.
Soul food: Ecc 5-8; Luke 6:37-49; Ps 107:10-16; Prov 3:19-20
2019-01-28
Romans 6:1 NKJV
How should we answer those who say that talking too much about God’s grace causes people to think they have a license to sin? By pointing them to God’s Word: “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (vv. 1-2 NKJV). Note the words “died to sin.” As you feed your new nature and starve your old one, it begins to die. You become less interested in pleasing yourself, and more interested in pleasing God. Paul said, “For the love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14 NKJV). Paul was not compelled by the fear of losing his salvation, but by the need to respond to God’s grace which he had experienced. He said, “The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14 NAS). The Greek word for “world” is kosmos, or “order.” A revelation of God’s grace caused the world order to lose its appeal to Paul, and he to lose his appeal to them. When properly understood, the grace of God does not prevent godliness, but produces more of it. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14 NKJV).
Soul food: Ecc 1-4; Luke 6:27-36; Ps 107:1-9; Prov 3:13-18
Romeine 6:1 NLV
Hoe sal ons diegene antwoord wat sê dat mense wat te veel oor God se genade praat, ander mense laat dink dat hulle ‘n lisensie het om te sondig? Deur hulle na God se Woord te verwys: ‘Beteken dit nou dat ons in die sonde moet voortlewe sodat die genade steeds oorvloediger kan word? Hoegenaamd nie! Ons is immers dood vir die sonde. Dis tog onmoontlik dat ons nog langer daarin kan voortlewe!’ (verse 1-2 NLV). Soos jy jou nuwe natuur voed en jou ou ene uithonger, sal die ou natuur begin doodgaan. Jy sal minder geïnteresseerd wees om jouself te behaag; en meer geïnteresseerd word om God tevrede te stel. Paulus sê: ‘Ek weet dat Christus se liefde ons almal aanvuur…’ (2 Korintiërs 5:14 DB). Paulus is deur die behoefte om op God se genade wat hy ervaar het te reageer, aangevuur. Hy het gesê: ‘…die wêreld [is] vir my gekruisig, en ek vir die wêreld’ (Galasiërs 6:14 NLV). ‘n Openbaring van God se genade het veroorsaak dat die wêreld vir Paulus sy aantrekkingskrag verloor het, asook andersom. Wanneer dit reg verstaan word, verhoed die genade van God nie goddelikheid nie, maar produseer meer daarvan. ‘God het sy goedheid aan alle mense bekendgemaak. Almal het nou die kans om sy verlossing te beleef. Nou wys Hy vir ons hoe om ‘n Godlose leefstyl te systap en hoe om vernietigende begeertes te laat staan… Daarom sien ons baie uit na daardie wonderlike dag wanneer ons wonderlike God en Verlosser, Jesus Christus, terugkom… Christus het sy lewe ter wille van ons opgeoffer om ons los te koop uit die mag van die sonde. Nou behoort ons net aan Hom. Ons is sy volk. Syne alleen! Nou wil ons net doen wat Hy sê!’ (Titus 2:11-14 DB).
Sielskos: Pred 1-4; Luk 6:27-36; Ps 107:1-9; Spr 3:13-18
2019-01-27
James 1:8 NKJV
If you’re afraid to make a decision in case it’s wrong, read this Scripture: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally…and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (vv. 5-8 NKJV). President Reagan enjoyed telling the story of how he learned to make firm decisions. When he was a boy, his aunt sent him to a cobbler to have a new pair of shoes made for him. When the shoemaker asked, “Do you want a square toe or a round one?” he hemmed and hawed, so the cobbler said, “Come back in a day or two and tell me what you want.” Later the cobbler saw Reagan on the street and asked what he had decided about the shoes. “I haven’t made up my mind yet,” he answered. “Very well,” the cobbler said, “your shoes will be ready tomorrow.” When Reagan got the shoes, one had a round toe and the other a square toe! Reagan said, “Looking at those shoes every day taught me a lesson. If you don’t make your own decisions, somebody else will make them for you.” Worst case: If you get it wrong, you’ll learn what not to do next time. Bottom line: To succeed in life you must pray for wisdom, and then make a decision.
Soul food: Eze 47:1-12; Rev 21:22-22:5
Jakobus 1:8 NLV
As jy bang is om ‘n besluit te neem omdat dit dalk verkeerd kan wees, lees die volgende Skrifgedeelte: ‘Vra vir God as dit nie vir jou duidelik is wat Hy wil hê jy moet doen nie. Hy sal jou eenvoudig daardie wysheid gee… Maar, as ‘n mens bid, moet jy die vertroue hê dat God sal antwoord, want iemand wat twyfel, is soos ‘n brander in die see wat deur die wind aangejaag en heen en weer gedryf word. So iemand kan mos nie dink dat hy iets van die Here sal ontvang nie. Hy is iemand wat nie tot ‘n besluit kan kom nie; op so iemand kan jy nie peil trek nie’ (verse 5-8 NLV). President Reagen het dit geniet om te vertel hoe hy geleer het om besluite te maak. Toe hy ‘n seun was, het sy tannie hom na ‘n skoenmaker gestuur. Toe die skoenmaker vra of hy ‘n ronde of vierkantige toon wil hê, het hy onseker gestotter tot die skoenmaker gesê het, ‘Kom in ‘n dag of twee terug en sê vir my wat jy wil hê.’ Later het die skoenmaker Reagan in die straat raakgeloop en hom gevra wat hy oor die skoene besluit het. ‘Ek kon nog nie kies nie,’ het hy geantwoord. ‘Nou maar goed,’ het die skoenmaker gesê, ‘jou skoene sal môre gereed wees.’ Toe Reagan die skoene kry, het een skoen ‘n ronde toon en die ander skoen ‘n vierkantige toon gehad! Reagan het gesê, ‘Elke dag wat ek vir daardie skoene moes kyk het my ‘n les geleer. As jy nie jou eie besluite kan neem nie, sal iemand anders dit vir jou neem.’ Om sukses in die lewe te behaal, moet jy vir wysheid bid en dan ‘n besluit neem.
Sielskos: Ese 47:1-12; Op 21:22-22:5
