2019-03-11
1 John 3:5 NIV
When you refuse to confront your sins and deal with them, you become a well-marked target for the Enemy. And by looking at someone else and saying, “I would never do that,” you fail to build a safeguard against it. “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12 NLT). You never thought you could get that angry, or have an affair, or lie to your boss, or cheat in your finances. And because you never thought you could, you did nothing to protect yourself against it. As sure as fish swim and birds fly, your sinful nature will lead you astray unless you deal with it decisively and scripturally. Paul wrote, “As they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God …[he] gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28 NIV). The worst thing God could do is to give you over to your own carnal impulses and say, “Have it your way!” It’s amazing how we compare our sins with other people’s sins, and conclude ours aren’t as bad. The Bible says, “All have sinned, and come short” (Romans 3:23). If you try to jump over a deep chasm, it doesn’t matter if you miss the other side by one foot or one hundred feet, you fall just as far and land just as hard. But there’s good news: “He was manifested to take away our sins.” Today Jesus will forgive your sins, declare you righteous, and give you strength if you come to Him with a repentant heart and receive His mercy and grace.
Soul food: Job 1-4; Luke 16:1-18; Ps 24; Prov 7:24-25
1 Johannes 3:5 NLV
Wanneer jy weier om jou sonde te konfronteer en dit te hanteer, word jy ‘n maklike teiken vir die vyand. ‘…as julle dink julle staan sterk, moet julle oppas dat julle nie ook tot ‘n val kom nie’ (1 Korintiërs 10:12 NLV). Jy het nooit gedink jy kan so kwaad word, of ‘n buite-egtelike verhouding hê, of vir jou baas jok, of iemand finansieel verkul nie. Omdat jy nooit gedink het dat jy dit kon doen nie, het jy niks gedoen om jou daarteen te beskerm nie. So seker as wat die visse swem en die voëls vlieg, sal jou sondige natuur jou mislei, tensy jy dit beslis en Skriftuurlik hanteer. Paulus het geskryf: ‘Inderdaad, omdat hulle geweier het om aan God die erkenning te gee wat Hy verdien, het Hy hulle oorgegee aan hulle skewe ingesteldheid. Gevolglik doen hulle allerlei onbehoorlike dinge’ (Romeine 1:28 NLV). Die ergste ding wat God kan doen is om jou aan jou eie vleeslike impulse oor te gee en te sê, ‘Doen wat jy wil!’ Dis wonderbaarlik hoe ons ons sonde met ander mense s’n vergelyk en tot die gevolgtrekking kom dat ons sonde nie so erg is nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘Ons het immers almal gesondig…’ (Romeine 3:23 NLV). As jy oor ‘n afgrond probeer spring, maak dit nie saak of jy die ander kant met ‘n sentimeter of ‘n kilometer mis nie, jy val ewe ver en land ewe hard. Daar is egter goeie nuus. ‘Julle weet tog dat Hy verskyn het om die sonde weg te neem…’ Vandag sal Jesus jou sonde vergewe en jou die krag gee om met ‘n berouvolle hart na Hom te kom en sy genade te ontvang.
Sielskos: Job 1-4; Luk 16:1-18; Ps 24; Spr 7:24-25
2019-03-10
Romans 12:2 NLT
Sometimes our culture markets misinformation and half-truths. And since our parents grew up in that culture, they handed us the same guide for interpreting life. As a result we may have arrived at these three mistaken conclusions: (1) There’s a special person out there who will make me happy. Only God can do that! Hurting people only hurt other people. “Out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45 NKJV). (2) When I attain a certain position or accumulate a specific amount of money, I’ll be happy. That’s the old “as-soon-as” myth, and it breeds a life of discontent (See Luke 12:15). (3) I can’t help it; it’s just the way I am. That’s the “I’m-not-responsible” lie, and it will stop you dead in your tracks. If you want to be happy, examine the excuses you keep coming up with to justify your behavior. Here are a few of them: “I’m not the only one!” So what? If everybody does it, does that mean God doesn’t take it seriously? Like a kind of group-sin? “I don’t see any harm in it.” And who gave you the authority to write the rules and play God? “I’ll just try it once.” So if you just try it once, does that mean there’ll be no consequences? What are the lies behind your excuses? Examine them. They’re keeping you in spiritual bondage, and they must be unearthed and removed! The Bible calls this “renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Jesus said once you know the truth, your old belief systems will be exposed and you’ll be set free (See John 8:32). Imagine being free to become all God wants you to be! Isn’t that worth pursuing?
Soul food: Ps 51; Mark 8:34-38
Romeine 12:2 NLV
Soms bemark ons kultuur verkeerde inligting en halwe waarhede. Gevolglik kan ons dalk tot hierdie drie verkeerde gevolgtrekkings kom: 1) Daar is ‘n spesiale persoon daar buite wat my gelukkig sal maak. Net God kan dit doen! Mense wat seer het, maak net ander mense seer. ‘…Wat ook al in jou hart leef, bepaal wat jy sê’ (Lukas 6:45 NLV). 2) Wanneer ek ‘n sekere posisie beklee of ‘n sekere hoeveelheid geld bymekaar maak, sal ek gelukkig wees. Dis die ou ‘sodra-dit-gebeur’ mite, wat ‘n lewe van ontevredenheid teel (sien Lukas 12:15). 3) Ek kan dit nie help nie; dis maar net hoe ek is. Dis die ‘dis-nie-my-verantwoordelikheid-nie’ leuen, wat jou in jou spore sal stuit. As jy gelukkig wil wees, moet jy die verskonings waarmee jy vorendag kom om jou gedrag te regverdig, ondersoek. Hier is ‘n paar van hulle: ‘Ek’s nie die enigste een nie!’ Wat daarvan? As almal dit doen, beteken dit dat God dit nie ernstig opneem nie? ‘Ek sien nie die skade daarin nie.’ Wie het jou die outoriteit gegee om die reëls te maak en God te speel? ‘Ek sal dit net een keer probeer.’ So as jy dit net een keer probeer, beteken dit dat daar geen nagevolge sal wees nie? Wat is die leuens agter jou verskonings? Ondersoek hulle. Hulle hou jou in geestelike slawerny en moet ontbloot en verwyder word! Jy moet volgens die Bybel jou ‘denkpatrone vernuwe.’ Jesus het eenmaal gesê dat sodra jy die waarheid ken, jou ou geloofsisteme ontbloot sal word en jy vrygemaak sal word (sien Johannes 8:32). Dink net hoe wonderlik dit sal wees om vry te wees om alles te word wat God wil hê jy moet word! Is dit nie die moeite werd om na te streef nie?
Sielskos: Ps 51; Mark 8:34-38
2019-03-09
Zechariah 7:11 NIV
Accept it – some people simply aren’t ready to change! They’ll demand your time and energy, but when you get right down to it, they won’t pay the price for progress. Who are they? (1) People who want to talk but not listen. James speaks about two kinds of people – hearers and doers. “Be…doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). Instead of striving endlessly to meet other people’s needs, try to connect them to the One who can. They should be dependent on the Lord, not you. (2) People who don’t think you’re qualified to help them. Jesus wasn’t respected in His hometown, yet He was the very person they needed (See John 1:11-12). Opportunity doesn’t always knock; sometimes it stands by, waiting to be recognized! When people are unwilling to accept your help and advice, chances are they may not be ready to grow and deal with their problems. (3) People who want what you have, but not what you know. These folks want to be rescued but not instructed; comforted but not corrected. And when you keep bailing them out instead of teaching them how to live, you’re not really helping them. David said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Psalm 119:71). Often people have to experience the pain of what’s wrong before they appreciate the wisdom of what’s right. So when it comes to helping people – be discerning.
Soul food: Exo 39-40; Luke 15:11-32; Ps 135; Prov 7:21-23
