2019-04-08
Hebreërs 11:27 NLV
Die lewe van Moses kan in drie woorde opgesom word: ‘Hy het volgehou.’ Hy het ten spyte van die minagting van Farao, die magtigste monarg op aarde, volgehou. Hy het ten spyte van die hardkoppigheid van die Israeliete, wat gekla, geblameer en gerebelleer het, volgehou. Hy het ten spyte van die kritiek van Miriam en Aäron, sy eie familie, volgehou. Hy het ten spyte van die negatiewe verslag van die tien spioene wat van die Beloofde Land af teruggekom het (sien Numeri 13:33), volgehou. Hoe het Moses dit gedoen? ‘Omdat hy geglo het, het Moses… volgehou soos iemand wat sy oog op die onsienlike gevestig hou.’ Hy het sy oë op God – nie op mense nie – gevestig gehou. Paulus gee ons die geheim om al die gevegte in ons lewens te wen: ‘Dan… sal julle weerstand kan bied, en na die hele geveg verby is, sal julle nog vas staan’ (Efesiërs 6:13 NLV). Staan vas wanneer dit lyk of dit met jou vyande goed gaan. Staan vas wanneer dit lyk of die bose wen. Staan vas wanneer groot mense kleinlik optree en wanneer klein mensies outoriteit wat hulle nie verdien nie, vereis. Staan vas wanneer niemand sal weet dat jy verkeerd opgetree het nie. Geestelik gesproke, waar is jy vandag? Voel jy bewerig in areas waarin jy eens op ‘n tyd sterk gestaan het? Gee jy toe aan versoeking, vrees, buierigheid of die opinies van ander omdat jy moeg vir hulle afkeuring is? Staan vas! Moses het sy oë op die Here gevestig. Hy het hom konstant daaraan herinner dat sy enigste doel in die lewe was om die Here te behaag, te gehoorsaam, te verheerlik en sy goedkeuring te kry. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: Staan vas!
Sielskos: Lev 23:26-25:55; Luk 21:29-38; Ps 50:16-23; Spr 10:4-7
Hebrews 11:27 KJV
The life of Moses can be summed up in two words: “He endured.” He endured despite the contempt of Pharaoh, the mightiest monarch on earth. He endured despite the stubbornness of the Hebrews, who grumbled, blamed, and rebelled. He endured despite the criticism of Miriam and Aaron, his own family. He endured despite the negative report of the ten spies who came back from the Land of Promise saying, “The giants are too big, and we are too small” (See Numbers 13:33). How did Moses do it? Answer: “By faith…he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” He kept his eyes on God – not people! Paul gives us the secret to victory in the battles of life: “Having done everything…stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13 NAS). Stand firm when your enemies seem to prosper. Stand firm when the wicked seem to be winning. Stand firm when big people act small and little people demand authority they don’t deserve. Stand firm when no one would ever know you compromised. Spiritually speaking, where are you today? Are you feeling shaky in areas where you once stood strong? Are you giving in to temptation, fear, mood-swings, or the opinions of others because you’re tired of their disapproval? Stand firm! Moses endured even when he was in his eighties “because he saw him who is invisible” (NIV). He kept his eyes on the Lord. He continually reminded himself that his sole purpose in life was to please the Lord, obey Him, glorify Him, and gain His approval. So the word for you today is: Stand firm!
Soul food: Lev 23:26-25:55; Luke 21:29-38; Ps 50:16-23; Prov 10:4-7
Hebrews 11:27 NIV
Perseverance was really important in Moses’ life. He had to persevere when he was facing Pharaoh, the mightiest monarch on earth. He had to persevere when dealing with the stubbornness, rebellion, and grumbling of the Israelites in the desert. He persevered when criticised by Miriam and Aaron, his own family. He persevered when given the negative report by the ten spies who came back from the Land of Promise saying, ‘The giants are too big, and we are too small’ (see Numbers 13:33). In fact, his perseverance was mentioned in the list in Hebrews 11 of those with faith. And it was this faith that helped him have perseverance through some tough times. Moses kept his eyes on God – not people. And that’s what we need to do too. Paul gives us the secret to victory in the battles of life: ‘Put on God’s full armour. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing’ (Ephesians 6:13 NCV). We need to stand strong. When the Israelites were afraid of the Egyptians who were chasing them, Moses gave them this advice: ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still’ (Exodus 14:13-14 NIV). Moses’ advice of ‘standing firm’ despite what we’re facing, is advice that we need to start putting into practice. Whatever battle we’re facing, we need to focus our eyes on God, put our trust in Him, be still, and stand firm.
Lev 23:26-25:55; Luke 21:29-38; Ps 50:16-23; Prov 10:4-7
2019-04-07
Hebrews 6:1 CEV
Paul writes: “May God himself…who makes everything holy and whole…put you together – spirit, soul, and body, and keep you fit for the coming of…Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 TM). Are you growing into spiritual maturity? Before you answer, read these words: “Maturity is the ability to control your anger and settle your differences without violence or resentment. Maturity is patience; it’s the willingness to pass up short-term pleasure for long-term gain. It’s the ability to ‘sweat it out’ in spite of heavy opposition or discouraging setbacks. It’s the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration without complaining or collapsing. Maturity is humility. It’s being big enough to say, ‘I was wrong,’ and when you are right, never needing to say, ‘I told you so.’ Maturity is the ability to make a decision and follow through with it instead of exploring endless possibilities and doing nothing about any of them. Maturity means dependability, keeping your word, and coming through in a crisis. The immature are masters of alibi; they’re the confused and the disorganized. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business, and good intentions. Maturity is the art of being at peace with what you can’t change, having the courage to change what you can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” The Bible says, “We must try to become mature and start thinking about more than just the basic things we were taught.” So the word for you today is: It’s time to become mature.
Soul food: 2 Kings 5:1-27; Matt 6:19-34; Acts 5:1-11
Hebreërs 6:1 NLV
Paulus skryf: ‘Mag God self, dié God wat vrede bewerk, julle volkome aan Hom toewy. Mag Hy julle heeltemal – gees, siel en liggaam – onberispelik bewaar tot wanneer ons Here Jesus Christus terugkom. Hy wat julle roep, is getrou. Hy sál dit doen!’ (1 Tessalonisense 5:23-24 NLV). Groei jy in geestelike volwassenheid? Voor jy antwoord, lees hierdie woorde: ‘Volwassenheid is die vermoë om jou woede te beheer en jou verskille sonder geweld of verwyte uit te stryk. Volwassenheid is geduld; dis die gewilligheid om korttermyn plesier vir langtermyn wins prys te gee. Dis die vermoë om ten spyte van hewige teenstand of ontmoedigende terugslae te volhard. Dis die kapasiteit om onplesierigheid en frustrasie sonder om te kla of ineen te stort, te hanteer. Volwassenheid is nederigheid. Dis om groot genoeg te wees om te sê: ‘Ek was verkeerd,’ en wanneer jy reg is, nooit te sê: ‘Ek het jou mos gesê,’ nie. Volwassenheid is die vermoë om ‘n besluit te neem en dit enduit deur te voer, in plaas daarvan om eindelose moontlikhede te verken en niks aan een van hulle te doen nie. Volwassenheid beteken betroubaarheid, die hou van jou woord en om deur ‘n krisis te kom. Die onvolwassenes is verward en ongeorganiseerd. Hulle lewens is ‘n doolhof van gebroke beloftes, voormalige vriende, onvoltooide besighed en goeie intensies. Volwassenheid is die kuns om vrede te hê met dit wat jy nie kan verander nie, om die moed te hê om dit te verander wat jy kan en die wysheid om die verskil tussen die twee te ken.’ Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: Dis tyd om geestelik volwasse te word.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 5:1-27; Matt 6:19-34; Hand 5:1-11
