2019-04-10
2 Timothy 4:2 NIV
We all experience seasons in our lives. Sometimes we’re in the season of small beginnings. That season can frustrate us because we want to do the big things for God, not the smaller tasks. We want to be used by God without first learning the skills we’ll need. But God says, ‘Do not despise these small beginnings’ (Zechariah 4:10 NLT). That’s like spring – the season where life is starting to emerge from winter. Other times we’re in a season of joy. Things in our lives seem to be working out, and we’re on fire for God. We’re passionate for His church, and have opportunities to serve Him. This time is like summer. We’re out enjoying God and everything feels great. Our autumn season can feel like things are starting to die in our lives. We’re trying to hold on to the summer, but things don’t seem to be working out for us anymore. Other times we’re in valley seasons. Those times can feel dark and long. We’re tired and start to wonder if new life will ever come again. That’s like winter. But thankfully, spring always follows winter. If we’re not sure what season we’re in, we can ask God. He does everything according to a set time and purpose. God gives us grace for the season we’re in. He gives us the strength to deal with the tougher seasons. And we can grow our faith, even when we’re not in the summer season. Paul said, ‘Be prepared in season and out of season.’ So let’s ask God to show us what season we’re in and how to make it as productive as it possibly can be.
Phil 1-4; Luke 22:14-23; Ps 43; Prov 10:10
2 Timothy 4:2 NIV
If you sow your seed at the wrong time, you risk losing your harvest. Why? Because you didn’t recognize what season you were in. Are you in the season of small beginnings? If you are, God says, “Do not despise these small beginnings” (Zechariah 4:10 NLT). The richness and stability that come from “small beginnings” and gradual success are more lasting than the temperamental theatrics of those who have never learned their own vulnerabilities or developed a true sense of dependence on God. If you’re not sure what season you’re in, ask God. He does everything according to a set time and purpose. In the fall you break up the ground, turn the sod, sow the seed, add the fertilizer, and look for the harvest next spring. In the meantime you wait, because the soil that has yielded so many of its nutrients is being replenished. The fertilizer that smells so bad is in the process of producing the highest quality crop. The root system that’s required for strong, healthy growth is being developed. Understand this: God gives you grace for the season you’re in – not the one you were once in, or the one you’d like to be in. When Paul said, “Be prepared in season and out of season,” he recognized that he was in the winter of his ministry. That’s why he was pouring his knowledge into his successor, Timothy. Paul wasn’t resentful about the changing seasons. No, when his days as a player were over he simply became a coach. So ask God to show you what season you’re in and how to make it the most productive season of your life.
Soul food: Phil 1-4; Luke 22:14-23; Ps 43; Prov 10:10
2 Timoteus 4:2 NLV
As jy jou saad op die verkeerde tyd saai, loop jy die risiko om jou oes te verloor. Hoekom? Omdat jy nie die seisoen waarin jy is, herken het nie. Is jy in die seisoen van klein begin? As jy is, sê God: ‘Wie minag die dag van oënskynlik klein dingetjies?..’ (Sagaria 4:10 NLV). Die rykheid en stabiliteit wat uit ‘n klein begin en geleidelike sukses kom, is blywender as die temperamentele optrede van diegene wat nooit hulle eie swakhede ontdek het of ‘n ware sin van afhanklikheid aan God ontwikkel het nie. Vra vir God as jy nie seker is in watter seisoen jy is nie. Hy doen alles volgens ‘n gevestigde tyd en doel. In die herfs ploeg jy die grond, saai die saad, strooi kunsmis en kyk dan die volgende lente uit vir die oes. Intussen wag jy, omdat die grond besig is om sy voedingstowwe weer aan te vul om ‘n oes te kan produseer. Die wortelstelsel wat nodig is vir sterk, gesonde groei, is besig om te ontwikkel. Verstaan die volgende: God gee vir jou genade vir die seisoen waarin jy is – nie die een waarin jy was of die een waarin jy graag wil wees nie. Toe Paulus gesê het: ‘…Hou daarmee vol, of die tyd daarvoor geleë is of nie…,’ het hy besef dat hy in die winter van sy bediening was. Dis hoekom hy sy kennis aan sy opvolger, Timoteus, uitgestort het. Paulus het nie die veranderende seisoene weggewens nie. Nee, toe sy tyd as speler tot ‘n einde gekom het, het hy eenvoudig ‘n afrigter geword. Vra dus vir God om jou te wys in watter seisoen jy is en hoe om dit die produktiefste seisoen van jou lewe te maak.
Sielskos: Fil 1-4; Luk 22:14-23; Ps 43; Spr 10:10
2019-04-09
Lukas 5:4 NLV
Die dissipels het die hele nag probeer visvang, maar niks gevang nie. Toe het Jesus gesê: “‘Vaar nou dieper in en gooi jou nette uit…’ En hierdie keer was hulle nette so vol dat dit begin skeur het!” (Lukas 5:4-6 NLV). Let drie dinge op: 1) Om harder te werk is nie noodwendig die antwoord nie. Die dissipels het die hele nag hard gewerk. Niemand kan hulle werksetiek bevraagteken nie. Wanneer jy egter in water wat te vlak is visvang, gaan geen hoeveelheid inspanning resultate meebring nie. 2) Jy moet God gehoorsaam, selfs wanneer jy nie sy plan verstaan nie. Petrus, ‘n gesoute visserman, het sy trots eenkant geskuif en gesê: ‘…Maar as u so sê, sal ons weer probeer’ (vers 5 NLV). In Getsemane het Jesus dieselfde houding geopenbaar toe Hy gebid het: ‘…Laat nogtans nie my wil nie, maar u wil geld!’ (Lukas 22:42 NLV). 3) Dit werk altyd om dieper te gaan. Jesus het gesê dat net een huis in die storm staande gebly het, omdat die bouer diep gegrawe het en op ‘…’n sterk fondament wat ‘n rotsbasis gelê is’ (Lukas 6:48 NLV), gebou het. Die skrywer Phil Yancey se voormalige pastoor het gesê dat hy soms soos ‘n ou handgedrewe pomp gevoel het. “Elkeen wat by hom kom sou die hefboom ‘n paar keer vinnig pomp en elke keer sou hy voel hoe iets uit hom dreineer. Uiteindelik het hy niks meer gehad om te gee nie. Hy het hierdie gedagtes aan ‘n baie wyse non genoem en verwag dat sy mooi woorde sou sê oor hoeveel wonderlike opofferings hy maak. In plaas daarvan het sy vir hom wonderlike raad gegee: ‘Daar is net een ding om te doen wanneer jou put droog is. Gaan dieper!'” Dis die woord vir jou vandag!
Sielskos: Lev 26-27; Luk 22:1-13; Ps 56; Spr 10:8-9
Luke 5:4 NKJV
The disciples fished all night and caught nothing. Then Jesus said, “‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets’…And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish” (Luke 5:4-6 NKJV). Notice three things here: (1) Working harder isn’t necessarily the answer. The disciples “toiled all night.” Nobody could have questioned their work ethic. But when you fish in water that’s too shallow, no amount of effort will bring results. (2) You need to obey God even when you don’t understand His plan. Peter, a seasoned fisherman, had to set aside his pride and say, “Nevertheless at Your word I will…” In 2 Kings chapter 5, Naaman had to humble himself and bathe in the Jordan in order to be healed of leprosy. In Gethsemane Jesus displayed the same attitude when He prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42 NIV). (3) Going deeper always works. Jesus said two men built houses, but only one house survived the storm because the builder “dug…deep and laid the foundation on rock” (Luke 6:48 NIV). Author Phil Yancey’s former pastor said he sometimes felt like an old hand-operated pump. “Everyone who came along would reach up and pump vigorously a few times, and each time he felt something drain out of him. Finally, he had nothing more to give. At a ministry retreat he expressed his thoughts to a very wise nun, expecting her to offer soothing words about what a wonderful sacrificial person he was. Instead she gave him some great advice: ‘There’s only one thing to do when your reservoir is dry. Go deeper!'” And that’s the word for you today!
Soul food: Lev 26-27; Luke 22:1-13; Ps 56; Prov 10:8-9
