2019-05-29
Acts 13:43 NKJV
In the days leading up to World War II, the British government commissioned a series of posters. The idea was to capture encouraging slogans and distribute them throughout the country. Capital letters in a distinct typeface were used, and a simple two-color format selected. The only graphic was the crown of King George VI. The first poster was distributed in September of 1939: YOUR COURAGE. YOUR CHEERFULNESS. YOUR RESOLUTION WILL BRING US VICTORY. Soon thereafter a second poster was produced: FREEDOM IS IN PERIL. DEFEND IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT. These two posters appeared on railroad platforms and in pubs, stores, and restaurants. A third poster was created but it was never distributed. More than 2.5 million copies were printed yet never seen until nearly sixty years later, when a bookstore owner in Northeast England discovered one in a box of old books he had purchased at an auction. It read: KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON. It bore the same crown and style of the first two posters. It was never released to the public, however, but held in reserve for an extreme crisis, such as invasion by Germany. The bookstore owner framed it and hung it on the wall. It became so popular that the bookstore began producing identical images of the original design on coffee mugs, postcards, and posters. It’s the same message Paul and Barnabas brought to the first Christians in Antioch: “Continue in the grace of God.” Or in other words, keep calm and carry on!
Soul food: Rev 5-9; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 121; Prov 12:23-24
2019-05-28
Philippians 4:11 NLT
When you aim to grow personally and achieve things in life, these are commendable goals. But when you covet what someone else has or want to be just like them, you’re entering into territory that’s forbidden by Scripture. Contentment does not mean you should become complacent or settle for mediocrity and fail to achieve your God-given potential in life. Not at all! You’re supposed to work to improve yourself, while at the same time remaining totally dependent on God (See 2 Corinthians 3:5). Self-sufficiency means to be “sufficient in one’s self” instead of putting your faith in God’s assistance. Contentment, on the other hand, is to know with certainty and firm conviction that God is able to meet your every need (See Philippians 4:19). When you understand that truth, you don’t have to covet anyone else’s position, property, possessions, or personality. Why? Because you’re assured that all you presently have, and all you are today, is more than enough in the hands of God. Whatever you need to do to fulfill His will, you can do, not in your own strength but in the strength and power of Christ who dwells within your innermost being. Covetousness comes to us all naturally, but contentment must be learned. Paul writes: “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11-13 NLT).
Soul food: Rev 1-4; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 117; Prov 12:20-22
Filippense 4:11 ABA
Dis prysenswaardig wanneer jou doel is om persoonlik te groei en dinge in die lewe te bereik. Wanneer jy egter iets begeer wat iemand anders het of net soos hulle wil wees, gaan jy ‘n area wat deur die Skrif verbied word, binne. Tevredenheid beteken nie dat jy selfvoldaan moet word, met middelmatigheid tevrede moet wees of nie jou Godgegewe potensiaal in die lewe moet bereik nie. Glad nie! Jy is veronderstel om te werk om jouself te verbeter, terwyl jy gelyktydig heeltemal afhanklik aan God bly (sien 2 Korintiërs 3:5). Selfgenoegsaamheid beteken dat jy op jouself vertrou, eerder as om jou geloof in God se bystand te plaas. Tevredenheid, aan die ander kant, is om met sekerheid en ‘n vaste oortuiging te weet dat God in staat is om aan elkeen van jou behoeftes te voldoen (sien Filippense 4:19). Wanneer jy hierdie waarheid verstaan, het jy nie nodig om enigiemand anders se posisie, eiendom, besittings of persoonlikheid te begeer nie. Hoekom nie? Omdat jy vir seker weet dat alles wat jy tans het en alles wat jy vandag is, meer as genoeg in die hande van God is. Wat jy ook al moet doen om sy wil te vervul, kan jy doen, nie uit jou eie krag nie, maar deur die krag en mag van Christus wat in jou binneste woon. Hebsug kom natuurlik vir almal van ons, maar tevredenheid moet aangeleer word. Paulus skryf: ‘…Ek het geleer om tevrede te wees met dit wat ek het… Partymaal het ek te min gehad en partymaal het ek baie gehad, en so het ek geleer om tevrede te wees. Partymaal het ek genoeg gehad om te eet en partymaal was ek honger… Christus gee vir my die krag om enige iets te doen’ (Filippense 4:11-13 ABA).
Sielskos: Op 1-4; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 117; Spr 12:20-22
2019-05-27
Romans 14:1 NLT
During the first century cities like Rome attracted people from many different cultures, languages, religions, and customs. Consequently the early church’s mission to “make disciples of all the nations” sometimes led to conflict and confusion. For example, some believers continued to observe a seventh-day Sabbath, while others who didn’t eat meat wanted to remain vegetarians. It’s the reason Paul wrote, “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue…about what they think is right or wrong.” Note, he didn’t tell us to just tolerate or put up with them, but to “accept,” welcome, receive, acknowledge, and make allowance for those who aren’t carbon copies of us. Even though the issues we deal with nowadays are different from those of the early church, it’s easy to become divisive and judgmental. But remember, “Each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other…instead…live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble” (vv. 12-13 NLT). When legitimate differences arise on fundamental issues and there’s no wiggle room for negotiation, behave in a Christlike way without picking fights, criticizing, and looking down on people. Satan’s goal is to sidetrack us into splitting hairs while God’s kingdom suffers. Instead, “Be devoted to one another in…love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10 NIV). Learn to respect your fellow believers not because of who they are, but whose they are! Paul writes, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity…so that with one heart and one mouth you may glorify…God” (Romans 15:5-6 NIV).
Soul food: 1 Kings 21-22; Mark 10:1-12; Ps 82; Prov 12:18-19
Romeine 14:1 NLV
Gedurende die eerste eeu het stede soos Rome mense van baie verskillende kulture, tale, gelowe en gebruike aangetrek. As gevolg daarvan het dit soms gebeur dat die kerk se missie om dissipels van alle nasies te maak, tot konflik gelei het. Sommige gelowiges het byvoorbeeld aangehou om ‘n sewende dag Sabbat te onderhou, terwyl ander wat nie vleis geëet het nie, wou aanhou vegetariërs wees. Dis die rede hoekom Paulus geskryf het: ‘Julle moet medegelowiges met ‘n sensitiewe geloofsbelewing aanvaar sonder om hare te kloof oor hulle oortuigings.’ Let op, hy het nie vir ons gesê om hulle net te verdra nie, maar om hulle te aanvaar – om hulle te verwelkom, te ontvang, te erken en voorsiening te maak vir diegene wat nie presies soos ons is nie. Selfs al is die kwessies waar ons vandag voor te staan kom anders as die kwessies van die vroeë kerk, is dit steeds maklik om verdelend en veroordelend te word. Wanneer regmatige verskille oor fundamentele kwessies egter te voorskyn kom en daar geen ruimte vir onderhandeling is nie, tree op ‘n Christelike manier op sonder om te baklei, te kritiseer of op ander mense neer te kyk. ‘As broers en susters in God se huisgesin moet julle mekaar in liefde koester en voor in die ry staan om mekaar met respek te hanteer’ (Romeine 12:10 NLV). Leer om jou medegelowiges te respekteer nie as gevolg van wie hulle is nie, maar as gevolg van wie s’n hulle is! Paulus skryf: ‘Mag God, wat die bron is van standvastigheid en bemoediging, julle help om in volkome harmonie met mekaar te lewe… Dan sal julle almal in ‘n wonderlike eenheid van gees en uit een mond die lof toebring aan God…’ (Romeine 15:5-6 NLV).
Sielskos: 1 Kon 21-22; Mark 10:1-12; Ps 82; Spr 12:18-19
