2019-07-31
Josua 3:5 ABA
God het op die drumpel van die Beloofde land vir sy mense gesê: ‘Julle moet julleself wy, want die Here sal môre wonderwerke doen tussen julle.’ Wanneer jy jouself aan God toewy, sal Hy dinge wat jou sal verstom in jou, met jou en deur jou doen. Ons wil wonderbaarlike dinge vir God doen, en dit klink edel. Ons het dit egter verkeerd om. God wil wonderbaarlike dinge vir ons doen. Dis sy werk, nie ons s’n nie. Ons werk is toewyding. Toewyding verg egter meer as om net kerk toe te gaan, die Tien Gebooie te onderhou, ‘n tiende te gee, jou geloof te deel, vrywillige werk te doen, jou hande in lofprysing op te hef en op ‘n sendingsreis te gaan. Dis alles goeie dinge, maar dit is nie toewyding nie. Die gereedskap wat in die tempel gebruik is, is as ‘gewyd’ geag. Met ander woorde, hulle is eenkant vir God se eksklusiewe gebruik geplaas. Hulle is aan sy diens toegewy. Toewyding beteken die onttroning van jouself en die inwyding van Jesus as Here van jou lewe. Dis die volledige afsterwe van alle selfbelang. Dis die oorgawe van alles van jou aan Hom. Dis die eenvoudige erkenning dat elke sekonde van jou tyd, elke ons van jou energie en elke sent van jou geld ‘n gawe van God en vir God is. Toewyding is ‘n liefde vir Jesus wat aanhou verdiep, ‘n kinderlike vertroue in jou hemelse Vader, en ‘n blinde gehoorsaamheid aan die Heilige Gees. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – wy jouself aan God toe.
Sielskos: Deut 22-24; Matt 13:24-35; Ps 78:56-64; Spr 16:33
Joshua 3:5 NIV
On the threshold of the Promised Land, God said to His people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” When you consecrate yourself to God He will do things in you, with you, for you, and through you that will amaze you. We want to do amazing things for God, and that seems noble. But we’ve got it backwards. God wants to do amazing things for us. That’s His job, not ours. Our job is consecration. And consecration is more than going to church, keeping the Ten Commandments, tithing, sharing your faith, repeating the sinner’s prayer, volunteering for a ministry, raising your hands in worship, and going on a mission trip. All those are good things, but that isn’t consecration. The utensils used in temple worship were considered “consecrated.” In other words, they were set apart for the exclusive use of God. They were devoted to His service. Consecration means dethroning yourself and enthroning Jesus as Lord of your life. It’s the complete divestiture of all self-interest. It’s giving God veto power. It’s surrendering all of you to all of Him. It’s a simple recognition that every second of your time, every ounce of your energy, and every penny of your money is a gift from God and for God. Consecration is an ever-deepening love for Jesus, a childlike trust in your heavenly Father, and a blind obedience to the Holy Spirit. So the word for you today is – consecrate yourself to God.
Soul food: Deut 22-24; Matt 13:24-35; Ps 78:56-64; Prov 16:33
2019-07-30
Handelinge 4:31 NLV
Bevind jy jouself in ‘n intimiderende situasie? Indien dit die geval is, let op vier dinge wat die dissipels gedoen het toe hulle deur die godsdienstige owerhede bedreig is. 1) Hulle het God by die situasie betrek. ‘En nou, Here, hoor hoe dreig hulle ons…’ (vers 29 NLV). Het jy met die Here daaroor gepraat? As dit nie groot genoeg vir ‘n gebed is nie, is dit te klein om ‘n las te wees! God behoort die eerste persoon te wees met wie jy dit bespreek, nie die laaste nie. Gebed is die deur waardeur Hy jou situasie binnekom, maak dus seker dat jy Hom binne nooi. 2) Hulle het vir groter geloof gebid. ‘…Gee dat ons, u diensknegte, u woord met waagmoed sal verkondig’ (vers 29 NLV). Dis onrealisties om te dink dat al jou vrae beantwoord sal word en dat al jou vrese sal verdwyn. Geloof en vrees sal altyd aan die werk in jou lewe wees. Om situasies te oorkom, moet jy jou vrees uithonger en jou geloof met God se Woord voed (sien Romeine 10:17). 3) Hulle het van God verwag om tussenbeide te tree. ‘Steek u hand uit…’ (Handelinge 4:30 NLV). Moenie net niks doen en verwag dat God sal beweeg nie. Gaan op die aanval. Toe die dissipels in ‘n storm vasgevang was, sê die Bybel: ‘Kort voor dagbreek het Jesus op die see na hulle toe aangeloop gekom’ (Matteus 14:25 NLV). Jesus werk die nagskof! Hy is enige tyd wat jy roep, beskikbaar. 4) Hulle is deur die Heilige Gees vervul. ‘…en hulle is almal met die Heilige Gees vervul…’ (Handelinge 4:31 NLV). Dis die sleutel! Hulle is deur God se krag versterk – jy kan ook wees.
Sielskos: Deut 18-21; Matt 13:10-23; Ps 78:40-55; Spr 16:32
Acts 4:31 NASB
Are you in an intimidating situation? If so, notice four things the disciples did when they felt threatened by the religious authorities of their day. (1) They brought God into the picture. “Lord, behold their threatenings” (v. 29). Have you talked to the Lord about it? If it’s not big enough to be a prayer, it’s too small to be a burden! God should be the first person you discuss it with, not the last. Prayer is the door through which He enters your situation, so be sure you invite Him in. (2) They prayed for greater faith. “Grant…thy servants…boldness” (v. 29). It’s unrealistic to think all your questions will be answered and all your fears will disappear. Faith and fear will always be at work in your life. To be an overcomer, you must learn to starve your fear and feed your faith on God’s Word (See Romans 10:17). (3) They expected God to intervene. “Stretch out your hand” (Acts 4:30 NIV). Don’t just sit in the seat of “do-nothing” and expect God to move. Go on the offensive. When the disciples were in a storm the Bible says, “About four o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water!” (Matthew 14:25 TLB). Jesus works the night shift! He’s available any time you call. (4) They were filled with the Holy Spirit. “When they had prayed…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 4:31 NAS). There’s the key! They were strengthened and energized by God’s power – you can be too.
Soul food: Deut 18-21; Matt 13:10-23; Ps 78:40-55; Prov 16:32
2019-07-29
Genesis 1:31 AMP
You can’t deal with anything effectively until you first accept it for what it is – including yourself! Dictionary definitions for “accept” include: (1) to receive willingly; (2) to view as right; (3) to agree with. First, acceptance involves your will. You can choose to accept yourself or not; it’s up to you. Second, when something is acceptable it’s viewed as being “right.” We tend to reject ourselves because we see only what’s wrong with us, rarely what’s right. Often this attitude was instilled in us early in life by those who focused on our weaknesses instead of our strengths, and we still carry their opinions with us. Third, the word “accept” means “to agree with.” If you’re having a problem accepting yourself, you need to get into agreement with God’s Word. He says you’re “righteous,” so start saying the same thing (See 2 Corinthians 5:21). That can take a while to sink in, but over time it will take root within you. The Bible says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). To walk with God you must agree with Him. He says He loves you and accepts you “in Christ,” so start to agree with Him and stop putting yourself down. When God made us, He said, “It was very good” and He hasn’t changed His mind. But be patient – He’s not through with His creative work in your life. And He wants you to see yourself as He sees you and learn to love yourself while you’re still “under construction.”
Soul food: Deut 14-17; Matt 13:1-9; Ps 78:32-39; Prov 16:31
