2019-08-31
1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV
Next time you pass a McDonald’s, think about this statement from the founder Ray Kroc. “Press on! Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: Nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not: Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” As you read about the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews chapter 11 you discover that they shut the mouths of lions, administered justice, fulfilled promises, and even raised the dead. It’s a spectacular list of accomplishments. But in the middle of the account you also find these words: “Whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle” (Hebrews 11:34 NIV). Notice, they started out weak and became strong. How? Through persistence and determination! The problem is we’re not always willing to fight for what we want. But without conflict there can be no conquest. An Anglican bishop once quipped, “Why is it that everywhere the apostle Paul went they had a revolution, but everywhere I go they have a cup of tea?” Paul didn’t blend in, he stood out! On his first missionary journey he was stoned and left for dead. On his second they threw him in prison. And how did he handle it? On one occasion he prayed and praised God until his prison doors opened. So the word for you today is: “Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully.” If you’re looking for a statement of purpose to live by, adopt this one.
Soul food: Ezek 22-23; Matt 22:23-33; Ps 142; Prov 19:21-23
1 Korintiërs 15:58 NLV
Die volgende keer wat jy verby ‘n McDonalds ry, dink aan hierdie stelling deur die stigter Ray Kroc: ‘Hou aan! Niks in die wêreld kan die plek van deursettingsvermoë inneem nie. Talent kan nie: Niks is algemener as onsuksesvolle mense met talent nie. Slimheid kan nie: Genieë wat nie beloon word nie is amper ‘n cliché. Opvoeding kan nie: Die wêreld is vol opgevoede verlatenes. Deursettingsvermoë en determinasie alleen is alomteenwoordig.’ Soos jy lees oor die geloofshelde wat in Hebreërs hoofstuk 11 genoem word, ontdek jy dat hulle leeus se monde gesnoer het, geregtigheid uitgedeel het, beloftes nagekom het en selfs dooies weer opgewek het. Dis ‘n skouspelagtige lys van prestasies. In die middel van die lys kom jy egter ook hierdie woorde teë: ‘…Hulle het krag in hulle swakheid ontvang, was magtig in die oorlog en het vreemde leërs op die vlug laat slaan’ (Hebreërs 11:34 NLV). Let op, hulle was aan die begin swak, maar het sterk geword. Hoe? Deur deursettingsvermoë en determinasie! Die probleem is dat ons nie altyd gewillig is om te veg vir dit wat ons wil hê nie. Sonder konflik kan daar egter nie oorwinning wees nie. Paulus het nie in die agtergrond gebly nie, hy het uitgestaan! Op sy eerste sendingsreis is hy gestenig en vir dood agtergelaat. Op sy tweede reis is hy in die tronk gegooi. Hoe het hy dit hanteer? Op een geleentheid het hy tot God gebid en Hom geloof totdat die tronkdeure oopgegaan het. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: ‘…staan baie vas, onbeweeglik. Gee altyd julle allerbeste vir God se werk, want julle weet voor die Here is alles wat julle doen die moeite werd.’ As jy op soek is na ‘n doelstelling om volgens te lewe, neem hierdie een aan.
Sielskos: Eseg 22-23; Matt 22:23-33; Ps 142; Spr 19:21-23
2019-08-30
Job 1:21 NLT
Have you ever heard the saying, “Old too soon, wise too late”? Don’t let that be your story. Three of the titans who built America were Vanderbilt, Carnegie, and Rockefeller. After attending Vanderbilt’s funeral, Carnegie and Rockefeller spent the rest of their lives seeing how much money they could give away to do good. Death has a way of showing us the brevity of life and changing our perspective. Carnegie died in his eighties and Rockefeller in his nineties, but they both died! We all do. The question is will you merely make a living or will you make a difference? One businessman told his friend: “I don’t think I’m trapped on this treadmill forever, but I’m certainly involved with it right now…it’s the old merry-go-round of how much money is enough? And it’s never enough. Three years ago I thought: ‘Just a little more…now I make twice as much, and it’s still not enough.'” Solomon writes, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income” (Ecclesiastes 5:10 NAS). Have you told yourself that when you get a certain amount of money you’ll be happy and secure? Maybe and maybe not. When you trust in anything other than God, you live fearfully because you’ll always be vulnerable to circumstances you cannot control. Jesus bottom-lined it this way: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 NLT).
Soul food: Ezek 20-21; Matt 22:15-22; Ps 111; Prov 19:18-20
Job 1:21 NLV
Vanderbilt, Carnegie en Rockefeller was drie van die grootste bouers van Amerika. Nadat hulle Vanderbilt se begrafnis bygewoon het, het Carnegie en Rockefeller die res van hulle lewens spandeer om te kyk hoe baie geld hulle kon weggee om sodoende goed te doen. Die dood het ‘n manier om vir ons die kortstondigheid van die lewe te wys en ons perspektief te verander. Carnegie is in sy tagtigs oorlede en Rockefeller eers in sy negentigs, maar hulle altwee het gesterf! Ons almal sal sterf. Die vraag is of jy slegs ‘n lewe gaan maak en of jy ‘n verskil gaan maak? ‘n Besigheidsman het vir sy vriend gesê: ‘Ek dink nie ek is vir altyd op hierdie trapmeul vasgevang nie, maar ek is vir seker tans daarby betrokke. Dis die ou vraag van hoeveel geld genoeg is? Dis nooit genoeg nie. Drie jaar terug het ek gedink: ‘Net nog ‘n bietjie.’ Ek maak nou twee keer soveel geld en dis nog steeds nie genoeg nie.’ Salomo het geskryf: ‘Hoe meer jy besit, hoe meer word die eters wat jou help om dit te spandeer. Al voordeel wat jou rykdom vir jou inhou, is om te sien hoe dit deur jou vingers glip’ (Prediker 5:10 NLV). Het jy al ooit vir jouself gesê dat wanneer jy ‘n sekere hoeveelheid geld besit, dan sal jy gelukkig en veilig wees? Miskien, miskien nie. Wanneer jy op enige iets anders as God vertrou, lewe jy in vrees omdat jy altyd weerloos sal wees teenoor omstandighede wat jy nie kan beheer nie. Jesus het dit so gestel: ‘Nee, maak die koningsheerskappy van God en dit wat voor Hom reg is, julle heel eerste prioriteit; dan sal God vir julle al hierdie ander dinge as ‘n bonus byvoeg’ (Matteus 6:33 NLV).
Sielskos: Eseg 20-21; Matt 22:15-22; Ps 111; Spr 19:18-20
2019-08-29
Joshua 1:5 NIV
The Bible says, “After the death of Moses…the Lord said to Joshua…’Moses my servant is dead…get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to [you]'” (vv. 1-2 NIV). Joshua knew Moses was dead, and Israel knew it too. So why did God remind him? Because Joshua wasn’t just following a leader, he was following a legend. Moses had been Israel’s security blanket for forty years. He was the quintessential go-to guy. He led an entire generation out of 400 years of captivity in a single night. He parted a sea with the wave of a stick. He prayed and God rained down bread from heaven each day. When the nation was about to die of thirst, he struck a rock and water filled canteens. By any measurement, Moses was a massive success. But why? Was it his ingenuity? His creativity? His genius? No, it was the presence of God in his life. But now Moses was gone, and for Joshua that was bad news. But the good news was that God remained. “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” You say, “But that’s an Old Testament promise.” Then read this: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV). Today God has promised to be with you. Believe Him!
Soul food: Ezek 16:53-19:14; Matt 22:1-14; Ps 103:13-22; Prov 19:17
