2020-01-06
Luke 8:43-44 NLT
The Bible says: “A woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, ‘Who touched me?’ When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, ‘Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, “Who touched me?”‘ And Jesus said, ‘Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue [healing power] is gone out of me’…And he said unto her, ‘Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole'” (vv. 43-48). This woman had an “issue” that was draining the life out of her, one no doctor could cure. So she did what you need to do – she took her issue to Jesus, touched Him by faith, and was made whole. Think about what she had to overcome. Twelve years of suffering. A sense of hopelessness and despair because she’d “spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any.” Then there was the crowd that thronged Jesus and stood in her way. Nevertheless, the moment her faith made contact with Jesus, she was made whole. So what’s your biggest issue today? Is it a long-term one? Is it at home or on the job? Is it a health issue or a stubborn habit? Don’t stop until you get to Jesus, even if that means getting down on your knees in prayer and pushing through every obstacle that stands in your way. Touch Jesus by faith today, and you too can be made whole.
Soul food: 1 Cor 12-14; Matt 4:18-25; Ps 10:1-11; Prov 1:10-16
Lukas 8:43-44 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘Daar was ‘n vrou in die skare wat twaalf jaar lank aan chroniese bloeding gely het. Sy het alles wat sy gehad het, aan dokters bestee, maar kon nie genees word nie. Sy het van agter na Jesus gekom en die soom van sy kleed aangeraak. Onmiddellik het die bloeding gestop. ‘Wie het My aangeraak?’ het Jesus gevra. Almal het dit ontken, en Petrus het gesê: ‘Meneer, die hele skare stoot en druk voortdurend teen U.’ Maar Jesus het vir hom gesê: ‘Nee, iemand het My opsetlik aangeraak, want Ek het genesende krag uit My voel vloei…’ ‘Dogter,’ het Hy vir haar gesê, ‘jou geloof het jou genees. Gaan in vrede’ (verse 43-48 NLV). Die vrou het ‘n probleem gehad wat die lewe uit haar gedreineer het, ‘n probleem wat geen dokter kon oplos nie. Sy het toe gedoen wat jy behoort te doen – sy het haar probleem na Jesus toe geneem, Hom in geloof aangeraak en heel geword. Dink oor alles wat sy moes oorkom. Twaalf jaar van lyding. ‘n Gevoel van hopeloosheid en wanhoop, want: ‘…Sy het alles wat sy gehad het, aan dokters bestee, maar kon nie genees word nie…’ Dan was daar die skare wat om Jesus saamgedrom het en in haar pad gestaan het. Nietemin is sy genees die oomblik wat haar geloof kontak met Jesus gemaak het. Wat is vandag jou grootste probleem? Is dit langtermyn? Is dit by die huis of by die kantoor? Is dit ‘n gesondheidskwessie of ‘n hardkoppige gewoonte? Moenie stop voor jy by Jesus kom nie, selfs al beteken dit dat jy op jou knieë moet gaan en deur elke struikelblok wat in jou pad staan, moet druk. Raak Jesus vandag in geloof aan; en jy kan ook heel gemaak word.
Sielskos: 1 Kor 12-14; Matt 4:18-25; Ps 10:1-11; Spr 1:10-16
2020-01-05
Malachi 3:10 NIV
The Bible records this interesting conversation between God and His people: “‘Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘But you ask, “How are we to return?” Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, “How are we robbing you?” In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse – your whole nation – because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘Then all the nations will call you blessed'” (vv. 7-12 NIV). In answer to the Israelites’ question, “How can we prove that we have truly returned to you, Lord?” He replied, “By tithing!” Here are three things the Bible says will happen when you give God 10 percent of your income: (1) The windows of heaven will open, and His blessings will pour into your life. (2) It puts a hedge of divine protection around you, your loved ones, and all that concerns you. (3) The people around you will observe and comment on the blessing of God on your life. So, if you haven’t been tithing because times are hard and you’re afraid you won’t be able to make ends meet, God’s challenge to you today is: “Test Me in this.”
Soul food: 1 Cor 13; Eph 3:14-21; John 15:1-17
Maleagi 3:10 NLV
Die Bybel teken hierdie interessante gesprek tussen God en sy mense aan: ‘…Die Here, die Almagtige, sê: ‘Keer terug na My toe en Ek sal na julle toe terugkeer. Maar julle vra: ‘Hoe moet ons terugkeer?’ ‘Sal mense God ooit besteel? Tog het julle My bedrieg! Julle vra: ‘Wat bedoel U? Wanneer het ons U ooit bedrieg?’ Julle het die tiendes en offerandes gesteel! Daar rus ‘n vloek op julle, want julle hele volk besteel My.’ Die Here, die Almagtige, sê: ‘Bring al die tiendes na die stoorkamers sodat daar genoeg kos in my tempel kan wees. Toets My hierin of Ek nie vir julle die vensters van die hemel sal oopmaak nie. Ek sal voorspoed op julle laat reën wat meer as genoeg vir julle sal wees!’ Die Here, die Almagtige, sê: ‘Ek sal sorg dat insekte julle oes nie verwoes nie en julle wingerde op die landerye nie misluk nie. Dan sal al die nasies julle as geseënd beskou omdat julle land begeerlik is’ (verse 7-12 NLV). In reaksie op die Israeliete se vraag: ‘Hoe kan ons bewys dat ons waarlik na U toe teruggekeer het, Here?’ het Hy geantwoord: ‘Deur jou tiende te gee!’ Hier is drie dinge wat die Bybel sê sal gebeur wanneer jy God 10 persent van jou inkomste gee: 1) Die vensters van die hemel sal oopmaak en sy seëninge sal op jou lewe neerstort. 2) Dit plaas ‘n heining van goddelike beskerming om jou, jou geliefdes en alles van jou. 3) Die mense rondom jou sal die seën van die Here op jou lewe opmerk. Dus, as jy in die laaste tyd nie jou tiende gegee het omdat dit moeilike tye is en jy bang is dat jy nie al jou verpligtinge sal kan nakom nie, daag God jou vandag uit: ‘Toets My hierin.’
Sielskos: 1 Kor 13; Ef 3:14-21; Joh 15:1-17
2020-01-04
James 4:2 NIV
How large is your asking capacity when it comes to prayer? When Elijah asked Elisha, “‘What may I do for you, before I am taken away?’…Elisha said, ‘Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me'” (2 Kings 2:9 NKJV). Some of us may have been shocked by his response, pegged him as arrogant, and said, “You need to humble yourself and be grateful for the privilege of serving a great prophet like Elijah, and count yourself fortunate if God permits you to carry on his ministry.” But Elisha wasn’t timid, and Elijah wasn’t offended. So how did it all turn out? Elisha got his double portion and ended up performing twice as many miracles as Elijah. When you pray, God doesn’t say, “Make your request reasonable and practical.” He wants you to ask “largely and abundantly, not sparingly” (See James 1:5 NIV). How’s this for a big promise: “Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession” (Psalm 2:8 NLT)? Take the limits off God! Think about it: If He’s willing to give you “the nations for your inheritance,” He will surely save your loved ones, heal your body, give you that job, that home, or that relationship you’ve been praying for. Jesus said, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name” (John 14:13 NIV). Only two times in Scripture has someone said something that caused Jesus to marvel. On both occasions it was a demonstration of audacious faith by a Gentile, and someone the religious crowd thought had no right to God’s miraculous provision. So the word for you today is – enlarge your asking capacity.
Soul food: 1 Cor 9-11; Matt 4:12-17; Ps 90:13-17; Prov 1:8-9
