Wees versigtig wie jy nader (1)

2020-02-29
Prediker 4:10 NLV

God het nooit vir ons bedoel om alleen te wees nie. Ons almal het van tyd tot tyd hulp en bemoediging nodig, maar wees versigtig wie jy daarvoor nader. 1) Moenie na iemand toe gaan wat nie jou probleem kan hanteer nie. Jy kan dalk tydelike verligting kry wanneer jy jou situasie met hulle deel, maar wat as hulle nie volwasse genoeg is om dit te hanteer nie? Jesus het gesê: ‘Maar elkeen wat een van hierdie kleinstes wat in My glo, tot ‘n val bring – vir hom sal dit beter wees om met ‘n meulsteen om sy nek in die see te verdrink’ (Matteus 18:6 NLV). 2) Dis in orde om na ‘n vriend te draai, solank as wat hulle geestelik volwasse is. Die Bybel sê: ‘Op ‘n vriend se lojaliteit kan jy altyd reken. Jou broer is gebore om jou te help wanneer daar probleme is’ (Spreuke 17:17 NLV). Petrus skryf: ‘…Sulke liefde maak baie sondes toe’ (1 Petrus 4:8 NLV). Iemand wat waarlik vir jou lief is, sal vir jou bid en saam met jou stap totdat jy oorwinning behaal. Wanneer jy op die verkeerde pad is, sal hulle nie vir jou verskonings maak nie – hulle sal jou aanspreeklik hou. 3) Indien moontlik, draai na ‘n geestelike vader toe. Paulus sê: ‘Want selfs al sou julle tienduised ander leermeesters hê om julle omtrent Christus te onderrig, het julle net een geestelike vader…’ (1 Korintiërs 4:15 NLV). Dink aan ‘n goeie vader se karaktereienskappe. Hy korrigeer, maar veroordeel nooit nie. Hy sal nie opgee op jou nie. Sy evaluasie is gebaseer op jou beste kwaliteite, nie jou slegstes nie. In plaas van om negatief op jou mislukkings te reageer, herken hy jou potensiaal en hou aan werk aan jou. Vra God dus vandag vir ‘n geestelike vader en bly in gereelde kontak met hom.

Sielskos: Gen 17-19; Matt 19:1-14; Ps 66:1-12; Spr 6:20-22

Who do you turn to? (1)


Ecclesiastes 4:10 NIV

God never meant for us to do life on our own. We all need help and encouragement from time to time. The Bible says: ‘Pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.’ But we need to be careful who we turn to. We shouldn’t go to someone who can’t handle our problem. It might make us feel better to share our problem with them, but if they’re not mature enough to handle what we’ve told them, we might find it actually causes more problems in the long run. They might decide to share it with someone else. The Bible says: ‘A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends’ (Proverbs 16:28 NLT). They might even make our problem worse by giving us immature and unhelpful advice. If we know we can trust someone and that they’re spiritually mature, it’s a good idea to talk things through with them. That person could become our mentor. This is usually an older, more spiritually mature Christian who will walk alongside us. And they could be our accountability partner if we’re struggling with a particular issue. That means they can ask us how things are going, and we can honestly tell them the answer. Someone who truly loves us will pray for us, and walk with us until we have the victory. It’s really important to let trusted, mature people into our lives, however we mustn’t forget that we should turn to God first. It can be easy to take our problems to other people rather than taking them to God. He has the wisdom we need. And when we admit that we’ve gone the wrong way, He’s willing to forgive us.

Gen 17-19; Matt 19:1-14; Ps 66:1-12; Prov 6:20-22

Be careful who you turn to (1)


Ecclesiastes 4:10 NIV

God never meant us to “fly solo.” We all need help and encouragement from time to time, but be careful who you turn to. (1) Don’t go to someone who can’t handle your problem. By sharing your situation with them you may experience temporary relief, but what if they’re not mature enough to handle it? Jesus said, “Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me…better…a millstone were hanged about his neck, and…he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). (2) It’s okay to turn to a proven friend as long as they’re spiritually mature. The Bible says, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). But you must know they’re a true friend. Peter writes, “Love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8 NIV). Someone who truly loves you will pray for you, and walk with you until you have the victory. And when you’re on the wrong path, they won’t cover up or make excuses for you – they will hold you accountable. (3) When possible, turn to a spiritual father. Paul says, “You might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers” (1 Corinthians 4:15 NKJV). Think of a good father’s attributes. He corrects, but never condemns you. He won’t give up on you. He evaluates you based on your best qualities rather than your worst. Instead of reacting negatively to your failures, he recognizes your potential and keeps on working with you. So ask God today for a spiritual father, and stay in regular communication with him.

Soul food: Gen 17-19; Matt 19:1-14; Ps 66:1-12; Prov 6:20-22

Are you praying for an unsaved loved one?

2020-02-28
2 Peter 3:9 NIV

If you’re praying for an unsaved loved one, here is a Bible promise you can stand on today: “He is patient…not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Remove the word “everyone” and insert the name of your loved one. As long as there’s life, there’s hope! The last miracle Jesus worked was saving a thief who hung on a cross beside Him: “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). In the words of the hymnist, Annie Johnson Flint: “His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus – He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.” No matter how far gone your loved one may be, God’s grace and mercy can still reach them – so keep praying for them. Listen: “The arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear” (Isaiah 59:1 NIV). Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father…draws them” (John 6:44 NIV). So ask God to send someone across your loved one’s path who will show them the way of salvation. Above all, don’t get discouraged and give in to doubt. Remember, it’s God’s will to save them, and when you know you’re praying in accordance with His will, you can approach Him with confidence. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know…he hears us – whatever we ask – we know…we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15 NIV).

Soul food: Gen 13-16; Matt 18:21-35; Ps 61; Prov 6:16-19

Bid jy vir ‘n ongeredde geliefde?


2 Petrus 3:9 NLV

As jy vir ‘n geliefde bid wat nog nie gered is nie, is hier ‘n Bybelse belofte waarop jy vandag kan staan: ‘…Nee, Hy wag geduldig ter wille van julle. Hy wil nie hê dat sommige verlore gaan nie en daarom gee Hy meer tyd dat almal tot inkeer kan kom.’ Vervang die woord ‘almal’ in die laaste sin met jou geliefde se naam. Solank as wat daar lewe is, is daar hoop! Die laaste wonderwerk wat Jesus verrig het, was om die dief wat op ‘n kruis langs hom gehang het, te red: ‘…Ek verseker jou, jy sal vandag nog saam met My in die paradys wees’ (Lukas 23:43 NLV). Dit maak nie saak hoe ver heen jou geliefde mag wees nie, God se genade kan hom/haar nog steeds bereik – hou dus aan om vir hom/haar te bid. Luister: ‘Die Here is nie te swak om julle te red nie. Hy is nie te doof om julle te hoor nie’ (Jesaja 59:1 NLV). Jesus het gesê: ‘Niemand kan na My toe kom as die Vader… hom nie na My toe laat kom nie…’ (Johannes 6:44 NLV). Vra dus vir God om iemand op jou geliefde se pad te stuur wat vir hulle die weg na verlossing sal wys. Word bowenal nie moedeloos nie en moenie aan twyfel toegee nie. Onthou, dit is God se wil om hulle te red en wanneer jy in ooreenstemming met sy wil bid, kan jy Hom met vrymoedigheid nader. ‘Dit is die vrymoedigheid wat ons voor God het, dat wat ons ook al volgens sy wil vra, Hy na ons luister. As ons dan met die wete leef dat Hy na ons luister, na wat ons ook al vra, weet ons ook dat Hy die versoek wat ons gevra het, sal toestaan’ (1 Johannes 5:14-15 NLV).

Sielskos: Gen 13-16; Matt 18:21-35; Ps 61; Spr 6:16-19