2020-02-08
Colossians 3:12 NIV
Since the people we deal with every day notice what we wear, the Bible says, “Clothe yourselves with…kindness.” But sometimes kindness is the last thing on our minds. Think about how often you’ve passed a motorist stranded on the road and didn’t stop or even offer to call for help. Or you allowed the business and pressures of work to make you curt and short with others. We need to be like the young man who worked in the produce section of a supermarket. His first day on the job, a lady approached him, wanting to buy half a head of lettuce. He tried to dissuade her, but she persisted. Finally he said, “I’ll have to go back and talk to the manager.” He walked to the rear of the store, not realizing the woman had followed him. When he found the manager, he said, “There’s a silly old lady out there who wants to buy half a head of lettuce. What should I tell her?” Seeing the horrified look on the manager’s face, the boy turned around, saw the customer, regrouped, and said in his most gracious voice, “And this nice lady wants to buy the other half.” Sometimes when you pay someone a compliment, they’ll say, “You’re too kind.” But what they really mean is, “Say it again.” After Confederate General Robert E. Lee retired from the military, he became president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. One day a new student came into his office asking for a copy of the rules and regulations. The old general replied, “Son, we don’t have a rule book. Our only rule is kindness.” So today, practice being kind.
Soul food: Isa 53-57; Matt 13:10-23; Ps 125; Prov 4:3-4
2020-02-07
Ecclesiastes 5:19 NLT
Over the course of our lives, we’ll probably spend a lot of time working. Whether it’s studying, a paid job, or volunteering, God wants us to enjoy it. The Bible says: ‘To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life – this is indeed a gift from God.’ The idea of working doesn’t always fill us with joy. Sometimes we struggle to get out of bed and get started on our work with a positive attitude. But we need to try to realise that God has a purpose for us where we are and in our work. When we understand that, we can begin to rejoice in our work rather than resent it, and believe that God has a plan for our future. God may have plans for us to have a different job in the future, but whatever work we’re doing right now, we need to try and glorify God in it. The Bible says: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters’ (Colossians 3:23 NIV). Sometimes we can struggle with our work because it seems like other people overlook or undervalue us. David’s family didn’t think he was qualified to be Israel’s next king, but God had a different opinion. He also had the last word. The Bible says: ‘It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall’ (Psalm 75:7 NLT). We need to be faithful and work hard where God has placed us, and when the time is right, He’ll bless us.
Isa 49-52; Matt 13:1-9; Ps 67; Prov 4:1-2
Prediker 5:17-18 NLV
Jy sal twee-derdes van jou volwasse lewe spandeer om ‘n inkomste te verdien en God wil hê dat jy dit moet geniet. Probeer besef dat God ‘n doel het met jou waar jy jou tans bevind. ‘Die Here bepaal die rigting van ‘n mens, en met sý lewe is Hy tevrede’ (Psalm 37:23 NLV). Wanneer jy dit verstaan, sal jy begin om jou in jou werk te verbly eerder as om dit te haat en begin glo dat God ‘n plan vir jou toekoms het. Dit mag dalk ‘n ander werk wees, ‘n bevordering by jou huidige werk, of om jou vaardighede te verbeter, wat daartoe sal lei dat jy vervuld sal voel, omdat jy weet dat jy ‘n waardevolle deel van die span is. Dus, met een oog op die huidige en ‘n ander een op die toekoms, moet jou doelwit wees om jou verantwoordelikhede met doeltreffendheid en professionalisme te vervul en die Een wie se Naam jy dra, te verheerlik. Leer alles wat jy kan in jou huidige posisie – alles wat jou vaardighede kan opskerp en jou karakter kan bou. Berei jouself voor vir dit wat God vir jou in gedagte het. Wat daarvan as ander mense jou oorsien of jou onderwaardeer? Dawid se familie het nie gedink dat hy gekwalifiseerd is om Israel se volgende koning te wees nie, maar God het ‘n ander opinie gehad. Hy het ook die laaste woord gehad. Daar is ‘n belangrike les wat jy hieruit kan leer. Wees getrou en probeer uitblink waar God jou geplaas het, en wanneer die tyd reg is, sal Hy jou seën en jou bevorder. ‘…God is die regter wat verneder of verhef’ (Psalm 75:8 NLV).
Sielskos: Jes 49-52; Matt 13:1-9; Ps 67; Spr 4:1-2
Ecclesiastes 5:19 NLT
Two-thirds of your adult life will be spent earning a living, and God wants you to enjoy it: “To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life – this is indeed a gift from God.” Try to realize that God has a purpose for your being where you are. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23 NKJV). When you understand that, you begin to rejoice on the job rather than resent it, and believe that God has a plan for your future. It may be a different job, a promotion in your present job, or improving your skill set, which will result in your feeling fulfilled, knowing you are a valued and contributing team member. So with one eye on the present and another on the future, your goal should be to perform your responsibilities with efficiency and professionalism, and glorify the One whose name you carry. Learn all you can from your current position – both in skill building and in character building. Prepare yourself for what God has in mind. So what if others overlook or undervalue you? David’s family didn’t think he was qualified to be Israel’s next king, but God had a different opinion. He also had the last word. There’s an important lesson here for you. Be faithful and seek to excel where God has placed you, and when the time is right He will bless you and promote you. “It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall” (Psalm 75:7 NLT).
Soul food: Isa 49-52; Matt 13:1-9; Ps 67; Prov 4:1-2
2020-02-06
Romans 5:8 NIV
God’s love is so different to any experience of human love we’ve ever had. God’s love is not performance based; it’s unconditional, unbreakable, and unending. We don’t have to earn His love. In fact there’s nothing we can do to make Him love us more, and nothing we can do to make Him love us less. He loves us because He Himself is love (have a read of 1 John 4:8). Sometimes we can struggle to accept that we’re unconditionally loved. We think we’ve made too many mistakes and that there’s no way God could still love us. But when we look at the parable of the Prodigal Son, we can see that God’s love remains, even when we’ve taken the wrong path. The son had left his father and followed his desires until he realised that he should have been at home. When he was still quite a long way off, the father saw him coming and ran out to meet him. ‘His father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him’ (Luke 15:20 NIV). The father welcomed his son back despite his mistakes. He loved him even when he wasn’t at home. And that’s exactly how God is with us too. He loves us even when we take the wrong path, even when we leave His presence, even when we think we know better than Him. The Bible says: ‘God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ Even though we’re all sinners, He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us, so that we could be connected with Him and have the opportunity to live with Him forever.
Isa 45-48; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 120; Prov 3:33-35
