2020-09-09
Galasiërs 2:19-20 NLV
Baie mense wil deesdae soveel as wat hulle kan vir hulself kry, terwyl hulle so min as moontlik in ruil daarvoor gee. Hulle wil in goeie tye vir hulle vriende daar wees, maar in die nie-sulke-goeie-tye afwesig wees. Dis hartseer dat nasionale statistieke hierdie gebrek aan toewyding bevestig. Die huwelikskoers neem af terwyl skeisake aan die toeneem is. Betrokkenheid by bediening en goeie sake wat behoeftige mense help, neem af. Hoekom gebeur dit? Omdat mense nie betrokke wil raak of deur verantwoordelikheid vasgepen wil word nie. Ons sien dikwels geleenthede om ander mense te dien as verpligtinge, dus vermy ons dit. Ons is die generasie met die kort aandagspan, gewoond aan vyftien-sekonde advertensies en kitskos. Ons wil hê dat ons preke eenvoudig moet wees, ons moet vermaak word en ons laat goed voel. Ja, radikale toewyding is seldsaam – maar dis wat God van jou verwag. Toewyding beteken dat jou belofte bindend is, of dit nou gerieflik is of nie. Kom ons kyk na ‘n paar voorbeelde: Toewyding aan jou huwelik. Die huwelik, soos God dit sien, is nie ‘n vyftig-vyftig kontrak nie. Dis ‘n wedersydse ineenstemming om 100 persent van onsself te gee. Dis ‘n lewenslange verbond tussen jou en jou eggenoot: ‘vir beter of vir slegter; vir ryker of armer; in siekte en in gesondheid; totdat die dood ons skei.’ Hierdie verbond is baie makliker om na te kom wanneer beide eggenote geleer het om soos Paulus te sê: ‘…Ek is saam met Christus gekruisig. Ek leef nie meer nie, maar Christus lewe in my…’ Dit beteken dat die dood van selfbelang, die sleutel tot wonderlike verhoudings is.
Sielskos: Eseg 22-23; Luk 20:41-47; Ps 78:9-16; Spr 20:11-14
2020-09-08
Deuteronomy 15:6 NLT
Sometimes circumstances wear us down so much that we give up hope. But even when things are going badly for us, God doesn’t leave us. Jeremiah 17 says: ‘The person who trusts in the LORD will be blessed. The LORD will show him that he can be trusted. He will be strong, like a tree planted near water that sends its roots by a stream. It is not afraid when the days are hot; its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year when no rain comes; it always produces fruit’ (v.7-8 NCV). If we put our trust in God, He’ll keep us nourished and fruitful, even during the difficult times. He wants to bless each one of us, but sometimes we can miss His blessing because: 1) We don’t realise how privileged we are. We can believe God has saved us and has made a place for us with Him in heaven, but we might doubt that He can do anything about our past, present, or future. But He can help us use the experiences of our past to help others and glorify Him through how far we’ve come, He is beside us right now, and He’ll guide our future steps if we let Him. 2) We see ourselves in the wrong light. We believe He can bless anybody, but we can sometimes think that he won’t bless us because we’re not worthy enough. But God has clothed us in the righteousness of Christ, so we’re worthy in His eyes, and He has plans to ‘bless you as He has promised’.
Eze 20-21; Luke 20:27-40; Ps 78:1-8; Prov 20:7-10
Deuteronomy 15:6 NLT
Sometimes life beats you down so much that you give up hoping and believing that anything good will ever happen for you. If that’s where you are today, read these words: “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord…’plans for good…to give you a future and a hope'” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT). God has a good plan for each of us, but not all of us experience it. Why? Two reasons: (1) We don’t realize we have rights and privileges. We believe God can save us and take us to heaven when we die, but don’t think He can do anything about our past, present, or future. (2) We live far below the level He intended because we see ourselves in the wrong light. We believe He can bless anybody – except us – because we’re not worthy. God has clothed you in the righteousness of Christ, so you’re worthy in His sight and He has plans to “bless you as He has promised.” In Bible days when a new king came to the throne, he made sure the old king and his family were put to death; that way nobody could rise up against him. So when David replaced King Saul, Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, fled to the wilderness in fear. But David was a different kind of king. Instead of seeking to wipe out his predecessor’s family, he asked, “Is there still anyone…left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1 NKJV). “Why would God bless me?” you ask. The answer is simple but clear: for Christ’s sake!
Soul food: Eze 20-21; Luke 20:27-40; Ps 78:1-8; Prov 20:7-10
Deuteronomium 15:6 NLV
Soms vertrap die lewe jou so dat jy hoop en geloof opgee dat iets goeds ooit met jou sal gebeur. As dit is waar jy vandag is, lees hierdie woorde: ‘Ek weet wat Ek vir julle beplan het… Ek beplan voorspoed vir julle, nie teëspoed nie. Ek wil hê dat julle hoop vir die toekoms moet hê’ (Jeremia 29:11 NLV). God het ‘n plan vir elkeen van ons, maar nie almal van ons ervaar dit nie. Hoekom nie? Om twee redes: 1) Ons besef nie dat ons regte en voorregte het nie. Ons glo dat God ons kan red en hemel toe kan neem wanneer ons sterf, maar ons dink nie dat Hy enigiets aan ons verlede, ons hede of ons toekoms kan doen nie. 2) Ons lewe ver onder die vlak wat Hy vir ons in gedagte gehad het, omdat ons onsself in die verkeerde lig sien. Ons glo dat Hy enigiemand kan seën – behalwe ons – omdat ons nie waardig is nie. God het jou in die regverdigheid van Christus geklee, dus is jy waardig voor Hom en sal Hy jou ‘seën soos Hy belowe het.’ Wanneer ‘n koning in die Bybelse tyd die troon betree het, het hy seker gemaak dat die vorige koning en sy familie tereggestel is, sodat niemand teen hom kon optrek nie. Toe Dawid dus vir koning Saul vervang het, het Saul se kleinseun, Mefisobet, uit vrees na die woestyn toe gevlug. Dawid was egter ‘n ander tipe koning. In plaas daarvan om sy voorganger se familie uit te wis, het hy gevra: ‘…Is daar nog iemand van Saul se afstammelinge oor? Ek wil aan so iemand goeddoen ter wille van Jonatan’ (2 Samuel 9:1 NLV). ‘Hoekom sal God my seën?’ vra jy. Die antwoord is eenvoudig maar duidelik: ter wille van Christus!
Sielskos: Eseg 20-21; Luk 20:27-40; Ps 78:1-8; Spr 20:7-10
2020-09-07
Philippians 4:8 CEV
The way that we think can start to dictate our lives. If we allow negative thought patterns to take over our minds, then our experience of each day will become clouded. When you expect the worst, you get it, or the anticipation of something bad happening ruins your day anyway. God doesn’t want us to live like that. Philippians 4:8 instructs us ‘whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things’ (NIV). We may have read those words before, but take the chance to really examine them. They form a guide to help rewire our negative brains. For example, we can’t catastrophise if we’re thinking about something lovely. The fact is, God has a great life ready for you. It might not always be the easiest, but it really is a great one. He wants you to enjoy it to the fullest. Jesus said it Himself, that He came so that we can live life ‘to the full’ (John 10:10 NIV). It might not feel like the biggest issue to allow negative thoughts, but those habits start to affect our relationship with God. We may not bother to pray if we’ve already imagined the worst-case scenario to be the truth. And if we’re living in our own truth like that, we miss out on God’s. We won’t be available to take hold of the very best that He’s offering to us. Romans 8:28 tells us that ‘all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose’ (NKJV). Let’s remind ourselves of that constantly, and start to think and live with that as our real truth.
Eze 16:53-19:14; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 27; Prov 20:5-6
