2021-03-10
Galasiërs 6:9 NLV
Daar is nie so ‘n ding soos onmiddellike sukses nie, nie as dit by mense of probleme kom nie. Of jy nou tien kilogram of eenhonderd kilogram moet verloor, die gewig kan net een kilogram op ‘n slag afgeskud word. Dis opwindend om op die kruin van die berg te staan, maar jy kan net met een tree op ‘n slag daar kom. Niks groots vind onmiddellik plaas nie; amper alle betekenisvolle sukses in die lewe vind eers na ‘n lang, moeilike wagtydperk plaas. Totdat jy hierdie waarheid aanvaar, sal jy te gou tou opgooi of met minder as die sukses wat God vir jou in gedagte het, tevrede wees.
Jell-O het in 1997 sy eenhonderdste herdenking gevier, maar as die uitvinder daarvan nog gelewe het, sou hy heel waarskynlik min troos in sy produk se sukses gevind het. In 1897 het Pearl Wait baie hoede gedra. Hy was ‘n konstruksiewerker wat ook met patent medisyne geëksperimenteer het wat hy deur tot deur verkoop het. Tydens sy eksperimente het hy met die idee vorendag gekom om vrugtegeursel met gegranuleerde gelatien te meng. Sy vrou het dit Jell-O gedoop en Wait het nog ‘n produk gehad om mee te smous. Ongelukkig was die aanvanklike verkope van sy wriemelrige happie nie so goed soos hy gehoop het nie, dus het hy die regte van sy Jell-O uitvindsel vir ‘n skamele $450 aan Orator Woodward verkoop.
Woodward was ‘n slim besigheidsman. Hy het die waarde van bemarking geken en binne agt jaar het hy die $450 belegging in ‘n miljoen dollar besigheid omskep. Vandag verdien nie een van Pearl Wait se nasate ‘n sent van die meer as een miljoen boksies Jell-O wat elke dag verkoop word nie. Hoekom nie? Omdat Wait nie kon wag nie!
Sielskos: Gen 50; Haggai 1-2; Matt 22:1-14; Ps 27; Spr 7:10-20
2021-03-09
2 Timothy 3:15 NKJV
People are intimidated by the Bible for any number of reasons. For some, it’s such a big book that it scares them, and they don’t know where to start. Others think because it’s such an ancient book, spans such a long historical time period, and includes so many themes, that they could never figure it out. So let’s try to simplify it.
Think of the Bible as a library of books that includes sixty-six volumes of widely varying length, written over a period of fifteen-hundred years, by more than forty people from all kinds of cultural and educational backgrounds. It’s extraordinarily unique and cohesive in that the words of each book were “given by inspiration,” or literally “breathed out” by God (v. 16 NKJV).
Taken together, the books of the Bible tell the story of God’s amazing love for us, culminating at the cross. As Paul wrote to Timothy: “You must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (vv. 14-15 NKJV).
The Bible is principally the story of God’s love for you. So every time you read it, allow it to unfold in your heart as a love letter written to you by God. As you read and meditate on it your fears and worries will be resolved, your questions will be answered, and you’ll find strength and guidance for daily living.
Soul food: Gen 47-49; Matt 21:33-46; Ps 112; Prov 7:6-9
2 Timoteus 3:15 NLV
Die Bybel intimideer mense om verskeie redes. Vir sommige mense is dit so ‘n groot boek dat dit hulle bang maak en hulle nie weet waar om te begin nie. Ander dink weer dat dit so ‘n antieke boek is, wat oor so ‘n lang historiese tydperk strek en so baie temas bevat, dat hulle dit nooit sal kan ontrafel nie. Kom ons probeer dit dus vereenvoudig.
Dink aan die Bybel as ‘n biblioteek wat ses-en-sestig boeke van verskeie lengtes bevat, wat oor ‘n periode van vyftien honderd jaar, deur meer as veertig mense uit alle kulturele en opvoedkundige agtergronde, geskryf is. Dis buitengewoon uniek en samehangend deurdat die woorde van elke boek ‘deur God geïnspireer’ is (vers 16 NLV). Saam vertel die boeke van die Bybel die verhaal van God se wonderbaarlike liefde vir ons en bereik ‘n hoogtepunt by die kruis.
Soos Paulus vir Timoteus geskryf het: ‘Jy moet getrou bly aan die dinge wat jy geleer het. Jy weet dit is waar, want jy weet jy kan dié vertrou wat jou geleer het. Jy is van kindsbeen af onderrig in die Heilige Skrif en dit het jou die wysheid gegee om die verlossing te ontvang wat deur geloof in Christus Jesus kom’ (verse 14-15 NLV).
Die Bybel is hoofsaaklik die verhaal van God se liefde vir jou. Laat dit elke keer wat jy dit dus lees, toe om in jou hart as ‘n liefdesbrief wat God aan jou geskryf het, te ontvou. Soos jy dit lees en daaroor mediteer, sal jou vrese en bekommernisse opgelos word, jou vrae sal beantwoord word en jy sal krag en leiding vir jou daaglikse lewe ontvang.
Sielskos: Gen 47-49; Matt 21:33-46; Ps 112; Spr 7:6-9
2 Timothy 3:15 NCV
Getting into God’s Word is so important, but we can sometimes feel intimidated by the Bible. We might feel overwhelmed because it’s such a big book and we just don’t know where to start. We might think that because it’s such an ancient book, spans such a long historical time period, and includes so many themes, it’s too complicated for us to understand. So today, let’s look at how to simplify it and make it feel a bit more manageable.
1) Think of the Bible as a library of smaller books. It’s a collection of 66 books of different lengths, written over a period of 1,500 years by more than 40 people from all kinds of cultural and educational backgrounds. But what binds them together is that the words of each book were ‘breathed out by God’ (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV).
2) When they’re put together, the books of the Bible tell of God’s amazing love for us, culminating at the cross. Paul wrote to Timothy: ‘You should continue following the teachings you learned. You know they are true, because you trust who taught you. Since you were a child you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’ (v.14-15 NCV).
3) The Bible is the story of God’s love for you. Every time you read it, allow it to unfold in your heart as a love letter written to you by God. Even if you can only manage to read one chapter, or even one verse, at a time, get into the habit of spending time with God’s Word every day, and let it speak into your life.
Gen 47-49; Matt 21:33-46; Ps 112; Prov 7:6-9
2021-03-08
Matthew 21:22 NKJV
You say, “If God loves me and knows what I need, why should I have to ask Him for it?” Because prayer means talking to God and listening to God, which leads to building a relationship with Him. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33 KJV).
When your prayers are based on your relationship with God, your needs get met. When you love God and spend time with Him, His Word says: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NLT). Did you get that?
God has a level of blessing in mind for you that your natural eye can’t see nor your natural mind can comprehend. And when you pray, He reveals things to you by His Spirit. When that happens, your faith grows and you’re able to receive what God wants you to have. So develop a lifestyle of prayer – praying all the time, everywhere you go, in the midst of your daily routine. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV).
God cares about every detail of your life. So when you become anxious about something, talk to Him about it. And don’t forget to read His Word. That way when a problem comes up you can say, “Father, you said in Your Word You would do this for me,” then quote the promise and stand on it.
Soul food: Gen 44-46; Matt 21:18-32; Ps 106:24-48; Prov 7:3-5
