2021-05-08
Matthew 25:23 NIV
To succeed in life you need thick skin when it comes to handling criticism. It’s what separates those who say they want success from those who are prepared to pay for it. For example, if you’ve been praying for a mate to share your life, ask yourself if you’re prepared for the sacrifice and responsibility that comes with marriage. Are you stable? Are you unselfish? Are you mature enough to provide for a family? Or if you’re asking God to increase your business, are you providing outstanding service to your existing clients? Someone quipped: “A peacock that rests on its feathers is just another turkey!”
Sometimes we’re in love with the image of success, but we haven’t counted the actual cost of succeeding. It’s a good thing God doesn’t automatically give us everything we ask for. Often we want something because it looks good in someone else’s life. But God in His wisdom knows that right now it would hurt us because we’re not mature enough to handle it.
God tests us with what we have, in order to develop our consistency and strength. He observes how we handle the pressures that accompany the blessings He’s already given us. He wants to bring us to the place where we’re impervious to adversity; where we’ve learned to appreciate the giver more than His gifts. When we reach that point, we’ll hear Him say, “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (v. 23 NIV). Those words will make everything you’ve been through worthwhile.
Soul food: Num 30:1-32:24; Mark 7:24-37; Ps 44:9-16; Prov 11:10-11
Matthew 25:23 NIV
We’ll all face criticism at some point. Sometimes we might have to deal with harsh, unfair criticism, but often it’ll be constructive criticism designed to help us improve. But whatever type it is, it’s still difficult to hear. But we need to be prepared for it and to take it on board if it’s justified.
Our attitude to criticism is what separates people who say they want success from those who are prepared to pay the price for it. For example, if we want a higher paid job, we need to think about whether we’re ready yet to handle the extra responsibility and pressure that usually comes with a higher salary. Maybe we want to have a leadership role in our church, but we need to consider if we’re prepared to handle the scrutiny and criticism that leaders often have to face.
Sometimes we’re in love with the idea of success, but we haven’t counted the actual cost of succeeding. Often we want something because it looks good in someone else’s life. But God in His wisdom knows that right now it would hurt us because we’re not mature enough to handle it.
God tests us with what we have now, in order to develop our consistency and strength. He observes how we handle the pressures that accompany the blessings He’s already given us. He wants to bring us to the place where we’re resistant to difficulties; where we’ve learned to appreciate the Giver more than His gifts. When we reach that point, we’ll hear Him say, ‘You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (v. 23 NIV). Those words will make everything we’ve been through worthwhile.
Num 30:1-32:24; Mark 7:24-37; Ps 44:9-16; Prov 11:10-11
2021-05-07
Johannes 4:35 NLV
Jesus het gesê: ‘Sê julle dan nie: ‘Daar is nog vier maande voor die oes nie? Ek sê nou vir julle, kyk na die landerye; hulle vertoon reeds wit van die oes.’
Vandag het iemand naby aan jou ‘n desperate behoefte aan God se liefde. Jy mag dalk die enigste Christen wees wat hulle ooit sal ontmoet – of vandag sal ontmoet. As jy hulle dus nie van Christus vertel nie, wie sal dan? Oor die algemeen, is daar vyf redes hoekom ons nie meer dikwels ons geloof deel nie.
1) Ons dink dis die dominee se werk om dit te doen (sien Handelinge 1:8).
2) Ons is nie seker oor ons eie verlossing nie (sien 1 Johannes 5:13).
3) Ons is bang vir verwerping (sien Lukas 12:8-9).
4) Ons het nog nooit persoonlike verantwoordelikheid geneem om te leer hoe om ons geloof te deel nie (sien 1 Petrus 3:15).
5) Ons liefde vir Christus het koud geword (sien Openbaring 2:4-5).
Josh McDowell vertel van ‘n korporatiewe baas wat daarvan gehou het om bestuurders ontspanne te laat voel, hulle dan vas in die oë te kyk en hulle oor hulle doel in die lewe uit te vra. Een dag, nadat hy vir ‘n ruk lank met ‘n man genaamd Bob gesels het, het hy oorgeleun, hom in die oë gekyk en gevra: ‘En wat is jou doel in die lewe?’ Sonder om te aarsel het Bob geantwoord: ‘Om hemel toe te gaan en soveel mense as moontlik saam met my te neem.’ Die baas het gesê: ‘Vir die eerste keer in my loopbaan was ek sprakeloos.’
Vandag mag iemand se ewige lewe op jou gewilligheid om God se liefde met hulle te deel, rus. Dis jou Godgegewe opdrag – vertel hulle dus van Jesus.
Sielskos: Num 27-29; Mark 7:14-23; Ps 44:1-8; Spr 11:9
John 4:35 NIV
Jesus said, “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’?…open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” Someone close to you today may be in desperate need of God’s love. Wouldn’t it be worth risking rejection to find that one who’s ready and willing to respond? The fact is, you may be the only Christian they will meet – or meet today. So if you don’t tell them, who will? Generally speaking, there are five reasons we don’t share our faith more often.
(1) We think it’s the preacher’s job to do it (See Acts 1:8).
(2) We aren’t certain about our own salvation (See 1 John 5:13).
(3) We’re afraid of being rejected (See Luke 12:8-9).
(4) We’ve never taken personal responsibility for learning how to share our faith (See 1 Peter 3:15).
(5) Our love for Christ has grown cold (See Revelation 2:4-5).
Josh McDowell tells of a corporate headhunter who liked to get potential executives relaxed, then look them square in the eye and ask about their purpose in life. Most were shocked and fell apart under the question. One day after talking for a while to a man named Bob, the headhunter leaned over, looked into his eyes and said, “And what’s your purpose in life?” Without blinking, Bob replied, “To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.” The headhunter said, “For the first time in my career I was speechless.”
Today someone’s eternal destiny may rest on your willingness to share God’s love with them. That’s your God-given assignment – so tell them about Jesus.
Soul food: Num 27-29; Mark 7:14-23; Ps 44:1-8; Prov 11:9
1 Timothy 2:1 NIV
We can complicate prayer, but really, it’s simply communicating with God. And communication can be spoken or silent. We can even communicate in song. Many of the psalms are just prayers set to music. Prayer is connecting with God. Whether it’s confessing a sin, praising His name, pursuing His will, interceding for a friend, or sharing our own needs and worries, our prayers must be God-centred, never self-centred.
Sincere prayer comes from a heart that longs for God to reveal what He desires. That means we need to allow enough time for listening and waiting for God to speak to us. Prayer should be our first priority. Paul instructs Timothy: ‘I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made’ (v. 1 NIV). Note the words, ‘First of all’. Before we slide out of bed, before we take a shower, before we do anything else, we should talk to God.
Every afternoon at three o’clock, Peter and John went to the temple to pray. In the middle of the day, they interrupted their schedule to gather for one purpose: prayer. So when our days are rolling along at their own pace and in their own direction, let’s interrupt them with prayer. If our days are building towards a crisis, we should deliberately stop to pray. When we feel anxious or overwhelmed, step away for a few moments of solitude to tell God and ask for His guidance. When we feel anger, impatience, or negativity creeping up, we need to pause for an attitude adjustment prompted by prayer. Don’t wait – pray immediately.
Let’s make prayer our first priority in all things and at all times. Through prayer, let’s involve God in everything that happens in our day.
Num 27-29; Mark 7:14-23; Ps 44:1-8; Prov 11:9
