2021-08-10
Hebrews 12:2-3 MSG
When things go wrong, when our favourite plans fall apart, when we lose something, or when our world feels like it’s crashing down around us, the best thing we can possibly do is look to Christ. The Message paraphrases Hebrews 12 like this: ‘Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it…he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything…When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again…That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!’ (v.2-3 MSG).
When we’ve experienced a disappointment, He can bring us healing, restoration, show us the right path and help us look towards the future He’s laid out for us. When we keep holding on to past setbacks and disappointments, we can’t take possession of our new future with Him at the centre. We need to learn from our experience, and then move forwards. ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV).
God can bring something good out of every bad situation: ‘We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him’ (Romans 8:28 NCV). Just as a lighthouse guides a ship safely into the harbour, or runway lights guide a plane to a safe landing, Jesus is the light in our lives that can guide us to the best possible future. So whatever we go though, in all circumstances let’s fix our eyes on Him and keep looking ahead.
Obadiah; 2 John; Luke 12:22-34; Ps 119:33-40; Prov 17:16
2021-08-09
John 21:5 NLT
Sometimes God uses failure to get our attention and draw us closer to Him. In John 21 the disciples “went out in the boat, but…caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, ‘Fellows, have you caught any fish?’ ‘No,’ they replied. Then he said, ‘Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!’ So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It’s the Lord!'” (vv. 3-7).
Notice three things: (1) Jesus can do what you can’t do. As long as you think you can handle things on your own, He will let you try. As long as what worked for you in the past is still working, you won’t reach for His help. It’s only when you run out of answers you discover: “‘You will not succeed by your own strength or…power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6 NCV).
(2) God can do more than you can do. He told the disciples, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” It didn’t sound right, but by obeying Him they entered a level of blessing and abundance they never dreamed possible.
(3) God wants a relationship with you. After eating breakfast with the disciples, Jesus told Peter, “Take care of my sheep” (See John 21:17). Now fishermen don’t take care of sheep – shepherds do! So what just happened? Jesus introduced Peter to his true calling – and He will do the same for you!
Soul food: 1 Pet 1-5; Luke 12:13-21; Ps 119:25-32; Prov 17:11-15
Johannes 21:5 DB
God gebruik soms mislukking om ons aandag te trek en ons nader aan Hom te bring. In Johannes 21 lees ons die dissipels: ‘…is met ‘n skuit die meer in. Daardie hele nag lank het hulle iets probeer kry, maar hulle het nie ‘n enkele vis gevang nie. Toe die son begin kop uitsteek, staan Jesus daar op die wal… ‘En toe,’ roep Jesus, ‘het julle enigiets gevang?’ ‘Nee wat,’ roep hulle terug. ‘Gooi die net daar regs van die skuit uit. Daar is vis,’ kom dit van Jesus se kant af. Hulle maak toe so. Die net was toe so vol vis dat hulle dit nie in die skuit kon kry nie…’ (vers 3-6 DB).
Let drie dinge op: 1) Jesus kan doen wat jy nie kan doen nie. Solank as wat jy dink dat jy dinge op eie houtjie kan hanteer, sal Hy jou toelaat om te probeer. Dis eers wanneer jy uit antwoorde hardloop wat jy ontdek: ‘…Dit sal jou ook nie help om op jou eie krag staat te maak nie. Dit is die Gees van die Here wat vir jou sukses sal gee…’ (Sagaria 4:6 DB).
2) God kan meer doen as wat jy kan doen. Hy het vir sy dissipels gesê: ‘…Gooi die net daar regs van die skuit uit. Daar is vis…’ Dit het nie reg geklink nie, maar deur Hom te gehoorsaam het hulle ‘n vlak van seën en oorvloed betree wat hulle nie gedink het moontlik is nie.
3) God wil ‘n verhouding met jou hê. Jesus het vir Petrus gesê: ‘…Wees ‘n herder vir my skape…’ (Johannes 21:17 NLV). Vissermanne sien nie gewoonlik na skape om nie – herders doen! Wat het dus gebeur? Jesus het Petrus aan sy ware roeping voorgestel – en Hy sal dieselfde vir jou doen!
Sielskos: 1 Pet 1-5; Luk 12:13-21; Ps 119:25-32; Spr 17:11-15
John 21:5 NLT
Sometimes God uses failure to get our attention and draw us closer to Him. In John 21 the disciples ‘went out in the boat, but…caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!”‘ (John 21:3-7 NLT).
We learn three things about Jesus in these verses: 1) He can do what we can’t. As long as we think we can handle things on our own, He’ll let us try. As long as what worked in the past is still working, we won’t reach for His help. It’s only when we run out of our own answers that we discover the truth of Zechariah 4:6: ‘”You will not succeed by your own strength or…power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD’ (NCV).
2) He can do more than we can. He told the disciples, ‘Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!’ It didn’t sound right, but by obeying Him they entered a level of blessing and abundance they never dreamed possible.
3) He wants a relationship with us. After eating breakfast with the disciples, Jesus told Peter, ‘Take care of my sheep’ (see John 21:17). Now fishermen don’t take care of sheep – shepherds do! So what just happened? Jesus introduced Peter to his true calling – and He’ll do the same for us.
1 Pet 1-5; Luke 12:13-21; Ps 119:25-32; Prov 17:11-15
2021-08-08
Spreuke 4:23 NLV
Salomo sê: ‘Bo alles, wees versigtig met wat in jou hart aangaan. Wat jy dink, bepaal alles wat jy doen.’ Let die verloop van gebeurtenisse op wat tot Dawid se ondergang gelei het. ‘…Van die dak af sien hy ‘n besonder mooi vrou wat besig was om te bad. Hy stuur toe iemand om uit te vind wie sy is… Dawid het haar laat haal…’ (2 Samuel 11:2-4 NLV). Hy het gesien… hy het uitgevind… hy het haar laat haal. As jy na iemand hunker wat nie joune is nie, neem dadelik jou oë van daardie persoon af. ‘…Ons neem ook elke gedagte gevange om dit aan Christus gehoorsaam te maak’ (2 Korintiërs 10:5 NLV).
Bewaak jou gedagtes. In plaas daarvan om dit met fantasieë uit tydskrifte, televisie of die internet te vul, vul dit met God se Woord en herinneringe van jou en jou maat se beste oomblikke saam. Werk daaraan om jou huweliksband te versterk. Besluit om lief te hê, selfs wanneer jy nie lus is nie, en julle liefde sal begin blom. Jesus het gesê: ‘…elke man wat met ‘n wellustige oog na ‘n ander vrou kyk, het al klaar in sy hart egbreuk gepleeg’ (Matteus 5:28 NLV).
Hoe minder jy jou maat begeer, hoe meer sal jy redes soek om jou fantasieë te regverdig. Die hartseerste deel is dat jy nooit sal weet hoe goed jou verhouding kon wees nie. As jy ‘n probleem met wellus het, vind ‘n pastoor, berader of vriend wat jou kan help. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Jou broer is gebore om jou te help wanneer daar probleme is’ (Spreuke 17:17 NLV). Soms is die verskil tussen oorwinning en mislukking ‘n paar minute op die foon om met iemand wat verstaan, te praat en te bid. Die vraag is egter – wil jy waarlik die regte ding doen?
Sielskos: Est 4:13-5:3; Matt 6:16-21; Mark 2:18-22
