2022-02-05
2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV
Next time you’re at a supermarket checkout, notice the magazine covers. Airbrushed faces, toned bodies – ads for diets and pills that promise you can look that way too. Now, there is nothing wrong with looking your best and taking care of your body. After all, it’s the temple of the Holy Spirit and you are responsible for maintaining it. But there is much more to you than clothes and a hairstyle.
It’s a mistake to focus on the outside and not appreciate and cultivate the inner qualities God has given you. The Bible says, “Beauty is […not lasting]” (Proverbs 31:30 AMPC). When God made you, He didn’t just decorate the outside; He gave you “inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind…God delights in” (1 Peter 3:4 MSG). In fact, Paul reminds us “the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18), a gentle reminder that what Mother Nature giveth, Father Time taketh away!
The truth is, Paul is not remembered for his good looks. His enemies said, “His bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible” (2 Corinthians 10:10 NKJV). But what he will be remembered for are these words: “I have fought the good fight…finished the race…kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV).
So, the word for you today is – focus on the inward instead of the outward.
Soul food: Isa 4-7; Luke 8:16-25; Ps 120; Pro 3:33-35
2 Korintiërs 4:16 NLV
Volgende keer wat jy by die winkel in die ry staan om te betaal, kyk bietjie na die tydskrifte se voorblaaie. Beeldskone gesigte, gespierde lywe – advertensies vir diëte en pille wat beloof dat jy ook so kan lyk. Daar is niks daarmee verkeerd om op jou beste te lyk en jou liggaam te versorg nie. Dit is immers die tempel van die Heilige Gees en jy is verantwoordelik om dit te versorg. Daar is egter baie meer aan jou as klere en ‘n haarstyl.
Dis ‘n fout om op die uiterlike te fokus en nie die innerlike kwaliteite wat God vir jou gegee het, te waardeer en te ontwikkel nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘…’n Mooi voorkoms hou nie vir altyd nie…’ (Spreuke 31:30 NLV). Toe God jou geskep het, het Hy nie net die buitekant versier nie; Hy het ook vir jou ‘n ‘…blywende beskeidenheid en ‘n gemoed wat kalm en rustig is [gegee]. Dit is vir God kosbaar’ (1 Petrus 3:4 NLV).
Paulus herinner ons inderwaarheid: ‘…die sigbare dinge is tydelik, maar die onsigbare vir altyd’ (2 Korintiërs 4:18 NLV). Die waarheid is dat Paulus nie vir sy mooi voorkoms onthou word nie. Sy vyande het gesê: ‘…hy [is] maar onindrukwekkend en sy boodskap [het] maar min om die lyf’ (2 Korintiërs 10:10 NLV). Waarvoor hy egter wel onthou sal word, is hierdie woorde: ‘Ek het die goeie stryd gestry, ek het die wedloop voltooi, en ek het gelowig gebly. En nou wag die prys vir my: die lourierkrans van geregtigheid wat die Here, die regverdige Beoordelaar, my sal gee op die groot dag van sy wederkoms. En dié prys is nie net vir my nie, maar vir almal wat gretig uitsien na sy heerlike verskyning’ (2 Timoteus 4:7-8 NLV).
Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – fokus inwaarts in plaas van uitwaarts.
Sielskos: Jes 4-7; Luk 8:16-25; Ps 120; Spr 3:33-35
2022-02-04
Mark 4:19 CEV
In the parable of the sower, Jesus said the seed fell into four different places. Today we’re looking at one of those place: ‘The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are…people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything’ (v.18-19 CEV).
What are some of the things that can keep God’s Word ‘choked out’ of our lives? 1) Thinking that we can’t trust God and worrying that He won’t take care of us. 2) Thinking we’d be happier if we were richer, had a better phone, the latest trainers, a better car, and so on. But it doesn’t work that way. The more ‘things’ we have, the more we have to protect, look after, and worry about. And often we find that once we have the thing we thought would make us happy, we move the goalposts and say, ‘If only I had a bit more money/the phone that’s just been released/a newer car…etc.’ Worrying about material things can ‘choke’ the life out of us.
Real peace and true happiness come from trusting God for what we need, and knowing that if something is right for us, He’ll provide it; and if it’s not, He has a better plan. The closer we get to God, the more we realise we can trust Him. Jesus said, ‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else…live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (Matthew 6:33 NLT). Let’s make prayer and Bible reading a priority so we can draw closer to God and see our worries shrink before Him.
Isa 1-3; Luke 8:1-15; Ps 108; Pro 3:31-32
Mark 4:19 CEV
In the parable of the sower, Jesus said the seed fell into four kinds of soil. Here is one of them: “The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are…people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything” (vv. 18-19 CEV).
Observe what keeps God’s Word from working effectively in your life: (1) Worrying that God won’t take care of you. (2) Thinking if you had more money, a bigger house, a better car, or a more attractive appearance, you would be happier.
Here is the question: Do you remember when you thought your present career, the house you live in now, and the financial portfolio you have acquired would make all your worries disappear? But it doesn’t work that way, does it? The more “things” you have, the more you have to lose, protect, maintain, and be concerned about. Worrying about material things can “choke” the life out of you!
Peace and happiness come from trusting God for what you need; knowing if something is right for you, He will provide it, and if it’s not, He will give you something better. An amazing thing happens when you meditate on God’s promises. Your worries shrink, your mind and attitude are reprogrammed, and you enjoy life more. Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else…live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 NLT). So today, put prayer and Bible reading at the top of your to-do list.
Soul food: Isa 1-3; Luke 8:1-15; Ps 108; Pro 3:31-32
Markus 4:19 NLV
Jesus het in die gelykenis van die saaier gesê dat die saad in vier soorte grond geval het. Hier is een van hulle: ‘Daardie saad wat tussen die dorings gesaai is, staan vir die mense wat die Goeie Nuus hoor, maar die bekommernisse van hierdie lewe en die rykdom en die hunkering na allerhande goed verstik gou die boodskap, en dit bly sonder vrug’ (verse 18-19 NLV).
Let op dit wat God se Woord weerhou om effektief in jou lewe te werk: 1) Bekommernis dat God nie vir jou sal sorg nie. 2) Deur te dink dat as jy meer geld, ‘n groter huis, ‘n beter kar of ‘n aantrekliker voorkoms gehad het, jy gelukkiger sou wees. Hier is die vraag: Onthou jy toe jy gedink het dat jou huidige beroep, die huis waarin jy tans woon en die finansiële portefeulje wat jy bymekaar gemaak het, al jou bekommernisse sou laat verdwyn het? Dit werk egter nie so nie, doen dit? Hoe meer ‘goed’ jy het, hoe meer het jy om te verloor, te beskerm, te handhaaf en besorg oor te wees.
Bekommernis oor materiële dinge kan die lewe uit jou wurg! Vrede en geluk spruit uit vertroue op God vir dit wat jy nodig het; die wete dat wanneer iets reg is vir jou, God dit sal voorsien; en indien nie, dat Hy vir jou iets beters sal gee.
‘n Wonderlike ding gebeur wanneer jy oor God se beloftes mediteer. Jou bekommernisse verklein, jou gedagtes en houding word verander en jy geniet die lewe meer. Jesus het gesê: ‘Nee, maak die koningsheerskappy van God… julle heel eerste prioriteit; dan sal God vir julle al hierdie ander dinge as ‘n bonus byvoeg’ (Matteus 6:33 NLV). Plaas dus vandag gebed en Bybelstudie aan die bopunt van jou prioriteitslys.
Sielskos: Jes 1-3; Luk 8:1-15; Ps 108; Spr 3:31-32
