2024-04-03
John 5:30 NLT
Jesus did only those things placed in His mind by His Father. And He wants you to learn to live that way too. You ask, “Is such a life possible?” Yes, it’s not only possible, it’s essential to fulfilling God’s will for your life.
The Bible says that Mary took time to listen to Jesus, but her sister Martha didn’t because she was too busy “serving” (See Luke 10:40). You can get so busy serving the Lord that you lose your sensitivity to His voice and end up preoccupied with secondary things. You learn to hear from God by making time to hear from Him! Fifteen times in the New Testament, Jesus said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
When you became a new creation in Christ, you got new spiritual ears, but you must learn how to use them. Indeed, that must become one of the highest priorities in your life. A newborn child has the ability to hear but doesn’t understand what he or she is hearing; understanding takes time, it takes learning, it takes attention, it takes intimacy with his or her parents. When Jesus met the two disciples on the road to Emmaus following His resurrection, they didn’t recognize Him. But He loved them, so “he opened their minds so they could understand” (Luke 24:45 NIV).
As you look back over your life, you recognize times when God walked and talked with you but you didn’t understand what He was saying. No problem! God is patient, and He will work with you and develop you.
Soul food: Jer 18-21; Matt 28:16-20; Ps 69:19-36; Prov 8:30-31
2024-04-02
Romans 1:20 NIV
The New Testament Greek word translated as “disciple” means “learner.” By definition, a disciple is someone who never ceases to learn. He or she makes the most of the hundred billion brain cells God has loaned to them. They keep asking and seeking and knocking (See Mt 7:7).
Leonardo da Vinci carried a notebook wherever he went. Some have estimated that he left fourteen thousand pages of notes to painter Francesco Melzi in his will. Almost seven thousand pages still exist. Bill Gates bought eighteen pages for $30.8 million in 1994. The scribbles on da Vinci’s napkin varied from anatomy to botany to painting to philosophy. One thing that made him extraordinary is that he wrote most of them using a technique called mirror writing. He wrote in reverse so the words could be read solely when reflected in a mirror.
In the final days before his death on May 2, 1519, Leonardo apologized to God and to man “for leaving so much undone.” And he resolved to keep learning until the day he died. Even on his deathbed, Leonardo was observing and relating, in scientific detail, the nature and symptoms of his illness.
So, never stop learning, because it glorifies God when you do it for the right reasons. And the right reason is to know Him so that you can love Him even more. Live like you will die tomorrow – but keep learning like you will live forever. After all, as a redeemed child of God, you will.
Soul food: Jer 14-17; Matt 28:11-15; Ps 69:1-18; Prov 8:27-29
Romeine 1:20 NLV
Die Griekse woord wat in die Nuwe Testament as ‘dissipel’ vertaal word, beteken ‘leerder.’ Per definisie is ‘n dissipel iemand wat nooit ophou leer nie. Hy of sy maak die meeste van die honderd biljoen breinselle wat God vir hulle geleen het. Hulle hou aan vra, soek en klop (sien Matteus 7:7).
Leonardo da Vinci het ‘n notaboek oral saamgedra. Sommige mense skat dat hy veertien duisend bladsye aantekeninge aan die skilder Francesco Melzi in sy testament bemaak het. Amper sewe duisend bladsye van sy notas bestaan nog. Bill Gates het in 1994 agtien bladsye daarvan vir 30.8 miljoen dollars gekoop. Die krabbels op Da Vinci se servet het van anatomie tot plantkunde tot skilderkuns tot filosofie gewissel. Een ding wat hom buitengewoon gemaak het, is dat hy die meeste daarvan met ‘n tegniek, wat spieëlskryf genoem word, geskryf het. Hy het omgekeerd geskryf sodat die woorde slegs wanneer dit in ‘n spieël weerspieël word, gelees kon word.
In die finale dae voor sy dood op 2 Mei, 1519, het Leonardo verskoning vir God en die mensdom gevra omdat hy soveel ongedaan gelaat het. Hy het onderneem om tot sy sterfdag aan te hou leer. Selfs op sy sterfbed het Leonardo die aard en simptome van sy siekte waargeneem en dit in wetenskaplike besonderhede beskryf.
Moet dus nooit ophou leer nie, want dit verheerlik God wanneer jy dit vir die regte redes doen. Die regte rede is om Hom te leer ken, sodat jy Hom nog meer kan liefhê. Leef asof jy môre gaan sterf – maar hou aan leer asof jy vir ewig gaan lewe. Jy gaan dit immers as verloste kind van God, doen.
Sielskos: Jer 14-17; Matt 28:11-15; Ps 69:1-18; Spr 8:27-29
2024-04-01
Proverbs 25:2 NIV
Anything that reveals something about our Creator is something we ought to be interested in. Scripture is in a classification all by itself as God’s written revelation. But mathematics disclose a distinctive dimension of God’s personality too. Along with art. And science.
The Bible says: “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight… He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom” (1 Kings 4:29, 32-34 NIV). Solomon was interested in everything. And the breadth of his knowledge gave him such a depth of wisdom that “from all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.” Who sent those men? “The kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.”
As Spirit-filled citizens of God’s kingdom, we haven’t been called to avoid the culture, but to inform it, instruct it, and illuminate it. “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” God loves it when we realize something or encounter something new to us, even if our discoveries are common knowledge. Isn’t that a normal parental reaction when our children discover new things? When you keep asking the right questions, God will keep giving you the right answers.
Soul food: Jer 10-13; Matt 28:9-10; Ps 38:13-22; Prov 8:24-26
Spreuke 25:2 NLV
Enigiets wat iets van ons Skepper openbaar, is iets waarin ons geïnteresseerd behoort te wees. Die Skrif, as die geskrewe openbaring van God, is in ‘n klas van sy eie. Wiskunde, kuns en wetenskap openbaar egter ook ‘n kenmerkende dimensie van God se persoonlikheid.
Die Bybel sê: ‘God het vir Salomo baie wysheid en onderskeiding gegee… Hy het 3,000 spreuke geskryf en 1,005 liedere gedig. Hy kon met gesag praat oor bome en plante, van die grootste seders van die Libanon tot die kleinste hisop wat uit die mure groei. Hy kon ook praat oor diere, voëls, reptiele en visse. Mense het van oral af gekom om na die wysheid van Salomo te luister. Al die konings van die wêreld wat van sy wysheid gehoor het, het gesante gestuur’ (1 Konings 4:29, 32-34 NLV). Salomo was in alles geïnteresseerd. Die breedte van sy kennis het hom so ‘n diepte van wysheid gegee dat: ‘…Al die konings van die wêreld wat van sy wysheid gehoor het… gesante gestuur [het].’
As Geesvervulde inwoners van God se koninkryk is ons nie geroep om die samelewing te vermy nie, maar om dit in te lig, te onderrig en dit te verlig. ‘Dit is God se reg om iets geheim te hou. Dit is konings se voorreg om uit te vind wat iets beteken.’ God hou daarvan as ons iets besef of iets nuuts teëkom, selfs al is ons ontdekkings algemene kennis. Is dit nie die normale reaksie van ‘n ouer wanneer hulle kind nuwe dinge ontdek nie? Wanneer jy aanhou om die regte vrae te vra, sal God aanhou om vir jou die regte antwoorde te gee.
Sielskos: Jer 10-13; Matt 28:9-10; Ps 38:13-22; Spr 8:24-26
