2024-06-05
Josua 1:2 NLV
Die woorde vir jou vandag is: 1) Maak gereed. Josua het Moses gedien en is deur hom gementor; nou was hy gereed om Israel die Beloofde Land binne te lei. Is jy gereed vir die sukses wat jy nastreef? Die frustrerende ding van voorbereiding is dat dit soms langer neem as die gebeurtenis waarvoor jy voorberei. Is jy gedissiplineerd? Is jy op datum met jou beroep of roeping? Het jy die regte verhoudings in plek? Is jou huislewe in orde? Het jy ‘n sterk karakter? Soos die ou gesegde lui: ‘Jy kan een keer verras word. Daarna is jy net onvoorbereid!’
Een skrywer sê: ‘Talentvolle mense kom soms in die versoeking om kortpaaie te neem. Karakter voorkom dit. Talentvolle mense mag dalk meerderwaardig voel en spesiale voorregte verwag. Karakter help hulle om van beter te weet. Talentvolle mense word geloof vir dit wat ander mense hulle sien doen. Karakter bou dit wat binne-in hulle is. Talentvolle mense het dikwels die potensiaal om ‘n verskil te maak. Karakter maak in hulle ‘n verskil. Talentvolle mense is dikwels ‘n geskenk aan die wêreld. Karakter beskerm daardie gawe.’
2) Gaan! God het vir Josua gesê: ‘…Ek [sal] elke plek waar julle kom vir julle gee’ (vers 3 NLV). Moenie soos Alice in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland wees wat vir die Cheshire-kat gevra het: ‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’ ‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat. ‘I don’t much care where – ‘ said Alice. ‘Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.’ Om sukses te behaal, moet jy die regte dinge oomblik vir oomblik, dag vir dag en op ‘n konsekwente manier, doen.
Sielskos: Eseg 1-4; Mark 14:1-11; Ps 121; Spr 14:13-16
Joshua 1:2 NIV
The words for you today are (1) Get ready. For forty years, Joshua had served Moses and been mentored by him; now he was ready to lead Israel into the promised land. This raises the all-important question: Are you ready for the success you seek? The frustrating thing about preparation is sometimes it takes more time than the event you’re preparing for. Are you self-disciplined? Are you up to date on your career or calling? Do you have the right relationships in place? Is your homelife in order? Do you have strong character? As the old saying goes, “You can claim to be surprised once; after that, you’re unprepared!”
One author writes: “Talented people are sometimes tempted to take shortcuts. Character prevents that. Talented people may feel superior and expect special privileges. Character helps them to know better. Talented people are praised for what others see them build. Character builds what’s inside them. Talented people have the potential to be difference makers. Character makes a difference in them. Talented people are often a gift to the world. Character protects that gift.”
(2) Go! God told Joshua, “I will give you every place where you set your foot” (v. 3 NIV). Don’t be like Alice in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland who asked the Cheshire-Cat, “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. “I don’t much care where – ” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat. To succeed, you must do the right things, moment by moment, day by day, following through with them in a consistent way.
Soul food: Eze 1-4; Mark 14:1-11; Ps 121; Prov 14:13-16
2024-06-04
Luke 6:46 NIV
Remember the words of the old Sunday school song, “The wise man built his house upon the Rock… The foolish man built his house upon the sand”? The storm hit both houses leaving only the wise man’s house standing. Jesus wasn’t simply recommending the virtues of wisdom over foolishness. The truth is, we’re all wise at times and foolish at others. And He wasn’t saying the house that survived the storm was a believer’s house while the house that perished belonged to an unbeliever. Neither was He implying that the church attender’s house withstood the storm while the nonattender’s house collapsed. His point was simpler – and more compelling.
When things are at their worst and we are pushed to the wall, when we doubt our chances of survival, when we have used up our last ounce of resistance, it’s not our wisdom, salvation, or church attendance that gets us through the storm. While these are crucially important aspects of Christian life for which we praise God, many wise, faithful believers go under in life’s storms: an abusive relationship, a financial collapse, an unfaithful partner, the loss, or illness of a child, a mental or physical disability.
Jesus’ point wasn’t even a plea for increased knowledge of His Word. Both homeowners understood His Word, but simply saying, “Lord, I totally agree with you,” won’t get you through the storm. The point Jesus was making here is that doing what you hear Him say is what will get you through the storm! God has bound Himself to honor His Word, and your obedience aligns you with it and activates His power on your behalf.
Soul food: Amos 5:18-9:15; Mark 13:24-37; Ps 117; Prov 14:9-12
Lukas 6:46 NLV
Onthou jy die woorde van die ou Sondagskoolliedjie: ‘Die wyse man bou sy huis op die rots… Die dwase man bou sy huis op die sand’? Die storm het beide huise getref, maar slegs die wyse man se huis het staande gebly. Jesus het nie bloot die deugde van wysheid bo dwaasheid aanbeveel nie. Die waarheid is dat ons almal soms wys en ander kere dwaas is. Hy het ook nie gesê dat die huis wat vasgestaan het ‘n gelowige se huis was, terwyl die huis wat platgevee was ‘n ongelowige se huis was nie. Hy het ook nie probeer impliseer dat die huis op die rots ‘n kerkganger s’n was, terwyl die huis op die sand iemand wat nie kerk bywoon nie, s’n was. Sy punt was eenvoudiger.
Wanneer dinge op hulle ergste is en ons in die hoek vasgedruk is, wanneer ons aan ons kans op oorlewing twyfel, wanneer ons ons laaste greintjie weerstand opgebruik het, is dit nie ons wysheid, redding of kerkbywoning wat ons deur die storm kry nie. Baie wyse, getroue gelowiges gaan in die lewe se storms onder: ‘n verhouding waarin mishandeling plaasvind, ‘n finansiële ineenstorting, ‘n ontroue eggenoot, die verlies of siekte van ‘n kind, ‘n geestelike of fisiese gestremdheid.
Albei huiseienaars het sy Woord verstaan, maar om eenvoudig te sê: ‘Here, ek stem met U saam,’ is nie genoeg om jou deur die storm te bring nie. Die punt wat Jesus hier probeer maak het is dat jy deur die storm sal kom wanneer jy doen wat jy Hom hoor sê! God het Homself daaraan verbind om sy Woord te eer en jou gehoorsaamheid bring jou in lyn daarmee en aktiveer sy krag namens jou.
Sielskos: Amos 5:18-9:15; Mark 13:24-37; Ps 117; Spr 14:9-12
2024-06-03
Ephesians 4:31 NKJV
Here is something else Joseph knew that you need to know too. You can’t afford the excess baggage of bitterness. After many years, Joseph met his brothers again when they came to Egypt for grain. As they entered Joseph’s presence and bowed before him, Egypt’s second-in-command, they were unable to recognize him. And when Joseph tried to tell them who he was, they were stunned and horrified. Here was the brother they had tried to kill years earlier, and now he was in a position to do whatever he wished with them. But instead, he forgave them. Why? Because Joseph knew he couldn’t afford the excess baggage of bitterness.
So what should you do when you’re tempted to harbor bitterness? Do what Joseph did: He sustained his faith and hope in God, believed that things would ultimately work out well, and continued his spiritual life.
When things go wrong, we often turn our back on the one person we need most – the Lord. When difficulties come our way, we say, “God, why did you allow this to happen?” We start blaming God as if it’s His fault, instead of saying, “Lord, please handle this problem.” God can take circumstances that are completely bad and turn them around. When people attempt to use situations to destroy you, God can use them to develop you. He delights in turning crucifixions into resurrections. The Bible says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8 NKJV). God comes by invitation, and as long as you keep talking to Him and trusting Him, He will work things out for you.
Soul food: Amos 1:1-5:17; Mark 13:12-23; Ps 82; Prov 14:5-8
