2024-11-08
Hebrews 7:25 NKJV
A Christian leader writes: “The Italian violin maker Antonio Stradivari was a poor man. And yet his violins are now the most prized violins ever made because of the rich and resonant sound they produce. The unique sound of a Stradivarius cannot be duplicated. What may surprise you is that these precious instruments were not made from treasured pieces of wood; they were carved from discarded lumber. Because Stradivari couldn’t afford fine materials, he got most of his wood from the dirty harbors where he lived. He would take those waterlogged pieces of wood to his shop, clean them up, and dry them out. Then, from those trashed pieces of lumber, he would create instruments of rare beauty.
It has since been discovered that while the wood floated in those dirty harbors, microbes infiltrated the wood and ate out the centers of those cells. This left just a fibrous infrastructure of wood that created resonating chambers for the music. From wood that nobody wanted, Stradivari produced violins that now everybody wants.”
You say, “How does any of this relate to me?” Just as this violin maker transformed garbage into treasure, God can transform you into what you were actually meant to be. You say, “But you don’t know how low I have fallen or the things I’ve done. I doubt that Jesus could save and transform someone like me!” Give Him a try. Put Him to the test. You won’t be disappointed. The Bible says, “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.”
Soul food: Isa 53-57; John 8:42-59; Ps 123; Prov 29:1-3
2024-11-07
Psalm 33:20 AFR53
Ons innerlike self kan opgelei word om op God te wag, selfs al is ons uiterlike self gestres en angstig vir antwoorde. Dit is nie maklik om dit in ons vinnige samelewing, waar die geestelike dissipline om op die Here te wag dikwels ontbreek, te doen nie. Ons wil alles dadelik hê. As ons egter altyd haastig is, sal ons die hegte gemeenskap met God wat tyd neem om te ontwikkel, misloop. Hy sal met ons harte praat, indien ons geduldig is om te luister.
Nadat hy Baäl se profete doodgemaak het, het Elia ‘n waardevolle les geleer oor hoe om op God te wag. Die Here het vir hom gesê om op ‘n berg te gaan staan. ‘n Groot rukwind het daar verbygekom, toe ‘n aardbewing en toe ‘n vuur, maar die Here was nie in een daarvan nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Na die vuur was daar die geluid van ‘n sagte fluistering’ (1 Konings 19:12 NLV). Die Here het in ‘n stil fluistering na die rukwind, aardbewing en vuur gepraat. As Elia ongeduldig was, sou hy nie die Here se stem gehoor het nie.
Dawid het ook geleer om op God te wag. ‘…Ek wil ervaar hoe goed Hy vir my is. Ek wil weer en weer daaroor nadink wanneer ek Hom aanbid’ (Psalm 27:4 DB). Om effektief te kan bid, moet ons kies om geduldig te wag en te luister vir sy Woord. Deur te wag en te luister, word die fokus van ons af geneem en op Hom, wat die antwoord op al ons behoeftes is, geplaas. Dit is dikwels in stilte wat die krag van God die magtigste beweeg. Laat dus die Heilige Gees toe om jou te leer om in sy teenwoordigheid te wag.
Sielskos: Jes 49-52; Joh 8:31-41; Ps 30; Spr 28:25-28
Psalm 33:20 AMPC
Our inner self can be trained to wait on God, even though our outer self is stressed and anxious for answers. This is not easy to do in our fast-paced society, where the spiritual discipline of waiting on the Lord is often lacking. We want everything – right now. But if we are always in a hurry, we will miss out on the close fellowship with God that takes time to develop. He will speak to our hearts if only we will be patient to listen.
After slaying the prophets of Baal, Elijah learned a valuable lesson about waiting on God. The Lord told him to go stand on a mountain. A great wind came, then an earthquake, then a fire, but the Lord was in none of these. The Bible says, “After the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12 AMPC). The Lord spoke in a still, small voice after the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. If Elijah had been impatient he would not have heard the Lord’s voice.
David also learned to wait on God and “meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple” (Psalm 27:4 AMPC). In order for us to pray effectively, we must choose to wait patiently and listen for His word. Waiting and listening takes the focus off us and places it on Him, who is the answer to all our needs. It is often in silence that the power of God is moving most mightily. So, allow the Holy Spirit to teach you how to wait in His presence.
Soul food: Isa 49-52; John 8:31-41; Ps 30; Prov 28:25-28
2024-11-06
Johannes 6:9 NLV
Indien jy voel dat jy nie talentvol genoeg is om deur God gebruik te word nie, lees die verhaal van die skare van vyfduisend wat deur vyf garsbrode en twee vissies gevoed is. Daar was eintlik vyfduisend mans in die skare. As jy die vrouens en kinders byvoeg, kan die getal meer as twintigduisend wees. Die seuntjie se middagete was kariger as wat jy dink. ‘n Brood was omtrent so groot soos ‘n klein pannekoek. Die vissies verwys na seediere wat omtrent so groot soos sardientjies was.
Wat daardie middagete egter ‘n groot fees gemaak het, is dat die seuntjie gewillig was om sy middagete op te gee. Hy het nie gesê: ‘Here, U kan een vissie en twee broodjies kry, maar ek gaan die res hou’ nie. Hy het vir Jesus alles gegee wat Hy van hom gevra het. Dink nou aan die gevolg van sy opofferende goedhartigheid.
1) Die oorspronklike middagete het nie eers ‘n enkele mandjie volgemaak nie, maar die oorskiet het twaalf mandjies volgemaak. Dit illustreer die oeswet wat in die Skrif geleer word. Wanneer jy vir God gee, kry jy altyd meer terug as wat jy gee (sien Lukas 6:38). Wanneer jy terughou, steel jy God se seën by jouself. ‘Mense wat graag uitdeel, ontvang altyd meer. Daar is ander wat suinig is en hulle word arm’ (Spreuke 11:24 NLV).
2) Deur aan ander mense se behoeftes te voldoen, is daar aan sy behoeftes voldoen. ‘Jesus het toe die brode geneem, ‘n dankgebed gedoen en dit aan die mense wat daar gesit het, uitgedeel en ook soveel van die vissies as wat hulle wou hê’ (Johannes 6:11 NLV). Die waarheid is dat wanneer jy dit wat jy het vir God gee, jy verwonderd sal wees oor wat Hy daarmee doen.
Sielskos: Jes 45-48; Joh 8:21-30; Ps 86; Spr 28:21-24
John 6:9 NIV
If you feel you’re not talented enough to be used by God, read the story of the feeding of the five thousand. Actually, there were five thousand men. If you add women and children, the number could be more than twenty thousand. And the boy’s lunch was more meager than you imagine. A loaf was about the size of a mini pancake. The word for fish refers to sea creatures about the size of sardines.
But what made that little lunch a big feast is what the boy did when Jesus asked him for it. He gave it willingly. He didn’t say, “Lord, you can have one fish, but I will keep the other one. You take three loaves, and I will keep the other two.” He gave Jesus everything He asked for. Now think about the results of his act of sacrificial kindness.
(1) The original lunch didn’t fill up even a single basket, but the leftovers filled twelve baskets. This illustrates the harvest law taught in Scripture. When you give to God, you always get back more than you give (See Luke 6:38 NCV). And when you withhold, you rob yourself of His blessing. “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want” (Proverbs 11:24 ESV).
(2) By meeting the needs of others, his own needs were met. “Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted” (John 6:11 NIV). The truth is that when you give God what you have, you will be amazed what He does with it.
Soul food: Isa 45-48; John 8:21-30; Ps 86; Prov 28:21-24
