2025-11-28
Matthew 9:36 NKJV
Was God telling him to stay in London rather than go to China? Thomas Barnardo had come to London for missionary training, only to have a ten-year-old child show him a rooftop where eleven homeless boys were sleeping. Barnardo was “moved with compassion,” and set out to find temporary lodging for them. Other midnight tours revealed more homeless youths – as many as seventy-three in one night. China would have to wait; God had given him London.
Barnardo sold some three hundred thousand copies of the Scriptures in public houses and marketplaces to raise money for his work among the children. He was often persecuted for defending them, even sustaining physical injury. When a cholera epidemic hit London in 1866, he worked tirelessly, only to see thousands die. Some would have quit in discouragement, but not Barnardo. He eventually opened a Home for Destitute Boys, and later, a Village for Girls. Through the next several decades, he built numerous homes and villages that cared for some sixty thousand abandoned children, and became known as “the father of nobody’s children.” And happily, he lived long enough to see seventeen of the young people he rescued enter the ministry and take the gospel to foreign lands.
You say, “How can I be sure God is calling me to a particular need?” Because you will be moved with compassion. “When He [Jesus] saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said… ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest'” (vv. 36-38 NKJV).
Soul food: Josh 11-13; John 15:5-17; Ps 14; Prov 28:13-16
2025-11-27
Romans 8:12 NLT
“Heavenly Father, your Word says: ‘The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Therefore… you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live’ (vv. 11-13 NLT).
I’m tired of struggling with this habit, and acknowledge that I’m powerless over it. So, I make a commitment now to surrender my will to you. Give me power to not only say no to Satan’s temptation, but to say an even stronger yes to you and your plan for my life. You know the void I’m trying to fill. Take away my desire for this habit, and help me to withstand the cravings. Teach me how to walk in triumph day by day instead of thinking I can solve this problem right away.
Your Word says if the Son makes me free, I shall be free indeed (See John 8:36). Your Word says I can be more than a conqueror through Him who loved me (See Romans 8:37). Your Word says, ‘Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires’ (Romans 13:14 NLT). Clothed in your presence and power, I will begin to walk in victory over this habit each day.”
Soul food: Josh 8:30-10:43; John 14:26-15:4; Ps 146; Prov 28:9-12
Romeine 8:12 NLV
‘Hemelse Vader, u Woord sê: ‘Omdat die Gees van die God wat Jesus uit die dood opgewek het in julle woon, sal Hy wat die dooie Jesus opgewek het, ook julle dooie liggame weer lewendig maak deur dieselfde Gees wat in julle woon. Daarom… is dit noodsaaklik dat ons die druk van ons sondige natuur sal weerstaan en nie daarvolgens sal lewe nie. Want as die sondige natuur julle lewe beheer, gaan julle die dood tegemoet. Maar as julle onder die invloed van die Gees die werke van julle sondige natuur doodmaak, sal julle werklik lewe’ (verse 11-13 NLV).
Ek is moeg daarvoor om met hierdie gewoonte te sukkel en erken dat ek magteloos daaroor is. Ek maak dus nou ‘n belofte om my wil aan u oor te gee. Gee my die krag om nie net nee vir Satan se versoeking te sê nie, maar om ‘n sterker ja vir U en u plan vir my lewe te sê. U ken die leemte wat ek probeer vul. Neem asseblief my begeerte aan hierdie gewoonte weg en help my om die drang daarna te weerstaan. Leer my om dag na dag in oorwinning te stap, in plaas daarvan om te dink dat ek die probleem dadelik kan oplos.
U Woord sê dat as die Seun my vrymaak, sal ek waarlik vry wees (sien Johannes 8:36). U Woord sê dat ek deur Hom wat my liefhet, meer as ‘n oorwinnaar kan wees (sien Romeine 8:37) U Woord sê: ‘Nee, soos ‘n mens jou klere aantrek, moet julle die Here Jesus Christus ‘aantrek’, en nie ‘n duimbreedte toegee aan die begeertes van julle sondige natuur nie’ (Romeine 13:14 NLV). Geklee in u teenwoordigheid en krag, sal ek elke dag in oorwinning oor hierdie gewoonte begin stap.’
Sielskos: Josua 8:30-10:43; Joh 14:26-15:4; Ps 146; Spr 28:9-12
2025-11-26
Spreuke 27:17 NLV
Hier is vier voordele wat ware vriendskap meebring: Eerstens, ‘n ware vriend is iemand wat, wanneer jy voel dat jy ‘n gemors van dinge gemaak het en jouself verneder het, steeds in jou glo en jou gerusstel dat jy nie permanente skade aangerig het nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘Vriende kan mekaar verwoes. Daar kan ook ‘n vriend wees vir wie jy liewer is as vir jou eie broer’ (Spreuke 18:24 NLV).
Tweedens, ‘n ware vriend is iemand wat daar is wanneer die goeie tye opraak. Die Verlore Seun het tot sy seer ontdek dat wanneer jou geld opraak, baie van jou sogenaamde vriende daarmee saam verdwyn.
Derdens, ‘n ware vriend is iemand wat in jou pad staan as jy op ‘n afdraande pad is. Jakobus skryf: ‘My liewe broers en susters, as een van julle van die waarheid afdwaal en iemand sou hom laat terugdraai, weet dan dat hy wat ‘n sondaar op sy dwaalweg laat terugdraai, hom uit die dood red en maak dat ‘n klomp sondes bedek word’ (Jakobus 5:19-20 NLV). Salomo skryf: “‘n Openlike bestraffing is beter as liefde wat onsigbaar bly. Die wonde van iemand wat lief is vir jou is baie beter as die baie soene wat jou vyande jou wil gee” (Spreuke 27:5-6 NLV).
Vierdens, ‘n ware vriend is iemand wat instap wanneer die wêreld uitstap. Die Bybel sê: ‘Op ‘n vriend se lojaliteit kan jy altyd reken. Jou broer is gebore om jou te help wanneer daar probleme is’ (Spreuke 17:17 NLV).
As jy sulke vriende in jou lewe het, koester hulle – hulle is ‘n gawe van God. Moet ook nie net neem nie, maar gee terug. Gaan uit jou pad uit om ‘n ware vriend vir iemand anders te wees.
Sielskos: Josua 5:1-8:29; Joh 14:15-25; Ps 118:19-29; Spr 28:5-8
Proverbs 27:17 NLT
Here are four benefits of a true friendship: First, a true friend is someone who, when you feel like you have made a mess out of things and a fool out of yourself, still believes in you and reassures you that you haven’t done permanent damage. The Bible says, “There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24 NLT).
Second, a true friend is someone who is there when the good times are not. The Prodigal Son discovered to his hurt that when your money runs out, many of your so-called friends go with it.
Third, a true friend is someone who gets in your way when you are on your way down. James writes: “My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins” (James 5:19-20 NLT). Solomon writes, “An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Proverbs 27:5-6 NLT).
Fourth, a true friend is someone who comes in when the world walks out. The Bible says, “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need” (Proverbs 17:17 NLT).
If you have friends like this in your life, treasure them – they’re a gift from God. And don’t just be a taker, be a giver. Go out of your way to be a true friend to someone else.
Soul food: Josh 5:1-8:29; John 14:15-25; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 28:5-8
