2025-12-13
Prediker 9:9 DB
Hier is ‘n illustrasie van die verskillende rolle in die huwelik: ‘n Man se werk is soos die van ‘n termostaat, wat die temperatuur in die huis handhaaf. Die vrou se werk is soos dié van ‘n termometer, om ‘n temperatuurlesing te gee. Die lesing van die termometer moet die verstelling van die termostaat aandui. As ‘n man ‘n warm vrou wil hê, kan hy nie ysige weer huis toe bring nie.
Hier is nog ‘n illustrasie van die twee verskillende rolle in die huwelik: Vir wingerdstokke om vrugbaar te wees, moet hul takke opgelig word, daarom bind wingerdboere hulle aan ‘n paal vir ondersteuning vas. Indien dit nie gedoen word nie, word die wingerdstok te swaar soos die druiwe volwasse word en groei en begin dit op die grond sleep. Die paal hou die druiwe van die grond af en help hulle om die volle voordeel van die son te ontvang. Na ‘n rukkie begin die takke langs die paal waar hulle vasgemaak is, versprei. Omdat hulle deur die paal ondersteun word, is hulle vry om te klim en te versprei.
Wanneer ‘n man dus stabiliteit in die huis verskaf, laat dit die vrou veilig en versorg voel. Sy is dan vry om te floreer, te groei en vrugbaar te wees. Salomo sê: ‘Geniet die lewe met die vrou vir wie jy lief is. Geniet haar elke dag in die sinlose lewe wat jou gegun is. Sy sal jou troos wees…’ Die tyd, liefde en aandag wat jy in jou vrou belê, bring ‘n beloning van groot seën, tevredenheid en vervulling mee. Wanneer jy jou deel doen, kan jy op God staat maak om sy deel te doen.
Sielskos: 2 Tim 1-4; Joh 20:1-9; Ps 105:37-45; Spr 30:20-23
Ecclesiastes 9:9 NLT
Here is an illustration of the different roles in marriage: A husband’s job is like that of a thermostat, to set the temperature in the home. The wife’s job is like that of a thermometer, to give a temperature reading. And the reading of the thermometer should indicate the setting of the thermostat. If a man wants a warm wife, he can’t bring home frosty weather.
Here is another illustration of the two different roles in marriage: For grapevines to become the most fruitful, their branches have to be elevated, so vinedressers tie them to a post for support. As grapes mature and grow, the vine becomes too heavy and begins to drag on the ground. Elevation keeps the grapes off the soil, and helps them receive the whole benefit of the sun. After a while, the branches start to spread along the post where they’re tied. Because they have been stabilized, they’re free to climb and spread and maximize their potential for fruitfulness.
In the same way, when a husband provides stability in the home, it allows a woman to feel secure and cared for. She is then free to thrive, to grow, and to be fruitful. Again Solomon weighs in with his wisdom: “Live happily with the woman you love… The wife God gives you is your reward… Whatever you do, do well” (vv. 9-10 NLT). The time, love, and attention you invest in your wife will bring you a reward of great blessing, satisfaction, and fulfillment. And when you do your part, you can count on God to do His.
Soul food: 2 Tim 1-4; John 20:1-9; Ps 105:37-45; Prov 30:20-23
2025-12-12
Psalm 86:5 NLT
“Heavenly Father, although I’ve repented and genuinely regret my actions, the guilt of my sin continually torments me. The burden of it is too heavy for me to bear any longer, so I am turning to you for deliverance. Your Word declares that you are ready to forgive me (See Nehemiah 9:17), and that you have an abundance of mercy for all who call upon you (See Isaiah 55:7).
The problem is, I’m having a hard time accepting your forgiveness and releasing myself from the remorse of my sin. Help me to comprehend and receive your promise that says, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9 KJV). You said in your Word, ‘I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins’ (Isaiah 43:25 KJV).
Drawing on the power of your Spirit, I choose to no longer let thoughts of guilt and condemnation rob me of the peace and joy you offer. I stand on your Word which says, ‘As far as the east is from the west, so far you have removed my transgressions from me’ (See Psalm 103:12).
You have said, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more’ (Hebrews 10:17 NKJV). Since you have chosen not to remember it, help me to forget it and stop rehearsing it. Beginning today I declare, ‘The blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses me from all sin!'” (See 1 John 1:7).
Soul food: Micah 5-7; John 19:31-42; Ps 105:23-36; Prov 30:15-19
Psalm 86:5 NLV
‘Hemelse Vader, alhoewel ek berou getoon het en opreg spyt is oor my dade, pynig die skuld van my sonde my voortdurend. Die las daarvan is te swaar vir my om langer te dra, daarom wend ek my tot U vir verlossing. U Woord sê dat U gereed is om my te vergewe (sien Nehemia 9:17), en dat u oorvloedige genade het vir diegene wat na U roep (sien Jesaja 55:7).
Die probleem is dat ek dit moeilik vind om u vergifnis te aanvaar en myself van die berou oor my sondes te bevry. Help my om u belofte te verstaan en te ontvang: ‘As ons egter ons sondes bely, Hy is betroubaar en regverdig om ons sondes te vergewe en ons skoon te maak van elke verkeerde optrede’ (1 Johannes 1:9 NLV). U sê in u Woord: ‘Ek, ja, Ek alleen, is die Een wat hulle sondes uitwis. Ek doen dit ter wille van Myself en dink nie weer daaraan nie’ (Jesaja 43:25 NLV).
Deur krag uit die mag van u Gees te put, kies ek om nie langer toe te laat dat gedagtes van skuld en veroordeling die vrede en vreugde wat U bied, van my steel nie. Ek staan op u Woord wat sê: ‘So ver as die ooste is van die weste, so ver verwyder Hy ons van ons oortredings’ (Psalm 103:12 NLV).
U het gesê: ‘…Ek sal aan hulle sondes en hulle oortredings nooit weer dink nie’ (Hebreërs 10:17 NLV). Aangesien U gekies het om dit nie te onthou nie, help my om daarvan te vergeet en op te hou om daaroor te tob. Van vandag af begin ek verklaar: ‘…die bloed van Jesus, sy Seun, maak ons skoon van alle sonde’ (1 Johannes 1:7 NLV).’
Sielskos: Miga 5-7; Joh 19:31-42; Ps 105:23-36; Spr 30:15-19
2025-12-11
Acts 20:35 NKJV
When British Prime Minister William Gladstone was facing one of the greatest crises of his political life, he sat down one morning at two o’clock to write the speech he hoped would help him win a political victory in Parliament the following day. At that same hour, the mother of a dying child saw the light on in his home and knocked on his door. She asked him to come and bring a message of hope and cheer to her son. Without hesitation, Gladstone left his half-finished speech on his desk and spent the remainder of the night with the child, leading him to Christ before he died.
As the morning light was breaking, he went back to his study and faced his own day with a smile of confidence, peace, and power. He said to a friend later that morning, “I am the happiest man in the world today.” When asked why, he replied that the previous night he had been allowed to serve a child in the name of his Master.
Later that day Gladstone made what many consider to be the greatest speech of his life. The House of Commons was won over and his cause triumphed. Were the two events related? Gladstone was convinced that they were.
Before leaving the leaders of the church at Ephesus for the last time, Paul told them: “I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Soul food: Micah 1-4; John 19:17-30; Ps 105:16-22; Prov 30:10-14
