2026-01-04
2 Timothy 3:16 NCV
Perhaps you wonder, ‘Is the Bible really inspired by God? Is it true, trustworthy, and infallible?’ The answer is yes, and here are three reasons why:
1) It is remarkable in composition. It was composed over sixteen centuries by forty different authors, including soldiers, shepherds, farmers, and fishermen. Begun by Moses in Arabia and finished by John the Revelator on Patmos – it was penned by kings in palaces, shepherds in tents, and captives in prisons. Would it be possible for forty writers, largely unknown to each other, writing in three different languages in several different countries, separated in time by as much as 1,600 years, to produce a book of singular theme? This would be impossible unless behind them there was one mind and one designer. (See 2 Peter 1:21.)
2) It is remarkable in durability. It is the single most published book in history. Translated into at least 1,200 languages by an army of translators, it has outlived all its opponents. Bibles have been burned by governments and banished by courtrooms, but God’s Word endures. The death knell has been sounded a hundred times, but God’s Word continues (see Isaiah 40:8).
3) It is remarkable in prophecy. Its pages contain more than 300 fulfilled prophecies about the life of Christ, yet they were all written at least 400 years before He was born. What are the odds? Imagine if something similar occurred today. If we found a book written in the year 1900 that prophesied two world wars, a depression, an atomic bomb, and the assassinations of a president and a civil rights leader, wouldn’t we trust it? Yes. So you can believe these words: ‘All Scripture is inspired by God.’
Soul food: Gal 5:22-23; 1 Cor 13; Eph 3:14-21; John 15:9-17
2 Timoteus 3:16 NLV
Miskien wonder jy of die Bybel werklik deur God geïnspireer is en of dit waar, betroubaar en onfeilbaar is. Die antwoord is ja, en hier is drie redes waarom dit so is:
1) Dit is merkwaardig saamgestel. Dit is oor sestien eeue deur veertig verskillende skrywers saamgestel, insluitend soldate, herders, boere en vissermanne. Dit is deur Moses in Arabië begin en deur Johannes op die eiland Patmos voltooi. Dit is deur konings in paleise, herders in tente en gevangenes in die tronk geskryf. Sou veertig skrywers, grotendeels onbekend aan mekaar, wat drie verskillende tale praat en in verskillende lande bly, wat deur ongeveer 1 600 jaar geskei word, ‘n boek met een enkele tema kon produseer? Dit sou onmoontlik wees, tensy hulle deur een gedagte en een ontwerper geïnspireer is (sien 2 Petrus 1:21).
2) Dit is merkwaardig hoe bestendig dit is. Daar is in die geskiedenis meer eksemplare van die Bybel as enige ander boek gedruk. Bybels is deur regerings verbrand en deur howe verban, maar God se Woord bly voortbestaan. Die doodsklok is al honderd keer gelui, maar God se Woord duur voort (sien Jesaja 40:8).
3) Dit bevat merkwaardige profesieë. Die Bybel bevat meer as 300 vervulde profesieë oor Christus se lewe, wat almal ten minste 400 jaar voor sy geboorte geskryf is. Wat is die kans? Stel jou voor dat iets soortgelyks vandag gebeur. As ons ‘n boek sou vind wat in die jaar 1900 geskryf is en wat twee wêreldoorloë, ‘n finansiële depressie, ‘n atoombom en die sluipmoorde op ‘n president en ‘n burgerregteleier voorspel het, sou ons dit nie vertrou nie? Ons sou. Jy kan dus hierdie woorde glo: ‘Die hele Skrif is deur God geïnspireer.’
Sielskos: Gal 5:22-23; 1 Kor 13; Ef 3:14-21; Joh 15:9-17
2026-01-03
2 Timothy 3:14 NCV
Don’t chart your life’s course according to the opinions of people or popular culture. If you do, you’ll make the mistake that a farmer’s son made. The father sent the boy to prepare a field, reminding him to till straight lines. ‘Select an object on the far side of the field and plough straight at it.’ Later, when the father checked on the boy’s progress, there wasn’t a straight furrow to be found. ‘I thought I told you to select an object and plough towards it,’ the dad said. ‘I did,’ the boy answered, ‘but the rabbit kept hopping.’
A straight line requires an unmoving target, so set your sights on the unchanging principles of God’s Word. Let it be the authoritative Word in your world. This decision rubs up against the skin of our culture. We prefer the authority of the voting booth, the pollster, or whatever feels good. Such resistance is not novel to us.
When Paul wrote a letter to Timothy he listed nineteen characteristics of people, each of which was a fruit of rebellion (see 2 Timothy 3:1-5). Then he wrote: ‘Continue following the teachings you learned. You know they are true, because you trust those who taught you. Since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right’ (2 Timothy 3:14-16 NCV). So soak yourself in the Scriptures!
Soul food: Lev 1-4; Luke 1:11-25; Ps 10:1-11; Prov 1:8-16
2 Timoteus 3:14 NLV
Moenie jou lewenskoers volgens die opinies van mense of wat die samelewing gewild ag, bepaal nie. As jy dit doen, sal jy dieselfde fout maak wat ‘n boer se seun gemaak het. Die pa het die seun gestuur om ‘n stuk land in reguit lyne te ploeg. ‘Kies ‘n voorwerp aan die oorkant van die land en ploeg reguit daarnatoe.’ Later, toe die pa kom kyk hoe die seun vorder, was daar nie ‘n reguit ry te vinde nie. ‘Het ek dan nie vir jou gesê om ‘n voorwerp te kies en daarnatoe te ploeg nie?’ het die pa gevra. ‘Ek het,’ het die seun geantwoord, ‘maar die hasie het die heeltyd heen en weer gehop.’
‘n Reguit lyn vereis ‘n onbeweeglike teiken, rig jou visier dus op die onveranderlike beginsels van God se Woord. Laat dit die gesaghebbende Woord in jou wêreld wees. Hierdie besluit is nie ‘n gewilde besluit in vandag se samelewing nie. Sulke weerstand is egter nie vir ons nuut nie.
Toe Paulus ‘n brief aan Timoteus geskryf het, het hy negentien eienskappe opgenoem wat elkeen ‘n vrug van rebellie is (sien 2 Timoteus 3:1-5). Toe skryf hy: ‘Jy moet getrou bly aan die dinge wat jy geleer het. Jy weet dit is waar, want jy weet jy kan dié vertrou wat jou geleer het. Jy is van kindsbeen af onderrig in die Heilige Skrif en dit het jou die wysheid gegee om die verlossing te ontvang wat deur geloof in Christus Jesus kom. Die hele Skrif is deur God geïnspireer en is nuttig om ons te leer wat waar is en om ons laat besef wat verkeerd is in ons lewe. Dit ruk ons reg en kweek ‘n regte leefstyl’ (2 Timoteus 3:14-16 NLV). Deurdrenk jouself dus met die Skrif!
Sielskos: Lev 1-4; Luk 1:11-25; Ps 10:1-11; Spr 1:8-16
2026-01-02
Joshua 1:8 NKJV
God gave Joshua a big job: conquer the Promised Land and divide it up among the twelve tribes of Israel. He also gave him the key to success: ‘This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.’ God didn’t command Joshua to seek a spiritual experience or a personal revelation. He told him to meditate on the Scriptures.
Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson wrote a book called Move. They wanted to find the key factors for spiritual growth, so they surveyed the congregations of one thousand churches. Here’s what they found: ‘Nothing has a greater impact on spiritual growth than reflection on Scripture. If churches could only do one thing to help people at all levels of spiritual maturity grow in their relationship with Christ, their choice is clear. They would inspire, encourage, and equip their people to read the Bible.’
You don’t grow in Christ simply because you’re busy in church; it happens automatically when you read and trust God’s Word. So engage with your Bible. Meditate on it day and night. Think and rethink on it. Let it be your guide. Make it your go-to book for questions. Let it be the ultimate authority in your life.
Peter puts it this way: ‘As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby’ (1 Peter 2:2 NKJV).
Soul food: Titus 1-3; Luke 1:1-10; Ps 90; Prov 1:1-7
