2025-12-23
Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJV
For many years Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse pastored Philadelphia’s Tenth Presbyterian Church. One Sunday morning a twelve-year-old boy in the balcony was transfixed after hearing him speak about the length and breadth and depth of God’s amazing grace. Barnhouse closed his sermon by summarizing many of the great promises from Scripture in one impressive sentence: “Our sins are forgiven, forgotten, cleansed, pardoned… covered… blotted out as a thick cloud, removed as far as the east is from the west… cast behind God’s back.” At the end of the service when Barnhouse went to the back to greet people, the boy approached him, tugged at his sleeve, and said, “Good sermon, Doc! We’re sure sittin’ pretty, aren’t we?”
That glorious phrase “in Christ” speaks to the redemptive miracle God performed for us through his Son (See Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:6-13). The word “in” assures us that just as our natural birth positioned us in Adam, our forefather, at the new birth God deliberately and precisely positions us in Jesus, our Redeemer.
Think about it: “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses… raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJV). Note that we’re seated together in heavenly places in Christ, not beside Him. And it gets even better! We’re seated there so closely identified with Jesus that we’re inseparably and eternally one with Him! Now if that’s not sitting pretty, tell us what is!
Soul food: 1 Cor 7-9; Matt 1:17; Ps 97; Prov 31:22-24
2025-12-22
Efesiërs 2:10 NLV
Sielkundiges sê dat ons selfwaarde gebaseer word op dit wat ons glo wat die belangrikste mense in ons lewe van ons dink. Vir kinders is dit heel waarskynlik hulle ouers. Vir volwassenes kan dit ‘n eggenoot, ‘n baas, ‘n vriend of ‘n mentor wees. Die probleem is dat mense ons teleurstel. Hulle kan dinge doen wat ons hartseer maak of pynig.
Die sleutel om ‘n ware sin van selfwaarde te ken en te onderhou, is om jou hemelse Vader die belangrikste persoon in jou lewe te maak. Baseer jou selfwaarde op dit wat Hy van jou sê. Wanneer jy foute maak, kan mense jou kritiseer en jou deur skuldgevoelens oorweldig laat voel. God sê egter: ‘Ek het genade vir die foute wat jy maak. Staan op en probeer weer. Jou toekoms is blinker as jou verlede’ (sien verse 4-10).
Die Bybel sê dat ons God se handewerk is. Dit beteken dat ons nie gemiddeld is nie. Ons is uniek. Ons is ‘n oorspronklike skepping. Ons is enig in ons soort. Dis hoe God jou sien. Dis hoe Hy wil hê jy jouself moet begin sien. Die Psalmdigter het dit as volg gestel: ‘U het my gesien voor ek gebore is. In u boek is alles opgeteken; elke dag is bepaal voordat een van hulle daar was. Kosbaar is u gedagtes vir my, o God! Hoe onmeetlik is die totaal! As ek dit sou moes tel, sou hulle meer wees as sandkorrels! Wanneer ek daarmee klaar is, sal U nog by my wees’ (Psalm 139:16-18 NLV).
Sielskos: 1 Kor 4-6; Matt 1:12-16; Ps 117; Spr 31:18-21
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Psychologists say our self-worth is based upon what we believe the most important people in our lives think of us. For children, that would likely be their parents. For adults, that could be a spouse, a boss, a friend, or mentor. The problem is that people disappoint us. They can do things that bring us heartache and pain.
The key to really knowing and sustaining a true sense of self-worth is to let your heavenly Father be the most important person in your life. Form your sense of value on what He says about you. When you make mistakes, some people may criticize and make you feel overcome with guilt. But God says, “I have mercy for every mistake. Get up and go again. Your future is brighter than your past” (See vv. 4-10 NLT).
The Bible says that you are “God’s masterpiece.” A masterpiece is not mass-produced or created on an assembly line. It’s not average. It’s unique. It’s original. It’s custom made. It’s one of a kind. That’s how God sees you. And that’s how He wants you to begin seeing yourself. The psalmist put it this way: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” (Psalm 139:16-18 NLT).
Soul food: 1 Cor 4-6; Matt 1:12-16; Ps 117; Prov 31:18-21
2025-12-21
Johannes 2:10 NLV
Jesus se eerste wonderwerk was om by ‘n bruilof water in wyn te verander. Daar was ses klipkanne wat elkeen ongeveer 100 liter kon hou. “Jesus sê toe vir die kelners: ‘Maak die kanne vol water!’… Toe sê Jesus ook nog vir hulle: ‘Skep nou daarvan uit en vat dit vir die seremoniemeester.’ Hulle het dit gedoen… Die seremoniemeester sê toe vir die bruidegom: ‘Elke gasheer sit volgens gebruik eers die goeie wyn voor, en wanneer die gaste nie meer so goed kan onderskei nie, die swakker gehalte; jy het egter die goeie wyn tot nou toe teruggehou'” (verse 7-10 NLV).
Weet jy hoe lank neem dit om wyn te maak? Eers word steggies geplant en dan neem dit verskeie jare vir die wingerdstokke om geskikte druiwe voort te bring. Die druiwe word dan gepluk en geprosesseer om die wyn te maak. Dit neem dikwels drie tot vyf jaar voor die eerste wyn gereed is om gebottel te word. Wyn van ‘n beter kwaliteit neem vyf tot sewe jaar om gemaak te word. Mense beskou wyn wat twintig tot dertig jaar oud is, as die beste wyn. Jesus het in ‘n oomblik dit wat normaalweg dekades neem om te produseer, gemaak.
Indien jy dus besorg is dat jy nie genoeg tyd het om jou doelwitte te bereik nie, onthou dat Jesus dit wat gewoonlik jare neem, in ‘n oomblik kan doen. Miskien sal dit jou tipies twintig jaar neem om jou verband af te betaal, of tien jaar om jou besigheid op te bou. God se guns kan die tydlyn egter met jare verminder. Hy verander steeds water in wyn. Skep moed, die God wat ons dien weet hoe om natuurlike wette te versnel. Hy kan jou verder en vinniger laat beweeg as wat jy jou ooit kon indink.
Sielskos: Joh 14:6-11; Hand 4:8-12; Hand 16:22-34; Matt 1:18-21
John 2:10 NKJV
Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding reception. There were six waterpots, each capable of holding thirty gallons. First, He said, “Fill those pots with water.” Next, He said, “Take some out and bring it to the host of the party.” When the host tasted it, he told the groom, “This is amazing. Everyone serves the best wine first, and after people have had a lot to drink, they bring out the less expensive wine. But you have saved the best wine for last” (See vv. 7-10 NLT).
Do you know how long it takes to make wine? It begins with planting seeds, then takes several years for the vines to grow mature grapes. Then they have to be picked and processed to produce the wine. It often takes three to five years before the first wine is ready to be bottled. The better-quality wine takes five to seven years to make. And people consider the best wine to be twenty to thirty years old. Jesus produced in a moment in time what normally takes decades to produce.
So if you’re concerned that you don’t have enough time to achieve your goals, remember that Jesus can do in a moment what might usually take years. Maybe it would typically take you twenty years to pay off your mortgage, or ten years to build your business. But God’s Favour can thrust you years down the road. He still turns water into wine. Be encouraged, the God we serve knows how to accelerate natural laws. He can take you further, quicker than you can ever imagine.
Soul food: John 14:6-11; Acts 4:8-12; Acts 16:22-34; Matt 1:18-21
