2025-11-24
James 1:25 NLT
Going to heaven is based solely upon having a relationship with Christ; one in which you place your total trust in Him. This relationship also involves rules you live by and guidelines that make you more godly. A tennis player isn’t free to play tennis if there is no baseline to let him or her know whether the ball is “in or out.” A baseball player isn’t free to play baseball without a foul line. A football player is not free to play football without sidelines.
You cannot be truly free without restraints. For example, a fish is not free to wander through the jungle, and a lion is not free to dwell in the ocean. Neither was made for that. Freedom is having the benefits accumulate to you that you were created to receive. Freedom doesn’t mean no boundaries. Freedom “in Christ” means that within the right boundaries, you get to experience “life more abundant” (See John 10:10). James writes, “If you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says… God will bless you for doing it.”
On top of the Statue of Liberty is a crown with seven spikes depicting the seven seas and seven continents, meaning wherever you are, you can come to America. At the bottom of the statue is a broken chain, meaning you can come to America and find freedom. But when you come, you must agree to honour the rules that govern the relationship.
Soul food: 3 John; Jude; John 13:31-38; Ps 118:1-9
2025-11-23
2 Kronieke 16:9 NLV
God is nie huiwerig of onverskillig om sy krag te wys nie. Nee, Hy soek ‘oor die hele aarde’ na mense wat toegewyd aan Hom is, sodat Hy sy krag deur hulle lewens kan openbaar! Hier is drie dinge wat jy oor God moet weet:
1) Hy is altyd op bonatuurlike maniere in ons wêreld aan die werk en Hy het baie wat Hy wil bereik.
2) Hy is aktief op die uitkyk vir toegewyde vennote – mense wat omgee waaroor Hy omgee.
3) Hy spoor mense voortdurend aan om te reageer, maar die meeste mense loop dit mis of sê nee.
Vraag: Hoe sal jou lewe lyk as jy begin ja sê? ‘n Dominee skryf: “‘n Lewe wat deur die wonderbaarlike gekenmerk word, is nie net moontlik of begeerlik nie, maar die middelpunt van God se wil vir elkeen van ons. Wanneer ons met minder tevrede is, verloor ons lewens vreugde, vervulling en doelgerigtheid. Die persoonlike behoeftes van mense wat ons ontmoet, word oor die hoof gesien. Behoeftes in ons gemeenskappe en regoor die wêreld bly onvervuld. Wanneer ‘n hele generasie met minder tevrede is, word die karakter en beweegrede van God in twyfel getrek. Dit lyk asof sy blink teenwoordigheid in die wêreld vervaag.”
Jy kan egter iets daaraan doen. Jy is gebore om God se ambassadeur te wees; om Hom elke dag sigbaar te maak (sien 2 Korintiërs 5:20). God wil graag sy krag in jou, vir jou en deur jou bewys, want elke persoon wat jy teëkom het ‘n behoefte wat slegs God kan vervul.
Sielskos: Pred 11:7-12:1; Ps 39:4-13; 2 Tim 4:6-8
2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV
God is not hesitant or indifferent when it comes to showing Himself strong. Rather, He is looking “throughout the whole earth” for people who are loyal to Him so He can reveal His power through their lives! Here are three things you need to know about God:
(1) He is always at work in supernatural ways in our world, and He has a lot He wants to accomplish.
(2) He is actively searching for loyal partners – people who steadily care about what He cares about.
(3) He is consistently nudging people to respond, but most people miss it or say no.
Question: What would it look like in your life if you began to say yes? A minister writes: “A life marked by the miraculous is not just possible, not even just desirable, but is at the very centre of God’s will for every one of us. When we settle for less, our lives lose delight, fulfillment, and purpose. Personal needs of people we meet get overlooked. Extreme needs in our communities and around the world go unmet. When a whole generation settles for less, the character and motives of God get called into question. His shining presence seems to fade in the world.”
But you can do something about it. You were born to be God’s ambassador, making Him visible each day (See 2 Corinthians 5:20). God desires to show Himself strong in you, for you, and through you, because every person you encounter has a need that only God can meet.
Soul food: Ecc 11:7-12:1; Ps 39:4-13; 2 Tim 4:6-8
2025-11-22
John 20:21 KJV
Jesus said, “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does” (John 5:19-20 NIV).
The demands on Jesus were endless. Those who were sick wanted Him to help them. The Pharisees wanted to embroil Him in theological arguments. His disciples wanted Him to go to certain places and not others. But every step Jesus took, every act He performed, and every question He answered was in response to the leadings of His heavenly Father. That’s why He didn’t burn out. That’s why He could say on the eve of His crucifixion, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4 NKJV). Now you understand why Jesus often prayed all night and rose early in the morning to pray while His disciples were still sleeping. He had only one purpose: doing what God wanted done that day.
Is that easy to do? No. People will pressure you, and unmet needs will guilt-trip you unless you are absolutely clear as to what God wants you to do. And knowing that calls for intimacy, dependency, sensitivity, and obedience to God. But living this way brings a level of joy and fulfillment that cannot be found in anything else. And this is the life you have been called to live, because Jesus said, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21 KJV).
Soul food: 2 Chr 35-36; John 13:18-30; Ps 114; Prov 27:20-22
Johannes 20:21 NLV
Jesus het gesê: ‘…Ek verseker julle, die Seun kan niks uit sy eie doen nie. Hy doen slegs wat Hy die Vader sien doen. Wat die Vader ook al doen, dit doen die Seun net so. Die Vader het die Seun lief en wys Hom alles wat Hy self doen…’ (Johannes 5:19-20 NLV).
Die eise wat aan Jesus gestel is, was eindeloos. Siekes wou sy hulp hê. Die Fariseërs wou Hom by teologiese argumente betrek. Sy dissipels wou hê dat Hy na sekere plekke en nie na ander plekke toe gaan nie. Elke tree wat Jesus egter geneem het, elke daad wat Hy gedoen het en elke vraag wat Hy beantwoord het, was egter in reaksie op die leiding van sy hemelse Vader. Dis hoekom Hy nie uitgebrand geraak het nie. Dis waarom Hy op die vooraand van sy kruisiging kon sê: ‘Ek het U op aarde verheerlik deur die werk te voltooi wat U My gegee het om te doen’ (Johannes 17:4 NLV). Nou verstaan jy hoekom Jesus dikwels deurnag gebid en vroeg opgestaan het om te bid terwyl sy dissipels nog geslaap het. Hy het net een doelwit gehad: om te doen wat God wou hê Hy daardie dag moet doen.
Is dit maklik om te doen? Nee. Mense sal druk op jou uitoefen en onvervulde behoeftes sal jou skuldig laat voel, tensy jy absolute duidelikheid het oor dit wat God wil hê jy moet doen. Hierdie wete verg intimiteit, afhanklikheid, sensitiwiteit en gehoorsaamheid aan God. Om so te lewe, bring egter ‘n vlak van vreugde en vervulling mee wat nêrens anders gevind kan word nie. Dit is die lewe wat jy geroep is om te leef, want Jesus het gesê: ‘…Net soos die Vader My gestuur het, stuur Ek julle ook’ (Johannes 20:21 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Kro 35-36; Joh 13:18-30; Ps 114; Spr 27:20-22
