2025-11-02
Romans 12:3 NKJV
Thank God, faith isn’t reserved for deeply spiritual people. If that was the case, we would all be in trouble! The fact is that regular people from all walks of life can be faith filled. We’re inclined to think faith belongs exclusively to people like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Samuel, David, Daniel, Peter, and Paul. Now, without question, they were all faith heroes, but faith doesn’t belong solely to them. The Bible tells us, “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” No one will miss out on heaven because he or she wasn’t given enough faith to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved” (See Acts 16:31).
God intended that not only should we have faith but that we should live by faith. Three times the New Testament assures us “the just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38 NKJV). You reply, “Yes, but those biblical heroes had great faith; my faith is so small!” Did you know that the apostles felt the same way? They said to Jesus, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5 NIV). And Jesus replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you” (v. 6 NIV.)
Like so many of us, the apostles thought they needed more faith. But Jesus corrected this spiritually crippling misperception by telling them you don’t need a truckload of faith to see amazing outcomes. “Faith as small as a mustard seed” can bring about awesome results. When you put the faith, you already have been given into action, Jesus said it will produce results!
Soul food: Gen 5:22-24; Heb 11:5; 2 Ki 2:1-12; Acts 1:9-11
Romeine 12:3 NLV
Dank God dat geloof nie net vir diep geestelike mense bedoel is nie. As dit die geval is, sou ons almal in die moeilikheid wees! Ons is geneig om te dink dat geloof eksklusief aan mense soos Abraham, Moses, Elia, Samuel, Dawid, Daniël, Petrus en Paulus behoort. Hulle was inderdaad almal helde van geloof, maar geloof behoort nie alleenlik aan hulle nie. Die Bybel sê dat God geestelike toerusting aan ons almal gegee het. Niemand sal die hemel misloop omdat hy of sy nie genoeg geloof ontvang het om in die Here Jesus te glo en gered te word nie (sien Handelinge 16:31).
God het nie bedoel dat ons net geloof sal hê nie, maar dat ons deur geloof sal lewe. Drie keer verseker die Nuwe Testament ons dat: ‘Dié mense wat my wil doen, sal uit die geloof lewe…’ (Hebreërs 10:38 NLV). Jy antwoord: ‘Ja, maar daardie Bybelse helde van geloof se geloof was groot; my geloof is so klein!’ Het jy geweet dat die apostels ook so gevoel het? Hulle het vir Jesus gesê: ‘…Help ons. Ons het meer geloof nodig’ (Lukas 17:5 NLV). Jesus het geantwoord: ‘…Al sou julle maar net ‘n geloof só klein soos ‘n mosterdsaadjie gehad het, sou julle aan hierdie moerbeiboom gesê het: ‘Ontwortel jouself en gaan verplant jou in die see,’ – hy sou julle gehoorsaam!’ (vers 6 NLV).
Soos so baie van ons, het die apostels gedink dat hulle meer geloof nodig het. Jesus het hierdie geestelik verlammende wanpersepsie egter reggestel deur vir hulle te sê dat jy het nie ‘n trok vol geloof nodig het om wonderlike resultate te sien nie. ‘Geloof so klein soos ‘n mosterdsaadjie’ kan wonderlike resultate teweegbring. Wanneer jy die geloof wat jy reeds gegee het in aksie omskep, sê Jesus dat dit resultate sal lewer!
Sielskos: Gen 5:22-24; Heb 11:5; 2 Kon 2:1-12; Hand 1:9-11
2025-11-01
Hebreërs 11:1 NLV
Geloof het min met godsdiens of die kerk wat jy bywoon, te doen. Die Griekse definisie van die woord ‘geloof’ is pistis, wat ‘n vaste oortuiging, ‘n oortuiging wat op hoor en leer gebaseer is, beteken. Ander woorde wat ons help om geloof te definieer is vertroue, vrymoedigheid en om te glo.
Hier is ‘n paar Skriftuurlike beskrywings van geloof: ‘Wat is geloof dan? Dit is ‘n vaste versekering dat die dinge waarna ons uitsien, inderdaad sal gebeur. Dit is die bewys dat God die dinge wat ons nog nie kan sien nie, waar sal maak.’ Die Bybel sê vir ons: ‘As jy nie glo nie, is dit onmoontlik om God tevrede te stel. Wie tot God wil nader, moet glo dat Hy werklik dáár is en dat Hy dié wat na Hom soek, daadwerklik beloon’ (vers 6 NLV). Dit sê ook vir ons: ‘Die geloof volg uit die aanhoor van die boodskap. En die aanhoor van die boodskap volg uit die prediking van die Goeie Nuus wat handel oor Christus’ (Romeine 10:17 NLV). Jakobus skryf: ‘…Geloof wat nie dade word nie… sulke geloof is dood en help niks’ (Jakobus 2:17 NLV).
Geloof, alhoewel dit gevoel kan word, is glad nie ‘n gevoel nie. Jy kan geloof hê en niks voel nie. Dit hou ook nie met intellektuele of teologiese kennis verband nie. Jou IK of vlak van opvoeding het niks met jou kapasiteit om geloof uit te oefen, te maak nie. Effektiewe geloof verg ‘n daad van jou wil. Dis ‘n keuse wat jy maak om dit wat God in sy Woord sê, ten volle te omhels. Wanneer dit gebeur, skep dit ‘n klimaat in jou hart wat jou motiveer om in ooreenstemming met dit wat jy kies om te glo, op te tree. Dis geloof!
Sielskos: 1 Kro 17:1-20; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Spr 4:18
Hebrews 11:1 TLB
Faith has little to do with religion or what church you attend. The Greek definition of the word “faith” is pistis, which means a firm persuasion, a conviction based on hearing and learning. Some other words that help to define faith are trust, confidence, and believing.
And for good measure, here are a few scriptural descriptions of faith: “The confident assurance that something we want is going to happen… the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” The Bible tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (v. 6 NIV). It also tells us, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17 NIV). And the apostle James writes, “Faith… not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17 NIV).
Faith, though it may be felt, isn’t a feeling at all. The fact is, you can have faith and feel nothing, and you can feel nothing and still have faith. Nor is it related to intellectual or theological knowledge. Your IQ and level of education have nothing to do with your capacity to exercise faith. Effective faith calls for an act of your will. It’s a choice you make to fully embrace what God says in His Word. When that happens, it creates a heart climate that motivates you to act in keeping with what you choose to believe. That’s faith in a nutshell!
Soul food: 1 Chr 17:1-20; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Prov 4:18
2025-10-31
Proverbs 15:6 NIV
In order to overcome your fear of investing, you must do these three things:
(1) Get savvy. Before you start investing, you need to learn the language and nuances of the stock market, real estate, mutual funds, and other transactions. There is a wealth of information available on the internet. Yes, your savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts are great ways to protect your money while earning a modicum of interest. But, if you want to make a higher return, you have to take some risk. And the higher the risk, the higher the return.
(2) Get counsel. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (v. 22 NIV). A good financial consultant will help you plan based on your age, risk tolerance, and investment objectives. Talk to friends and relatives who have made investments; learn from their experiences. And be sure to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is called “counsellor” because He can guide you in every area of your life (See John 14:26 AMPC).
(3) Get moving. Time is money. You can go broke trying to save for big things like your kids’ college education or your retirement if you don’t take advantage of the high returns offered by the stock market and other investments over an extended period.
And be sure to stand on God’s Word and trust Him: “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV). As long as your motive is to do God’s will and bless others, you can pray for God to bless you with success, and He will.”
Soul food: Deut 18:9-18; Dan 2; Isa 47:5-15; Acts 16:16-34
