2025-04-14
Job 13:15 Kontemporêre Afrikaanse Bybel (KAB)
Die verhaal van Job lees as volg: In die eerste hoofstuk is hy een van die rykste mans van sy generasie. In die tweede hoofstuk verloor hy alles, insluitend sy rykdom, sy gesondheid en sy kinders. Teen hoofstuk 42 is hy weer op die boonste sport van die leer. Sal jy nie graag wil weet wat van die derde hoofstuk tot die 41ste hoofstuk plaasgevind het nie? Indien wel, moet jy die boek van Job lees en uitvind hoe hy alles gehad het, dit alles verloor het, alles teruggekry het en met twee keer meer as wat hy gehad het, opgeëindig het.
Het Job onbeantwoorde vrae gehad? Baie daarvan. Het hy smart beleef? Ja, op ‘n skaal wat moeilik is om jou dit in te dink. Job het egter nooit sy mening oor God verander nie en God het nooit sy mening oor Job verander nie. Hierdie Skrifgedeelte som Job se houding die beste op: ‘Al maak hy my dood, ek sal op hom vertrou…’
As jy tans op ‘n plek vasgevang is wat jy nie verstaan nie, moenie tou opgooi nie. Wanneer jy nie jou omstandighede verstaan nie en dit voel of dit meer is as wat jy kan hanteer, staan op hierdie wonderlike Bybelse belofte: ‘U bewaar elkeen wat op U vertrou in vrede, die mense wie se gedagtes op U gerig is. Vertrou deurgaans op die Here, want die Here God is vir altyd ‘n veilige toevlug’ (Jesaja 26:3-4 NLV).
Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – hou aan om op God te vertrou en Hy sal jou daardeur bring.
Sielskos: Dan 8-10; Luk 22:54-62; Ps 103:13-22; Spr 10:14
Job 13:15 NKJV
The story of Job reads like this: Chapter 1, he is one of the wealthiest men in his generation. Chapter 2, he loses everything, including his health, his wealth, and his children. Chapter 42, he is back on top again. Wouldn’t you like to know what happened from chapters 3 through 41? If so, you should read the book of Job and find out how he had it all, lost it all, got it all back, and ended up with twice as much as he lost.
Did Job have unanswered questions? Lots of them. Did he experience grief? Yes, to a depth that is hard to imagine. But Job never changed his mind about God, and God never changed His about Job. This Scripture best summarizes Job’s attitude: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
If you’re stuck at a place you don’t understand right now, don’t give up – on God or yourself. When you don’t understand your circumstances, and it feels like they’re more than you can bear, stand on this great Bible promise: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in… the Lord, is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3-4 NKJV).
Trusting God does not mean He will answer all your questions, but that He will give you “perfect peace” regardless of the circumstances. Trusting God does not mean that you won’t struggle, but that He will give you “everlasting strength.” So, the word for you today is – keep trusting God, and He will bring you through this.
Soul food: Dan 8-10; Luke 22:54-62; Ps 103:13-22; Prov 10:14
2025-04-13
Romeine 11:29 NLV
Wanneer God aan ons ‘n geestelike gawe gee, neem Hy dit nie terug nie, ‘en sy gawes en roeping staan onherroeplik vas.’ As God dit nie doen nie, moet ons ook nie! Paulus skryf: ‘…as ander gelowiges aan die een of ander sonde toegee, moet julle wat julle deur die Gees laat lei, hulle dadelik reghelp. Bring hulle terug op die regte pad sonder om hulle te veroordeel. Tree vol deernis op… Sien raak wanneer ander gelowiges swaarkry en help hulle. Tel hulle probleme op julle skouers en dra dit vir hulle. So doen julle presies wat Christus van julle verwag… As julle dink dat julle te belangrik is om vir ander mense om te gee, begryp julle net mooi niks van die evangelie nie’ (Galasiërs 6:1-3 DB).
Wanneer ‘n broer of suster in Christus die pad byster raak, sê die Bybel vir ons wat ons moet doen: Ons moet hulle liefdevol konfronteer, korrigeer, raad gee en hulle bedek. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Sulke liefde maak baie sondes toe’ (1 Petrus 4:8 NLV). Om die sondes ‘toe te maak’ beteken nie dat dit toegesmeer word nie. Dit beteken om ‘n plek van skuiling en herstel te bied waar hulle heel gemaak kan word.
Die wêreld hou ons dop om te sien hoe ons dit hanteer. As ons diegene tussen ons wat struikel weggooi, hoekom sal die wêreld dan na ons vir hulp draai? Jesus het ‘n blinde man genees deur klei op sy oë te vryf en vir hom te sê om dit in die Siloam-bad te gaan afwas. Hoe ver was die bad? Ons weet nie. Hy het egter iemand nodig gehad om sy hand vas te hou en saam met hom te loop totdat hy dit bereik het en sy sig herstel is. Dit is waarvoor ons geroep is.
Sielskos: Ps 118:19-29; Matt 21:1-16
Romans 11:29 NKJV
When God gives us a spiritual gift, He doesn’t take it back. “The gifts and… calling of God are irrevocable.” And if God does not, we must not! Paul writes: “If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived” (Galatians 6:1-3 MSG).
When a brother or sister in Christ goes astray, the Bible tells us what we must do; lovingly confront them, gently correct and counsel them, and cover them. The Bible says, “Love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8 NKJV). Now the word “cover” doesn’t mean “cover up”; it means provide a place of shelter and restoration where they can be made whole. Is restoring someone sometimes messy? Yes, especially if they have hurt others and brought embarrassment to the family of God. But that’s the point… They are still our spiritual family!
The world is watching to see how we handle this. If we throw away those among us who stumble, why would the world turn to us for help? Jesus healed a blind man by rubbing clay in his eyes and telling him to go and wash it off in the pool of Siloam. How far away was the pool? We don’t know. But he needed someone to hold his hand and walk with him until he reached it and his sight was restored. And that’s what we have been called to do.
Soul food: Ps 118:19-29; Matt 21:1-16
2025-04-12
Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
The new birth brings a new battle between your regenerate spirit and your unregenerate body, which still craves old desires and clings to old proclivities. Paul describes this graphically as a wrestling match. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (vv. 12-13 NKJV).
The winner in a wrestling match is the one still standing when it’s over. So, picture a wrestling match, and you will get an idea of what you’re up against each day. Two fighters going toe to toe, until one wins and the other loses. To prepare themselves, they practice for hours. Each knows they need two things to win: strength and a strategy. But they need more; they need determination and endurance. And each knows one more very important thing – never underestimate your opponent!
“Be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV). Here are two scriptural truths you need to live by in order to walk in victory: First, don’t try to overcome Satan in your own strength, or you will lose. Second, don’t let down your guard even for a moment, or you will lose. Paul writes, “Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV). So, expect to “wrestle,” and expect to win.
Soul food: Dan 5-7; Luke 22:47-53; Ps 103:1-12; Prov 10:13
