2025-02-07
Acts 2:42 NLT
Euclid was a great mathematician who lived about three hundred years after Christ. He is best known for his thirteen-volume series of books called Elements. Two of his axioms of geometry have been revised to produce the modern saying: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Another way of saying this would be “something happens in a group that doesn’t happen alone.” That something is called “synergy.” It comes from the Greek word sunergia, meaning cooperation and working together.
The New Testament church practiced it: “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” (v. 42 NLT). Jesus described spiritual synergy in these words: “I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV).
The Holy Spirit hasn’t revealed everything to anyone. We learn and grow as we come together. Spiritual maturity happens in two ways: (1) By being willing to share what God has taught you. (2) By being willing to learn what God has taught others. Note what the Bible says about the Christians in Berea: “They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed” (Acts 17:11-12 NKJV). Are you fellowshipping with other believers? If not, you are limiting your own spiritual growth and being robbed of blessing.
Soul food: Gen 24:1-25:18; Luke 9:1-17; Ps 134; Prov 4:5-13
2025-02-06
Lukas 18:1 NLV
‘n Doktorale student aan die Princeton Universiteit het eendag in Albert Einstein se kantoor ingeloop en gevra: ‘Wat is daar in die wêreld vir oorspronklike proefskrifnavorsing oor?’ Die briljante wetenskaplike het geantwoord: ‘Vind uit oor gebed.’ Einstein was nie die enigste persoon wat nuuskierig oor gebed was nie. Jesus het mense daarin onderrig, omdat die dissipels Hom gevra het om dit te doen. Hulle mag dalk nie proefskrifte daaroor wou skryf nie, maar hulle wou weet hoe om te bid.
“Eenmaal was Jesus êrens besig om te bid. Toe Hy klaar was, het een van sy dissipels na Hom gekom en gesê: ‘Here, leer ons om te bid…'” (Lukas 11:1 NLV). Die dissipels het Jesus gesien waar Hy besig was om te bid. Die manier waarop Hy gebid het was blykbaar soveel anders as die manier wat hulle gebid het, dat hulle gesê het: ‘Wys ons om te bid soos U bid.’ Voor Jesus die skare op ‘n bonatuurlike wyse kos gegee het, of sy twaalf dissipels uitgekies het, of die storm op die see van Galilea gekalmeer het, het Hy die tyd geneem om eers te bid. Die resultate van sy gebede was so wonderbaarlik dat sy dissipels gesê het: ‘Here, leer ons om te bid.’
Gebed gaan nie hoofsaaklik daaroor om vir God te sê wat jy nodig het nie; dis om nader aan God te beweeg. Soos een pastoor skryf: “Dis amper asof God sê: ‘Moenie vir My jou inkopielys bring nie. Ek weet klaar wat daarop staan. Ons sal dit later hanteer. Bring vir My jou hart. Bring vir My jou liefde. Bring vir My jou onverdeelde aandag.'” Gebed gaan nie hoofsaaklik daaroor om dinge van die Here te kry nie; dit gaan daaroor om tyd met God te bestee.
Sielskos: Gen 20-23; Luk 8:40-56; Ps 125; Spr 4:3-4
Luke 18:1 NKJV
A PhD student at Princeton University once walked into Albert Einstein’s office and asked, “What is there left in the world for original dissertation research?” The brilliant scientist replied, “Find out about prayer.” Einstein wasn’t the only person who was curious about prayer. Jesus taught about it, and the reason was because the disciples asked Him to. They may not have desired to write dissertations on it, but they wanted to know how to pray. It’s the only time in the Bible where one person clearly teaches another person how to pray, and all because of a request from the disciples.
“Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray'” (Luke 11:1 NIV). The disciples had been observing Jesus as He prayed. Apparently, the way He prayed was so distinct from the way they prayed that they said, “Show us how to pray the way you pray.” Before Jesus fed the multitude supernaturally, or selected His twelve disciples, or calmed the storm on the Sea Galilee, He took time to pray. And the results of His prayers were so amazing that the disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Prayer is not primarily about telling God what you need; it’s about getting closer to God. As one pastor writes: “It’s almost as if God is saying, ‘Don’t bring me your shopping list. I already know what’s on it. We will deal with that later. Bring me your heart. Bring me your love. Bring me your undivided attention.'” Prayer is not mainly about getting things from the Lord; it’s about spending time with the Lord.
Soul food: Gen 20-23; Luke 8:40-56; Ps 125; Prov 4:3-4
2025-02-05
Lukas 11:1 NLV
‘n Bekende pastoor het met ongekende eerlikheid gesê: ‘Gebed is die grootste stryd waarmee ek sukkel. Dit is moeilik om ‘n konsekwente gebedslewe te handhaaf en veral soms moeilik om die oortuiging te handhaaf dat dit werk.’ Gebed kom vir die meeste van ons nie natuurlik nie. Ons weet dat dit veronderstel is om ‘n dialoog te wees, maar dit voel meestal soos ‘n monoloog. Daar is niks ergers as om met iemand te probeer praat wat nie terug wil praat nie. Ons hou nie daarvan om dit te erken nie, maar wat ons dikwels oor gebed wonder is die volgende: ‘Hoe kan ek bid sodat God vir my dit wat ek wil hê sal gee?’ ‘n Klein seuntjie is gevra of hy elke aand sy gebed opsê. Hy het geantwoord: ‘Nee, party aande het ek niks nodig nie.’
Gebed gaan nie oor die spesifieke woorde wat jy gebruik of hoe lank jy bid nie. Dit gaan oor kennismaking. Dit gaan daaroor om ‘n verhouding te bou. As jy met iemand oor iets moet praat, mag jy dalk sê: ‘Kom ons kry gou ‘n plek waar ons kan gesels.’ Jy wil seker maak dat jy gehoor word en dat jy hoor wat die ander persoon sê. Wanneer jy die geraas van hierdie wêreld elimineer, verhoog jy jou vermoë om God te hoor. Dit wys God dat jy jou verhouding met Hom ernstig opneem.
Die psalmdigter het gesê: ‘Hy wat woon in die skuilplek van die Allerhoogste, sal rus in die skadu van die Almagtige’ (Psalm 91:1 NLV). Het jy ‘n ‘skuilplek’ waar jy alleen saam met God kan wees? Dit kan enige plek wees. Jy het egter ‘n plek nodig waar jy kan gaan en jou verhouding met God kan bou.
Sielskos: Gen 17-19; Luk 8:26-39; Ps 67; Spr 4:1-2
Luke 11:1 NKJV
Demonstrating an uncommon level of honesty, a well-known pastor says: “Prayer is the biggest struggle I have… It’s difficult to maintain a consistent prayer life, and especially difficult to sustain the conviction that it does any good at times.” Prayer doesn’t come naturally for the majority of us. We know it’s supposed to be a dialogue, but often it feels like a monologue. There is nothing worse than trying to talk with someone who won’t talk back. We don’t like to admit it, but often what we are really wondering about prayer is, “How can I pray so that God will give me what I want?” One little boy was asked if he said his prayers every night. He replied, “No, some nights I don’t need anything.”
Prayer is not about the particular words you use or the length of time you spend praying. It’s about getting acquainted. It’s about building a relationship. If you have something to talk to someone about, you may say, “We need to find somewhere we can talk.” You want to make sure you’re heard, and that you hear what the other person has to say. When you eliminate the noise of this world, you maximize your ability to hear God. It shows God you’re taking your relationship with Him seriously.
The psalmist said, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 NKJV). Do you have a “secret place” where you can be alone with God? It can be anywhere. But you need a place where you can go and show you mean business with God.
Soul food: Gen 17-19; Luke 8:26-39; Ps 67; Prov 4:1-2
