2025-01-09
1 Peter 3:10 NLT
Your tongue has creative power. If you doubt that, criticize someone, and observe the look on their face and their response. Now try complimenting them and observe the look on their face and their response. But let’s not just talk about the effect your words have on others but what they have on you.
The Bible says when you use your tongue to do good, you “enjoy life and see many happy days.” Jesus gives us a powerful illustration of this: “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23 NKJV).
What did Jesus mean? That you can talk about your problem or talk to the great problem solver about your problem. You can complain about it or pray about it. You can discuss it from a human perspective, focusing on all its complications, or discuss it from a divine perspective, focusing on God’s power to change the circumstances.
You can reinforce your sense of discouragement and despair by saying things like, “The problem is too big, and nothing can be done about it.” Or you can give the problem to God and say, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV). When you say that, you’re not only using the creative power of God’s Word, you’re using your tongue the right way.
Soul food: Isa 30-33; Luke 2:8-20; Ps 71:1-16; Prov 2:1-2
2025-01-08
3 John v. 2 NKJV
Your body is like an “earth suit” that will eventually die and be replaced with a new, celestial, Christlike body. Paul writes, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Corinthians 4:7 KJV). The treasure, the thing that matters most, the thing that will live for eternity, is your soul. John writes, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
Someone has estimated that the average body contains enough phosphorous to make 800,000 match heads, enough sugar to make 60 cubes, enough salt to cover 20 spoons, and enough iron to make twenty dollars’ worth of nails. The rest is just dust and water.
The story is told of a little boy who was taught in Sunday school, “For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19 KJV). One day, when he was looking under the bed, his mother asked him, “What are you looking at?” He replied, “My Sunday school teacher said that we come from dust and go back to dust. There’s somebody under my bed, and I can’t tell whether they’re coming or going!”
Seriously, since your body is temporal and your soul is eternal, you must take the long view and practice soul care. Nurture your soul daily with God’s Word. Fortify and enrich it by spending time each day with God in prayer. Discover the talents and treasures He has placed within you and invest them into the kingdom of God. Next time someone says to you, “Take care of yourself,” think not only about your body but about your soul.
Soul food: Isa 26-29; Luke 2:1-7; Ps 46; Prov 1:32-33
3 Johannes vers 2 NLV
Jou liggaam is soos ‘n aardse pak klere wat uiteindelik sal sterf en deur ‘n nuwe, hemelse, Christelike liggaam vervang sal word. Paulus skryf: ‘Ons het hierdie skat egter maar net in breekbare kleipotte…’ (2 Korintiërs 4:7 NLV). Die skat, dit wat die meeste saak maak, dit wat vir ewig gaan lewe, is jou siel. Johannes skryf: ‘Liewe vriend, ek hou aan bid dat dit in alle opsigte met jou goed mag gaan en dat jy nét so gesond sal wees soos dit geestelik goed met jou gaan.’
Iemand het bereken dat die gemiddelde liggaam genoeg fosfor bevat om 800,000 vuurhoutjie-koppe te maak, genoeg suiker om 60 blokkies te maak, genoeg sout om 20 lepels te vul en genoeg yster om twintig dollar se spykers te maak. Die res is net stof en water.
Daar is ‘n verhaal van ‘n klein seuntjie wat by die Sondagskool geleer het: ‘…Want jy is van stof gemaak en jy sal weer stof word’ (Genesis 3:19 NLV). Eendag, toe hy onder sy bed kyk, vra sy ma vir hom: ‘Waarna kyk jy?’ Hy antwoord: ‘My juffrou by die Sondagskool het gesê dat ons van stof gemaak is en weer stof gaan word. Daar is iemand onder my bed en ek kan nie agterkom of hulle kom of gaan nie!’
Voed jou siel daagliks met God se Woord. Versterk en verryk dit deur elke dag tyd saam met God in gebed deur te bring. Ontdek die talente en skatte wat Hy in jou geplaas het en belê dit in die koninkryk van God. Die volgende keer wat iemand vir jou sê: ‘Kyk mooi na jouself,’ moenie net aan jou liggaam dink nie, maar ook aan jou siel.
Sielskos: Jes 26-29; Luk 2:1-7; Ps 46; Spr 1:32-33
2025-01-07
Romans 2:4 NKJV
Satan wants to convince you your failures are so bad that they disqualify you in God’s eyes, that you’re unworthy of His love and grace, and that you should avoid God altogether. Don’t believe him. Here are three steps that lead to spiritual restoration:
(1) Repent. Acknowledge your sin, renounce it, and trust in the shed blood of Jesus to forgive you. God loved you when you were a sinner, and He loves you no less as one of His redeemed children who has blown it.
(2) Restitution. When your actions have hurt someone, Jesus tells you what to do: “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24 NKJV). If you want to walk in God’s blessing, follow His instructions.
(3) Refocus. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV). When you focus on yourself and your failures, you’re looking in the wrong mirror. When you focus on Christ and His unfailing love and grace toward you, you’re looking in the right mirror. And you will be changed into the image you’re focusing on. And blessedly, the change agent is not you but the Holy Spirit who lives within you. He will keep working in your life to make you more and more like Jesus.
Soul food: Isa 22-25; Luke 1:67-80; Ps 42:6-11; Prov 1:28-31
Romeine 2:4 NLV
Satan wil jou oortuig dat jou mislukkings so erg is dat hulle jou in God se oë diskwalifiseer, dat jy onwaardig vir God se liefde en genade is en dat jy God heeltemal moet vermy. Moet hom nie glo nie. Hier is drie stappe wat tot geestelike herstel sal lei:
1) Bekeer jou. Erken jou sonde, doen afstand daarvan en vertrou op die bloed van Jesus om jou te vergewe. God het jou liefgehad toe jy ‘n sondaar was en Hy het jou nie minder lief as een van sy verloste kinders wat foute maak nie.
2) Restitusie. Wanneer jou aksies iemand seergemaak het, sê Jesus vir jou wat om te doen: ‘As jy dus jou offer na die altaar toe bring en dit val jou daar by dat jou medemens ‘n grief teen jou koester, los jou offer net daar voor die altaar en gaan maak eers vrede met daardie persoon… (Matteus 5:23-24 NLV). As jy in God se seën wil wandel, moet jy sy instruksies volg.
3) Herfokus. ‘Ons almal weerspieël die heerlikheid van die Here, want die sluier is van ons gesig af weggeneem. Ons word al hoe meer verander om soos die Here te lyk, met ‘n heerlikheid wat steeds toeneem namate die Here, dit is die Gees, dit aan ons gee’ (2 Korintiërs 3:18 NLV). Wanneer jy op jouself en jou mislukkings fokus, kyk jy in die verkeerde spieël. Wanneer jy op Christus en sy onfeilbare liefde en genade aan jou fokus, kyk jy in die regte spieël. Jy sal in die beeld waarop jy fokus, verander word. Genadiglik bring nie jy nie, maar die Heilige Gees wat in jou woon, hierdie verandering mee. Hy sal aanhou om in jou lewe te werk om jou meer en meer soos Jesus te laat word.
Sielskos: Jes 22-25; Luk 1:67-80; Ps 42:6-11; Spr 1:28-31
