2024-11-21
Proverbs 4:18 NKJV
When it comes to growth, you never “arrive.” It’s not a place you reach; it’s a pathway you walk. “The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.”
A pastor writes: “Many people learn only from the school of hard knocks. Difficult experiences teach them lessons ‘the hard way,’ and they change – sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. The lessons are random and difficult. It’s much better to plan your growth intentionally. You decide where you need or want to grow, you choose what you will learn, and you follow through with discipline going at the pace you set. Think about what it is that you want to do. Whom do you want to be? Make a list of things that will help you reach that goal and be that person. Is there something on that list you can do now? Today? Do it. Whether you feel prompted to or not, now is the time to start growing… You will never get much done unless you go ahead and do it before you are ready.
If you’re not already intentionally growing, you need to get started today. If you don’t, you may reach some goals, which you can celebrate, but you will eventually plateau. But once you start growing intentionally, you can keep growing and keep asking, ‘What’s next?’ When you start working actively toward your goal, you will find that the door of personal growth opens a crack. Through that crack, you’ll begin to see more growth opportunities everywhere. Your world begins to open up. You accomplish more. You learn more. Other opportunities begin to present themselves.”
Soul food: Ecc 9-12; John 12:1-11; Ps 76; Prov 30:15-17
2024-11-20
1 Timoteus 1:12 NLV
Een van die grootste sendelinge in die geskiedenis van die kerk was Mary Slessor, alhoewel sy as ‘n onwaarskynlike kandidaat begin het. As gevolg van haar pa se alkoholisme, het die elfjarige Mary twaalf uur skofte by die meule gewerk om haar familie te help om hulle rekeninge te betaal. Sy het ontdek dat sy boeke op haar weefstoel kon stut terwyl sy gewerk het. Terwyl sy oor die land Calabar (moderne Nigerië) gelees het, het Mary oortuig geraak dat sy daarheen as ‘n sendeling moet gaan.
In 1876 het sy aanboord die S.S Ethiopia, wat ironies genoeg met vaatjies whisky gelaai was, na Wes-Afrika vertrek. Met die herinnering aan hoeveel skade alkohol aan haar familie aangerig het, het sy gesê: ‘Soveel vate whisky en net een sendeling.’ Maar wat ‘n sendeling! Mary was ‘n kombinasie van prediker, kinderoppasser, verpleegster, dorpsonderwyseres en onderhandelaar wat stokalleen drie heidense streke deur die evangelie te verkondig, getransformeer het. Sy het stamoorloë voorkom en vroue en kinders by die honderde gered. Vir veertig jaar het sy vir God geswoeg.
God hou daarvan om mense te gebruik wat die wêreld miskyk of weggooi. Mary Slessor was een van hulle. So ook Paulus. ‘…[Jesus] het my aangestel om Hom te dien, selfs al het ek voorheen met die Naam van Christus gespot. Ek het sy mense vervolg en hulle op enige moontlike manier benadeel. Maar God het sy onverdiende goedheid aan my bewys omdat ek dit uit onkunde en ongeloof gedoen het. O hoe barmhartig en genadig was die Here nie! Hy het my volledig vervul met geloof en die liefde van Christus Jesus’ (verse 12-14 NLV). Die God wat die apostel en Mary Slessor gebruik het kan jou ook gebruik – mits jy jou lewe aan Hom oorgee.
Sielskos: Pred 5-8; Joh 11:38-57; Ps 81; Spr 30:11-14
1 Timothy 1:12 NLT
One of the greatest missionaries in the history of the church was Mary Slessor, although she started out as a most unlikely candidate. Because of her father’s drinking problem, eleven-year-old Mary was working twelve-hour shifts in the mills, assisting her family in paying their bills. She discovered she could prop books on her loom as she worked. While she read about the land of Calabar (modern Nigeria), Mary grew convinced she should go there as a missionary.
In 1876, she sailed for West Africa aboard the S.S. Ethiopia, which, ironically, was loaded with hundreds of barrels of whiskey. Remembering how alcohol had harmed her family, she said, “Scores of barrels of whiskey, and only one missionary.” But what a missionary! Mary was a combination of circuit preacher, nanny, nurse, village teacher, and negotiator who alone transformed three pagan regions by preaching the gospel. She deflected tribal wars and rescued women and children by the hundreds. For forty years she toiled as God enabled her.
God loves to use people the world overlooks or discards. Mary Slessor was one of them. So was Paul. “He… appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus” (vv. 12-14 NLT). The God who used the apostle and Mary Slessor can use you too – if you surrender your life to Him.
Soul food: Ecc 5-8; John 11:38-57; Ps 81; Prov 30:11-14
2024-11-19
2 Timoteus 4:3 NLV
Mense wat hulle graag met diamante wil optooi, gebruik gereeld die tydlose namaaksels van kubieke sirkonia. Deesdae kan wetenskaplikes egter regte diamante in ‘n laboratorium skep. Hierdie diamante is so goed dat edelsteenkundiges sukkel om tussen diamante wat in ‘n laboratorium geskep is en diamante wat gemyn is, te onderskei. Om hulle van mekaar te onderskei, word ‘n kontrolelys gebruik: gewig, kleur, helderheid en briljantheid word ondersoek. Daarsonder kan ‘n bedrieër voorgee dat ‘n diamant wat net twee dae oud is, een is wat duisende jare geneem het om te ontwikkel.
Dieselfde is waar van geestelike waarheid. As Christene nie hulle Bybel ken nie, kan geestelike bedrieërs allerhande leuens as die waarheid voorhou. Dis nie genoeg vir iemand om wonderwerke in Jesus se Naam te doen nie. ‘Baie sal vir My op die oordeelsdag sê: ‘Here, Here, ons het dan in u Naam… baie wonders verrig!’ Dan sal Ek hulle antwoord: ‘Julle was nog nooit werklik mý mense nie. Gaan weg van My af!..’ (Matteus 7:22-23 NLV).
Die Bybel sê dat selfs Satan hom as ‘n engel van die lig kan vermom. Paulus waarsku ons: ‘Want daar kom ‘n tyd wanneer mense nie meer na die regte onderrig sal luister nie. Hulle sal hulle eie begeertes volg en leermeesters soek wat net verkondig wat hulle wil hoor. Hulle sal die waarheid verwerp en vreemde mites navolg’ (2 Timoteus 4:3-4 NLV).
Die Bybel gebruik die woord ‘leerstelling’ ongeveer vyf-en-vyftig keer. Dis hoe belangrik dit is. Ons moet die begeerte van ‘n diamantkenner hê – ‘n begeerte om nie mislei te word nie. As noukeurige ondersoek, studie en sorg geneem word om die kwaliteit van ‘n edelsteen te bepaal, hoeveel te meer moet dieselfde inspanning nie tot die kosbare Woord van God aangewend word nie?
Sielskos: Pred 1-4; Joh 11:28-37; Ps 50; Spr 30:7-10
2 Timothy 4:3 NKJV
People who desire to beautify themselves with diamonds use the timeless counterfeit – cubic zirconia. But now, scientists can create real diamonds in a labouratory. And they are so good that gemologists have trouble recognizing labouratory diamonds from mined ones. To tell them apart, an expert’s checklist is used: weight, color, clarity, and brilliance. Without it, an imposter could pretend a two-day-old diamond is one that took thousands of years to develop.
The same is true with spiritual truth. If Christians don’t know their Bibles, spiritual imposters can pass off all manner of lies as truth. It’s not enough for someone to do miracles in Jesus’ name. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not… done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me'” (Matthew 7:22-23 NKJV).
The Bible says that even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. Paul warns: “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT).
The Bible uses the word “doctrine” fifty-five times. That’s how important it is. We need to have the desire of a diamond expert – a desire not to be deceived. If careful examination, study, and care are taken in determining the quality of a precious stone, how much more should the same effort be applied to the precious Word of God?
Soul food: Ecc 1-4; John 11:28-37; Ps 50; Prov 30:7-10
