2024-11-06
John 6:9 NIV
If you feel you’re not talented enough to be used by God, read the story of the feeding of the five thousand. Actually, there were five thousand men. If you add women and children, the number could be more than twenty thousand. And the boy’s lunch was more meager than you imagine. A loaf was about the size of a mini pancake. The word for fish refers to sea creatures about the size of sardines.
But what made that little lunch a big feast is what the boy did when Jesus asked him for it. He gave it willingly. He didn’t say, “Lord, you can have one fish, but I will keep the other one. You take three loaves, and I will keep the other two.” He gave Jesus everything He asked for. Now think about the results of his act of sacrificial kindness.
(1) The original lunch didn’t fill up even a single basket, but the leftovers filled twelve baskets. This illustrates the harvest law taught in Scripture. When you give to God, you always get back more than you give (See Luke 6:38 NCV). And when you withhold, you rob yourself of His blessing. “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want” (Proverbs 11:24 ESV).
(2) By meeting the needs of others, his own needs were met. “Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted” (John 6:11 NIV). The truth is that when you give God what you have, you will be amazed what He does with it.
Soul food: Isa 45-48; John 8:21-30; Ps 86; Prov 28:21-24
2024-11-05
Lukas 12:7 NLV
As jy wil weet hoe onbegryplik groot God is, lees die volgende: ‘Dit was my hand wat die aarde se fondamente gelê het. Met my regterhand het Ek die hemelkoepel gespan…’ (Jesaja 48:13 NLV). Kan so ‘n groot God vir jou daaglikse probleme en ellendes omgee? Ja. ‘Wat kos vyf mossies? ‘n Paar sent? Tog vergeet God nie ‘n enkele een van hulle nie. Selfs die hare op julle kop is getel. Moet dus nie bang wees nie; julle is vir Hom meer werd as ‘n hele swerm mossies’ (Lukas 12:6-7 NLV).
God gee vir mossies om – meer as wat jy weet. Hy gee vir hulle kos, voorsien hulle van bome, takkies vir hulle neste en ander mossies om mee te kommunikeer. Hy gee so baie vir hulle om dat Hy ‘n lopende inventaris van hulle hou. Wat van jou? ‘Selfs die hare op julle kop is getel…’ Wanneer jy vir iemand omgee, let jy na detail op.
Wat is die eerste ding wat ouers doen wanneer hulle hul nuwe baba se klein vingers en tone vir die eerste keer sien? Hulle tel hulle. As daardie kind een dag by die huis sonder een van daardie tien vingers of tone sou kom, sal die ouers dit dadelik opmerk. Selfs ontoereikende ouers doen dit. Jesus het inderwaarheid gesê: ‘God tel nie net jou vingers en tone nie. Hy het jou so lief dat Hy selfs die hare op jou kop tel. Hy weet hoeveel daar is. Hy weet watter kleur elkeen is.’ Spreuke 16:31 sê vir ons: ‘Grys hare is soos ‘n koning se kroon, ‘n mens kry dit by persone wat reg lewe’ (NLV). Die kruis bewys hoe lief God jou, insluitend die detail van jou lewe, het en hoeveel jy vir Hom beteken.
Sielskos: Jes 42-44; Joh 8:1-20; Ps 96; Spr 28:17-20
Luke 12:7 NKJV
If you want to know how incomprehensively big God is, read this: “My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens” (Isaiah 48:13 NKJV). Could such a God care about your daily troubles and woes? Yes. “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7 NKJV).
God values sparrows – more than you know. He feeds them, and supplies them with trees and twigs for nests and other sparrows to mate with. He cares so much about them that He keeps a running inventory. How about you? “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” When you care about someone, you observe details.
When a baby is born, what do parents do when they see the tiny fingers and toes for the first time? They count them. For years later, every time that child comes home, if they are missing one of those ten fingers or toes, the parents notice. Even inadequate parents do this. Jesus was saying, “God doesn’t only number your fingers and toes. He loves you so much He numbers the hairs on your head. He notices their quantity. He notices their color. Proverbs 16:31 tells us, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness” (NIV). The cross proves how much God loves you and how much you mean to Him, including the details of your life.
Soul food: Isa 42-44; John 8:1-20; Ps 96; Prov 28:17-20
2024-11-04
Psalm 100:2 NLV
Die Psalmdigter het geskryf: ‘…Kom voor Hom en sing met vreugde… Gaan sy poorte in met dankliedere, sy hofsaal met lofgesange. Dank Hom en prys sy Naam’ (verse 2, 4 NLV). Wanneer jy ‘n koning nader, word ‘n sekere protokol vereis. Dawid gee vir ons die protokol om die teenwoordigheid van die Koning van Konings binne te gaan: ‘Gaan sy poorte in met dankliedere, sy hofsaal met lofgesange.’ Vraag: Is dit jou persoonlike ervaring in die kerk? Of staan jy soos ‘n toeskouer rond en luister terwyl die musikante, die aanbiddingspan, of die koor sing?
Ons word almal geroep om lofprysing ‘binne te gaan.’ Aanbidding is nie iets wat jy bloot met jou ore hoor nie; jy druk dit met jou lippe – en jou hart – uit. Wanneer jy versuim om dit te doen, is daar ‘n verbintenis met God wat nie gemaak word nie. Jy, persoonlik, moet God aanbid! Niemand anders kan dit vir jou doen nie, ongeag hoe begaafd en talentvol hulle ook al mag wees.
Jy sê: ‘Maar soms is ek nie lus om God te prys nie.’ Die Bybel sê: ‘Kom ons bring dan, met Jesus Christus se hulp, ‘n voortdurende lofoffer aan God – ‘n offer wat opklink van die lippe van hulle wat Hom bely’ (Hebreërs 13:15 NLV). God wil opofferende lofprysing hê. Wat is dit? Lofprysing wanneer jy nie lus is daarvoor nie. Lofprysing wanneer jy deur moeilike seisoene gaan. Lofprysing wanneer jy, menslik gesproke, nie aan ‘n enkele ding kan dink om God oor te loof nie. Die lofprysing wat jou iets kos, is die lofprysing wat by God tel. ‘Ek sal te alle tye die Here loof. Sy lof sal altyd op my lippe wees’ (Psalm 34:2 NLV).
Sielskos: Jes 38-41; Joh 7:45-53; Ps 9; Spr 28:13-16
Psalm 100:2 NKJV
The psalmist wrote, “Come before His presence with singing… Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (vv. 2, 4 NKJV). When you approach a king, a certain protocol is required. And David gives us the protocol for coming into the presence of the King of Kings: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.” Question: Is that your personal experience in church? Or do you stand like a spectator while the musicians, the worship team, or the choir do the singing and you do the listening?
We are all called to “enter into” praise! Worship is not something you merely hear with your ears; you express it with your lips – and your heart. When you fail to do so, there is a connection with God that is not made. You, personally, must worship God! And regardless of how gifted and talented they may be, no one else can do that for you.
You say, “But sometimes I don’t feel like praising God.” The Bible says, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV). God wants sacrificial praise. What’s that? Praise when you don’t feel like it. Praise when you are going through seasons of hardship. Praise when humanly speaking, you can’t think of a single thing to praise God for. With God, the praise that costs is the praise that counts. “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1 NKJV).
Soul food: Isa 38-41; John 7:45-53; Ps 9; Prov 28:13-16
