2024-10-27
John 2:5 NKJV
A Christian leader informs us: “There was not a bigger social happening in Jewish life than a wedding. It usually began with a ceremony at sundown in the synagogue. Then the entire wedding party would leave the synagogue and begin this long candlelight procession through the middle of town. The couple would be escorted past as many homes as possible so everyone could come out and congratulate them… They went home to a party lasting several days! There would be gift-giving, speech-making, wining and dining. Hospitality at a wedding was considered such a sacred duty that the master at the wedding could actually be sued for ‘breach of hospitality.’ So running out of food or wine was considered a tremendous insult.”
It’s notable that Jesus’ first miracle was not healing cancer or raising the dead but resolving a domestic crisis and rescuing newlyweds from embarrassment. It’s a mistake to think that God only cares about major stuff like divorce, bankruptcy, or death. He also cares about minor stuff like broken dishes, toothaches, grumpy bosses, lost dogs, flat tires, and late flights. The Bible says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). What matters to you matters to Jesus.
Notice that when these newlyweds sent out wedding invitations, they sent one to Jesus. And He showed up and met their need. Notice also how it happened. Mary, the mother of Jesus, said to them, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” What Jesus told them to do didn’t seem rational, but when they obeyed, they received a miracle. And if you will pray, trust God, and obey Him, He will work a miracle for you too.
Soul food: Ruth 1:8-18; Ruth 2:5-12; Ruth 3:1-6; Ruth 4:9-13
2024-10-26
John 14:6 NKJV
A minister writes: “Between the human race and God stands a barrier called sin. If we are going to be reconciled with a perfect God, that barrier has to be dealt with. We cannot go around it or over it. Sin demands a payment. Jesus came specifically to make that payment. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death to pay for everything we’ve ever done in the past, present, and future. If your home is on fire, you had better call a firefighter and not a policeman. If you break a leg, you had better call a doctor and not a firefighter. If your home is broken into, you had better call a policeman and not a doctor. If you are drowning, you had better call a lifeguard, not a plumber. If, as a sinful human being, you want to come to a righteous God, you had better get in touch with the Saviour, because He is the only one who can help.”
Jesus didn’t merely say, “Come to me, and I’ll show you the way.” He said, “I am the way.” He is the way to forgiveness. He is the way to peace and joy. He is the way to fulfillment in life. And He is as close to you today as a prayer. Here it is: “Lord Jesus, I believe that you died for me on the cross and paid for my sins and that through faith in you, I am made righteous and reconciled to God. I accept you today as my Lord and Saviour and receive from you the gift of everlasting life. Amen.”
Soul food: Isa 12-16; John 6:25-34; Ps 85; Prov 27:20-22
Johannes 14:6 NLV
‘n Dominee skryf: ‘Tussen die mensdom en God is daar ‘n versperring, genaamd sonde. As ons met ‘n perfekte God versoen wil word, moet daardie versperring uit die weg geruim word. Ons kan nie rondom dit of oor dit gaan nie. Sonde vereis ‘n betaling. Jesus het spesifiek gekom om daardie betaling te maak. Hy het ‘n perfekte lewe geleef en ‘n opofferende dood gesterf om vir alles wat ons al ooit in die verlede, hede en toekoms gedoen het, te betaal. As jou huis aan die brand is, moet jy ‘n brandweerman roep, nie ‘n polisieman nie. As jy jou been breek, moet jy ‘n dokter roep, nie ‘n brandweerman nie. As daar by jou huis ingebreek word, moet jy ‘n polisieman roep, nie ‘n dokter nie. As jy besig is om te verdrink, moet jy ‘n lewensredder roep, nie ‘n loodgieter nie. As jy as sondige mens by ‘n regverdige God wil uitkom, beter jy met die Verlosser in aanraking kom, want Hy is die enigste een wat kan help.’
Jesus het nie gesê: ‘Kom na My toe, Ek sal vir jou die pad wys nie.’ Hy het gesê: ‘Ek is die pad.’ Hy is die pad na vergifnis toe. Hy is die pad na vrede en vreugde toe. Hy is die pad na lewensvervulling toe. Hy is vandag so naby aan jou soos ‘n gebed aan jou is. Bid die volgende: ‘Here Jesus, ek glo dat U vir my aan die kruis gesterf het en vir my sondes betaal het. Ek glo dat deur geloof in U word ek regverdig gemaak en met God versoen. Ek aanvaar U vandag as my Here en Redder en ontvang U gawe van ewige lewe. Amen.’
Sielskos: Jes 12-16; Joh 6:25-34; Ps 85; Spr 27:20-22
2024-10-25
1 John 2:1 AMPC
There is a story about a guy who had his picture taken. When he saw it, he said to the photographer, “This picture doesn’t do me justice!” The photographer looked at him, smiled, and said, “With a face like yours, you don’t need justice; you need mercy and grace!” Seriously, that’s the situation we are all in. And the reason God extends mercy and grace to us is because Jesus fulfilled all the demands of God’s justice for us at the cross.
Some folks think that God’s grace (unmerited favour) atones for all your sins up until the moment you make Christ your Saviour. But from then on, you have to earn it and prove yourself worthy of it by your performance, like a joint effort. So instead of trusting alone in Christ’s performance on the cross, they trust also in their own performance. Here is the problem: There are three ways to sin – commission, omission, and disposition. If you commit one of these sins every day, that’s over one thousand sins a year. And if going to heaven depends on your remembering and repenting of each of them, what if you forget?
Don’t worry; God has you covered! “If anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father – [it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father’s will in every purpose, thought, and action]” (v. 1 AMPC). Only one person measures up to God’s standards: Jesus! And when you place your trust in Him, you are unconditionally loved and accepted by God.
Soul food: Isa 8-11; John 6:1-24; Ps 126; Prov 27:17-19
Matteus 7:1 NLV
Die volgende het met Chuck Swindoll gebeur toe hy ‘n praatjie in Kalifornië gelewer het. “‘n Man het na hom toe gekom en gesê: ‘Ek het so lank vir hierdie week gewag, ek gaan alles wat jy sê indrink.’ Swindoll het hom bedank. Sondagaand het die man se kop begin knik en hy het aan die slaap geraak. Swindoll het gemeen dat hy seker ver gery het en heel waarskynlik moeg was. Dit het egter elke aand gebeur totdat die konferensie verby was. Swindoll was redelik ontsteld dat mense in die gehoor aan die slaap raak terwyl hy praat.
Die Vrydagoggend het die dame wat langs die slaperige man gesit het, na Swindoll toe gekom en gesê: ‘Ek wil jou vir jou bediening hierdie week bedank. O en terloops, ek is jammer dat my man die heeltyd aan die slaap geraak het. Hy het terminale kanker en die dokters het hom net ‘n paar weke gegee om te leef. Toe ons gepraat het oor wat hy wil doen voor hy sterf, het hy gesê: ‘Ek wil na Chuck Swindoll gaan luister.’ Die dokters het vir hom pynmedikasie gegee wat hom vaak maak. Ek wil verskoning vra dat hy geslaap het, maar dankie dat jy hierdie die beste week van die laaste gedeelte van sy lewe gemaak het.’ Swindoll het later gesê dat hy onder ‘n klip wou gaan wegkruip, want hy het iemand veroordeel sonder om al die feite te ken.”
Hoekom het Jesus gesê: ‘Hou op om ‘n oordeel oor ander uit te spreek. Dan sal God ook nie ‘n oordeel oor julle uitspreek nie’? Omdat daar dalk omstandighede en faktore in ‘n persoon se lewe mag wees wat jy nie verstaan nie. In plaas daarvan om hulle dus te oordeel, bewys aan hulle dieselfde genade wat God aan jou bewys het.
Sielskos: Jes 4-7; Joh 5:31-47; Ps 5; Spr 27:13-16
