2026-08-12
2 Peter 3:18 NKJV
How can you grow spiritually? By doing these five things:
(1) Rediscover the Bible. You will never grow spiritually without soaking your mind in Scripture. When Jesus told the devil, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 NKJV), He was quoting a verse from Deuteronomy that He’d memorized. If Jesus needed the Scriptures, you do too.
(2) Restart your prayer life. Charles Spurgeon said, “As well could you expect a plant to grow without air and water as to expect your heart to grow without prayer and faith.” When you venture into the realm of the impossible and start praying for God to move supernaturally in your life, you will begin to see miracles.
(3) Reconnect with God’s people. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV).
(4) Resist your sinful habits. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT). Always choose God’s “way out.”
(5) Invest in others. God has a place for you to serve and people for you to invest in. Make a quality decision that you are not going to just sit in church and soak up one more sermon; instead, begin to act on what you have learned.
Soul food: 2 Chr 8-11; Mark 5:21-30; Ps 119:49-56; Pro 21:4-6
2026-08-11
Romeine 12:21 NLV
Tydens die Koreaanse Oorlog is ‘n Suid-Koreaanse burger deur die kommuniste in hegtenis geneem. Toe die jong kommunistiese leier uitvind dat hy die hoof van ‘n weeshuis is, het hy egter besluit om sy lewe te spaar. In plaas daarvan het hy beveel dat die man se seun tereggestel moet word. Die negentienjarige seun is in die teenwoordigheid van sy vader geskiet. Na die oorlog is die jong kommunistiese leier deur die Verenigde Nasies gevange geneem en ter dood veroordeel.
Voordat die vonnis egter voltrek kon word, het die Christen wie se seun doodgemaak is, vir die lewe van die moordenaar gepleit. ‘Gee hom vir my,’ het die man gevra, ‘en ek sal hom oplei.’ Hoe ongewoon dit ook al was, het die Verenigde Nasies sy versoek toegestaan en die vader het sy seun se moordenaar in sy eie huis ingeneem en vir hom gesorg. Deur aan die liefde van God blootgestel te word, het daardie jong kommunistiese leier ‘n Christen en uiteindelik die pastoor van ‘n kerk geword.
Is jy al seergemaak, verraai of onregverdig behandel? In plaas daarvan om in woede terug te veg, hanteer dit Skriftuurlik: ‘Moenie vir enigiemand kwaad met kwaad terugbetaal nie… julle moet julleself nie wreek nie. Laat die straf aan God oor. Daar staan mos in die Skrif: ‘Dit is mý reg om te straf; Ek sal vergeld, sê die Here’… Moenie toelaat dat die slegte julle onderkry nie, maar deur goed te doen moet julle die slegte hokslaan’ (Romeine 12:17, 19, 21 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Kro 5-7; Mark 5:11-20; Ps 119:41-48; Spr 21:1-3
Romans 12:21 NKJV
During the Korean War, a South Korean civilian was arrested by the communists and ordered to be shot. When the young communist leader learned that the prisoner in his charge was the head of an orphanage caring for young children, he decided to spare him. Instead, he ordered the execution of the man’s son. The nineteen-year-old son was shot in the presence of his father. After the war, the young communist leader was captured by United Nations forces and condemned to death.
But before the sentence could be carried out, the Christian whose son had been killed pleaded for the life of the killer. He argued that the communist had been young when he ordered the execution, and that he really didn’t know what he was doing. “Give him to me,” the man requested, “and I will train him.” Unusual though it was, the United Nations forces granted his request, and the father took the murderer of his son into his own home and took care of him. The Bible says, “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV). And by being exposed to the love of God, that young communist leader became a Christian and eventually went on to become the pastor of a church.
Have you been hurt, betrayed, or treated unfairly? Instead of retaliating in anger, handle it scripturally: “Never pay back evil with more evil… Never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord… Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good” (Romans 12:17, 19, 21 NLT).
Soul food: 2 Chr 5-7; Mark 5:11-20; Ps 119:41-48; Pro 21:1-3
2026-08-10
Matteus 13:31 NLV
Jesus het gesê: ‘…God se koningsheerskappy is soos ‘n mosterdsaad wat iemand in sy tuin geplant het. Dit is die kleinste van alle saadsoorte, maar as dit groei, word dit groter as al die ander plante in die tuin. Dit word so ‘n groot boom dat die voëls in sy takke kan kom nesmaak’ (verse 31-32 NLV). ‘n Mosterdsaad is slegs twee millimeter in deursnee en kom in drie primêre kleure voor: geel, swart en wit. Binne daardie merkwaardige saad is vitamien A, B6, B12, C, E en K. Dit is ook ‘n bron van kalsium, yster, magnesium, fosfor, kalium, natrium en sink. Dit het anti-inflammatoriese en anti-kanker eienskappe. Jesus het daarop gewys dat wanneer dit geplant word, dit groei om een van die grootste bome in die tuin te word, wat die voëls van die hemel seën deur hulle van ‘n tuiste te voorsien.
Paulus het geskryf: ‘God wat saad voorsien aan die saaier en dan brood om te eet, sal ook aan julle saad gee en dit laat toeneem en die vrugte van julle goedhartigheid lieflik laat groei’ (2 Korintiërs 9:10 NLV). Aan wie gee God ‘saad’? Aan saaiers, nie aan opgaarders nie! Wat doen God met jou saad wanneer jy dit saai? Hy vermeerder dit! Die saad wat jy saai kan in die vorm van tyd, diens, wysheid, geld, deernis, ens. wees.
God belowe dat wanneer jy saai, jy sy seën sal oes. ‘En God is in staat om aan julle elke gawe in oorvloed te gee sodat julle in elke opsig genoeg kan hê én ook nog oorvloedig kan wees in elke goeie werk’ (2 Korintiërs 9:8 NLV). God het vir jou saad gegee – saai dit!
Sielskos: 2 Kro 1-4; Mark 5:1-10; Ps 119:33-40; Spr 20:28-30
Matthew 13:31 NIV
Jesus said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches” (vv. 31-32 NIV). A mustard seed is only two millimeters in diameter and comes in three primary varieties: yellow, black, and white. Within that seed is a remarkable nutritional profile, including vitamin A, B6, B12, C, E, and K. It’s also a source of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Jesus pointed out that when it’s planted, it can grow up and become one of the largest trees in the garden, blessing the birds of the air by providing them with a home.
Paul wrote: “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower… multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV). Who does God give “seed” to? Sowers, not hoarders! What does God do with your seed when you sow it? He multiplies it! The seed you sow can be in the form of time, service, wisdom, money, compassion, etc.
And God promises that when you sow, you will reap His blessing. “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV). God has given you seed – sow it!
Soul food: 2 Chr 1-4; Mark 5:1-10; Ps 119:33-40; Pro 20:28-30
