2024-09-09
Filippense 4:13 NLV
Een van die vinnigste maniere om moedeloos te word, is om die Christelike lewe uit jou eie krag te probeer leef. Dit kan nie gedoen word nie. God het dit inderdaad so ontwerp. Jesus het gesê: ‘As julle My liefhet, sal julle my opdragte gehoorsaam. En Ek sal die Vader vra en Hy sal vir julle ‘n ander Raadgewer stuur om vir altyd by julle te wees; dit is die Gees van die waarheid. Die wêreld is net nie in staat om Hom te ontvang nie omdat hy Hom nie sien of ken nie. Julle ken Hom egter omdat Hy by julle gaan bly en in julle sal woon’ (Johannes 14:15-17 NLV).
God se gebooie is nooit te moeilik vir ons om te volg nie – mits ons dit deur Christus se inwonende krag doen. Jy moet leer om daagliks daardie krag te gebruik. Hy is te alle tye in jou en met jou, om jou in staat te stel om dit te doen wat jy nie kan doen nie en om dit wat jy sonder Hom moeilik sou vind om te doen, maklik te kan doen.
Paulus het van die konstante stryd tussen sy gees en sy vlees gepraat. Met tye het dit hom tot wanhoop gedryf. Hy gee egter dan vir ons die sleutel tot ‘n Christelike lewe in oorwinning: ‘Vir alles in die lewe, die goeie of die slegte, sien ek kans omdat Jesus my bron van krag is’ (Filippense 4:13 DB). Leer by die gloeilamp; hy kan homself nie verlig nie. Wanneer hy egter aan ‘n elektriese kragbron geskakel word, hoef jy net die skakelaar te druk. Doen dit dus in Christus se krag en nie jou eie nie.
Sielskos: Jos 19:24-21:45; Luk 20:20-26; Ps 112; Spr 23:13-15
Philippians 4:13 AMPC
One of the quickest ways to get discouraged is to try living the Christian life in your own strength. It’s like trying to lift yourself up by your own bootstraps; it cannot be done. Indeed, God designed it that way. Jesus said: “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17 NKJV).
God’s commandments are never too difficult for us to follow – if we do them through Christ’s indwelling strength. And you must learn to draw on that strength daily. He is in you and with you at all times to enable you to do what you cannot do and to do with ease what you would otherwise find hard to do without Him.
Paul talked about the constant struggle between his flesh and his spirit. At times it drove him to despair. Then he gives us the key to victorious Christian living: “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]” (Philippians 4:13 AMPC). Learn from the light bulb; it cannot illuminate itself. But when it’s connected to an electrical power source, all that’s required is to flip a switch. So, do it in Christ’s strength, not your own.
Soul food: Josh 19:24-21:45; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 112; Prov 23:13-15
2024-09-08
Jesaja 30:18 NLV
Jou idee van God bepaal jou selfvertroue wanneer jy Hom nader. Beskou jy Hom altyd as ‘n ouditeur en jou boeke balanseer nie? Of beskou jy Hom as ‘n pa wat jou altyd liefhet en goed vir jou wil wees? Wanneer ons God nader, raadpleeg baie van ons ‘n telkaart in ons gedagtes om te sien of ons meer oorwinnings as verliese, regte as verkeerdes of krediete as debiete het. As ons voel dat ons nie goed presteer nie, vermy ons God of maak ons Hom ons laaste uitweg. Dis ‘n fout, aangesien God jou as een met Christus sien (sien 2 Korintiërs 5:17), en daarom word jy altyd in sy teenwoordigheid aanvaar en verwelkom.
Jy vra: ‘Beteken dit ek kan enige manier lewe wat ek wil? Nee, ‘Die Here dissiplineer juis die mense vir wie Hy lief is…’ (Hebreërs 12:6 NLV). Sy tugting is egter nie verwerping nie; dis ‘n bewys dat jy waarlik sy verloste kind is. Hier is ‘n Skrifgedeelte waarop jy moet mediteer: ‘Daarom is die Here gereed om julle te help, Hy wil julle graag help en Hy wil weer goed wees vir julle. Daarom maak Hy alles gereed om weer goed te wees vir julle. Die Here wil dit doen, want Hy is die God wat reg doen. Dit gaan goed met almal wat glo dat Hy sal doen wat Hy belowe het’ (Jesaja 30:18 ABA).
Let vandag God se houding teenoor jou op: ‘Tog wag die Here gretig dat julle terugkom na Hom toe. Hy wil genade aan julle bewys…’ Hou dit in gedagte en begin om goeie dinge van God te verwag.
Sielskos: Joh 14:6-11; Hand 4:8-12; Hand 16:22-34; Matt 1:18-21
Isaiah 30:18 NKJV
Your concept of God determines your confidence in approaching Him. Do you always view Him like an auditor, and your books don’t balance? Or do you view Him like a father who loves you at all times and wants to be good to you? When approaching God, many of us consult a mental scorecard to see whether we have more wins than losses, rights than wrongs, credits than demerits. If we feel like we’re not performing well, we avoid God or make Him our last resort. That’s a mistake because God sees you “in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17), and therefore, you are always accepted and welcomed into His presence.
You say, “Does that mean I can live any way I please?” No, “the Lord disciplines the one he loves” (Hebrews 12:6 NIV). But His correction is not rejection; it’s proof that you are truly His redeemed child. Here is a Scripture you need to meditate on: “Therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favour, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!” (Isaiah 30:18 AMPC).
Note God’s attitude toward you today: “The Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you.” Keep that picture in mind, and begin to expect good things from God.
Soul food: John 14:6-11; Acts 4:8-12; Acts 16:22-34; Matt 1:18-21
2024-09-07
Matthew 6:6 NIV
When it comes to the importance of having a consistent prayer life, Jesus is our greatest example. Before He calmed the storm on Galilee, called His twelve disciples, or fed the multitudes with five loaves and two fish, He spent time alone in prayer. And you have been called to follow in His footsteps (See 1 Peter 2:21). In essence, our failures are often the result of our failure to pray. Jesus gave His disciples two prayer principles that will work for you.
First, He said, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father” (Matthew 6:6 NIV). In other words, find a quiet place where you won’t be distracted. After all, you are meeting with God. As you spend time there, you will grow to love this place, and it will become your “secret place” (Psalm 91:1 KJV).
Second, Jesus said, “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8 NIV). The words “don’t babble” may sound harsh. But what Jesus is saying to us is, “Focus; be with Me. Open your heart. Get real. Stand on My Word and believe Me for answers.” After the church prayed all night for Peter to be delivered from prison, the Bible says “they were astonished” when God did it (Acts 12:16 KJV). You say, “That’s bad.” Actually, that’s good! It means even though your faith may be weak, when you pray, God will answer you. So, keep praying and standing on His Word.
Soul food: Josh 16:1-19:23; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 20; Prov 23:10-12
