2024-08-18
John 12:36 NKJV
The pastor continues: “Light is one of the things we often take for granted… We could not live without it. Plants are necessary for the existence of mankind. The entire human species and all animal life are dependent on plants for survival. Plants provide all the essential amino acids and most of the vitamins necessary for health through a light process known as photosynthesis. Plants also produce the oxygen we need to breathe. And plants must have light to grow.
What is true in the physical world is true in the spiritual world. Physical life is impossible without physical light, and spiritual life is impossible without spiritual light… How do you dispel the darkness?… Would you sit down on a couch and feel sorry for yourself? Would you take a broom and try to sweep the darkness away? Would you try to shovel or vacuum the darkness out? There is only one solution to such a quandary; turn on the light.”
That’s what you do when you commit your life to Christ. That’s what you do when you obey His teachings and follow His instructions. That’s what you do when you spend time alone with Him in prayer. That’s what you do when you turn to Him during the dark times in your life. That’s when you discover His promise to be true: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12 NKJV). And not only that, you begin to reflect that light to others: “Believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
Soul food: John 4:4-26; John 7:37-41; Exo 17:1-7; Isa 35:1-7
2024-08-17
John 8:12 NKJV
A pastor writes: “Have you ever heard the term achluophobia? It is the fear of darkness… Being in complete darkness is unnerving. It induces a sense of helplessness. And yet physical darkness is nothing compared to emotional, relational, and spiritual darkness.”
Today you may feel like you’re in a dark place with no way out: “My girlfriend left me for another guy.” Or, “I’m probably headed toward divorce. My husband has been cheating on me.” Or, “I’m depressed and cry for no reason. When will the blues go away?” Or, “I’m wrestling with a terrible illness, and I’m basically a shut-in. I am in a dark place and need help.” If that’s your story, there is help, and there is hope. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
If you’re willing to turn to Him today, you will discover that He can illuminate your path and show you the way out of the darkness you’re in. When you turn on the light, darkness has to leave. And Jesus is the light that removes our spiritual and emotional darkness. Notice that Jesus didn’t say He is a light, or one among many, but instead the light. He didn’t say He is light just for some, but the light of the world. Regardless of whether you live in London, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Toronto, or Timbuktu, Jesus is your answer. If you’re living in darkness, He is inviting you to come to Him and step into the light.
Soul food: 1 Chr 26:20-29:30; Luke 14:1-14; Ps 119:65-72; Prov 21:10-13
Johannes 8:12 NLV
‘n Pastoor skryf: ‘Het jy al ooit die woord akloofobie gehoor? Dis die vrees vir donker. Om in volkome donkerte te wees is senutergend. Dit veroorsaak ‘n gevoel van hulpeloosheid. Tog is fisiese donkerte niks in vergelyking met emosionele, verhoudings of geestelike donker nie.’
Jy mag dalk vandag voel of jy op ‘n donker plek met geen uitweg is: ‘My meisie het my vir ‘n ander man gelos.’ Of: ‘Ek is op pad na die skeihof toe. My man het my verneuk.’ Of: ‘Ek is depressief en huil vir geen rede nie. Wanneer gaan hierdie blou dae verby wees?’ Of: ‘Ek stry teen ‘n vreeslike siekte en is basies ‘n kluisenaar. Ek is op ‘n donker plek en het hulp nodig.’ As dit jou verhaal is, is daar hulp en is daar hoop. Jesus het gesê: ‘…Ek is die lig vir die mensdom. Wie My aanhou volg, sal nooit in die duisternis leef nie, maar sal die lig hê wat lewe gee.’
As jy gewillig is om vandag na Hom toe te draai, sal jy ontdek dat Hy jou pad kan verlig en jou die pad uit die donkerte waarin jy jou bevind, kan wys. Wanneer jy die lig aanskakel, moet donkerte wyk. Jesus is die lig wat ons geestelike en emosionele donkerte verwyder. Let op dat Jesus nie gesê het Hy is ‘n lig nie, maar dat Hy die lig is. Hy het nie gesê dat Hy net vir sommige mense die lig is nie, maar dat Hy die lig vir die mensdom is. Of jy nou in Londen, Los Angeles, Tokio, Toronto of Timboektoe bly, Jesus is jou antwoord. As jy in die donker lewe, nooi Hy jou uit om na Hom toe te kom en in die lig in te stap.
Sielskos: 1 Kro 26:20-29:30; Luk 14:1-14; Ps 119:65-72; Spr 21:10-13
2024-08-16
1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV
When you commit your life to Christ, you switch sides. Now you’re up against three things. The world with its pressures, values, and agenda. The flesh, with its impulses and weaknesses. The devil, who is out to defeat you. But God would never allow us to get into a fight we couldn’t win, so let’s consider three blessings of battle.
(1) It teaches you to live at high alert. It was when Samson slept that Delilah shaved his head and robbed him of his strength. It was when the servants slept that an enemy sowed weeds among the wheat and threatened their harvest.
(2) It’s a sign of spiritual progress. When Israel entered the promised land, thirty-one kings and seven nations had to be conquered. Plus giants! They had to take it one city at a time and one giant at a time. And when Jesus becomes Lord of your life, He will address the unsurrendered areas of your life, and He will deal with them one at a time. And the battle will be harder and last longer when it comes to your stubborn areas. You know which ones they are, right? Be encouraged. God won’t give up on you: “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV).
(3) It’s an indication of your value to God. You are a seed capable of producing a harvest for God. That’s why you’re a target of Satan. He is after the deposit of God that’s within you. So, keep fighting the good fight of faith, knowing that by God’s grace, you will win.
Soul food: 1 Chr 23:21-26:19; Luke 13:18-35; Ps 119:57-64; Prov 21:7-9
1 Timoteus 6:12 NLV
Wanneer jy jou lewe aan Christus toevertrou, verander jou lojaliteite. Nou moet jy teen drie dinge opstaan. Die wêreld met sy druk, waardes en agenda. Die vlees, met sy impulse en swakhede. Die duiwel, wat daarop uit is om jou te oorwin. God sal egter nooit toelaat dat ons ‘n geveg betree wat ons nie kan wen nie, kom ons kyk dus na die drie seëninge van die stryd.
1) Dit leer jou om altyd gereed te wees. Dit was toe Simson geslaap het wat Delila sy hare gesny en hom van sy krag beroof het. Dit was toe die slawe geslaap het wat die vyand onkruid tussen hulle koring gesaai en hul oes bedreig het.
2) Dis ‘n teken van geestelike vooruitgang. Toe Israel die Beloofde Land binnegegaan het, moes hulle een-en-dertig konings, sewe nasies en selfs reuse verower! Hulle moes dit een stad en een reus op ‘n slag doen. Wanneer Jesus die Here van jou lewe word, sal Hy die areas waarin jy nog nie volkome oorgegee het nie aanspreek en hulle een op ‘n slag hanteer. Die stryd sal moeiliker wees en langer aanhou wanneer dit by jou hardkoppige areas kom. Jy weet watter areas dit is, nè? Skep moed. God sal nie op jou opgee nie: ‘…God [sal] die goeie werk wat Hy in julle begin het… voortsit totdat Hy dit voltooi…’ (Filippense 1:6 NLV).
3) Dis ‘n aanduiding van jou waarde vir God. Jy is ‘n saadjie wat in staat is om ‘n oes vir God te produseer. Dis hoekom Satan jou teiken. Hy is agter die deposito van God wat binne-in jou is, aan. Hou dus aan om die goeie stryd van geloof te veg, met die wete dat jy deur God se genade sal wen.
Sielskos: 1 Kro 23:21-26:19; Luk 13:18-35; Ps 119:57-64; Spr 21:7-9
