2024-06-21
Isaiah 5:4 NLT
Author Brennan Manning tells the story of how he got the name “Brennan.” Growing up, his best friend was Ray. The two of them did everything together: bought a car together as teenagers, dated together, went to school together, and so forth. They even enlisted in the army together, went to boot camp together, and fought on the front lines together. One night, sitting in a foxhole, Brennan was reminiscing about the old days in Brooklyn while his friend Ray listened and ate a chocolate bar. Suddenly a grenade landed in the foxhole. Ray smiled at Brennan, dropped his chocolate, and threw himself on the live grenade. It exploded, killing Ray, but Brennan’s life was spared. Later Brennan was ordained as a priest, and at that time it was customary to take the name of a saint. He thought of his friend, Ray Brennan, and chose the name “Brennan.”
Years later, he visited Ray’s mother in Brooklyn. They were sitting up late one night drinking tea when Brennan asked her, “Do you think Ray loved me?” Mrs. Brennan got up off the couch, shook her finger in his face, and shouted, “What more could he have done for you?” Brennan says that right then he experienced an epiphany. He imagined himself standing before the cross of Jesus wondering, “Does God really love me?” And Jesus’ mother pointing to her son, saying, “What more could He have done for you?” When Jesus said, “It is finished,” the price of your salvation was paid in full. The question is – will you accept Him today as your Saviour and Lord?
Soul food: Eze 46-48; Luke 1:57-66; Ps 139:7-12; Prov 15:28-30
Jesaja 5:4 NLV
Die skrywer Brennan Manning vertel die verhaal van hoe hy die naam ‘Brennan’ gekry het. Tydens sy kinderjare het hy ‘n beste vriend, genaamd Ray, gehad. Die twee van hulle het alles saam gedoen: saam as tieners ‘n kar gekoop, saam op afsprake gegaan, saam skool toe gegaan, ensovoorts. Hulle het selfs saam by die weermag aangesluit en saam aan die voorste linies geveg.
Een nag, terwyl hulle in ‘n skuilgat gesit het, het Brennan nostalgies oor hulle kinderjare in Brooklyn geraak. Ray het geluister terwyl hy ‘n sjokolade stafie geëet het. Skielik het ‘n handgranaat langs hulle in die skuilgat geland. Ray het vir Brennan geglimlag, sy sjokolade een kant laat val en homself op die handgranaat gegooi. Dit het ontplof en Ray het gesterf, maar Brennan se lewe is gespaar. Later is Brennan as priester georden en daardie jare was dit die gebruik om die naam van ‘n heilige aan te neem. Hy het aan sy vriend, Ray Brennan, gedink en die naam ‘Brennan’ aangeneem.
Jare later het hy Ray se ma in Brooklyn besoek. Laat die aand het hulle gesit en tee drink toe Brennan vir haar vra: ‘Dink jy Ray was lief vir my?’ Mev Brennan het van die bank opgestaan, haar vinger in sy gesig gedruk en geskree: ‘Wat meer kon hy vir jou gedoen het?’ Brennan sê dat hy op daardie oomblik ‘n openbaring gehad. Hy het homself ingedink waar hy voor die kruis van Jesus staan en wonder: ‘Het God my regtig lief?’ En Jesus se moeder wat na haar seun wys en sê: ‘Wat meer kon Hy vir jou gedoen het?’ Toe Jesus gesê het: ‘Dit is volbring,’ is die prys van jou verlossing ten volle betaal. Die vraag is egter – sal jy Hom vandag as jou Redder en Here aanneem?
Sielskos: Eseg 46-48; Luk 1:57-66; Ps 139:7-12; Spr 15:28-30
2024-06-20
1 John 3:18 NLT
The word “love” isn’t just a noun, it’s a verb (an action word). And it’s not demonstrated simply by what you say but by what you do.
In a small Jewish town in Russia, there is a rabbi who reputedly doesn’t show up for several hours every Friday morning. His followers claim that during this time he goes up to heaven and talks to God. A stranger moved into town and was skeptical about all this, so he decided to check things out. He hid and watched. The rabbi got up in the morning, said his prayers, then dressed in peasant clothes. He grabbed an axe and went off into the woods and cut firewood, which he hauled to a shack on the outskirts of the village where an old woman and her sick son lived. He left them enough wood for a week, then crept back home. Having observed the rabbi’s behavior for himself, the newcomer became his disciple. Now when he hears the villagers say, “On Friday morning our rabbi ascends all the way up to heaven,” he quietly adds, “If not higher.”
You can’t earn salvation by doing good works, but if you are truly saved, your actions and attitudes will prove that you are truly a recipient of salvation. Paul wrote these two Scriptures to Titus: “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works” (Titus 2:7 NKJV). “These things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men” (Titus 3:8 NKJV).
Soul food: Eze 43-45; Luke 1:39-56; Ps 139:1-6; Prov 15:25-27
1 Johannes 3:18 NLV
Die woord ‘liefde’ is nie net ‘n selfstandige naamwoord nie, maar ook ‘n werkwoord. Dit word nie net gedemonstreer deur wat jy sê nie, maar ook deur wat jy doen. In ‘n klein Joodse dorpie in Rusland is daar ‘n rabbi wat na bewering vir ‘n paar uur elke Vrydagoggend nie te vinde was nie. Sy volgelinge beweer dat hy gedurende hierdie tyd opgaan hemel toe om met God te praat.
‘n Vreemdeling het in die dorp ingetrek en was skepties oor al hierdie dinge, daarom het hy besluit om uit te vind wat werklik op Vrydagoggende gebeur. Hy het gesien hoe die rabbi die oggend opstaan, sy gebede doen en toe gewone klere aantrek. Die rabbi het ‘n byl gegryp en in die woud gegaan en vuurmaakhout gekap, wat hy na ‘n hut aan die buitewyke van die dorpie geneem het waar ‘n ou vrou en haar siek seun gewoon het. Hy het vir hulle genoeg hout vir ‘n week gelos en toe teruggesluip huis toe. Nadat hy die rabbi se gedrag self waargeneem het, het die nuweling sy dissipel geword.
Jy kan nie jou verlossing verdien deur goeie werke te doen nie, maar as jy werklik gered is, sal jou optrede en gesindhede bewys dat jy werklik verlossing ontvang het. Paulus het die volgende twee Skrifgedeeltes aan Titus geskryf: ‘Wat jou betref, jy moet in alles wat jy sê en doen ‘n voorbeeld stel van hoe ‘n Christen behoort te leef. Doen goed aan ander mense’ (Titus 2:7 DB). ‘…Ek wil hê jy moet vir die mense wat in God glo, duidelik sê dat hulle hard moet probeer om goeie dinge te doen. Al hierdie dinge is mooi en goed vir die mense’ (Titus 3:8 ABA).
Sielskos: Eseg 43-45; Luk 1:39-56; Ps 139:1-6; Spr 15:25-27
2024-06-19
Proverbs 13:20 NLT
When you encounter someone who tries to “cut you down to size,” remind yourself they are probably trying to cut you down to their size. So, what should you do? Love them, but don’t be overly influenced by what they say. As a rule, instead of staying where you’re tolerated, go where you’re appreciated!
The Japanese bonsai tree is tiny, growing only about eighteen inches tall. To create a bonsai, a young sapling is pulled from the soil. Then the taproot and some of the feeder shoots are tied off. Thus, the growth of the bonsai tree is deliberately stunted.
By contrast, the California sequoia tree grows large. For example, the General Sherman in California’s Sequoia National Park stands 275 feet and measures 100 feet in circumference at its trunk. If felled, it would provide enough lumber to build over 30 five-room homes! The sequoia begins life as a small seed, no bigger than the bonsai seed. So, what makes the difference? The sequoia sapling is allowed to be nourished in the rich California soil and sunshine.
Now, neither the bonsai nor the sequoia has a choice in determining how large it will become – but you do! For instance, you can’t go through life blaming others – including your parents – for what they may or may not have done in the past. So, here are your options: Stay where you are and suffer, or move to a rich, fertile, nourishing environment where you can grow. Is that always easy? No. But if you believe what Jesus said – “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT) – you will be willing to do it.
Soul food: Eze 40:10-42:20; Luke 1:26-38; Ps 73:17-28; Prov 15:22-24
