2024-04-26
Genesis 1:31 NKJV
The first reaction recorded in Scripture is God’s reaction to His own creation. He stepped back at the end of each day, looked at what He had made, and said, “It’s good.” Then on the sixth day when creation was complete, He said, “It’s very good.” This is why we feel so spiritual when we watch an ocean sunset or the towering summit of a mountain.
Thomas Carlyle said, “Worship is transcendent wonder. Wonder for which there is no limit or measure; that is worship.” It’s standing in amazement of the Creator and His creation. It’s translating the beauty of creation into worship of the Creator. It’s thanking God for splendid sunrises and dazzling stars and unique snowflakes. It’s giving credit where credit is due – to the Creator. The psalmist captured it in the words: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1 KJV). The musical group U2 captured it in the words of their hit song “Beautiful Day.” Such wonder is also an act of worship.
One pastor writes: “The sunrise is so consistent that we take it for granted, but few things are as miraculous as the celestial dance that takes place on a daily basis. The earth spins on its axis at a speed of 1,000 mph. And while [it] rotates 360 degrees on its axis every twenty-four hours, it is also hurtling through space at the unimaginable speed of 67,000 mph. You may not have any big plans for today, but you will travel 1.6 million miles in your annual lap around the sun. Quite an accomplishment!” So, take time to wonder and worship God.
Soul food: Acts 18-19; Mark 4:35-41; Ps 7:10-17; Prov 11:7-9
2024-04-25
Acts 11:26 NKJV
Did you know that the word “disciple” occurs 269 times in the New Testament, whereas the word “Christian” is found only three times? The word “Christian” was first introduced to describe who they were, disciples of Jesus Christ!
Dallas Willard uses the illustration of the automobile: “The disciple of Jesus is not the deluxe or heavy-duty model of the Christian – especially padded, textured, streamlined, and empowered for the fast lane on the straight and narrow way. He or she stands on the pages of the New Testament as the first level of basic transportation in the Kingdom of God.”
Becoming a Christian is the work of a moment; it happens when you place your trust in Christ. But becoming a disciple is the work of a lifetime; it calls for denying yourself and saying yes to the will of God every day of your life. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Three things:
(1) To listen to Him and learn. That calls for reading, studying, memorizing, verbalizing, and applying the truths taught in the Scriptures to your life each day.
(2) To follow Him wherever He leads. This may call for changing your plans, forfeiting some of your relationships, and giving Him access to things you would like to hold on to.
(3) To be devoted to Him. One day Jesus said to Peter, “Do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15 NKJV). Note the word “more.” To be a disciple means to love Jesus more than anyone or anything else. And it’s the most fulfilling and rewarding life you can live!
Soul food: Acts 16-17; Mark 4:30-34; Ps 7:1-9; Prov 11:3-6
Handelinge 11:26 AFR20
Het jy geweet dat die woord ‘dissipel’ 269 keer in die Nuwe Testament voorkom, terwyl die woord ‘Christen’ net drie keer genoem word? Die woord ‘Christen’ is die eerste keer gebruik om te beskryf wie hulle was – dissipels van Jesus Christus!
Dallas Willard gebruik die illustrasie van die outomobiel: ‘Die dissipel van Jesus is nie die luukse of swaardiensmodel van die Christen – stewig opgestop, blink, vaartbelyn en bemagtig vir die vinnige baan op die reguit en smal pad, nie. Hy of sy staan op die bladsye van die Nuwe Testament as die eerste vlak van basiese vervoer in die Koninkryk van God.’
Om ‘n Christen te word is ‘n oomblik se werk; dit gebeur wanneer jy jou vertroue in Christus plaas. Om egter ‘n dissipel te word is ‘n leeftyd se werk; dit verg dat jy jouself verloën en elke dag van jou lewe vir God se wil ja sê. Wat beteken dit om ‘n dissipel van Jesus te wees? Drie dinge:
1) Om na Hom te luister en te leer. Dit beteken dat jy die waarhede in die Skrif elke dag moet lees, bestudeer, memoriseer, verbaliseer en in jou lewe moet toepas.
2) Om Hom te volg waar Hy jou ook al lei. Dit mag dalk beteken dat jy jou planne moet verander, sommige van jou verhoudings moet prysgee en Hom toegang tot die dinge wat jy graag aan wil vashou, moet gee.
3) Om toegewyd aan Hom te wees. Een dag het Jesus vir Petrus gesê: ‘…het jy My lief, meer as hulle?..’ (Johannes 21:15 NLV). Let die woorde ‘meer as’ op. Om ‘n dissipel te wees beteken dat jy liewer vir Jesus as enigiemand of enigiets anders is. Dis die vervullendste en lonendste lewe wat jy kan leef!
Sielskos: Hand 16-17; Mark 4:30-34; Ps 7:1-9; Spr 11:3-6
2024-04-24
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
The men and women who made the greatest impact on the world were those who were totally focused and sold out to their vision. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, once said, “If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire.” Jonathan Edwards, whose ministry sparked the Great Awakening in America, made this his life’s motto: “Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I will.”
C. T. Studd, one of England’s greatest athletes, shocked the world when he gave up fame and fortune to be a missionary to China. “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him,” he explained. Missionary Jim Elliot, who died as a martyr in South America, said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
The day you were born, God had a track for you to run on. But to win, you must get rid of (1) anything that weighs you down, and (2) anything that trips you up. “Let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus” (vv. 1-2 AMPC).
Soul food: Acts 14-15; Mark 4:21-29; Ps 16; Prov 11:1-2
Hebreërs 12:1-2 NLV
Die mans en vrouens wat die grootste impak op die wêreld gemaak het, was diegene wat totaal gefokus en toegewyd aan hulle visie was. John Wesley, die stigter van die Metodiste kerk, het een keer gesê: ‘As ek driehonderd manne gehad het wat niks anders as God gevrees het nie, niks anders as sonde gehaat het nie en vasbeslote was om niks anders behalwe van Jesus Christus en Hom wat gekruisig is te weet nie, sou ek die wêreld aan die brand kon steek.’ Jonathan Edwards, wie se bediening die Groot Herlewing in Amerika veroorsaak het, het die volgende sy lewensleuse gemaak: ‘Voorneme Een: Ek sal vir God lewe. Voorneme Twee: As niemand anders dit doen nie, sal ek steeds.’
C.T. Studd, een van Engeland se grootste atlete, het die wêreld geskok toe hy roem en rykdom prysgegee het om ‘n sendeling in China te wees. ‘As Jesus Christus God is en vir my gesterf het, dan kan geen opoffering te groot vir my wees om vir Hom te maak nie,’ het hy verduidelik. Die sendeling Jim Elliot, wat as martelaar in Suid-Amerika gesterf het, het gesê: ‘Die persoon wat gee wat hy nie kan behou nie, om dit te verkry wat hy nie kan verloor nie, is geen dwaas nie.’
Die dag toe jy gebore is, het God ‘n baan vir jou gehad om op te hardloop. Om egter te wen, moet jy ontslae raak van: 1) enigiets wat jou afrem, en 2) enigiets wat jou laat struikel. ‘…Kom ons stroop alles af wat ons spoed kan vertraag, veral die sonde wat so maklik ‘n houvas op ‘n mens kry. Kom ons hardloop met volharding op die baan wat voor ons uitgestrek lê, ons oë vasgenael op Jesus…’ (verse 1-2 NLV).
Sielskos: Hand 14-15; Mark 4:21-29; Ps 16; Spr 11:1-2
