2024-03-23
Matthew 16:16 MSG
One of the most convincing proofs that the Bible is truly the Word of God lies in the number of prophecies fulfilled during the life of Christ. Daniel prophesied the coming of the one and only Jewish Messiah prior to the temple’s demise. The Old Testament prophets declared He would be born in Bethlehem (See Micah 5:2) to a virgin (See Isaiah 7:14), be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (See Zechariah 11:12-13), die by crucifixion (See Psalm 22), and be buried in a rich man’s tomb (See Isaiah 53:9).
Jesus Himself predicted He would be crucified and rise bodily from the dead three days later. “The Jews then responded to him, ‘What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’ They replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?’ But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken” (John 2:18-22 NIV).
Napoleon Bonaparte said: “I know men, and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.”
Soul food: Hos 6-10; Matt 26:47-56; Ps 116:12-19; Prov 8:10-13
2024-03-22
Galatians 5:22 NKJV
You can enrich and strengthen any relationship by developing and demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible speaks about being filled with the Spirit (See Ephesians 5:18) and walking in the Spirit (See Galatians 5:16 AMPC). To be “filled” with God’s Spirit means you’re a receptacle, whereas “walking” in the Spirit means you’re a dispenser – a vessel God can fill and pour out into the lives of others.
“What’s this ‘fruit’ you’re talking about?” you ask. The Bible describes it this way: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV). Look carefully at these nine different character qualities.
The first three – “love, joy, peace” – are atmosphere-changing fruits. As you yield to the Holy Spirit, He will throw a wet blanket on the unkind words you may want to say. He will build a fire in your heart that will bring warmth to a cold atmosphere and love to a bitter, revengeful atmosphere.
The next three fruits – “longsuffering, kindness, goodness” – are attitude-changing fruits. Each of us has the potential to have a bad attitude. God sometimes lets us go through difficult situations to reveal what’s really inside us. When we see our own helplessness, weakness, and despair, it causes us to cry out, “God, I need you!”
The last three fruits – “faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” – are attribute-changing fruits. Through the Holy Spirit, you have strength and ability that you can’t attribute to anyone but God. And you have peace that transcends human understanding (See Philippians 4:7).
Soul food: Hos 1-5; Matt 26:26-46; Ps 116:1-11; Prov 8:8-9
Galasiërs 5:22 NLV
Jy kan enige verhouding verryk en versterk deur die vrugte van die Gees te ontwikkel en uit te leef. Die Bybel sê dat ons deur die Gees gevul moet wees (sien Efesiërs 5:18), en deur die Gees gelei moet word (sien Galasiërs 5:16). Om met die Gees gevul te wees, beteken dat jy ‘n houer is, terwyl jy ‘n uitdeler is wanneer jy deur die Gees gelei word – ‘n houer wat God kan vul en in ander se lewens kan uitstort. ‘Wat is hierdie vrugte waarvan jy praat?’ vra jy. Die Bybel beskryf dit as volg: ‘Maar as die Gees ons lewe beheer, is die gevolg: liefde, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedheid, getrouheid, sagmoedigheid en selfbeheersing…’ (Galasiërs 5:22-23 NLV).
Kom ons kyk noukeurig na hierdie nege verskillende karaktereienskappe. Die eerste drie – liefde, vreugde, vrede – is vrugte wat die atmosfeer verander. Soos jy jou aan die Heilige Gees oorgee, sal Hy ‘n nat kombers oor die onvriendelike woorde wat jy dalk wil sê, gooi. Hy sal ‘n vuur in jou hart bou wat warmte na ‘n koue atmosfeer en liefde na ‘n bitter, wraaksugtige atmosfeer, sal bring.
Die volgende drie vrugte – geduld, vriendelikheid, goedheid – is vrugte wat jou houding verander. Elkeen van ons het die potensiaal om ‘n slegte houding te hê. God laat ons soms deur moeilike situasies gaan om dit wat regtig binne ons is, te openbaar. Wanneer ons ons eie hulpeloosheid, swakheid en wanhoop sien, laat dit ons uitroep: ‘God, ek het U nodig!’
Die laaste drie vrugte – getrouheid, sagmoedigheid en selfbeheersing – is eienskap-veranderende vrugte. Deur die Heilige Gees het jy krag en vermoëns wat jy aan niemand behalwe God kan toeskryf nie. Jy het ook vrede wat menslike begrip te bowe gaan (sien Filippense 4:7).
Sielskos: Hos 1-5; Matt 26:26-46; Ps 116:1-11; Spr 8:8-9
2024-03-21
Psalm 84:8 NLV
Die frase ‘ontdek jou sterkpunte’ is deur die navorser Marcus Buckingham in wat na verwys word as die ‘Strengths Movement,’ beroemd gemaak. Dit verg van ons om op te hou om op ons swakpunte te fokus en ons sterkpunte te ontwikkel – wat God se ontwerp reflekteer. God het nie gesê: ‘Moses, jou vakmanskapvaardighede is swak. Jy moet vir ‘n ruk ophou om die mense te lei en probeer om meer soos Besaleël te word’ nie (sien Eksodus 31:1-5). ‘n Sterkpunt is ‘n aktiwiteit wat jou sterk laat voel wanneer jy dit doen.
Sekere aktiwiteite sal jou opgewonde maak en jou uitdaag; ander sal jou verveel en jou dreineer. Sodra jy hierdie aktiwiteite ontdek, is jy nie bloot besig met ‘loopbaanbeplanning’ nie, jy erken God se handewerk en jou eie kernsterkpunte. Dis belangrik dat jy dit doen, want jou lewe is die klein deel van die skepping waaroor God jou aangestel het.
Dorothy Sayers het gesê: “‘n Mens werk nie om te lewe nie, maar lewe om te werk. Dit is, of dit behoort te wees, die volle uitdrukking van die werker se vermoëns, die aktiwiteit waarin hy geestelike en liggaamlike bevrediging vind en die medium waarin hy homself aan God bied.”
Wat as jou werk nie jou behoeftes vervul of jou Godgegewe gawes gebruik nie? Soms vereis noodsaaklikheid dit. Dis hoekom die Bybel sê: ‘Doen met toewyding alles wat jou hand vind om te doen…’ (Prediker 9:10 NLV). Bid intussen vir nuwe geleenthede, berei jouself voor en doen vrywillige werk in ‘n gebied wat jou sterkpunte benut. Soms is mense wat nie hul werk geniet nie, ellendig en maak hulle almal rondom hulle ook ellendig. God verwag egter beter van jou!
Sielskos: 2 Kon 24-25; Matt 26:1-25; Ps 19; Spr 8:6-7
Psalm 84:7 NIV
The phrase “discover your strengths” was made famous by researcher Marcus Buckingham in what’s referred to as the “Strengths Movement.” It calls us to stop focusing on our weaknesses and name and develop our strengths – which reflects God’s design. God didn’t say, “Moses, your craftsmanship skills are weak. Let’s have you stop leading this people for a while and try to become more like Bezalel.” (See Exodus 31:1-5). The Bible speaks of going “from strength to strength.” And a strength is an activity which when you engage in it, makes you feel strong.
Certain activities will thrill and challenge you; others will bore and drain you. Once you discover this, you’re not simply engaged in “career planning,” you’re acknowledging God’s handiwork and your own core strengths. It matters that you do this, because the single little patch of creation you’re responsible for stewarding is your own life.
Dorothy Sayers said: “Work is not, primarily, a thing one does to live, but the thing one lives to do. It is, or it should be, the full expression of the worker’s faculties, the thing in which he finds spiritual, mental and bodily satisfaction, and the medium in which he offers himself to God.”
What if your job doesn’t fulfill your need for purpose or utilize your God-given gifts? Sometimes necessity requires that. That’s why the Bible says, “Whatever you do, do well” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NLT). In the meantime, pray for opportunity, prepare yourself, and volunteer in an area that utilizes your strengths. Sometimes people who don’t enjoy the work they do are miserable, and they make everybody around them miserable too. But God expects better from you!
Soul food: 2 Kings 24-25; Matt 26:1-25; Ps 19; Prov 8:6-7
