2023-10-19
Job 5:2 NIV
For reasons known only to God and Satan, Job lost his money, his children, and his health. If ever a man had cause to be resentful, it was him. But Eliphaz advised him, “Resentment kills a fool.” In other words, “The only thing that can hurt me more than what has already happened is allowing resentment to rule my mind and dictate my actions.”
You say, “But I want justice!” How much justice? Imagine your enemy for a moment. Picture him strapped to a whipping post. The strong-armed man with a whip turns to you and asks, “How many lashes?” And you give a number. The whip cracks, the blood flows, and the punishment is inflicted. Your foe slumps to the ground, and you walk away. Are you happy now? Do you feel better? Are you at peace? For a little while, but soon another memory will surface, and another lash will be needed.
When does it all stop? It stops when you take seriously the words of Jesus: “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV).
When you pray, “Treat me as I treat my neighbour” (See Matthew 6:12), are you aware of what you’re really saying to God? “Give me what I give them. Grant me the same peace I grant them. Let me enjoy the same tolerance I offer them.” If you want peace, make peace. If you want God’s generosity, be generous to others. If you want the assurance of God’s forgiveness, extend forgiveness to others.
Soul food: 2 Sam 12:1-14:20; John 4:39-54; Ps 87; Prov 24:1-4
Job 5:2 NLV
Vir redes wat net aan God en Satan bekend is, het Job sy geld, sy kinders en sy gesondheid verloor. As daar ooit ‘n man was wat rede gehad het om kwaad te wees, was dit hy. Elifas het hom egter die volgende raad gegee: ‘Woede maak ‘n dwaas dood…’ Met ander woorde: ‘Die enigste ding wat my seerder kan maak as wat reeds gebeur het, is om toe te laat dat wrewel my gedagtes regeer en my optrede dikteer.’
Jy sê: ‘Maar ek soek geregtigheid!’ Hoeveel geregtigheid? Stel jou voor dat jou vyand aan ‘n sweeppaal vasgemaak is. Die man met ‘n sweep in die hand draai na jou en vra: ‘Hoeveel houe?’ Jy gee ‘n getal. Die sweep kraak, die bloed vloei en die straf word opgelê. Jou vyand sak op die grond neer. Is jy nou gelukkig? Voel jy beter? Het jy vrede in jou gemoed? Dalk vir ‘n rukkie, maar gou sal jy weer iets onthou en dan sal nog ‘n sweepslag nodig wees.
Wanneer sal dit dan ophou? Dit hou op wanneer jy die woorde van Jesus ernstig opneem: ‘As julle die mense vergewe wat teen julle oortree, sal julle hemelse Vader julle ook vergewe. Maar as julle weier om die mense te vergewe, sal julle Vader julle ook nie julle oortredings vergewe nie’ (Matteus 6:14-15 NLV).
Wanneer jy bid: ‘Hanteer my soos ek my naastes hanteer’ (sien Matteus 6:12), is jy waarlik bewus van wat jy sê? ‘Gee my wat ek vir hulle gee. Skenk my dieselfde vrede wat ek hulle gun. Laat my dieselfde verdraagsaamheid geniet wat ek hulle bied.’ As jy vrede wil hê, moet jy vrede maak. As jy God se vrygewigheid wil geniet, moet jy vrygewig teenoor ander wees. As jy die versekering van God se vergifnis wil hê, gee vergifnis aan ander.
Sielskos: 2 Sam 12:1-14:20; Joh 4:39-54; Ps 87; Spr 24:1-4
2023-10-18
Ephesians 5:18 NKJV
The Christian life isn’t only a changed life but an exchanged life. At the moment of conversion, we give our old life to God and He gives us a new life in its place. But He does more; He comes to live within us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul made the contrast between being drunk with wine and being filled with the Spirit. One causes you to be out of control, while the other enables you to be in control. One is counterproductive, while the other is productive. One makes you powerless, while the other empowers you. One brings you sorrow, while the other brings you joy. This Scripture is not a promise or even an option, it’s a command: “Be filled with the Spirit.” And Paul gives us three evidences of a Spirit-filled life:
(1) “Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (v. 19 NKJV). This song isn’t induced by circumstances but despite them. “At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God… and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed” (Acts 16:25-26 NKJV). Praising God can open doors and break chains.
(2) “Giving thanks always for all things to God” (Ephesians 5:20 NKJV). Spirit-filled people have troubles like everyone else. But they don’t focus on their troubles; they count their blessings and stay positive, upbeat, and grateful.
(3) “Submitting to one another in the fear of God” (v. 21 NKJV). Spirit-filled people are “others focused.” They know that what you make happen for someone else, God will make happen for you (See Ephesians 6:8).
Soul food: 2 Sam 7:18-11:27; John 4:27-38; Ps 32; Prov 23:29-35
Efesiërs 5:18 NLV
Tydens die oomblik van bekering, gee ons ons ou lewe aan God en Hy gee vir ons ‘n nuwe lewe in die plek daarvan. Hy doen egter meer; Hy kom leef binne-in ons deur die krag van sy Heilige Gees.
Paulus het die kontras gemaak tussen dronk van wyn word en vervul met die Gees word. Die een is teenproduktief, terwyl die ander produktief is. Die een maak jou magteloos, terwyl die ander jou bemagtig. Die een bring vir jou hartseer, terwyl die ander een vir jou vreugde bring. Hierdie Skrifgedeelte is nie ‘n belofte of selfs ‘n opsie nie, dis ‘n bevel: ‘…Nee, laat die Heilige Gees julle lewe vol maak’. Paulus gee ons drie bewyse van ‘n Gees-gevulde lewe:
1) ‘…Sing en jubel met julle hele hart tot eer van die Here’ (vers 19 NLV). Hierdie lied vind nie as gevolg van omstandighede plaas nie, maar ten spyte daarvan. ‘Teen middernag was Paulus en Silas besig om te bid en tot lof van God te sing… Al die tronkdeure het oopgevlieg en al die gevangenes se kettings het losgekom!’ (Handelinge 16:25-26 NLV). Jy kan deure oopmaak en kettings breek wanneer jy God loof.
2) ‘Sê altyd in die Naam van ons Here Jesus Christus vir God die Vader dankie vir alle dinge’ (Efesiërs 5:20 NLV). Gees-vervulde mense het ook probleme. Hulle fokus egter nie op hulle probleme nie; hulle tel hul seëninge en bly positief, vrolik en dankbaar.
3) ‘Omdat julle respek het vir wat Christus vir julle gedoen het, moet julle aan mekaar onderdanig wees’ (vers 21 NLV). Gees-vervulde mense fokus op ander. Hulle weet dat wat jy vir iemand anders laat gebeur, God vir jou sal laat gebeur (sien Efesiërs 6:8).
Sielskos: 2 Sam 7:18-11:27; Joh 4:27-38; Ps 32; Spr 23:29-35
2023-10-17
2 Corinthians 9:11 NLT
One pastor told his congregation, “The good news is, we have enough money here this morning to build a new church.” Then he added, “The bad news is, it’s still in your pockets!” Some of us grew up believing it was wrong to ask God for money because that was a sign of greed and selfishness. And it can be, but it doesn’t have to be. When you pray, “Lord, bless me financially so that I can give to your work and fulfill your plans,” you’re in proper spiritual alignment with God.
In part, the explosive growth of the New Testament church was due to some Christians who were willing to sell their assets in order to finance the will of God. Barnabas was one of them: “He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles” (Acts 4:37 NLT). And Barnabas wasn’t the only one: “Those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles” (vv. 34-35 NLT). Among those who followed Christ were women married to wealthy and powerful men. As a result, Jesus needed a treasurer to take care of their funds.
Scripturally speaking, here is the bottom line when it comes to money: If you honour God, He will honour you, and if you put His work first, He will bless your work. Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need… don’t worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:33-34 NLT). Here is God’s will for you: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous” (2 Corinthians 9:11 NLT).
Soul food: 2 Sam 3:22-7:17; John 4:13-26; Ps 100; Prov 23:22-28
