2023-07-17
Psalm 42:2 NLV
Vind jy dit moeilik om God se werke te verstaan? Ons almal sukkel daarmee. Selfs al kan ons terugkyk en sien hoe sy hand van seën en leiding in die verlede op ons was, voel ons by tye steeds bang en alleen. Jesus het self uitgeroep: ‘…My God, my God, waarom het U My verlaat?’ (Matteus 27:46 NLV). Daardie woorde kan as volg geïnterpreteer word: ‘Ek mag dalk nie verstaan wat op die oomblik gebeur nie, maar ek weet dat U steeds my God is.’ Wat ‘n gerusstelling!
Het jy al ooit gesien hoe ‘n kind ‘n ouer se hand vat en sê: ‘Ma/Pa stap te vinnig vir my!’ Die kind is bang om te verdwaal of agtergelaat te word. Is dit hoe jy vandag voel? Asof jy nie kan byhou nie? Dat die lewe heeltemal te vinnig beweeg? Die Bybel sê: ‘Soos ‘n wildsbok smag na water, so smag ek na U, o God’ (Psalm 42:2 NLV). Jy ‘smag’ nie na iets tensy jy dit waardeer en dit nodig het nie. Slegs rou behoefte sal veroorsaak dat jy van elke ander sigbare middel van ondersteuning wegdraai en God najaag, omdat jy weet dat jy dit nie sonder Hom sal maak nie.
Drie dinge gebeur wanneer jy God met jou hele hart najaag:
1) Jy betree die koninkryk waar alle dinge moontlik is (sien Markus 10:27 NVL).
2) Jy begin om meer soos Christus te wees, omdat jy soos die geselskap wat jy hou, word (sien 2 Korintiërs 3:18).
3) Jy leer dat jy slegs sekere vlakke van seën bereik wanneer jy God ywerig soek (sien Hebreërs 11:6).
Is jy moeg vir menslike antwoorde? Het jy meer as net goeie raad nodig? Sluit jouself vandag by God toe en laat Hom toe om met jou te praat.
Sielskos: Hand 1:1-3:10; Matt 26:36-46; Ps 118:19-29; Spr 15:33
Psalm 42:1 NLT
Are you having difficulty understanding God’s ways? We all struggle with that. Even though we can look back and see how His hand of blessing and guidance has been upon us, at times we still feel afraid and alone. Jesus Himself cried, “My God… why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 KJV). Those words could be interpreted, “I may not understand what’s happening right now, but I know you’re still my God.” What assurance!
Have you ever watched a child reach for a parent’s hand and say, “Slow down; you’re walking too fast”? The child is afraid of getting lost or left behind. Is that how you feel today? Like you can’t keep up? That life is moving way too fast? The Bible says, “As the deer longs for streams of water… I long for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1 NLT). You don’t “long” for something unless you value it and need it. Only raw need will cause you to turn away from every other visible means of support and pursue God, because you know that without Him, you won’t make it.
The truth is, if you didn’t need Him so desperately, you could easily become satisfied with lesser things. Three things happen when you pursue God with all your heart.
(1) You enter the realm where “all things are possible” (Mark 10:27 KJV).
(2) You grow more Christlike, because you become like the company you keep (See 2 Corinthians 3:18).
(3) You learn that certain levels of blessing are only reached when you diligently seek God (See Hebrews 11:6).
Are you weary of human answers? Do you need more than just good advice? Shut yourself in with God today and let Him speak to you.
Soul food: Acts 1:1-3:10; Matt 26:36-46; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 15:33
2023-07-16
Genesis 13:12 NLT
Jesus said: “If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6 NIV). Implicit in those words is a sobering challenge to every parent: Your moral authority doesn’t come from your knowledge but from your lifestyle and integrity. As your children grow up, they’re less apt to listen to what you say and more inclined to imitate what you do. So where are your footsteps leading?
Remember Abraham and Lot? They shared the same family, the same faith, and had the same opportunities in life. But when it came to raising children, Abraham grew roses and Lot grew weeds. What made the difference? Abraham followed God while Lot followed his own selfish interests. “Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom.” Before it was over, Lot lost his moral authority with his family. So here is the question: As a parent, where are you pitching your tent?
King David also lost his moral authority with his family. Even though God forgave his affair with Bathsheba and permitted him to remain on the throne, his sin took a terrible toll. His son Amnon raped his sister Tamar. His other son Absalom stole the throne, and his son Solomon’s wives ultimately led him into idolatry. Nathan the prophet told him, “Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you” (2 Samuel 12:11 NIV). You only get one chance to do it right, so follow God and take your children with you.
Soul food: Ruth 1:3-18; Acts 8:26-40
Genesis 13:12 NLV
Jesus het gesê: ‘Maar elkeen wat een van hierdie kleinstes wat in My glo, tot ‘n val bring – vir hom sal dit beter wees om met ‘n meulsteen om sy nek in die see te verdrink’ (Matteus 18:6 NLV). Ingesluit in hierdie woorde is ‘n sobere uitdaging aan elke ouer: Jou morele gesag hang nie van jou kennis nie, maar van jou leefstyl en jou integriteit af. Soos jou kinders groter word, is hulle minder geneig om te luister na wat jy sê en meer geneig om dit wat jy doen, te na-aap.
Waarheen lei jou voetspore dus? Onthou jy vir Abraham en Lot? Hulle het dieselfde familie, dieselfde geloof en dieselfde geleenthede in die lewe gedeel. Toe dit egter by kinders grootmaak kom, het Abraham rose en Lot onkruid gekweek. Wat het die verskil gemaak? Abraham het God gevolg terwyl Lot sy eie selfsugtige belange gevolg het. ‘…Lot [het] sy tente tussen die stede in die vallei opgeslaan tot by Sodom.’ Voor dat dit verby was, het Lot sy morele gesag teenoor sy familie verloor. As ouer, waar slaan jy jou tent op?
Koning Dawid het ook sy morele gesag teenoor sy familie verloor. Selfs al het God sy owerspel met Batseba vergewe en hom toegelaat om op die troon te bly, het sy sonde ‘n verskriklike tol geëis. Sy seun Amnon het sy suster Tamar verkrag. Sy ander seun, Absalom, het die troon gesteel en sy seun Salomo se vrouens het hom tot afgodery gelei. Die profeet Natan het vir hom gesê: ‘Omdat jy dit gedoen het, sal Ek, die Here, toesien dat jou eie huis ellendes oor jou bring…’ (2 Samuel 12:11 NLV).
Jy het net een kans om dit reg te doen, volg dus vir God en neem jou kinders saam met jou.
Sielskos: Rut 1:3-18; Hand 8:26-40
2023-07-15
2 Corinthians 1:12 NLT
In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes: “Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and… continually reminds me of what that standard demands… If I’m in the habit of always holding God’s standard in front of me, conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is will I obey?… God always instructs us down to the last detail… He does not speak with a voice like thunder – His voice is so gentle it’s easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, ‘Why can’t I do this?’ You’re on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is – drop it and see that you keep your inner vision clear.”
Paul writes: “We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you” (v. 12 NLT).
But what if the Bible doesn’t offer a specific answer to your question and you’re wondering, “Should I, or shouldn’t I?” Here is your gold standard: “If our consciences are clear, we can come to the Lord with perfect assurance and trust, and get whatever we ask for” (1 John 3:21-22 TLB). Can you think of a more important reason for maintaining a clear conscience?
Soul food: Joel 1-3; Matt 26:26-35; Ps 118:10-18; Prov 15:31-32
