2023-05-07
Psalm 91:11 NLT
In what situation might God send an angel to help you? (1) When those you love and trust have disappointed you. Imagine how Hagar felt. In a joint decision with his wife, Sarah, Abraham got Hagar pregnant in order to try and fulfill God’s promise. Then when Isaac was born a year later, he sent her away without child support. Weeping and believing they would both die, Hagar left baby Ishmael under a tree and walked away. But God sent an angel to tell her that her son was a child of destiny from whom would come a great people (See Genesis 21:18).
(2) When you’re facing embarrassment and can’t defend yourself. Mary planned to get married first, then have a baby. But God had a different plan. Not only was she facing public humiliation, but according to the law, she should be put to death. But God sent an angel to vindicate her and tell her that she was in the center of His will (See Luke 1:34-38).
(3) When you’re grieving the death of someone you love and fearing for your future. Mary Magdalene loved Jesus more than life itself, so when He died and was buried, she was distraught and heartbroken. That’s when God sent an angel to announce: “He is not here: for he is risen” (Mt 28:6). The Bible says, “Some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2 NIV).
If you allow it to, a cynical world will make you doubt that God actually loves you so much He would send an angel to help you. But it’s true.
Soul food: Ps 34; Acts 12:1-17
Psalm 91:11 NLV
In watter situasie kan God ‘n engel stuur om jou te help? 1) Wanneer diegene wat jy liefhet en vertrou jou teleurstel. Dink jou in hoe Hagar gevoel het. In ‘n gesamentlike besluit met sy vrou, Sara, het Abraham vir Hagar swanger gemaak in ‘n poging om God se belofte te probeer vervul. Toe Isak egter ‘n jaar later gebore is, het Abraham haar weggestuur. Huilend het Hagar baba Ismael onder ‘n boom gelos en weggeloop. God het egter ‘n engel gestuur om haar te sê dat haar seun bestem is om die vader van ‘n groot nasie te wees (sien Genesis 21:18).
2) Wanneer jy verneder word en nie jouself kan verdedig nie. Maria het beplan om eers te trou en daarna ‘n baba te kry. God het egter ‘n ander plan gehad. Nie net het sy voor openbare vernedering te staan gekom nie, maar volgens die wet moes sy doodgemaak geword het. God het egter ‘n engel gestuur om haar te verdedig en vir haar te sê dat sy in die middel van God se wil was (sien Lukas 1:34-38).
3) Wanneer jy oor die dood van ‘n geliefde rou en bang is vir die toekoms. Maria Magdalena het Jesus liewer as die lewe self gehad, toe Hy dus sterf en begrawe is, was sy verbyster en haar hart was gebroke. Toe het God ‘n engel gestuur om aan te kondig: ‘Hy is nie hier nie, want Hy is opgewek uit die dood…’ (Matteus 28:6 NLV). Die Bybel sê: ‘…Deur gasvry te wees het party mense, sonder dat hulle dit besef, selfs engele tuis ontvang!’ (Hebreërs 13:2 NLV).
‘n Siniese wêreld kan jou daaraan laat twyfel dat God jou waarlik so lief het dat Hy ‘n engel sal stuur om jou te help. Dis egter die waarheid.
Sielskos: Ps 34; Hand 12:1-17
2023-05-06
Hebrews 1:14 NIV
God can come to you in varied forms. When Jesus appeared to His disciples and stilled the storm, they thought He was a ghost. So, your intellect can undermine your faith. The Bible says angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.”
Have you ever seen an angel? They aren’t always dressed in white with dramatically arched wings. Sometimes they’re so ordinary that they’re overlooked. “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2 NIV).
Perhaps you think God doesn’t send angels because He has given us His Holy Spirit to help, protect, and guide us. Not so. Remember, God sent an angel to deliver Peter from prison on the eve of his execution. On his way to Rome, Paul was on board a ship that was destined to be destroyed by a ferocious storm. But God sent an angel to assure him he would survive it. So, Paul announced to the crew and passengers: “Take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul;’… Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:22-25 NKJV).
You may not be able to see angels, but you can be certain that they see you; indeed, they never take their eyes off you! (See Matthew 18:10.)
Soul food: Num 8-10; Matt 6:19-34; Ps 37:16-24; Prov 11:4
Hebreërs 1:14 NLV
God kan in verskeie vorms na jou toe kom. Toe Jesus aan sy dissipels verskyn het en die storm stilgemaak het, het hulle gedink dat Hy ‘n spook was. Jou intellek kan dus jou geloof ondermyn. Die Bybel sê dat engele ‘…geestelike wesens wat God uitstuur in belang van daardie mense wat gered gaan word,’ is.
Het jy al ooit ‘n engel gesien? Hulle is nie altyd in wit geklee met dramatiese groot vlerke nie. Soms is hulle so alledaags dat hulle oorgesien word. ‘Moenie nalaat om gasvry te wees nie. Deur gasvry te wees het party mense, sonder dat hulle dit besef, selfs engele tuis ontvang!’ (Hebreërs 13:2 NLV).
Miskien dink jy dat God nie vir ons engele stuur nie, omdat Hy sy Heilige Gees vir ons gegee het om ons te help, te beskerm en te lei. Dis egter nie so nie. Onthou, God het ‘n engel gestuur om Petrus die aand voor sy teregstelling uit die tronk te red. Paulus was op pad Rome toe op ‘n skip wat bestem was om deur ‘n woeste storm vernietig te word. God het egter ‘n engel gestuur om hom te verseker dat hy die storm sou oorleef. Dus het Paulus aangekondig: ‘…Hou moed! Daar sal verseker geen lewensverlies onder julle wees nie; net die skip sal tot niet gaan. Verlede nag het daar ‘n engel van die God aan wie ek behoort en wat ek dien, langs my gestaan en vir my gesê: ‘Hou op bang wees, Paulus…’ Verseker vertrou ek op God dat alles presies só sal gebeur soos Hy vir my gesê het’ (Handelinge 27:22-25 NLV).
Jy mag dalk nie in staat wees om engele te sien nie, maar jy kan seker wees dat hulle jou kan sien; hulle neem inderdaad nooit hulle oë van jou af nie (sien Matteus 18:10).
Sielskos: Num 8-10; Matt 6:19-34; Ps 37:16-24; Spr 11:4
2023-05-05
Ephesians 4:32 NLT
The Bible says: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (vv. 31-32 NLT).
Are you struggling to forgive someone? Here is a prayer: “Lord, I praise you for forgiving me and washing my sins away. Reveal anything I need to confess to you today so that I can bring it before you and be cleansed and set free, especially any place in my heart where I have not forgiven someone. I know how subtly resentment and bitterness can build up and hinder my prayers. I recognize that my lack of forgiveness toward others can keep me from experiencing your forgiveness (See Mark 11:25). To say that I need your help to forgive others the way you have always been forgiving toward me is a huge understatement. You forgave the unforgivable on the cross. I acknowledge that I am incapable of forgiving on my own. Remind me that I cannot make my forgiveness conditional upon whether people deserve it or not, and that the focus of my heart must remain on becoming more like you. Give me grace to forgive, and not hold forgiveness back until the other person says or does what I think they should. Take away anything of anger, bitterness, or resentment in my heart. Pour out your Spirit upon me and cleanse me of all that’s not of you. Enable me to walk in the forgiveness you have given me and to extend it to others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
Soul food: Num 7; Matt 6:1-18; Ps 37:8-15; Prov 11:3
