2023-04-05
Matthew 11:28 CEV
The average office worker is bombarded each day with over two hundred messages via email, texts, tweets, Twitter, and blogs. In fact, one in three managers gets sick because of information overload. It’s a blizzard out there! It makes you wonder – if technology is saving us all this time and energy, how come we’re so frazzled?
Here is something Madison Avenue and Wall Street won’t tell you: Success presents more opportunities for the Enemy to run you into the ground. That’s no way to live, and it certainly isn’t God’s will for you. Don’t wait until you hit bottom, get fired, throw away your life, settle for a dead-end job, or lose your family. Don’t wait until you’re too old, too cranky, and too locked into your lifestyle.
Today, Jesus is saying to you, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest… learn from me.”
Leadership expert and Christian author Phil Cooke says: “The Lord can’t relieve the pressure while you’re in the wrong place, at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing, with the wrong people. If you climb the corporate ladder and neglect your family, your priorities are out of order. When you’re in God’s will, you can work hard, but travel light! He’ll carry your burdens and take the weight. Simplifying your life may mean working fewer hours, scheduling ‘down time’ and investing more in your loved ones. Markets, assignments, personalities and situations are all different, but these principles hold true for everyone.”
So the word for you today is – simplify your life.
Soul food: Exo 12:1-14; Matt 26:1-29; Ps 49; 1 Cor 11:20-34
Matteus 11:28 NLV
Die gemiddelde kantoorwerker word elke dag met meer as tweehonderd boodskappe via e-pos, sms, Twitter en blogs gebombardeer. Een uit drie bestuurders raak inderwaarheid as gevolg van inligting-oorlading siek. Dit laat mens wonder – as tegnologie ons al hierdie tyd en energie spaar, hoekom is ons so kapot? Sukses bied meer geleenthede vir die Vyand om jou in die grond in te dryf.
Dis nie ‘n lewe nie en dit is vir seker nie God se wil vir jou lewe nie. Moenie wag tot jy die bodem tref, afgedank word, jou lewe weggooi of jou familie verloor nie. Moenie wag tot jy te oud, te lendelam of te verknog aan jou leefwyse is nie. Vandag sê Jesus vir jou: ‘Kom na My toe, julle almal wat moeg is en swaar laste moet dra, en Ek sal julle lewens verkwik… Kom leer van My…’ (Matteus 11:28-29 NLV).
Die leierskapskundige en christelike skrywer, Phil Cooke, sê: ‘Die Here sal nie die druk verlig terwyl jy op die verkeerde plek en tyd is, terwyl jy die verkeerde dinge saam met die verkeerde mense doen nie. As jy die korporatiewe leer uitklim en jou gesin afskeep, is jou prioriteite verkeerd. Wanneer jy in God se wil is, kan jy hard werk maar lig reis! Hy sal jou laste dra en die gewig op Homself neem. Om jou lewe te vereenvoudig beteken dat jy minder ure werk, tyd vir ontspanning maak en meer in jou geliefdes belê. Markte, opdragte, persoonlikhede en situasies verskil, maar hierdie beginsels is vir almal waar.’
Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – vereenvoudig jou lewe.
Sielskos: Eks 12:1-14; Matt 26:1-29; Ps 49:1; 1 Kor 11:20-34
2023-04-04
1 Korintiërs 10:12 NLV
Hier is drie areas waarin ons veral kwesbaar is:
1) Moedeloosheid. In ‘n oomblik van moedeloosheid het Petrus Jesus verloën. Moedeloosheid laat jou dinge sê wat jy nie bedoel nie en dinge doen wat buite jou karakter is. Dis hoekom Judas skryf: ‘…Hou aan om te bid terwyl julle heg verbind bly aan die Heilige Gees. Hou julle liefdesband met God in stand…’ (Judas verse 20-21 NLV).
2) Opwinding. Herodus het opgewonde geraak en ‘n aanbod gemaak waaroor hy baie spyt was: ‘…Ek sal enigiets wat jy van my vra vir jou gee…’ (Markus 6:23 NLV). Die meisie het vir Johannes die Doper se kop gevra en omdat Herodus ‘n koning was, kon hy nie sy belofte terugtrek nie. Wees versigtig wanneer jy opwinding opsoek en hoe jy reageer wanneer jy dit vind. ‘As ons natuurlike geneigdheid eers bevrug geraak het, is sonde die babatjie wat gebore word. En as hierdie babatjie kans kry om volwasse te word, gee dit geboorte aan die dood. Moet dus nie mislei word nie…’ (Jakobus 1:15-16 NLV).
3) Moegheid. In die Ou Testament het ‘n ‘geboortereg’ beteken dat die oudste seun twee keer meer van sy vader se boedel erf. Normaalweg sou Esau dit nie oorweeg het om sy geboortereg te verkoop nie, maar hy was doodmoeg toe hy dit gedoen het (sien Genesis 25:29-34). Moegheid kan veroorsaak dat jy perspektief verloor en besluite maak volgens dit wat op die oomblik reg voel, in plaas daarvan wat in die langtermyn vir jou goed gaan wees.
Die Bybel sê: ‘Al hierdie dinge het met hulle gebeur as ‘n voorbeeld vir ons… Daarom – as julle dink julle staan sterk, moet julle oppas dat julle nie ook tot ‘n val kom nie’ (1 Korintiërs 10:11-12 NLV). Bewaak dus hierdie drie areas van kwesbaarheid.
Sielskos: Lev 5-7; Luk 23:1-12; Ps 18:30-50; Spr 9:7-9
1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV
Here are three areas where we’re particularly vulnerable: (1) Discouragement. In a moment of discouragement, Peter did what he swore he would never do: deny Jesus. Discouragement makes you say things you don’t mean, and do things that are out of character. That’s why Jude writes to “build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the… Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love” (Jude vv. 20-21 MSG).
(2) Excitement. Herod became excited by a dancing girl, threw caution to the wind, and made an offer he lived to regret: “Whatever you ask me, I will give you” (Mark 6:23 NKJV). She asked for John the Baptist’s head, and since he was a king, Herod couldn’t renege on his promise. That single moment of indulgence cost him his kingdom and his life. Be careful where you turn for excitement, and how you react when you find it. “When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived” (James 1:15-16 NKJV).
(3) Weariness. In Old Testament times, a “birthright” meant the oldest son inherited twice as much of his father’s estate. Normally, Esau wouldn’t have considered selling his birthright, but he did so in a state of exhaustion (See Genesis 25:29-34). Weariness can cause you to lose perspective and make decisions based on what feels right in the moment rather than what’s right for you long term.
The Bible says: “All these things happened to them as examples… Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12 NKJV). So, guard these three areas of vulnerability.
Soul food: Lev 5-7; Luke 23:1-12; Ps 18:30-50; Prov 9:7-9
2023-04-03
Joshua 1:3 NIV
The book of Job has forty-two chapters. In the first forty-one chapters, Job experienced the loss of his health, his wealth, and his family. Over and over again, he questioned God but got only silence for an answer. But he kept walking with God, and said, “When he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10 NIV).
Notice three things: First, to become gold, you have to go through the fire. Second, the degree of heat and the amount of time required is determined by the refiner. Third, when you try to rush the process, you end up with a substance of lesser value, like tin. God told Joshua, “I will give you every place where you set your foot.” In other words, “To get what I have promised, you must ‘walk out’ the process.”
American poet C. V. White wrote: “The man who succeeds never waits for the crowd. He strikes out for himself. It takes nerve, it takes a lot of grit, but the man that succeeds has both… Success is the accomplishment of that which people think can’t be done.” Complacency, fatigue, doubt, criticism, and discouragement are everyday hurdles you must constantly overcome. And how do you do that? You keep on walking!
You will notice a common thread throughout the Bible: When you really need Him, God shows up and does for you what you can’t do for yourself. The rest of the time – which is most of the time – He strengthens you and says, “You have to ‘walk out’ the process.” And that’s the word for you today!
Soul food: Lev 1-4; Luke 22:63-71; Ps 18:1-29; Prov 9:4-6
