2022-11-20
2 Corinthians 1:8 NLT
Job describes the rewards of obedience: “If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity” (Job 36:11 NKJV). John adds, “Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22 NKJV).
But Paul describes the cost of obedience: “We think you ought to know… about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us” (2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NLT).
Notice the words “He did rescue us… He will rescue us again… He will continue to rescue us.” God didn’t lift Paul out of his trouble, He walked with him in it and brought him through it. You say, “But I have asked God to help me understand the situation and He hasn’t.” God doesn’t owe us an explanation, but He promises us an exit strategy. “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 MSG). So the word for you today is – obey God, regardless.
Soul food: Exo 17:1-7; John 4:1-42
2022-11-19
Hebreërs 5:8 NLV
Die beloning vir gehoorsaamheid is wonderlik, maar soms is die proses pynlik. ‘Selfs al was Hy die Seun, het Hy gehoorsaamheid geleer deur wat Hy gely het. Op hierdie manier is Hy bekwaam gemaak…’ (verse 8-9 NLV).
Voor God jou tot ‘n posisie van bruikbaarheid in sy diens bevorder, rus Hy jou toe. Ons bewonder Abraham, wat sy seun Isak na Moria toe geneem en hom op ‘n altaar neergelê het, se geloof. Die verhaal maak egter nie sin totdat jy die eerste vers in die hoofstuk lees nie: ‘Na ‘n tyd wou God Abraham se geloof en gehoorsaamheid toets…’ (Genesis 22:1 NLV). Wat het God getoets? Sy geloof! Sy gehoorsaamheid! Toe hy die toets geslaag het, het God vir hom gesê: ‘…Ek [sal] jou oorvloedig seën. Ek sal jou nageslag vermenigvuldig tot ‘n ontelbare menigte…’ (Genesis 22:17 NLV).
Jy moet die volgende verstaan: Wanneer jy bid en God vir sukses vra, nooi jy Hom uit om jou geloof en gehoorsaamheid te toets. God sal jou heel waarskynlik nie op dieselfde vlak as Jesus en Abraham toets nie. Dis egter die kleiner toetse wat jou voorberei om die groter opdragte in God se koninkryk te hanteer.
In The Screwtape Letters, praat C.S. Lewis se senior duiwel met sy neef, Wormwood, oor hul gemeenskaplike vyand, die Here. ‘Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obey.’ Die gehoorsaamheid wat God vandag van jou verwag, is ‘n gehoorsaamheid wat bo jou gevoelens en omstandighede uitstyg en ‘Ja, Here!’ sê.
Sielskos: 1 Kron 19:1-23:20; Joh 10:11-21; Ps 50; Spr 26:27-28
Hebrews 5:8 NLT
The rewards of obedience are awesome, but sometimes the process is agonising. “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him” (vv. 8-9 NLT).
Before God promotes you to a position of usefulness in His service, He qualifies you. We admire the faith of Abraham who took his son Isaac up Mount Moriah and laid him on the altar. But the story doesn’t make sense until you read the first verse in the chapter: “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham” (Genesis 22:1 NKJV). What did God test? His faith! His obedience! And when he passed the test, God told him, “In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed” (Genesis 22:17).
Understand this: When you pray and ask God for success, you’re inviting Him to test your faith and obedience. God probably won’t test you at the same level He tested Jesus or Abraham. But it’s the smaller tests that prepare you to handle the bigger assignments in God’s kingdom.
In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis’ senior devil talks to his nephew Wormwood about their mutual enemy, the Lord. “Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.” The obedience God desires from you today is obedience that rises above your feelings and circumstances and says, “Yes, Lord!”
Soul food: 1 Chron 19:1-23:20; John 10:11-21; Ps 50; Prov 26:27-28
2022-11-18
Luke 24:30 NKJV
Just before Jesus went to the cross, He instituted what has become known as “The Lord’s Supper”, or Holy Communion. He said that the cup represented His shed blood and the bread represented His broken body. Then He ended by saying: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19 NKJV).
Now fast-forward to the house of Cleopas and his companion, following the resurrection. Jesus had walked and talked with them on the Emmaus road, explaining to them that all that had happened was a fulfillment of prophecy. “They constrained Him, saying, ‘Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’ And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him” (Luke 24:29-31 NKJV). In a sense, this too was a communion service. But notice what happened to the people who attended it.
(1) Jesus met with them there.
(2) Their eyes were opened and they recognized Him in a way they never had before.
(3) They were deeply moved. “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us” (v. 32 NKJV).
(4) Then they went out and told others. “They rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, ‘The Lord is risen indeed'” (vv. 33-34 NKJV).
If you have ever wondered how you’re supposed to feel or think when you take communion, now you know.
Soul food: 1 Chron 16-18; John 10:1-10; Ps 105:1-15; Prov 26:23-26
Lukas 24:30 NLV
Net voor Jesus na die kruis gegaan het, het Hy die nagmaal ingestel. Hy het gesê dat die beker sy bloed wat vergiet is en die brood sy gebroke liggaam, verteenwoordig. Hy het die nagmaal afgesluit deur te sê: ‘…Gebruik dit ter herinnering aan My’ (Lukas 22:19 NLV).
Dink nou aan die huis van Kleopas en sy metgesel, nadat Jesus uit die dood opgestaan het. Jesus het saam met hulle op die Emmauspad geloop en gesels en aan hulle verduidelik dat alles wat gebeur het, die vervulling van ‘n profesie was. ‘Maar hulle het by Hom aangedring: ‘Bly by ons oor. Die son trek al water en die dag is verby.’ Toe het Jesus by hulle ingedraai om saam met hulle oor te bly. Terwyl hulle saam met Hom aan tafel was, het Jesus brood geneem, gedank, dit gebreek en aan hulle gegee. Toe het hulle oë oopgegaan en hulle het Hom herken…’ (Lukas 24:29-31 NLV). Hierdie was ook in ‘n sekere sin ‘n nagmaaldiens. Let egter op wat met die mense gebeur het wat dit bygewoon het.
1) Jesus het hulle daar ontmoet.
2) Hulle oë het oopgegaan en hulle het Hom op ‘n manier herken soos nooit tevore nie.
3) Hulle was diep ontroer. ‘…Was ons harte nie vuur en vlam in ons toe Hy met ons op pad gepraat… het nie?’ (vers 32 NLV).
4) Toe het hulle uitgegaan en ander daarvan vertel. ‘Hulle het daar en dan opgestaan en na Jerusalem toe teruggegaan en die elf aangetref en die ander saam met hulle, wat die nuus vertel: ‘Die Here is regtig opgewek…’ (verse 33-34 NLV).
As jy ooit gewonder het wat jy veronderstel is om te voel en dink terwyl jy nagmaal gebruik, weet jy nou.
Sielskos: 1 Kron 16-18; Joh 10:1-10; Ps 105:1-15; Spr 26:23-26
