2022-11-02
Matthew 27:22 NKJV
When it comes to Jesus, we have three choices. Let’s look at them: (1) Reject Him. That’s what the Pharisees did. “Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!'” (v. 22 NKJV). Why? Because His grace and power exposed their lack of both. His truth exposed their error. And when you don’t like the message, you reject the messenger.
(2) Avoid Him. That’s what Pilate’s wife did: “His wife sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him'” (Matthew 27:19 NKJV). Why do people avoid Jesus? Because He forces a reaction in our hearts. He calls you to make a choice between living for self or living for Him. The chief priests said, “He stirs up the people” (Luke 23:5 NKJV). And they were right! Before Jesus delivers you, He will disturb you. And some of us don’t want to be disturbed.
(3) Accept Him. That’s what Paul did: “Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV). Pilate tried to wash his hands of the whole thing and avoid making a decision about Jesus. But it can’t be done. Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30 NKJV). So if you have not accepted Christ as your Saviour, here is the question you must answer: “What then shall I do with Jesus?”
Soul food: 1 Tim 4-6; John 6:60-71; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 24:26-27
2022-11-01
1 John 2:17 NIV
The thing that should matter to you most is doing God’s will. And here is why: God’s will is the only thing that will last forever. God has a plan for your life, and that plan constitutes His “will” for you. So how can you know God’s will? Try to imagine these two things:
(1) A Polaroid picture. Remember those? You took the shot and out popped a picture. At first it wasn’t clear, so you had to wait. But as you continued to wait, the picture became clearer. That’s like God’s will. “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:18-22 KJV).
(2) A scroll. If God showed you His entire will for your life at one time – you would be overwhelmed. But like unraveling an old-fashioned scroll, He reveals His will to you little by little as you become mature and able to handle it. And since it’s God’s will, you need His power to fulfill it. You also need the assurance of His presence with you. And He promises this in His Word: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 KJV).
Soul food: 1 Chron 16:8-36; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Prov 4:18
1 Johannes 2:17 NLV
Dit wat die meeste vir jou moet saak maak, is om God se wil uit te voer. God se wil is die enigste wat vir ewig sal duur. God het ‘n plan vir jou lewe en daardie plan maak sy ‘wil’ vir jou uit. Hoe kan jy dus weet wat God se wil is? Probeer aan die volgende twee dinge dink:
1) ‘n Polaroid foto. Onthou jy hulle? Aan die begin is die beeld nie duidelik nie, maar met tyd het die beeld duideliker geword. Dis hoe God se wil ook is. ‘Die pad van die regverdiges is soos die lig met dagbreek. Dit word al helderder totdat die volle dag aanbreek. Die pad van die goddeloses is soos stikdonker. Hulle weet nie eers waaroor hulle geval het nie. My seun, luister baie goed na wat ek vir jou sê. Spits jou ore vir my woorde! Moet dit nooit uit die oog verloor nie. Hou dit altyd in gedagte. My woorde beteken lewe vir dié wat daarna luister; gesondheid vir die hele liggaam van die een wat hulle betekenis ken’ (Spreuke 4:18-22 NLV).
2) ‘n Boekrol. As God vir jou op een slag sy hele wil vir jou lewe gewys het, sou jy oorweldig gewees het. Deur dit egter soos ‘n outydse boekrol af te rol, openbaar Hy sy wil vir jou stukkie vir stukkie soos jy volwasse word en in staat is om dit te hanteer. Omdat dit God se wil is, het jy sy krag nodig om dit te vervul. Jy het ook die versekering van sy teenwoordigheid binne-in jou nodig. Hy beloof dit in sy Woord: ‘Ek is oortuig dat God die goeie werk wat Hy in julle begin het, sal voortsit totdat Hy dit voltooi op die dag wanneer Jesus Christus terugkom’ (Filippense 1:6 NLV).
Sielskos: 1 Kron 16:8-36; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Spr 4:18
2022-10-31
Galatians 3:28 NKJV
In order to have a clique, you must exclude certain people. And to feel excluded hurts deeply. David experienced it: “The one who shared my food, has turned against me” (Psalm 41:9 NLT). Cliques are made up of weak people who are afraid to be different. They believe that as long as they’re with others who think and act like they do, they won’t be surprised or required to change. It may be human nature to crave this kind of consistency, but it’s dangerous.
Cliques in the workplace create dissension, resulting in a miserable atmosphere for others. People are no longer regarded as individuals but as being “on this person’s side” or “in that person’s corner.” Such cliques become nothing more than centers for gossip, backstabbing, affairs, and every imaginable mess people can create. Satan tempts us with the security of “the group” to prevent us from discovering our individual gifts and purposes and from doing God’s will.
If you’re in a clique, break free as quickly as you can! Reject the pressure to conform to groupthink. This mentality can have you unexpectedly doing things you never thought you would do – whether it’s lowering your principles or remaining quiet while the group criticizes someone. You may even fear being turned against by group members if you stand up for what’s right.
Cliques facilitate racism and sexism, age discrimination, and the biased behaviour accompanying them. They gain their strength from excluding those who are different. And no matter how you slice it, that’s prejudice! You are God’s child – as are your colleagues and other church members – and you should treat them right.
Soul food: Deut 18:9-18; Dan 2; Isa 47:5-15; Acts 16:16-34
Galasiërs 3:28 NLV
Die definisie van ‘n kliek is om sekere mense uit te sluit. Om uitgesluit te voel maak diep seer. Dawid het dit ervaar: ‘My beste vriend… selfs hy het sy rug op my gedraai’ (Psalm 41:10 NLV). Klieks bestaan uit swak mense wat bang is om anders te wees. Hulle dink dat solank hulle saam met ander mense is wat dieselfde as hulle dink en optree, sal hulle nie verras word of gedwing word om te verander nie. Dit mag dalk menslike natuur wees om na hierdie tipe konsekwentheid te smag, maar dis gevaarlik.
Klieks in die werkplek skep onenigheid, wat ‘n ellendige atmosfeer vir ander tot gevolg het. Mense word nie meer as individue nie, maar as ‘aan hierdie persoon se kant’ of ‘in daardie persoon se hoek,’ beskou. Sulke klieks word niks meer as die spil van skinderpraatjies, rugstekery, buite-egtelike verhoudings en elke denkbare gemors wat mense hulself op die hals kan haal, nie. Satan verlei ons met die sekuriteit van ‘die groep’ om ons te verhoed om ons individuele gawes en doelwitte te ontdek en God se wil te doen.
As jy in ‘n kliek is, maak jou so vinnig as moontlik los daarvan! Verwerp die druk om aan groepsdenke te voldoen. Hierdie mentaliteit kan jou onverwags dinge laat doen wat jy nooit gedink het jy sou doen nie – of dit nou is om jou beginsels te verlaag of stil te bly terwyl die groep iemand kritiseer.
Klieks fasiliteer rassisme, seksisme, ouderdomsdiskriminasie en die bevooroordeelde gedrag wat daarmee gepaard gaan. Hulle verkry hul mag deur diegene wat anders is, uit te sluit. Maak nie saak hoe mooi jy dit stel nie, dis blote vooroordeling! Jy is God se kind – net soos jou kollegas en ander gemeentelede – en jy moet hulle reg behandel.
Sielskos: Deut 18:9-18; Dan 2; Jes 47:5-15; Hand 16:16-34
