2022-09-05
2 Chronicles 34:1-2 NLT
When Josiah became king, he cleansed Israel of idolatry and began rebuilding the temple. That’s when a priest discovered some long-lost scrolls containing God’s Word. As Josiah heard what they said, he was deeply moved upon realising his people had drifted far from God. So he sent word to the prophetess Huldah asking what would become of the people. She told him that since he had repented when he heard God’s Word, his nation would be spared while he lived (See vv. 14-27).
An entire generation received grace because of the integrity of one man. And that one man had a lot to overcome. Josiah’s grandfather, Manasseh, was like the Hitler of the Old Testament. He filled Jerusalem “from one end to the other with… blood” (2 Kings 21:16 NLT). And Josiah’s father died at the hands of his own officers. “He did what was wrong,” most likely reads his epitaph. Josiah was only eight when he ascended the throne. Immediately he chose righteousness and didn’t stop doing what was right all his life.
What’s the point? You can’t pick your parents, but you can pick your role models. You can’t change your past, but you can rise above it. Your parents may have given you your DNA, but Jesus will give you a new beginning. “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children” (Ephesians 5:1 NIV). Your past doesn’t have to be your prison. You have a say in your life, you have a voice in your destiny, and you have a choice in the path you take. So choose well, and someday – generations from now – others will thank God for your legacy.
Soul food: Ezek 1-4; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 111; Prov 19:18-20
2 Kronieke 34:1-2 NLV
Toe Josia koning geword het, het hy die afgode uit Israel verwyder en die tempel begin herbou. Gedurende daardie tyd het ‘n priester ‘n paar lang verlore boekrolle wat God se Woord bevat, ontdek. Toe Josia hoor wat daarin staan, was hy diep ontroer toe hy besef hoe ver sy mense van God af beweeg het. Dus het hy ‘n boodskap na die profetes Gulda gestuur om te vra wat van die volk sou word. Sy het vir hom gesê dat aangesien hy berou gehad het toe hy God se Woord gehoor het, sou sy volk solank as wat hy lewe, gespaar bly (sien verse 14-27).
‘n Hele generasie het as gevolg van die integriteit van een man, genade ontvang. Daardie een man het egter baie gehad om te oorkom. Josia se oupa, Manasse, was soos die Hitler van die Ou Testament. Hy het ‘…so baie onskuldige bloed vergiet dat hy Jerusalem van hoek tot kant daarmee vol gemaak het…’ (2 Konings 21:16 NLV). Josia se pa is deur sy eie manskappe om die lewe gebring. Josia was net agt jaar oud toe hy die troon bestyg het. Hy het dadelik geregtigheid gekies en sy hele lewe lank gedoen wat reg is.
Wat is die punt? Jy kan nie jou ouers kies nie, maar jy kan jou rolmodelle kies. Jy kan nie jou verlede kies nie, maar jy kan bo dit uitstyg. Jou ouers mag dalk vir jou jou DNS gegee het, maar Jesus sal vir jou ‘n nuwe begin gee. ‘Omdat julle God se kinders is wat Hy liefhet, moet julle sy voorbeeld volg’ (Efesiërs 5:1 NLV). Jou verlede hoef nie jou tronk te wees nie. Kies dus die regte toekoms en eendag – generasies van nou af – sal ander mense God vir jou nalatenskap dank.
Sielskos: Eseg 1-4; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 111; Spr 19:18-20
2022-09-04
Psalm 27:14 NKJV
David said: “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart” (vv. 13-14 NKJV).
The word “wait” originates from a Hebrew word used in making rope. Every rope starts as a thread, and every added strand increases its strength. So each time you wait on the Lord, you add another thread to the rope; you become a little stronger and a little more able to cope. Are you hanging on by a thread? Spend more time with God and watch Him turn the thread into a rope.
Now, waiting is not always passive; sometimes it’s active, like waiting on a customer and seeing that their needs are met. In this case, waiting is not so much a position as it is a focus. The Bible says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3 KJV). Whether it’s sitting prayerfully in God’s presence or actively serving Him, you have the assurance that your strength will be renewed.
If you are at the end of your rope today, grab ahold of these promises: “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV). “As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters… so our eyes look to the Lord our God” (Psalm 123:2 NKJV).
Soul food: Dan 6:1-24; Acts 12:1-19
Psalm 27:14 AFR53
Dawid het gesê: ‘o, As ek nie geglo het dat ek die goedheid van die Here sal sien in die land van die lewendes nie… Wag op die Here! Wees sterk en laat jou hart sterk wees! Ja, wag op die Here!’ (verse 13-14 AFR53). Die woord ‘wag’ kom van ‘n Hebreeuse woord wat gebruik word om die proses om ‘n tou te maak, te beskryf. Elke tou begin as ‘n draad, en elke bygevoegde draad vermeerder die tou se krag. Elke keer wat jy dus op die Here wag, voeg jy nog ‘n draad by die tou; jy word ‘n bietjie sterkter en ‘n bietjie meer in staat om dinge te hanteer.
Hang jy aan ‘n draadjie? Bestee meer tyd met God en kyk hoe Hy die draadjie in ‘n tou verander. In hierdie geval is om te wag nie soveel ‘n posisie as wat dit ‘n fokus is nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘U bewaar elkeen wat op U vertrou in vrede, die mense wie se gedagtes op U gerig is’ (Jesaja 26:3 NLV). Of dit nou is om biddend in God se teenwoordigheid te sit of om Hom aktief te dien, jy het die versekering dat jou krag vernuwe sal word.
As jy vandag wil tou opgooi, gryp hierdie beloftes aan: ‘Maar dié wat hulle hoop op die Here stel, sal hulle krag terugkry. Hulle vlieg soos arende. Hulle sal hardloop en nie moeg word nie. Hulle sal loop en nie vermoeid word nie’ (Jesaja 40:31 NLV). ‘Soos oë van slawe gerig is op hulle meester… so is ons oë gerig op die Here…’ (Psalm 123:2 NLV).
Sielskos: Dan 6:1-24; Hand 12:1-19
2022-09-03
Leviticus 21:18-20 NLT
To help someone with their unresolved issues, you must first deal with your own. If the medicine you’re offering hasn’t made you whole, you will have no credibility when you try to apply it to the lives of others. Does that mean if you have unresolved issues, God won’t use you? No, it’s the broken who become masters at mending. But first you must take time to be healed.
It’s hard to talk about victory when you’re experiencing defeat. When you’re bleeding spiritually and emotionally, you can’t treat people’s problems with the same kind of aggressive faith you would have if you had already worked through the problem. Is it wrong to have a broken heart? No, for God “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NKJV). So let God make you whole so He can use you.
In Old Testament times, you could not serve as a priest if you had a scab, which is an unhealed wound. This is why: (1) You wouldn’t be up to par spiritually. (2) You couldn’t get close to others in case they bumped into you and knocked the protective cover off your scab. (3) You couldn’t be at your best because the pain was sapping your strength. (4) You would be afraid to talk about your scab in case people rejected you. So you would live on two levels, and become insecure, hypocritical, or controlling. (5) Worst of all, you would be so busy working for God and taking care of others, you wouldn’t have time to stop and take care of yourself.
So the word for you today is – deal with your unresolved issues.
Soul food: Amos 5:18-9:15; Mark 10:1-12; Ps 103:13-22; Prov 19:17
