2022-02-24
Isaiah 6:5 NIV
Before God called the prophet Isaiah to a position of leadership in the nation, He adjusted his vision. That’s because uncorrected vision can lead to skewed perspective, poor judgment, and wasted effort. Israel’s constant rebellion was putting them at risk and making them vulnerable. They needed a leader with clear vision. So, the first thing God did was give Isaiah a vision of His glory and power. Without it, he couldn’t have done the job. Without this life-changing encounter with God, he would never have been strong enough to complete his mission. And the same applies to us.
Whatever God calls us to do will require more than just a job description and a few basic skills. We’ll also need a vision of His glory and limitless power to reassure us that He’s more than ready for the challenges we’ll face along the way (see Ephesians 3:20).
The second thing God did was adjust Isaiah’s vision of himself. When our God-concept is adjusted, we’re ready for a self-concept adjustment. It has to happen in that order. If we start with step two, we’ll give up before we begin. Isaiah cried, ‘I am not pure, and I live among people who are not pure’ (Isaiah 6:5 NCV). Isaiah realised he was no better than the people he had been called to reach. Until we see ourselves realistically, honestly, and humbly, our God-given mission won’t succeed (see Romans 12:3).
The third thing God did was respond to Isaiah’s humility. An angel touched his lips with God’s purifying fire and said, ‘Your sin is taken away’ (Isaiah 6:7 NCV). God doesn’t call perfect leaders. He calls humble, honest, forgiven leaders, and crowns their efforts with success, regardless of the challenges they face.
1 Thes 1-5; Luke 11:29-44; Ps 40:9-17; Pro 6:6-8
Jesaja 6:5 NLV
Voor God die profeet Jesaja tot ‘n leierskapsposisie geroep het, het Hy eers sy visie aangepas. Ongekorrigeerde visies lei tot ‘n skewe perspektief, swak oordeel en vermorste inspanning. Israel se konstante rebellie was besig om hulle in gevaar by God te stel en hulle het ‘n leier met ‘n duidelike visie nodig gehad. Dus, die eerste ding wat God gedoen het, was om vir Jesaja ‘n visie van sy glorie en heerlikheid te wys. Sonder hierdie lewensveranderende ontmoeting met God, sou hy nooit sterk genoeg gewees het om sy roeping te voltooi nie.
Dieselfde is op jou van toepassing. Dit waarvoor God jou roep, sal meer as ‘n paar basiese vaardighede verg. Jy sal ‘n visie van sy heerlikheid en onbeperkte krag nodig hê om jou gerus te stel dat Hy meer as voldoende vir die uitdaging is! (Sien Efesiërs 3:20).
Die tweede ding wat God gedoen het, was om Jesaja se visie van homself aan te pas. Wanneer jou begrip van God aangepas is, is jy gereed om jou siening van jouself aan te pas – en nie voor dit nie! Jesaja het uitgeroep: ‘…ek is ‘n sondige mens, tussen ander sondige mense…’ (Jesaja 6:5 NLV). Jesaja het besef dat hy nie beter was as die mense wat hy geroep is om na uit te reik nie. Totdat jy nie jouself realisties, eerlik en nederig in verhouding met God en ander sien nie, sal jou missie nie slaag nie (sien Romeine 12:3).
Die derde ding wat God gedoen het, was om op Jesaja se nederigheid te reageer. ‘n Engel het sy lippe met God se suiwerende vuur aangeraak en gesê: ‘…Nou is jou skuld weg en jou sondes vergewe’ (Jesaja 6:7 NLV). God roep nie perfekte leiers nie. Hy roep nederige, eerlike, vergewensgesinde leiers en kroon hulle pogings met sukses, ongeag die omstandighede.
Sielskos: 1 Tess 1-5; Luk 11:29-44; Ps 40:9-17; Spr 6:6-8
Isaiah 6:5 NIV
Before God called the prophet Isaiah to a position of leadership in the nation, He adjusted his vision. Uncorrected vision leads to skewed perspective, poor judgment, and wasted effort. Israel’s constant rebellion was putting them in jeopardy with God, and they needed a leader with clear vision. So, the first thing God did was give Isaiah a vision of His glory and power. Without it, he could not have done the job. Without this life-changing encounter with God, he would never have been strong enough to complete his mission.
And the same applies to you. Whatever God calls you to do will require more than a job description and some basic skills. You will need a vision of His glory and limitless power to reassure you He is more than adequate for the challenge! (See Ephesians 3:20.)
The second thing God did was adjust Isaiah’s vision of himself. Once your God-concept is adjusted, you’re ready for a self-concept adjustment – and not before! If you start with step two, you will quit before you begin. Isaiah cried, “I am not pure, and I live among people who are not pure” (Isaiah 6:5 NCV). Isaiah realized he was no better than the people he had been called to reach.
Until you see yourself realistically, honestly, and humbly in relation to God and others, your mission won’t succeed. (See Romans 12:3.) The third thing God did was respond to Isaiah’s humility. An angel touched his lips with God’s purifying fire and said, “Your sin is taken away” (Isa 6:7 NCV).
God doesn’t call perfect leaders. He calls humble, honest, forgiven leaders, and crowns their efforts with success, regardless of the odds.
Soul food: 1 Thes 1-5; Luke 11:29-44; Ps 40:9-17; Pro 6:6-8
2022-02-23
2 Corinthians 4:15 MSG
If you’re going through a difficult time right now, let Paul’s words encourage you. “Surrounded and battered by troubles…we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows…we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken” (vv. 8-9 MSG). Who was Paul talking to? Followers of Christ who were having a rough time.
Here is what he told them: “For all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake…Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day…For…(this slight distress of the passing hour) is…producing…an everlasting weight of glory” (vv. 15-17 AMPC).
When you’re under pressure, your faith grows – and God knows exactly how much pressure to apply! He will let you get to (1) a place where you’re out of answers and your resources seem depleted, (2) a place where you’re tired of Satan stealing what you know God promised you, and (3) a place where you’re no longer willing to let other people’s opinions control you. (Remember, with God there are no hopeless situations, just people who have grown hopeless about them.)
It’s when there is nothing more you can do that you start trusting God to do the impossible. As Paul says, “This slight distress of the passing hour” (v. 17 AMPC). The crisis you’re experiencing may be a blessing in disguise; an opportunity to experience God’s “unfolding grace” and a greater degree of His power at work in your life.
Soul food: Isa 63-66; Luke 11:14-28; Ps 40:1-8; Pro 6:1-5
2 Korintiërs 4:15 DB
As jy tans deur ‘n moeilike tyd gaan, laat Paulus se woorde jou bemoedig. ‘Ek kry dikwels swaar, maar ek is nooit mismoedig nie. Ek weet nie elke dag presies wat ek moet doen nie. Tog is ek nooit radeloos nie… Ek word onderstebo geloop, maar ek staan elke keer weer op’ (2 Korintiërs 4:8-9 DB). Met wie het Paulus hier gepraat? Met die volgelinge van Christus wat deur ‘n moeilike tyd gaan.
Hy het vir hulle gesê: ‘Daarom preek ek en daarom ly ek al hierdie dinge ter wille van julle. Op hierdie manier kan God se goedheid by nog meer mense uitkom. Dan is daar nog meer mense om Hom te dank. So word God se Naam grootgemaak. Ons gee nooit moed op nie, ook nie wanneer ons rondgestamp en mishandel word nie. Nee, dan byt ons eers vas, want God is die hele tyd by ons… Ons bietjie swaarkry hier en nou weeg nie op teen al die goeie dinge wat op ons wag in God se nuwe wêreld nie. Ek het nie genoeg woorde om vir julle te beskryf hoe wonderlik dit sal wees nie…’ (verse 15-17 DB).
Wanneer jy onder druk verkeer, groei jou geloof – en God weet hoeveel druk om toe te pas! Hy sal jou toelaat om by ‘n plek te kom waar jy: 1) uit antwoorde is en jou hulpbronne uitgeput is, 2) moeg is vir Satan wat alles steel wat God aan jou beloof het, en 3) waar jy nie meer gewillig is dat ander mense se opinies jou beheer nie. Dis wanneer jy niks meer kan doen nie, wat jy God begin vertrou om die onmoontlike te doen. Die krisis wat jy tans ervaar mag dalk ‘n bedekte seën wees; ‘n geleentheid om God se genade en krag in jou lewe te ervaar.
Sielskos: Jes 63-66; Luk 11:14-28; Ps 40:1-8; Spr 6:1-5
