2026-04-07
Proverbs 6:2-3 NASB (1995)
In 1755, a twenty-three-year-old army colonel was running for a seat in the Virginia assembly, when he made an insulting remark as part of a campaign speech. It was addressed to a hot-tempered man named Payne, who responded by knocking the colonel down with a hickory stick. Soldiers rushed to the colonel’s assistance, and it appeared a full-blown fight would ensue. But the would-be politician got up, dusted himself off, called off the soldiers, and quietly left the scene.
The next morning, the colonel wrote to Payne requesting his presence at a local tavern. Payne obliged, but he wondered what motives and demands the colonel might make – perhaps an apology or even a duel. To Payne’s surprise, the colonel met him with an apology, asking forgiveness for his derogatory remarks and offering a handshake. Others may have viewed the move as politically expedient, but Colonel George Washington considered it personally imperative if he was to enjoy internal peace as he continued with his political campaign on his way to becoming America’s first president.
Jesus said, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly” (Matthew 5:23-25 NKJV). Solomon said, “If you have been snared with the words of your mouth… Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbour” (Proverbs 6:2-3 NASB1995). The word for you today is: Humble yourself, and try to make it right.
Soul food: Jer 33:1-36:26; Luke 24:19-24; Ps 25:1-7; Prov 9:17-18
Spreuke 6:2-3 AFR20
In 1755 het ‘n drie-en-twintigjarige kolonel van die weermag ‘n beledigende opmerking as deel van een van sy politieke veldtogtoesprake gemaak. Dit was op ‘n humeurige man, genaamd Payne, gemik, wat gereageer het deur die kolonel met ‘n stok te slaan. Soldate het die kolonel te hulp gesnel en dit het gelyk of ‘n volskaalse geveg op die punt was om uit te breek. Die voornemende politikus het egter opgestaan, homself afgestof, die soldate weggestuur en die toneel stilweg verlaat.
Die volgende oggend het die kolonel aan Payne geskryf en sy teenwoordigheid by ‘n plaaslike taverne versoek. Payne het ingestem, maar hy het gewonder watter eise die kolonel sou stel – miskien ‘n verskoning of selfs ‘n tweegeveg. Tot Payne se verbasing het die kolonel hom met ‘n verskoning begroet, vergifnis vir sy neerhalende opmerkings gevra en ‘n handdruk aangebied. Ander mense mag dalk die gebaar as polities gemotiveerd afgemaak het, maar kolonel George Washington het dit ter wille van sy innerlike vrede nodig geag, terwyl hy met sy politieke veldtog op pad om Amerika se eerste president te word, voortgegaan het.
Jesus het gesê: ‘As jy dus jou offer na die altaar toe bring en dit val jou daar by dat jou medemens ‘n grief teen jou koester, los jou offer net daar voor die altaar en gaan maak eers vrede met daardie persoon. Kom dan terug en bring jou offer. Sorg dat jy baie gou op goeie voet met jou teenstander kom…’ (Matteus 5:23-25 NLV). Salomo het gesê: ‘as jy in ‘n strik getrap het deur die woorde van jou mond… doen dan dit… Gaan – verneder jouself!’ (Spreuke 6:2-3 AFR20). Die woord vir jou vandag is: Word nederig en probeer om dit reg te maak.
Sielskos: Jer 33:1-36:26; Luk 24:19-24; Ps 25:1-7; Spr 9:17-18
2026-04-06
Efesiërs 4:23 NLV
Ons is drieledige wesens: gees, siel en liggaam. Wanneer ons Jesus Here van ons lewe maak, word ons van die geestelike dood genees. Daar is egter steeds twee areas wat Christus se genesende aanraking nodig het: ons siele (verstand, emosies en wil) en ons fisiese liggame. God se Woord leer ons dat ons fisiese gesondheid en geestesgesondheid onherroeplik met mekaar verbind is. ‘Want soos hy in sy siel bereken, so is hy’ (Spreuke 23:7 AFR53). Wat ons van onsself dink, is wat ons word. Ongesonde denke lei tot ‘n ongesonde lewe.
Johannes het geskryf: ‘…ek hou aan bid dat dit in alle opsigte met jou goed mag gaan en dat jy nét so gesond sal wees soos dit geestelik goed met jou gaan’ (3 Johannes 1:2 NLV). Enige area waarin ons siel ongesond is – of dit nou ‘n lae selfbeeld, negatiewe gedagtes of vernietigende gewoontes is – kan deur God se Woord genees word.
Die meerderheid van Satan se aanvalle begin in ons verstand. Hy gebruik verkeerde gedagtes en indrukke om ons van God se beste weg te lei. Die enigste manier om hierdie aanvalle teen te werk, is om op God se Woord te staan en toe te laat dat sy gesonde gedagtes ons daaglikse denke deurdring. Gedagtes van vrees kan met gedagtes van geloof vervang word. Gedagtes van gebrek kan met gedagtes van voorsiening vervang word. Gedagtes van mislukking en depressie kan met gedagtes van sukses en vreugde vervang word.
Hoe kan ons dit regkry? Paulus gee ons die antwoord: ‘Julle moet op ‘n nuwe, geestelike manier leer dink. Ja, trek die nuwe mens soos skoon klere aan, die mens wat na God se beeld geskape is: iemand wat werklik reg lewe voor God en werklik aan Hom toegewy is’ (Efesiërs 4:23-24 NLV).
Sielskos: Jer 31-32; Luk 24:13-18; Ps 32; Spr 9:10-16
Ephesians 4:23 AMPC
We are three-part beings: spirit, soul, and body. When we make Jesus Lord of our lives, our spirit receives healing from spiritual death. But there are still two areas that need Christ’s healing touch: our souls (mind, emotions, and will) and our physical bodies. God’s Word teaches us that physical health and mental health are irrevocably linked. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). What we think about ourselves is inevitably what we become. Unhealthy thinking produces unhealthy living.
John wrote: “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2 NKJV). For any area where our souls are sick – whether it be low self-esteem, negative thoughts, or destructive habits – the Word of God is the answer to nourishing us into a balanced and healthy state.
The majority of Satan’s attacks begin in the mind. He uses wrong thoughts and images in our minds to lead us away from God’s best. The only way to counteract this is to stand on God’s Word and allow His healthy thoughts to permeate our thinking daily. Thoughts of fear can be replaced with thoughts of faith. Thoughts of lack can be replaced with thoughts of provision. Thoughts of failure and depression can be replaced with thoughts of success and joy.
How does this happen? Paul answered: “Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image” (Ephesians 4:23-24 AMPC).
Soul food: Jer 31-32; Luke 24:13-18; Ps 32; Prov 9:10-16
2026-04-05
Matthew 28:6 KJV
One day your heart will give a final pulse, and your lungs empty a final breath. And barring the return of Christ, you will die. The psalmist asked, “What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?” (Psalm 89:48 NKJV). Young and old, good and bad, rich and poor; neither gender is spared; no class is exempt. “No one has power over the time of their death” (Ecclesiastes 8:8 NIV).
The geniuses, the rich, the poor – no one outruns or outsmarts it. Julius Caesar died. Elvis died. John Kennedy died. Princess Diana died. We all will die. We won’t escape death. The finest surgeon might enhance your life but can’t eliminate your death. The Hebrew writer was blunt: “People are destined to die once” (Hebrews 9:27 NIV). Exercise all you want. Eat nothing but healthy food, and pop fists full of vitamins. Stay out of the sun, away from alcohol, and off drugs. Do your best to stay alive, and still, you will die.
Death seems like such a dead end until we read Jesus’ resurrection story: “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said…Go quickly and tell His disciples… He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him… So they went out quickly… to bring His disciples word… Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him” (Matthew 28:6-17 NKJV).
For the redeemed child of God, death is not the end but the beginning of a glorious life in heaven that will have no end.
Soul food: 1 Cor 15; Luke 24:1-12
