2026-02-27
Proverbs 29:25 NKJV
Sometimes we make the mistake of placing our trust in people when we should be placing our trust in the Lord. And since God cannot fail and people can, we end up getting hurt and disappointed. The Bible says that King Asa of Judah had a perfect heart toward God. Yet when an enemy nation came against him, he panicked and purchased a military alliance with another king. And he did it with funds he took from the house of God. Upon hearing the news of Asa’s coalition, his enemy retreated. Asa had figured out the solution. His plan had worked – or so it seemed. Then God sent the prophet Hanani to rebuke King Asa. Why? “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God” (2 Chronicles 16:7 NKJV).
This is often the plight of those who are highly logical and intelligent. Their confidence is in their own ability to figure out a solution to their dilemmas. Hanani continued to rebuke Asa: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV).
Later in life, when Asa faced a life-threatening disease, “he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12 NIV). They could not help him, so he died. So the word for you today is – never give people the trust that should be placed in the Lord alone.
Soul food: 1 Ki 14-15; Luke 12:13-21; Ps 61; Prov 6:16-19
Spreuke 29:25 NLV
Ons maak soms die fout om ons vertroue in mense te plaas, wanneer ons ons vertroue eerder in die Here behoort te plaas. Aangesien God nie kan fouteer nie, maar mense wel, word ons uiteindelik seergemaak en teleurgestel. Die Bybel sê dat koning Asa van Juda ‘n hart vir God gehad het. Tog, toe ‘n vyandige nasie teen hom opgetrek het, het hy paniekerig geraak en ‘n verdrag met ‘n ander koning aangegaan. Hy het dit met fondse wat hy uit die tempel van God geneem het, gedoen. Sy vyand het teruggetrek toe hy die nuus van Asa se verdrag hoor. Asa het ‘n oplossing vir sy probleem gevind. Sy plan het gewerk – of so het dit altans voorgekom. God het egter die profeet Ganani gestuur om koning Asa te bestraf. Hoekom? ‘…Omdat jy op die koning van Aram vertrou het in plaas van op die Here jou God…’ (2 Kronieke 16:7 NLV).
Dit is dikwels die lot van diegene wat hoogs logies en intelligent is. Hulle vertrou op hul eie vermoë om ‘n oplossing vir hul dilemmas te vind. Ganani het voortgegaan om Asa te bestraf: ‘Die Here kyk oor die hele aarde om hulle te help wat met hulle hele hart op Hom vertrou. Wat ‘n dwaas was jy nie! Daarom sal jy van nou af gedurig oorloë hê’ (2 Kronieke 16:9 NLV).
Later in sy lewe het Asa ‘n ernstige siekte opgedoen. ‘…Maar selfs in sy siekte het hy nie hulp by die Here gesoek nie, maar by sy dokters’ (2 Kronieke 16:12 NLV). Hulle kon hom nie help nie, dus het hy gesterf. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: Moenie mense die vertroue gee wat alleenlik op die Here geplaas moet word nie.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 14-15; Luk 12:13-21; Ps 61; Spr 6:16-19
2026-02-26
Romans 12:1 NKJV
With the national coffers depleted from a series of costly wars, King Frederick William III of Prussia found his nation seriously short of funds as it attempted to rebuild. He refused to capitulate to his enemies and couldn’t face disappointing his people. He asked the women of Prussia to bring their gold and silver jewelry to be melted down and used in exchange for the things the nation desperately needed.
As each woman brought her jewelry, she was given a “decoration” of iron as a symbol of the king’s gratitude. On it was inscribed the words: “I gave gold for iron, 1813.” The women came to prize their gifts from the king more than their former jewels! Their decorations were proof they had sacrificed for their king. In fact, it became highly unfashionable in early nineteenth-century Prussia for women to wear jewelry but very fashionable to wear a cross of iron. It was from this that the Order of the Iron Cross was established.
There are two sides to the Christian life: blessing and sacrifice. Paul said: “Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8 NLT). Jesus spelled out the cost of discipleship: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24 NKJV). The hymnist wrote: “‘Take up thy cross and follow me,’ I hear my blessed Saviour call. How can I make a lesser sacrifice when Jesus gave his all?”
Soul food: 1 Ki 12-13; Luke 12:1-12; Ps 58; Prov 6:12-15
Romeine 12:1 NLV
Met die nasionale staatskas wat deur ‘n reeks duur oorloë uitgeput is, het koning Frederik Willem III van Pruise besef dat daar ‘n ernstige tekort aan geld is om die land na die oorloë te herbou. Hy het geweier om aan sy vyande toe te gee en kon nie sy mense teleurstel nie. Hy het dus die vroue van Pruise gevra om hul goue en silwer juweliersware te bring om gesmelt te word, sodat dit vir die dinge wat die nasie dringend nodig gehad het, geruil kon word.
Soos elke vrou haar juweliersware gebring het, is aan haar ‘n ysterkenteken as simbool van die koning se dankbaarheid gegee. Die woorde: ‘Ek het goud vir yster gegee, 1813,’ was daarop gegraveer. Die vroue het begin om hierdie kentekens van die koning meer as hul vorige juwele te waardeer! Hul kentekens was die bewys dat hulle vir hul koning opgeoffer het. Trouens, in die vroeë negentiende-eeuse Pruise het dit hoogs onmodieus vir vroue om juweliersware te dra, maar baie modieus om ‘n kruis van yster te dra, geword. Dit was hier uit wat die Orde van die Ysterkruis gestig is.
Daar is twee kante van die Christelike lewe: seën en opoffering. Paulus het gesê: ‘Ja, om Christus Jesus, my Here, persoonlik te ken is só wonderlik dat ek alle ander dinge as ‘n verlies beskou…’ (Filippense 3:8 NLV). Jesus het die koste van dissipelskap as volg uitgespel: ‘…As julle my volgelinge wil wees, moet julle julle eie, selfsugtige ambisie prysgee, julle kruis op julle skouers neem, en agter My aan kom’ (Matteus 16:24 NLV). Die gesangedigter het geskryf: ‘Take up thy cross and follow me,’ I hear my blessed Saviour call. How can I make a lesser sacrifice when Jesus gave his all?’
Sielskos: 1 Kon 12-13; Luk 12:1-12; Ps 58; Spr 6:12-15
2026-02-25
Psalm 103:2 NLT
A newspaper cartoon was drawn of two fields divided by a wire fence. Both were the same size, each with plenty of lush, green grass. Each field had a mule whose head stuck through the wire fence, eating grass from the other’s pasture. Although each mule was surrounded by grass, the neighbouring field seemed more desirable – even though it was harder to reach. In the process the mules’ heads became caught in the fence, and they panicked and brayed uncontrollably at being unable to free themselves. The cartoonist described the situation with one caption: “DISCONTENT.”
There is a lesson here for each of us. When we focus on what we don’t have, or what someone else has, we become blinded to the blessings which surround us. David wrote: “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things” (vv. 2-5 NLT).
Goal setting, achieving greater things, and desiring more than you have can be good things if (1) you look to the Lord to help you bring it to pass: “The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right” (Psalm 84:11 NLT), and (2) while God is working on it, you enjoy what He has already given you: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you'” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). So, be content.
Soul food: 1 Ki 10-11; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 53; Prov 6:9-11
