2023-07-18
Galatians 1:15 NLT
In Scripture you will notice that God usually called busy people. Moses the shepherd was busy tending his flock. Gideon the farmer was busy harvesting his crop. Peter and John the fishermen were busy mending their nets. But there was something inside each of them that responded to God’s call. With God, availability matters more than ability. Imagine for a moment a ranch hand named Saul out looking for his father’s lost mules, and returning home anointed to be Israel’s first king (See 1 Samuel 9-10).
There is no telling what God will do with you! So, be faithful and nurture the dream He put in your heart, and when the time is right, He will set everything in place. The psalmist said, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NIV). Don’t be impatient. If God put the desire into your heart, He will provide everything needed to bring it to pass. Jesus said, “Human effort accomplishes nothing… the… words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63 NLT).
So, water your vision with God’s Word, and spend time with Him in prayer. And if anyone tries to come between you and what God has called you to do, tell them, “Sorry, I have to go. I’m already spoken for. My destiny is too important to miss.” Don’t waste another day struggling with God’s call on your life; just surrender to Him! He didn’t call you because of your great track record, great intellect, or great gift. The Bible says, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20 KJV). You’re “called… by his marvelous grace.”
Soul food: Acts 3:11-5:42; Matt 26:47-56; Ps 123; Prov 16:1
2023-07-17
Psalm 42:1 NLT
Are you having difficulty understanding God’s ways? We all struggle with that. Even though we can look back and see how His hand of blessing and guidance has been upon us, at times we still feel afraid and alone. Jesus Himself cried, “My God… why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 KJV). Those words could be interpreted, “I may not understand what’s happening right now, but I know you’re still my God.” What assurance!
Have you ever watched a child reach for a parent’s hand and say, “Slow down; you’re walking too fast”? The child is afraid of getting lost or left behind. Is that how you feel today? Like you can’t keep up? That life is moving way too fast? The Bible says, “As the deer longs for streams of water… I long for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1 NLT). You don’t “long” for something unless you value it and need it. Only raw need will cause you to turn away from every other visible means of support and pursue God, because you know that without Him, you won’t make it.
The truth is, if you didn’t need Him so desperately, you could easily become satisfied with lesser things. Three things happen when you pursue God with all your heart.
(1) You enter the realm where “all things are possible” (Mark 10:27 KJV).
(2) You grow more Christlike, because you become like the company you keep (See 2 Corinthians 3:18).
(3) You learn that certain levels of blessing are only reached when you diligently seek God (See Hebrews 11:6).
Are you weary of human answers? Do you need more than just good advice? Shut yourself in with God today and let Him speak to you.
Soul food: Acts 1:1-3:10; Matt 26:36-46; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 15:33
2023-07-16
Genesis 13:12 NLT
Jesus said: “If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6 NIV). Implicit in those words is a sobering challenge to every parent: Your moral authority doesn’t come from your knowledge but from your lifestyle and integrity. As your children grow up, they’re less apt to listen to what you say and more inclined to imitate what you do. So where are your footsteps leading?
Remember Abraham and Lot? They shared the same family, the same faith, and had the same opportunities in life. But when it came to raising children, Abraham grew roses and Lot grew weeds. What made the difference? Abraham followed God while Lot followed his own selfish interests. “Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom.” Before it was over, Lot lost his moral authority with his family. So here is the question: As a parent, where are you pitching your tent?
King David also lost his moral authority with his family. Even though God forgave his affair with Bathsheba and permitted him to remain on the throne, his sin took a terrible toll. His son Amnon raped his sister Tamar. His other son Absalom stole the throne, and his son Solomon’s wives ultimately led him into idolatry. Nathan the prophet told him, “Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you” (2 Samuel 12:11 NIV). You only get one chance to do it right, so follow God and take your children with you.
Soul food: Ruth 1:3-18; Acts 8:26-40
2023-07-15
2 Corinthians 1:12 NLT
In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes: “Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and… continually reminds me of what that standard demands… If I’m in the habit of always holding God’s standard in front of me, conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is will I obey?… God always instructs us down to the last detail… He does not speak with a voice like thunder – His voice is so gentle it’s easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, ‘Why can’t I do this?’ You’re on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is – drop it and see that you keep your inner vision clear.”
Paul writes: “We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you” (v. 12 NLT).
But what if the Bible doesn’t offer a specific answer to your question and you’re wondering, “Should I, or shouldn’t I?” Here is your gold standard: “If our consciences are clear, we can come to the Lord with perfect assurance and trust, and get whatever we ask for” (1 John 3:21-22 TLB). Can you think of a more important reason for maintaining a clear conscience?
Soul food: Joel 1-3; Matt 26:26-35; Ps 118:10-18; Prov 15:31-32
2 Korintiërs 1:12 DB
Oswald Chambers skryf in sy boek, My Utmost for His Highest, die volgende: ‘Gewete is daardie vermoë in my wat aan die hoogste standaard wat ek ken geheg is en my voortdurend aan wat daardie standaard vereis, herinner. My gewete sal my altyd na God se volmaakte wet lei en aandui wat ek moet doen. Die vraag is of ek sal gehoorsaam? God gee ons altyd ‘n opdrag tot in die fynste besonderhede. Hy praat nie met ‘n stem soos donderweer nie – sy stem is so sag dat dit vir ons maklik is om dit te ignoreer. Die enigste ding wat ons gewete sensitief vir sy stem hou, is die gewoonte om innerlik ontvanklik vir God te wees. Moenie vra: ‘Hoekom kan ek dit nie doen nie?’ Daar is geen debat moontlik sodra jou gewete gepraat het nie. Wat dit ook al is – los dit en sorg dat jy jou innerlike visie skoon hou.’
Paulus skryf: ‘Ek is trots daarop dat ek opreg optree teenoor almal, ook teenoor julle. God self stel my in staat om sonder vals motiewe op te tree. Hiervan is ek absoluut oortuig. Ek hou my nie met allerhande slimpraatjies besig nie. Nee, ek is heeltemal afhanklik van God se goedheid’ (vers 12 DB).
Wat as die Bybel egter nie ‘n spesifieke antwoord op jou vraag bied nie en jy wonder: ‘Moet ek, of moet ek nie?’ Hier is jou goue standaard: ‘Geliefdes, as ons gewete ons nie veroordeel nie, het ons vrymoedigheid om na God te gaan. Wat ons ook al bid, kry ons van Hom omdat ons sy opdragte gehoorsaam en dié dinge in sy teenwoordigheid doen wat Hom bly maak’ (1 Johannes 3:21-22 NLV). Kan jy aan ‘n belangriker rede dink om ‘n skoon gewete te behou?
Sielskos: Joël 1-3; Matt 26:26-35; Ps 118:10-18; Spr 15:31-32
2023-07-14
John 10:10 CEV
Your lungs need oxygen to thrive, your body needs food to thrive, and your soul needs joy to thrive. How can you tell when someone is joy-deprived? By how they look and what they say.
One Bible teacher says: “When I began to understand John 10:10… I realized the enemy had deceived me into thinking that enjoying things was not important… I had come to believe – falsely, of course – that if I was having fun, something was wrong… I must not be working hard enough! I never saw my father enjoy life and it seemed to aggravate him when others did, so I just grew up thinking something must be wrong with it. I can remember being told to be quiet when I laughed out loud… The seventeenth-century… [writer] Madame Guyon said that the highest call for every child of God is to enjoy God. I remember what a heavy load lifted off of me the first time I read that… I was working so hard trying to please God that the thought of simply enjoying Him had not occurred to me at all. I had never heard of such a thing!… I had been a committed church member for over twenty years before I learned that God wanted me to enjoy Him and the life He had given me.”
Can you relate? If so, it’s time to make some changes in your life. Take a break without feeling guilty; you will be much more productive when you’re rested and refreshed. Recreation is not “unspiritual”; it’s essential to staying in balance. We live in a driven, stressed-out society, but you can change; you can be joyful if you choose to.
Soul food: Jer 51-52; Matt 26:14-25; Ps 118:1-9; Prov 15:27-30
