2018-09-28
Luke 6:38 KJV
Many of us want to give to people we love and causes we believe in. But fear stops us. We’re afraid that if we give, we might not have enough left for ourselves. So instead of sowing, we hoard our seed and miss the harvest God promised us. Why? Because on some deeper level we wonder if God would actually bless someone like us. Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.” If a bank promised that kind of return on your investment you’d beat a path to their door, right? But banks can fail and bankers can’t always be trusted, whereas God has never broken a promise! Here’s an important Bible truth: When you open your hand to God, He opens His hand to you. And God has a bigger hand! But as well as learning how to give, you must learn how to receive. Jesus said, “Good measure… will be poured into your lap” (NIV). When God gives back to you, He often does it through people. All kinds of people! So don’t let pride or prejudice stop you from receiving from others, because God wants to give them a harvest on the seeds they sow into your life. Don’t circumvent the harvest – yours or theirs. Never hesitate to give to a true servant of God. “Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20 NKJV). When God moves you to sow a seed, it’s because He has a harvest for you to reap. Don’t miss it!
Soul food: Zech 12-14; Luke 23:26-34; Ps 52; Prov 24:32-34
2018-09-26
Matthew 16:18 KJV
You cannot sit on the side-lines, because God has called you to the front lines. Sometimes that means taking a stand for what is right. Jesus said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Note, gates are defensive measures. That means we have been called to attack the powers of hell. In 1517 a monk named Martin Luther picked a fight with the religious establishment. He challenged the status quo by attacking the selling of indulgences (licenses to sin). He posted the Ninety-Five Theses on the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany, and ignited the Protestant Reformation. Luther probably didn’t know that he was making history. But small acts of faith and courage have a domino effect. When we do what is right regardless of the circumstances or consequences, we set the table for God to turn the tables. At the Diet of Worms in 1521, Luther was summoned by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and put on trial for his beliefs. Instead of recanting, Luther mustered the moral courage to take a stand: “My conscience is taken captive by God’s Word, I cannot and will not recant anything. For to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.” So, who do you need to stand up for? The homeless? The fatherless? The voiceless? Don’t let the problem overwhelm you. Don’t let what you cannot do, keep you from doing what you can.
Soul food: Zech 5-8; Luke 23:1-12; Ps 39; Prov 24:26-28
2018-09-03
Psalm 83:18 KJV
The Israelites called God Jehovah, a name they regarded as incommunicable and inexplicable. The name means the “self-existing One,” and the “I Am.” He was the Creator of all things; an awesome and unknowable supreme being. But God desired to be known in a personal way. So He added to the name Jehovah five revealing titles – word-portraits of Himself to help us better understand and relate to Him. Israel discovered these word-portraits during times of crisis and distress, and they will bless and encourage you during your times of need. Let’s look at each. Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord will see, the Lord will provide. Abraham was about to sacrifice his son when God provided a lamb for the offering in Isaac’s place. In response, Abraham called Him Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who sees and provides. And it doesn’t just apply to Abraham. The New Testament says the Lord sees your needs and provides answers. Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father knoweth…ye have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:32 KJV). Like a caring, alert, observant parent who anticipates his child’s every need, God provides well-timed solutions. Before a child’s shoes wear out a good father provides new ones; his child doesn’t need to beg, bargain, and plead. “Then why don’t I have what I want?” you ask. Because God knows what you really need – you don’t! What you see as “needs” might simply be “wants” in God’s eyes. Remember – Jehovah-Jireh sees your needs and will provide them!
Soul food: Josh 5:1-8:29; Luke 19:11-27; Ps 103:1-12; Prov 22:27-29
2018-06-17
2 Petrus 3:18 NLV
Samuel en Susanna Wesley (John Wesley se ouers), was een aand by die aanddiens toe Susanna nie ‘amen’ op haar man se gebed vir Willem van Oranje, wat toe Engeland se koning was, sê nie. Toe hy haar vra hoekom nie, het sy verduidelik dat haar simpatie by die afgesette James die Tweede gelê het. Sy skryf oor wat volgende gebeur het: ‘Hy het onmiddellik gekniel en goddelike wraak op homself en sy nageslag gesweer as hy my ooit weer sou aanraak voor ek nie vir God en sy eie vergifnis gesmeek het nie.’ Hierdie omstandighede het ses maande geduur en is slegs verbreek toe ‘n tragiese brand twee-derdes van hulle huis vernietig het. Mense wat aan hulle wrokke vashou, nie weet hoe om teleurstelling met grasie te hanteer nie, wat ‘n lang geheue het, wat nie kan jammer sê nie en wat kerm en kla en dikmond is, trek altyd aan die kortste ent. Om goed te kan verloor is ‘n kuns wat al die genade wat ons kan bymekaar kan skraap, verg. Dit beteken om die nederigheid te hê om die realiteit sonder verskonings in die gesig te staar, maar met die selfvertroue om nie toe te laat dat verlies ons identiteit definieer of ons minderwaardig laat voel nie. Dit beteken geen verskonings, geen blaam, geen self-bejammering en ook geen self-veroordeling nie. Dit beteken dat jy die onderskeid kan tref tussen wanneer om op te gee en wanneer om te volhard. Dit beteken om ander mense te kan geluk wens. Dit beteken om ‘n uitkoms wat ons nie kan verander nie, te laat gaan, maar om vas te hou aan die wil om voluit en goed te lewe en om God met alles wat ons doen, te eer.
Sielskos: Matt 5:4; Jes 51:1-16; Ps 30; 2 Kor 1:3-7
2018-06-15
Filippense 3:20 NLV
Elke jaar kry die Stille Oseaan-salm, wat vyf tot ses jaar in die oseaan geleef het, skielik die drang om na die water van hul geboorte-rivier terug te keer. Met vissermanne, bere en enorme hidro-elektriese damme wat in hulle pad staan, veg hulle hul weg stroom-op om by hulle tuiste uit te kom. Wetenskaplikes weet nie hoe die salm dit regkry om na die presiese rivier waar hulle gebore is, terug te keer nie. Sommige wetenskaplikes dink hulle doen dit omdat hulle die vars water van hulle rivier kan proe of ruik. Ander wetenskaplikes dink dat hulle dalk die sterre gebruik om te navigeer. Ongeag hoe hulle dit doen, weet ons dat hulle nie kaarte en kompasse gebruik nie; hulle reis is instinktief. Hulle het ‘n verlange na ‘n spesifieke rivier en hulle sal nie rus totdat hulle die rivier vind nie. Dis presies hoe dit met ons is. God het ons vir die hemel geskep en niks in ons lewe sal daardie verlange stil nie (sien Prediker 3:11). Net soos daardie salm, is ons in hierdie wêreld, maar nie van hierdie wêreld nie. Ja, ons vind vreugde daarin om die lewenstaak wat God vir ons gegee het te vervul, maar dit is niks teenoor die vreugde wat in die hemel vir ons wag nie. Paulus stel dit so: ‘Ons daarteenoor het ons burgerskap in die hemel. Van dáár verwag ons ook die Here Jesus Christus as Redder. Hy sal ons vernederde liggame verander in liggame met goddelike heerlikheid, soos sy eie. Hiervoor sal Hy dieselfde krag gebruik as dié waarmee Hy alle dinge onder sy gesag bring’ (Filippense 3:20-21 NLV). Soos jou geredde geliefdes die aarde verlaat om hemel toe te gaan, sal jou verlange om by hulle aan te sluit, net groter word.
Sielskos: Eseg 31-33; Mark 16:1-20; Ps 80:1-11; Spr 15:11-14
