2018-05-01
1 Kronieke 4:10 ABA
In die boek 1 Kronieke vertel die Bybel ons van ‘n man genaamd Jabes. Die eerste nege hoofstukke bestaan uit geslagsregisters met meer as seshonderd name. Uit al daardie name, sonder God een man vir spesiale erkenning uit – ‘n man genaamd Jabes. Daar is net twee verse in die hele Bybel oor hierdie man, en tog word hy bo seshonderd ander mense genoem. Hoekom het God hom uitgesonder? Wat het Jabes gedoen dat sy naam vir meer as vierduisend jaar behoue gebly het? Wat het hom bogemiddeld gemaak? Kom ons kyk vir die volgende paar dae wat ons van hom kan leer. ‘Jabes was meer geëerd as sy broers…’ (vers 9 NLV). Wat het hom uitgesonder? Hy het dit gewaag om God vir groot dinge te vra: ‘Jabes het tot die God van Israel gebid en gesê: ‘Ek bid dat U my baie sal seën en dat U baie grond vir my sal gee. Ek bid dat U my sal beskerm, sodat dit nie sleg sal gaan met my nie en sodat ek nie sal seerkry nie.’ God het alles laat gebeur wat Jabes gevra het’ (vers 10 ABA). God wil hê dat jy Hom vir groot dinge moet vra! Hy het vir Jeremia gesê, ‘Vra my, en Ek sal jou ‘n antwoord gee. Ek sal jou van ongelooflike dinge vertel…’ (Jeremia 33:3 NLV). Paulus sê vir ons dat God ‘…mag het om deur die krag wat in ons werk, oneindig meer te doen as wat ons vra of dink om te vra’ (Efesiërs 3:20 NLV). Jy kan nie meer vra of groter droom as wat God kan gee nie, vra dus vir Hom wat jy wil hê – en glo dat Hy dit vir jou sal gee!
Sielskos: Hand 27-28; Mark 5:31-43; Ps 94:12-23; Spr 11:16-18
2018-04-30
Deuteronomy 28:8 NKJV
The word vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, which means “spiritual calling.” Every vocation, regardless of what it is, is a calling from God. And once you start to see your job in that light, you’ll find it easier to believe God wants to bless you on the job. So with that in mind you need to: (1) Pursue work compatible with your gifts. “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised” (1 Peter 4:11 NIV). (2) Learn everything possible about your job. “Let the wise listen and add to their learning” (Proverbs 1:5 NIV). (3) Recognize God as your true employer. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does” (Ephesians 6:7-8 NIV). (4) See work as God’s gift, not punishment. “When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:19 NIV). (5) Use criticism to your advantage. In fact, make it work for you. Ask for suggestions and correction. “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured” (Proverbs 13:18 KJV). (6) Do more than what’s expected. “Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him [two]” (Matthew 5:41 KJV). (7) See the Lord as your work partner. Stay Christ-conscious throughout the day as you perform your duties, and “the Lord shall command blessing on you…and in all to which you set your hand.”
Soul food: Acts 24-26; Mark 5:21-30; Ps 94:1-11; Prov 11:14-15
2018-04-20
Deuteronomy 29:29 NKJV
The Bible says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV). That Scripture is easy to quote but hard to live by, especially when tragedy and loss touch our lives and we don’t understand why. There are times when we pray and God gives us answers, and there are times when we pray and He gives us peace. “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT). In times of pain and loss, here are two Scriptures you can stand on: (1) “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us.” When it comes to understanding things – we have our territory and God has His. And ours is limited to what He decides to reveal to us. Paul, who wrote half the New Testament by divine revelation, acknowledged, “We know in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9). At best, we will always be limited in our understanding. (2) “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NKJV). Sometimes God explains things to us, and other times He stamps them “Will explain later.” So when you’re tempted to throw up your hands in despair and say, “Who knows?” remind yourself, “God knows!” And today remind yourself that He’s working things out for your good and His glory.
Soul food: Acts 8-9; Mark 3:28-35; Ps 130; Prov 10:24-26
Deuteronomium 29:29 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘Vertrou op die Here met alles wat jy het. Moenie staatmaak op jou eie insigte nie’ (Spreuke 3:5 NLV). Hierdie Skrifgedeelte is maklik om aan te haal, maar moeilik om volgens te lewe, veral wanneer ons lewens deur tragedie aangeraak word en ons nie die redes daaragter verstaan nie. Daar is tye wat ons bid en God vir ons antwoorde gee en daar is tye wat ons bid en Hy vir ons vrede gee. ‘…Vra alles wat julle nodig het van God, terwyl julle Hom ook dank vir alles wat Hy doen. As julle so bid, sal julle God se vrede beleef. Hierdie vrede is wonderliker as wat ‘n mens ooit kan dink. Omdat julle aan Christus behoort, sal die vrede van God julle harte en gedagtes soos ‘n veiligheidswag oppas’ (Filippense 4:6-7 NLV). In tye van pyn en verlies, is daar twee Skrifgedeeltes waarop jy kan staan: 1) ‘Die geheime dinge is vir die Here ons God. Die dinge wat geopenbaar is, vir ons en ons nageslag…’ Wanneer dit by die verstaan van dinge kom, het ons ons gebied en God het syne. Ons s’n is beperk tot wat Hy besluit Hy aan ons wil openbaar. Paulus, wat die helfte van die Nuwe Testament deur goddelike openbaring geskryf het, erken, ‘Ons ken maar net ten dele…’ (1 Korintiërs 13:9 NLV). 2) ‘En ons weet dat God alles ten goede laat saamwerk vir hulle wat Hom liefhet, hulle wat geroep is volgens sy doel vir hulle lewe’ (Romeine 8:28 NLV). Wanneer jy dus in die versoeking kom om jou hande in wanhoop op te gooi en te sê, ‘Wie weet?’ herinner jouself, ‘God weet!’ Herinner jouself vandag daaraan dat Hy dinge ten goede vir jou en vir sy heerlikheid laat uitwerk.
Sielskos: Hand 8-9; Mark 3:28-35; Ps 130; Spr 10:24-26
2018-04-19
Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV
Any time you attempt something for the first time, or something you’ve failed at before, or something you think is too big for you, you’ll experience both fear and faith. They go together. One will win out over the other, but they never go away. Because Israel had no idea what challenges awaited them or what life would be like in the Promised Land, God told them, “Be strong and of good courage…for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” And today that’s His promise to you too! It’s fear of failure that stops us most of the time. Yet as you look back, you realize that most times failure doesn’t do permanent damage at all; you actually grow through it. Dr. Joan Borysenko writes: “When I was admitted to Harvard, I was sure there had been a computer error and I’d be exposed as a fraud. A lawyer friend of mine stops short of terror every time she has to give a final argument before a jury. Even when you’re an expert, fear doesn’t necessarily go away. It’s accepting fear as part of the journey instead of running from it, that helps you to conquer it.” To go anywhere, you must launch out from somewhere, or you’ll get nowhere. American essayist Hamilton Wright Mabie said, “The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had the means, time, influence, and educational advantages, but what he will do with the things he has.” So confront your fear, step out in faith, and believe God for success.
Soul food: Acts 6-7; Mark 3:20-27; Ps 75; Prov 10:22-23
