2021-12-06
Acts 9:10 NIV
Maybe you think that because you haven’t been to Bible college or studied theology, God would never give you a vision. But that’s completely untrue. The Bible says this: ‘In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!.” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”…Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptised, and after taking some food, he regained his strength’ (Acts 9:10-12, 17-19 NIVUK).
Ananias was the right man, in the right place, at the right time, with the right attitude, and God used him to lead the apostle Paul to Christ. But what’s interesting is this: after that account, Ananias is never mentioned again in Scripture. He was an ordinary person who was willing to say yes to God, and this attitude meant that he played a key role in God’s plan. That single act of listening to God in that moment had an impact that was bigger than he could have imagined. And if God gave Ananias a vision and used him greatly – He’ll do the same for you. Keep listening and keep trusting.
Jos 22-24; John 16:19-33; Ps 147:1-11; Prov 29:1-5
2021-02-13
Matteus 19:4 NLV
‘n Fassinerende aanhaling uit ‘n 1995 uitgawe van die U.S. News & World Report lees as volg: ‘Navorsers stel voor dat amper alle moderne mans – 99 persent van hulle, sê een wetenskaplike – geneties nou verwant is of gene deel met een manlike voorsaat wat ‘Y-chomosoom Adam’ genoem word. Ons is besig om uit te vind dat mense baie, baie vlak genetiese wortels het wat na een onlangse voorsaat nagespeur kan word. Dit beteken dat daar ‘n oorsprong op ‘n spesifieke plek op die aarbol was en dat dit van daar af uitgesprei het.’
Verder weet ons dat die man die vrou nodig het om voort te plant, en andersom. Geeneen van die twee kan lewe sonder die ander een voortbring nie. Jesus het dit uitgewys deur te sê: ‘…die Skepper [het] die mens van die begin af man en vrou gemaak…’
Wie het dus volgens die evolusieteorie eerste gekom: die man of die vrou? Soos een skrywer opmerk: ‘As ‘n man sonder ‘n vrou begin bestaan het, hoe het die manlike van elke spesie sonder vrouens voortgeplant? Hoe is dit moontlik dat ‘n man en vrou elk spontaan begin bestaan het, maar tog komplekse, komplementêre voortplantingstelsels het? As elke geslag in staat was om sonder die ander een voort te plant, hoekom (en hoe) sou hulle voortplantingstelsels ontwikkel het wat beide geslagte benodig vir die spesie om te oorleef?’
Net omdat ‘n akademikus iets sê, maak dit dit nie waar nie! Christene moet begin antwoorde eis by diegene wat onbewese teorieë in die naam van hoër onderrig aanbied. Jesus het gesê dat ons die waarheid sal ken en dat die waarheid ons sal vrymaak (sien Johannes 8:32). Vry waarvan? Vry van foute!
Sielskos: Pred 1-4; Matt 14:13-21; Ps 145:14-21; Spr 4:23-24
2020-11-21
Mark 5:19 NKJV
Have you ever been somewhere so wonderful that you never wanted to leave? That’s how the man in Mark chapter 5 felt after Jesus healed him from a life of insanity. He wanted to travel with Jesus, listen to His teachings, witness His miracles, and enjoy His company. But Jesus told him to go home and tell His family what God had done for him. God doesn’t want you to live remote and distant from the rest of the world! The only way to keep what you have, is to give it away. After a spiritual mountaintop experience, you must take what you’ve received and share it with those in the valley.
The man in today’s reading had spent years living in a graveyard. He was cutting himself and raving incoherently. Now the crowd saw him “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind” (Luke 8:35 NKJV). And that’s still how it works. First Jesus clothes you, then He calls you. When you come to Him, you’re spiritually naked, so He wraps you in His righteousness.
Paul says, “Any man…in Christ…is a new creature: old things are passed away…all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). Whereas you were once “in Adam” where all die, now you’re “in Christ” where all are made alive spiritually (See 1 Corinthians 15:22).
Hymnist Edwin Mote wrote: “Clothed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.” But never forget that once you’re “clothed and in your right mind,” it’s your God-given mandate to go out and tell others what the Lord has done for you.
Soul food: 2 Chr 12-15; John 12:20-36; Ps 102:12-17; Prov 27:10-12
Markus 5:19 NLV
Was jy al ooit op so ‘n wonderlike plek dat jy nooit daarvan wou weggaan nie? Dis hoe die man in Markus hoofstuk 5 gevoel het nadat Jesus hom van ‘n lewe van waansinnigheid genees het. Hy wou saam met Jesus reis, na sy lesse luister, sy wonderwerke sien en sy geselskap geniet. Jesus het egter vir hom gesê om huis toe te gaan en sy familie te vertel wat God vir hom gedoen het. God wil nie hê dat jy verafgeleë en apart van die wêreld moet lewe nie! Die enigste manier om dit wat jy het te behou, is om dit weg te gee. Na ‘n geestelike bergtop ervaring, moet jy dit wat jy ontvang het neem en met die mense in die vallei deel.
Die man in vandag se teksvers het jare lank in die begrafplaas gewoon. Hy het homself gesny en onsamehangend geskree. Later het die mense hom: ‘…by Jesus se voete sien sit, geklee en by sy volle verstand…’ (Lukas 8:35 NLV). Dis hoe dit steeds werk. Eers klee Jesus jou, dan roep Hy jou. Wanneer jy na Hom toe kom, is jy geestelik naak, dus vou Hy jou in sy geregtigheid toe.
Paulus sê: ‘…iemand wat één is met Christus, is ‘n nuwe skepping. Die ou dinge is verby, kyk, die nuwe is hier!’ (2 Korintiërs 5:17 NLV). Waar jy eens ‘in Adam’ was waar almal sterf, is jy nou ‘in Christus’ waar almal geestelik lewend gemaak word (sien 1 Korintiërs 15:22). Die gesangeskrywer Edwin Mote het geskryf: ‘Clothed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.’
Moet egter nooit vergeet dat wanneer jy ‘geklee en by jou volle verstand is,’ dat dit jou Godgegewe mandaat is om uit te gaan en vir ander mense te vertel wat die Here vir jou gedoen het nie.
Sielskos: 2 Kro 12-15; Joh 12:20-36; Ps 102:12-17; Spr 27:10-12
2020-10-23
Matthew 7:2 NIV
Jesus said, ‘Do not judge…For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’ (vv. 1-2 NIV). We can easily fall into the habit of judging others, even though Jesus forbids it. Sometimes we might do it because we’re trying to be honest and point out someone else’s flaw or sin so that they can work on improving. There’s definitely a place for that, and the Bible does tell us to confront sins (take a look at James 5:19-20. But we have to do it in the right way, from a place of love, and with God’s help. If we become judgemental, we’re not only hurting someone, we’re also going against what God’s Word commands.
We also have to consider that the other person could already have repented, confessed their sin, and received God’s forgiveness. They might already be working through an issue with Him. If God’s already forgiven them and is helping them, there’s no need for us to keep bringing it up. We might also start to judge people because we feel insecure about ourselves in some way, so we look for others’ faults to make ourselves feel better.
But Jesus said, ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?’ (Matthew 7:3 NIV). Jesus also said, ‘They are blessed who show mercy to others, for God will show mercy to them’ (Matthew 5:7 NCV). God shows us grace and mercy despite our faults, so we should extend the same grace and mercy to others too.
Nahum 1-3; John 6:1-24; Ps 85; Prov 24:11-14
