2017-11-22
Proverbs 3:13 CEV
The key to success lies in doing the right thing at the right time. Theologian Tryon Edwards said, “Have a time and place for everything, and do everything in its time and place…you’ll not only accomplish more, but have far more leisure than those who are always hurrying.” If you’re tired of living with constant stress, Theology professor Dr. Howard Hendricks draws our attention to four major sources: (1) Saying yes to far too many things. Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer once said, “Much of our spiritual activity is little more than a cheap aesthetic to deaden the pain of an empty life.” All our “going and doing” fails to address our core emptiness. (2) Not stopping to recharge our batteries. We dutifully pull out our day planner and fill the spaces between activities. But let’s not fool ourselves; avoiding overlapping activities isn’t planning. As a result, we’re a stressed-out, short-tempered crowd commuting between poorly planned activities that add little to our spiritual well-being. (3) Failure to enjoy what we accomplish. “A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul” (Proverbs 13:19 NKJV). With always too much to do, we dash off to the next obligation, often without finishing the previous one or taking time to stand back and savour a job well done. No wonder we worry that our existence seems meaningless. (4) Owing more than we can repay. Next time you’re faced with a credit purchase – wait! Don’t necessarily say no. Just present your so-called “need” to God and see what He says about it. If you’re serious about developing your spiritual life, use your common sense and put these four principles to work.
Soul food: Gen 1-3; John 11:1-16; Ps 102:18-28; Prov 30:24-28
2017-11-21
1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
Pastor and author John MacArthur says: “Jesus’ exposition of the law is a devastating blow against the lie that image is everything. Secret sin is especially abhorrent because: (1) God sees the heart. In fact, if we realized He’s the only audience we’d be less inclined to write it off. It’s folly to mitigate sin by keeping it private…it’s double-folly to think you’re better than others because you sin privately…and it’s the height of folly to conceal it. ‘He who covers his sins will not prosper’ (Proverbs 28:13 NKJV). (2) Sinful thoughts originate from the same source as sinful deeds. When Jesus said hatred carries the same guilt as murder, and that lust is the essence of adultery, He wasn’t saying there’s no difference in degree…He was saying that a lustful person has no right to feel superior to a fornicator. The fact that somebody thinks such thoughts proves they’re capable of immoral acts, and someone who hates his brother already has murder lurking in his heart. (3) Hypocrisy compounds hidden sin. Why? Because it means covering it up. Jesus called hypocrisy ‘the leaven of the Pharisees’ (Luke 12:1) because it compounds itself like leaven. It sears your conscience and paves the way for other character-damaging sins…When somebody tries to tell you appearances are everything – don’t buy it! Your secret life is a litmus test of your character: ‘As he thinks within himself, so he is’ (Proverbs 23:7 NAS). If you want to know who you really are, look at your private life. Then gaze into the mirror of God’s Word and let Him disclose and correct the thoughts and intents of your heart.”
Soul food: Ecc 10-12; John 10:34-42; Ps 102:12-17; Prov 30:21-23
1 Samuel 16:7 NLV
Die pastoor en skrywer John MacArthur sê: ‘Jesus se uitleg van die wet is ‘n verwoestende slag vir die leuen dat ‘n mens se beeld alles is. Geheime sondes is veral afskuwelik omdat: 1) God die hart sien. As ons besef dat Hy die enigste toeskouer daarvan is, sal ons minder geneig wees om dit geheim te hou. Dis dwaas om te dink dat jy sonde ongedaan kan maak deur dit privaat te hou. Dis veral dwaas om te dink dat jy beter as ander mense is omdat jy privaat sondig. Dit is die dwaasste om jou sondes weg te steek. ‘Wie sy oortredings verswyg, sal nie voorspoedig wees nie…’ (Spreuke 28:13 NLV). 2) Sondige gedagtes uit dieselfde plek as sondige dade ontstaan. Toe Jesus gesê het dat haat dieselfde gewig as moord dra en dat begeerte die kern van owerspel is, het Hy bedoel dat daar geen verskil in die mate van sonde is nie – dus het ‘n persoon wat begeer geen reg om verhewe bo die persoon wat owerspel pleeg, te voel nie. Die feit dat iemand sulke gedagtes het bewys dat hy of sy in staat is om immorele dade te pleeg en iemand wat sy broer haat, het reeds moord wat in sy hart skuil. 3) Skynheiligheid weggesteekte sonde vererger. Skynheiligheid brand jou gewete en stel die pad oop vir ander sondes wat jou karakter verniel. Wanneer iemand vir jou probeer vertel dat voorkoms alles is, moet dit nie glo nie. Jou geheime lewe is ‘n toets vir jou karakter. As jy wil weet wie jy regtig is, kyk na jou private lewe. Kyk dan in die spieël van God se Woord en laat Hom toe om die gedagtes en bedoelinge van jou hart te openbaar en te korrigeer.’
Sielskos: Pred 10-12; Joh 10:34-42; Ps 102:12-17; Spr 30:21-23
2017-11-20
Psalm 32:5 NLV
Julie Ann Barnhill skryf: ‘As jy moeg is daarvoor om voor te gee dat alles goedgaan, is dit tyd om op te tree. Vir te lank het veral Christenvroue geglo dat hulle die enigstes is wat met skandelike kwessies, pynlike verwyte en geraamtes in die kas sukkel. Wanneer ons teenoor God, onsself en ander oopmaak, ervaar ons verfrissende vryheid en vrede. ‘n Vrou het aan my geskryf: ‘Ek het ‘n aborsie ondergaan toe ek agtien was. Niemand weet daarvan nie. Vir jare lank het ek die datum in my kalender gemerk en oor die kind waarvan niemand geweet het nie en oor die vrou wat die skuld alleen moes dra, gerou. Nou weet ek dat ek nie alleen is nie en vir die eerste keer in my lewe glo ek werklik dat God groter as my geheim is – en dat Hy gewillig is om my te vergewe.’ Geheime het net mag wanneer hulle weggesteek is. Wanneer hulle in die lig van God se liefde openbaar word, verloor hulle hulle mag. Daar is egter sekere dinge wat jy moet oorweeg voordat jy teenoor iemand anders oopmaak: 1) As daardie persoon dinge wat ander vertroulik met hulle gedeel het herhaal, raai wie gaan volgende bespreek word? 2) Wees versigtig vir iemand wat geneig is om ongevraagde raad te gee en dan aanstoot te neem wanneer dit geïgnoreer word. 3) Bly weg van iemand wat jou probeer ‘regmaak’ en vir jou sê om jou nie oor jou geheime te bekommer nie. Kyk liewer uit vir iemand wat: a) verstandig is en weet wanneer om terug te tree en wanneer om vorentoe te beweeg wanneer jy ontsteld is; b) wat openlik oor hulle eie stryd praat; c) wat gou is om te luister en stadig is om te praat; d) wat hulle woord en raad met Skriftuurlik waarhede onderskryf.’
Sielskos: Pred 7-9; Joh 10:22-33; Ps 102:1-11; Spr 30:18-20
2017-11-19
Isaiah 58:12 TM
Lie number two: God won’t use you now. Julie Ann Barnhill continues: “Women long to have their lives count for something more eternal than their jean size, or updated qualifications on a résumé. Yet many times we judge ourselves by these superficial standards. Think of all the times you’ve gazed in a mirror and despised the woman staring back at you; times you’ve bought into the lie that because of your failures God can’t use you. I’m living proof that He can and does use us despite our past mistakes. David said when ‘I confessed my sins…you forgave my guilt’ (Psalm 32:5 NCV). The worst sins in Scripture can never drive a wedge between you and Christ’s love, if you confess them and seek forgiveness. God’s truths can dispel the Enemy’s deceit. Take hold of this promise: ‘I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places…You’ll use the old rubble…to…rebuild the foundations” (Isaiah 58:11-12 TM). Lie number three: When people find out what you’ve done, they’ll never love, understand, or forgive you. Some you considered friends may leave…It happened to me…Friends dropped me when they learned the depth of my messes. And I once dropped a friend after learning some uncomfortable details about her life. Friends come and go, but a true friend sticks by you like family (See Proverbs 17:17). I wasn’t faithful to my friend, but Jesus always is. Time and again He promised never to leave us. Even ‘if we give up on him, he does not give up – for there’s no way he can be false to himself” (2 Timothy 2:13 TM).
Soul food: Deut 9:13-29; Dan 1:3-21; Luke 4:1-13
