2017-12-19
Acts 16:14 NLT
Some of us think that successful people are difficult to win to Christ because they don’t have the same needs as others. But they do. Everyone has an emptiness within them that only God can fill, and He wants to use you to fill it. Consider the story of Lydia. “One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth…As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. ‘If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my home.’ And she urged us until we agreed” (vv. 14-15 NLT). Not only did Lydia respond to the gospel, she opened her home so that others could come and hear it too. In many cases it’s easier to reach successful people with the gospel. Why? Because they know that to be successful you must be open to new ideas and concepts. And they understand that in order to enjoy continued success, you must stay open to change. Don’t let the fact that someone is not your social peer keep you from telling them about Jesus. Note the words, “As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart.” It’s your job to tell them, and it’s God’s job to open their heart! So sow the seed of His Word into their life when you have an opportunity, and believe that the “Lord of the harvest” will do the rest.
Soul food: Job 8-10; Luk 1:11-25; Ps 12; Ecc 9:10-12
2017-12-18
Romeine 8:35 NLV
Wanneer jy nie weet hoekom God jou in die eerste plek liefhet nie, is dit maklik om aan sy ewige liefde vir jou te twyfel. Jy wil weet hoe Hy oor jou voel as jy ongeskik optree, wanneer jy humeurig is, wanneer jy verkeerde gedagtes dink of wanneer jou tong skerp genoeg is om deur rots te sny. Jy vra, ‘Hoe voel Hy dan oor my?’ Wanneer slegte dinge gebeur – gee God dan om? Het Hy jou te midde van vrees lief? Is Hy lief vir jou wanneer jy in gevaar verkeer? Met ander woorde, ‘Sal Hy ooit ophou om vir my lief te wees?’ Dis ‘n groot vraag. Miskien het jy hierdie week die lyn oorgesteek. Of miskien het jy so baie gedrink dat jy skaars kon loop. Of jy was besig met iets wat jy glad nie moes doen nie. Of miskien het jy God gevloek omdat jy langs die oop graf van ‘n geliefde moes staan wat jy nie gereed was om te verloor nie. Het jy te ver weggedryf? Het jy te lank gewag? Het jy te ver geval? Was jy te onseker? Kan iets jou van God se liefde skei? Nee, absoluut nie. Paulus verseker ons: ‘Een ding weet ek vas en seker: Niks kan ons ooit van Christus se liefde skei nie. Nie die dood of lewe of engele of duiwelse magte nie; nie ons vrees vir vandag of ons kommer oor môre nie; ook nie bo-aardse magte nie. Ja, hoegenaamd niks daarbo of onder in die dieptes of elders in die skepping sal ons ooit kan skei van die liefde wat God in Christus Jesus ons Here vir ons het nie’ (verse 38-39 NLV).
Sielskos: Job 5-7; Luk 1:1-10; Ps 67; Pred 7:19-22
Romans 8:35 NLT
Paul asked the great question: “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?” When you don’t know why God loves you in the first place, it’s easy to doubt His love at times. You want to know how He feels about you when you act like a jerk, when you snap at anything that moves, when your thoughts are gutter-level, and when your tongue is sharp enough to slice a rock. You ask, “How does He feel about me then?” And what about when bad things happen – does God care then? Does He love you in the midst of fear? Is He with you when danger lurks? In other words, “Will He ever stop loving me?” That’s the great question, isn’t it? Perhaps you crossed the line this week. Or you started drinking and kept at it until you couldn’t walk. Or your business took you where you’d no business being. Or you cursed God for making you stand at the grave of a loved one you weren’t ready to give up. Did you drift too far? Did you wait too long? Did you slip too much? Were you too uncertain? “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?” No, absolutely not. Paul reassures us: “I am convinced that…Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power…above or…below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God…in Christ Jesus our Lord (vv. 38, 39 NLT).
Soul food: Job 5-7; Luk 1:1-10; Ps 67; Ecc 7:19-22
2017-12-17
1 Timoteus 1:2 NLV
Meeste van die tyd weet ons nie waar deur ander mense gaan of watse probleme hulle het nie. As jy dus besluit om vir hulle te bid, volg Paulus se voorbeeld, waar hy vir God gevra het om vir Timoteus die volgende drie dinge te gee: 1) Onverdiende goedheid. Dit beteken God se genade wat jou die vermoë sal gee om dit te kan hanteer wat ook al oor jou pad kom. Hier is ‘n wonderlike Bybelse belofte waarop jy kan staan in moeilike tye: ‘In sy onverdiende goedheid het God julle geroep om in Christus deel te hê aan sy ewige heerlikheid. Nadat julle vir ‘n kort tydjie swaargekry het, sal Hy julle self weer herstel…’ (1 Petrus 5:10 NLV). 2) Ontferming. ‘n Groot uitgewersmaatskappy het ‘n masjien gehad wat outomaties aan mense kennisgewings gestuur het om hulle daaraan te herinner dat dit tyd was om weer hulle intekening te hernu. Een dag het iets verkeerd gegaan en ‘n boer het 9 734 kennisgewings gekry. Hy het na die naaste poskantoor gery, sy tjek gepos en geskryf, ‘Stuur vir my die tydskrif. Ek gee op!’ Dis hoe God werk. Hy hou aan om vir ons kennisgewings te stuur. ‘…Hy hou nooit op om vir ons om te gee nie. Sy liefde het geen einde nie. Op u ontferming kan ‘n mens altyd vertrou. Dit is elke oggend nuut’ (Klaagliedere 3:22-23 NLV). 3) Vrede. Die vrede van God kan ons in die ergste omstandighede dra. God se 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 4:7 NLV). Wanneer jy dus nie seker is hoe om vir iemand te bid nie, vra God om vir hulle sy onverdiende goedheid, ontferming en vrede te gee.
Sielskos: Lev 27:30-33; Num 31:48-54; 1 Kor 16:1-3
1 Timothy 1:2 NLT
Let’s face it; much of the time we don’t know what problems people are dealing with or what they’re going through. So when you decide to pray for them, follow Paul’s example, in which he asked God to give Timothy these three things: (1) Grace. In the Bible, the word grace implies two things: first, God’s unmerited favour; second, “all of God’s ability you’ll ever need to handle whatever you are facing.” Here’s a great Bible promise you should stand on in times of difficulty: “God, who gives all grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong…support you and keep you from falling” (1 Peter 5:10 NCV). (2) Mercy. A large publishing house had a machine that automatically mailed reminders to its readers when their subscriptions had expired. One day it malfunctioned and a rancher in a remote Colorado town received 9,734 notices. So he drove for miles to the nearest post office, mailed his check, and wrote, “Send me the magazine. I give up!” That’s how it is with God; He keeps sending us notices. “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV). (3) Peace. The peace God gives can sustain us through the worst of circumstances. And it’s different from the peace the world offers. At best, the world offers temporary relief. But “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds” (Philippians 4:7 NIV). So when you’re not sure how to pray for someone, ask God to give them His grace, His mercy, and His peace.
Soul food: Lev 27:30-33; Num 31:48-54; 1 Cor 16:1-3
