2018-02-23
Hebreërs 11:2 DB
Die Bybel sê: ‘…Geloof of vertroue in God beteken om nie een oomblik te twyfel dat Hy sy beloftes sal hou en om daarna uit te sien nie. Ons kan dit wel nie nou al sien nie, maar ons weet vir seker dat dit sal gebeur. Die Skrif praat met groot lof oor mense van die ou tyd wat so op God vertrou het’ (verse 1-2 DB). Die helde van geloof wat in Hebreërs hoofstuk 11 gelys word was ver van perfek af. Noag het God geglo, die ark gebou en sy familie gered. Hy het egter dronk geword toe hy uit die ark gekom het. Abraham was bekend as ‘God se vriend,’ en tog het hy gejok om homself te red en sy vrou se lewe in gevaar gestel. Toe God vir Sara sê dat sy op die ouderdom van negentig ‘n kind sou kry, het sy gelag. Josef was ‘n slaaf met ‘n kriminele rekord wat op die ou einde tweede in bevel van Egipte was. Dan is daar Ragab die prostituut – ons sou haar nie toegelaat het om in die kerkkoor te sing nie – en tog het God haar ‘n vrou met groot geloof genoem. Wat van Jakob, wat sy broer geflous het en sy skoonpa in besigheid bedrieg het om homself te verryk? Sou jy met hom besigheid doen? Koning Dawid se ontug het tot moord en nasionale skandaal gelei. Selfs Gideon en Samuel, twee geestelike reuse, het kinders grootgemaak wat geestelik die pad byster geraak het. Elkeen van hierdie mense het gestruikel, die bal laat val en deur tye van mislukking gegaan. Hulle enigste aanspraak op roem is dat hulle God geglo het en dat Hy hulle geloof geëer het – Hy sal dieselfde vir jou doen elke keer wat jy jou vertroue in Hom plaas.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 6-7; Matt 17:1-13; Ps 36; Spr 5:21-23
Hebrews 11:2 TM
The Bible says: “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd” (vv. 1-2 TM). The heroes of faith listed in Hebrews chapter eleven were far from perfect. Noah believed God, built the ark, and saved his family. But when he came out of the ark he got drunk. Abraham was known as a “friend of God,” yet he lied to save his own neck and ended up compromising his wife’s safety. When God told Sarah she’d give birth to a child at ninety years old, she laughed – and you’d probably have done the same. And how about Joseph? He was a slave with a prison record who ended up second in command when it came to ruling Egypt. Then there’s Rahab the harlot; we wouldn’t let her sing in the church choir, yet God listed her as a woman of great faith. And how about Jacob, who duped his brother and deceived his father-in-law in business in order to enrich himself? Would you do business with him? Then there was King David, whose womanizing led to murder and national scandal. Even Gideon and Samuel, two spiritual giants, raised children who went astray spiritually. Every one of these people was as human as you are. They faltered, fumbled the ball, and went through times of failure. Their only claim to fame is they believed God and He honored their faith – and He will do the same for you each time you put your trust in Him.
Soul food: 1 Kings 6-7; Matt 17:1-13; Ps 36; Prov 5:21-23
2018-02-22
Filippense 4:16 NLV
Charles Swindoll vertel die verhaal van die boom wat gee: ‘Toe die seun jonk was het hy aan die boom se takke geswaai, haar appels geëet en in haar skaduwee geslaap. Soos hy egter groter geword het het hy minder en minder tyd met die boom spandeer. ‘Kom, kom ons speel,’ het die boom gesê. Die jong man was egter net in geld geïnteresseerd. ‘Neem dan al my appels en verkoop hulle,’ het die boom gesê. Die man het dit gedoen en die boom was bly. Hy het vir lank nie teruggekeer nie, maar die boom het geglimlag toe hy weer een dag daar verby loop. ‘Kom, kom ons speel!’ Maar die man, ouer en moeg vir die wêreld, wou net van alles af wegkom. ‘Kap my af, maak ‘n boot daarvan en dan kan jy wegseil,’ het die boom gesê. Die man het dit gedoen en die boom was gelukkig. Baie seisoene het verby gegaan – en die boom het gewag. Uiteindelik het die man terug gekeer, te oud om te speel, rykdom na te jaag of die oseane te deurkruis. ‘Ek het ‘n heel goeie stomp oor. Sit hier en rus,’ het die boom gesê. Die man het dit gedoen en die boom was bly.’ Swindoll vertel verder: ‘Ek het in die vuur gestaar en teruggekyk op my lewe. Ek het met beide die boom en die seun geïdentifiseer – en dit het seergemaak. Hoeveel bome wat gee was daar in my lewe? Hoeveel mense het hulleself gegee sodat ek kan groei, my doelwitte kan bereik en vervulling en bevrediging kan kry? Dankie, Here, vir elkeen van hulle. Ek was dankbaar dat ek die tyd geneem het om oor my lewe te reflekteer.’ Paulus het diegene onthou wat hom gehelp het – en jy moet ook.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 3-5; Matt 16:13-28; Ps 33:13-22; Spr 5:15-20
Philippians 4:16 NLT
Charles Swindoll tells the story of the giving tree: “When the boy was young he swung from the tree’s branches, ate her apples, and slept in her shade…But as he grew up he spent less and less time with the tree. ‘Come on, let’s play,’ said the tree. But the young man was only interested in money. ‘Then take all my apples and sell them,’ said the tree. The man did, and the tree was happy. He didn’t return for a long time, but the tree smiled when he passed by one day. ‘Come on, let’s play!’ But the man, older and tired of the world, wanted to get away from it all. ‘Cut me down. Take my trunk, make a boat, then you can sail away,’ said the tree. The man did, and the tree was happy. Many seasons passed – and the tree waited. Finally the man returned, too old to play, or pursue riches, or sail the seas. ‘I have a pretty good stump left. Sit down here and rest,’ said the tree. The man did, and the tree was happy.” Swindoll continues: “I stared into the fire, reviewing my life as I grew older with the tree and the boy. I identified with both – and it hurt. How many giving trees have there been? How many people have given themselves so I might grow, accomplish my goals, and find wholeness and satisfaction? Thank you, Lord, for each one. That night I crawled into bed. I had wept, now I was smiling. ‘Good night, Lord.’ I was a humble man. Thankful I’d taken time to reflect.” Paul remembered those who helped him – and so should you.
Soul food: 1 Kings 3-5; Matt 16:13-28; Ps 33:13-22; Prov 5:15-20
2018-02-21
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land illustrates three different places you can choose to live: (1) The place of “not enough.” As slaves in Egypt they were forced to depend on Pharaoh for everything. And when you have to keep relying on anyone but God, you’re not truly free. Until you understand that God is your provider, you’ll live with a “not enough” mentality. Elijah was living by a stream in the middle of a famine, and ravens brought him meat each day. Then one day the ravens didn’t show up, and the brook dried up. Why? God dried up a temporary source to drive Elijah back to his true source. Understand this: Regardless of what or whom He uses – God is your source. He is called “Jehovah Jireh,” which means “the Lord will provide.” (2) The place of “just enough.” In the wilderness Israel had just enough manna for each day. It’s no fun struggling to just get by. But we appreciate what we have to struggle for, and we learn to trust God more. Plus, living through such seasons builds into us a tenacity to keep moving toward better things. (3) The place of “more than enough.” God’s plan for Israel was “a land in which you…will lack nothing” (Deuteronomy 8:9 NKJV). And His goal for you is abundance in every area of life (See 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV). Is that so you can hoard it? No, it’s so you can bless others and fulfill your assignment in life. So stand on this Scripture: “To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…be glory…forever.”
Soul food: 1 Kings 1-2; Matt 16:1-12; Ps 33:1-12; Prov 5:7-14
