2018-02-08
Acts 1:8 NIV
A witness is someone who sees and experiences an event, then testifies to it in court in a way that convinces others. And that’s what you have been called to do! You say, “But I don’t feel qualified.” God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. And don’t let Satan convince you otherwise, because he will try. He will tell you God has an IQ requirement, or an entry fee; that He employs only specialists, experts, and high-powered personalities. No, Jesus said to His disciples, “You will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” You uneducated and simple folk. You temperamental net casters and tax collectors. “You will be my witnesses.” The one thing the disciples had going for them was their willingness to take a step when Jesus said, “Follow me.” So if you’re more plumber than executive, or more blue jeans than blue blood, you’re qualified! “Few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27 NLT). So pray: “Lord, You’ve called me into Your Kingdom to serve You in this specific place, at this specific time, and for this specific purpose. Despite my ordinariness I belong to You – and You are anything but ordinary! Today help me to pour out Your grace and compassion upon others, that they too may experience the richness of Your love.”
Soul food: Num 27-29; Matt 13:10-23; Ps 67; Prov 4:1-2
Handelinge 1:8 ABA
‘n Getuie is iemand wat ‘n gebeurtenis sien en ervaar, en wat dan in ‘n hof daaroor getuig. Dis wat jy geroep is om te doen! Jy sê, ‘Maar ek voel nie gekwalifiseerd daarvoor nie!’ God roep nie die gekwalifiseerdes nie, Hy kwalifiseer die geroeptes. Moenie dat Satan jou anders oortuig nie, want hy sal probeer om dit te doen. Hy sal jou vertel dat God ‘n sekere IK of ‘n ingangsfooi vereis; dat Hy net spesialiste, kundiges of kragtige persoonlikhede gebruik. Nee, Jesus het vir sy dissipels gesê, ‘…Dan sal julle my getuies wees… tot by die einde van die wêreld.’ Julle onopgeleide en eenvoudige mense. Julle temperamentele vissermanne en tollenaars. ‘…Dan sal julle my getuies wees…’ Die een ding waarmee die dissipels goed was, was hulle gewilligheid om ‘n tree te neem wanneer Jesus ‘Volg My,’ gesê het. As jy dus meer loodgieter as direkteur is, of meer blou denim as blou bloed, het jy die nodige kwalifikasies! ‘…Gemeet aan menslike standaarde was daar maar min intellektueles onder julle, nie baie magtiges nie, nie baie uit vooraanstaande families nie. Nietemin het God doelbewus dit wat vir die wêreld na dommigheid gelyk het, uitgekies om die slim mense skaam te maak en dit wat vir die wêreld na totale swakheid gelyk het, het Hy uitgekies om die magtiges skaam te laat kry’ (1 Korintiërs 1:26-27 NLV). Bid dus: ‘Here, U het my in u Koninkryk ingeroep om U in hierdie spesifieke plek, op hierdie spesifieke tyd en vir hierdie spesifieke doel te dien. Ten spyte van my eenvoud behoort ek aan U – en U is alles behalwe eenvoudig! Help my vandag om u genade en welwillendheid op ander mense uit te giet, sodat hulle ook die rykdom van u liefde mag ervaar.’
Sielskos: Num 27-29; Matt 13:10-23; Ps 67; Spr 4:1-2
2018-02-07
1 Samuel 14:6 NLV
Gedurende die vroeë dae van Saul se koningskap, het die Filistyne die westelike grens van Israel beheer en is die grenslyne by die pas genaamd Mikmas getrek. Saul was tevrede daarmee om op die kantlyn te bly sit, maar Jonatan wou in die voorste linie wees. ‘…Kom ons gaan oorkant toe na die Filistyne se wagpos…’ (vers 1 NLV). Dit was net Jonatan en sy wapendraer, dus het hulle kanse nie goed gelyk nie. Wanneer jy egter aksie neem wat deur God se glorie gemotiveer word, beweeg dit die hart en hand van God. Dit benodig ‘n tree in geloof. Dit is dikwels die langste, moeilikste en skrikwekkendste tree wat jy ooit sal neem. Gewoonlik wanneer Israel se konings ‘n stryd betree het, was dit omdat hulle ‘n woord van die Here ontvang het wat hulle oorwinning verseker het. Jonatan het nie so ‘n woord ontvang nie. Hy het eenvoudig gesê, ‘…Dalk help die Here ons…’ Die meeste mense tree uit die teenoorgestelde sienswyse op: ‘Miskien help die Here ons nie.’ Hulle laat toe dat vrees, in plaas van geloof, hulle besluite dikteer. Hulle eindig dus saam met Saul op die kantlyn. Hoe het die stryd vir Jonatan en sy wapendraer uitgedraai? ‘So het die Here Israel daardie dag gered…’ (vers 23 NLV). Dit het net een moedige besluit geverg! Dis al wat dit ooit neem. Wanneer jy aksie neem, sal God namens jou optree. As jy nie aksie neem nie, sal jy altyd wonder ‘wat as?’ Ons grootste berou is wanneer ons nie optree nie – die dinge wat ons sou gehad het, kon gehad het, moes gedoen het maar nie gedoen het nie. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: Vertrou op God en neem aksie!
Sielskos: Num 25-26; Matt 13:1-9; Ps 120; Spr 3:33-35
1 Samuel 14:6 NIV
During the early days of Saul’s kingship, the Philistines controlled the western border of Israel, and battle lines were drawn at the pass called Michmash. Saul seemed content to sit on the sidelines, but Jonathan wanted to be on the front line. “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side” (v. 1 NIV). There was only Jonathan and his armor bearer, so the odds didn’t look good. But when you make a move that is motivated by God’s glory, it moves the heart and hand of God. What it requires is a step of faith. And often it’s the longest, hardest, and scariest step you’ve ever taken. Usually when Israel’s kings went into battle it was because they had received a word from the Lord assuring their victory. Jonathan had received no such word. He simply said, “Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.” Most people operate out of the opposite mentality: “Perhaps the Lord won’t act in our behalf.” They let fear dictate their decisions instead of faith. So they end up with Saul, sitting on the sidelines. And how did the battle turn out for Jonathan and his armor bearer? “So the Lord rescued Israel that day” (v. 23 NIV). All it took was one daring decision! That’s all it ever takes. When you move, God will move on your behalf. And if you don’t move, you’ll always wonder “what if?” Our longest regrets are our inaction regrets – the things we would have, could have, or should have done but did not do. So the word for you today is: Trust God, and act!
Soul food: Num 25-26; Matt 13:1-9; Ps 120; Prov 3:33-35
2018-02-06
Jeremiah 31:16 NKJV
Are you living under a cloud of guilt, feeling like a failure because your child has gone astray? Don’t do it! The Bible teaches that sometimes children simply won’t listen to the counsel of their parents. Solomon was probably giving a word of personal testimony when he wrote, “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1 NKJV). Jesus didn’t hold the father accountable for the fact that his prodigal son went astray (See Luke 15:11). And if you did your best, God doesn’t hold you accountable either. The truth is that bad parents sometimes turn out good children, and good parents sometimes have children who go bad. God’s first two children were placed in a perfect paradise, yet they rebelled. Ultimately, we’re all given the power to choose. There comes a time when every child is no longer a child, and has to take responsibility for his or her actions. So if you’ve done your best as a parent, don’t let the Devil put a guilt trip on you. And if you’ve failed as a parent, it’s not the unpardonable sin. Not only will God forgive you, but you can also claim this wonderful promise: “Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future…that your children shall come back to their own border” (Jeremiah 31:16-17 NKJV). Don’t give up on your children, because God hasn’t. Keep praying and believing, and allow Him to work on them.
Soul food: Num 22-24; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 108; Prov 3:31-32
