2018-03-11
Psalm 51:6 NKJV
The Bible says, ‘…Nor was any deceit in [Christ’s] mouth’ (Isaiah 53:9 NIV). And if God has His way with us, none will be found in ours either. God doesn’t seek to minimise our deception, but to eliminate it altogether. He is blunt about dishonesty. ‘No one who is dishonest will live in my house…’ (Psalms 101:7 NCV). Paul lists the types of people who will not inherit the kingdom of God – those who sin sexually, worship idols, get drunk, rob people, and – lie about others (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). ‘You mean my fibbing and flattering stir the same heavenly anger as adultery and aggravated assault?’ Apparently so. God views fudging on income tax in the same way as He views kneeling before idols. ‘The Lord hates those who tell lies but is pleased with those who keep their promises’ (Proverbs 12:22 NCV). Why the tough stance? Because dishonesty is absolutely contrary to the character of God (Hebrews 6:18). It’s not that God won’t lie, or has chosen not to lie, but that He cannot lie. A dog can’t fly, a bird can’t bark, and God can’t lie. When He makes a covenant, He keeps it. When He makes a statement, He means it. When He proclaims the truth, we can believe it. Even, ‘If we are not faithful, [God] remains faithful, because He cannot be false to Himself’ (2 Timothy 2:13 GNT). With God, the truth is not a gray area, it’s black and white. So if you’re serious about walking with Him and pleasing Him, you must commit to ‘the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.’
Soul food: Exo 20:17; 2 Kings 5:1-27; Ecc 5:10; Luke 12:13-34
Psalm 51:8 NLV
Die Bybel sê, ‘Hy [Jesus]… het nooit enigiemand bedrieg nie…’ (Jesaja 53:9 NLV). As ons God se wil doen, sal ons ook nooit enigiemand bedrieg nie. God wil nie ons bedrog net minimaliseer nie, Hy wil dit heeltemal elimineer. Hy draai nie doekies om as dit by oneerlikheid kom nie. ‘Bedrieërs sal nie in my huis woon nie…’ (Psalm 1.1:7 NLV). Paulus noem die tipes mense op wat nie die koninkryk van God sal erf nie – mense wat onsedelike lewens lei, afgodsdienaars, egbrekers, mense wat dronk word, ander mense besteel en mense wat oor ander lieg (sien 1 Korintiërs 6:9-10). Bedoel dit dat jou leuens en vleiery dieselfde hemelse woede as ontrouheid en aanranding ontlok? Dit kom so voor. God sien mense wat oor hul belastingopgawes jok in dieselfde lig as mense wat afgode dien. ‘Die Here verafsku mense wat hulle woord breek. Hy hou van mense wat by hulle woord staan’ (Spreuke 12:22 NLV). Hoekom is God so erg oor oneerlikheid? Omdat oneerlikheid absoluut die teenoorgestelde van God se karakter is (Hebreërs 6:18). Dis nie dat God nie wil jok nie, of kies om nie te jok nie, dis dat Hy nie kán jok nie. ‘n Hond kan nie vlieg nie, ‘n voël kan nie blaf nie en God kan nie jok nie. Wanneer Hy ‘n belofte maak, hou Hy dit. Wanneer Hy ‘n stelling maak, bedoel Hy dit. Wanneer Hy die waarheid proklameer, kan ons dit glo. ‘Maar as ons ontrou is – Hy bly getrou, want Hy kan nie aan Homself ontrou word nie’ (2 Timoteus 2:13 NLV). Dis nie ‘n grys area by God nie, dis swart en wit. As jy dus ernstig daaroor is om ‘n pad met Hom te stap en Hom te bevredig, moet jy altyd die waarheid praat.
Sielskos: Eks 20:17; 2 Kon 5:1-27; Pred 5:10; Luk 12:13-34
2018-03-10
Acts 6:4 NKJV
In Disciplines of a Godly Man, pastor and author R. Kent Hughes says: “Jay Sidlow Baxter once shared a page from his own personal diary with a group of pastors who had inquired about the discipline of prayer. He began telling how…he entered the ministry determined he would be a real man of prayer. However, it wasn’t long before his increasing responsibilities, administrative duties, and the subtle subterfuges of pastoral life began to crowd prayer out. Moreover, he began to get used to it, making excuses for himself. Then one morning it all came to a head as he stood over his work-strewn desk and looked at his watch. The voice of the Spirit was calling him to pray. At the same time another velvety voice was telling him to be practical and get his letters answered, and that he ought to face the fact that he wasn’t one of the ‘spiritual sort’ – only a few people could be like that. ‘That last remark,’ says Baxter, ‘hurt like a dagger blade. I couldn’t bear to think it was true.’ He was horrified by his ability to rationalize away the very ground of his ministerial vitality and power.” Understand this: Minutes invested in prayer will give you a greater return than hours spent in ceaseless activity. The New Testament apostles understood that. As the church grew bigger and they became busier, they made a life-changing decision: “We will give ourselves continually to prayer and…the word.” As a result the church grew and multiplied. So make prayer a priority!
Soul food: 2 Kings 1:1-4:17; Matt 22:15-33; Ps 106:24-48; Prov 7:3-5
Handelinge 6:4 NLV
In Disciplines of a Godly man, sê die pastoor en skrywer R. Kent Hughes: ‘Jay Sidlow Baxter het een maal ‘n bladsy uit sy eie persoonlike dagboek met ‘n groep pastore gedeel wat hom oor die dissipline van gebed uitgevra het. Hy het begin vertel hoe hy die bediening betree het, vasbeslote om ‘n ware man van gebed te wees. Dit was egter nie lank voor sy toenemende verantwoordelikhede, administratiewe pligte en die subtiele voorwendsels van die pastorale lewe begin het om gebed eenkant toe te druk nie. Verder het hy begin gewoond raak daaraan en het verskonings vir homself gemaak. Een oggend het alles egter tot ‘n punt gekom toe hy voor sy lessenaar wat met werk bestrooi was gestaan het en op sy horlosie gekyk het. Die stem van die Gees het hom geroep om te bid. Terselftertyd het ‘n fluweelsagte stem hom aangesê om prakties te wees en sy korrespondensie te beantwoord, en dat hy moet besef dat hy nie die ‘geestelike tipe’ is nie. ‘Daardie laaste opmerking,’ sê Baxter, ‘was soos ‘n dolk in die hart. Ek kon my nie indink dat dit kan waar wees nie.’ Hy was met afgryse vervul oor sy vermoë om die grondslag van sy pastorale krag weg te rasionaliseer.’ Verstaan mooi: Minute wat jy in gebed belê, sal vir jou meer beteken as ure wat jy aan eindelose aktiwiteite spandeer. Die apostels in die Nuwe Testament het dit verstaan. Soos die kerk groter geword het en hulle besiger geword het, het hulle ‘n lewensveranderende besluit gemaak: ‘óns sal dan al ons tyd bestee aan gebed en die bediening van die woord.’ As gevolg daarvan het die kerk gegroei en vermenigvuldig. Maak dus gebed ‘n prioriteit!
Sielskos: 2 Kon 1:1-4:17; Matt 22:15-33; Ps 106:24-48; Spr 7:3-5
2018-03-09
2 Samuel 24:24 NLT
Instead of trusting God for victory over his enemies, David decided of his own volition to count the number of troops in his army to see how strong he was. God considered it “a slap in the face,” and a plague hit Israel that wiped out seventy thousand people. In order to stop the plague, David was told: “Build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite” (v.18 NLT). When Araunah realized what was happening, he offered his threshing floor and oxen to David free of charge. But David said: “‘No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.’ So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed the burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the Lord answered his prayer…and the plague on Israel was stopped” (vv. 24-25 NLT). The old Anglo-Saxon word for worship is worth-ship, which is the act of ascribing worth or value to a person or object. What’s the point? It’s this: When it comes to serving God, if it doesn’t cost – it doesn’t count! God knows we can’t all give the same amount. But what He’s asking for isn’t equal giving, but equal sacrifice! The Bible says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything” (Proverbs 3:9 NLT). So whether you’re worshiping, serving, or giving, make sure you’re giving God your best.
Soul food: Rev 19-22; Matt 22:1-14; Ps 106:1-23; Prov 7:1-2
