2018-04-03
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
The Bible says God “created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” These are devastating times. A billion people are hungry, millions are trafficked in slavery, and pandemic diseases are gouging entire nations. Each year nearly two million children are exploited in the global sex trade. In the few minutes it took you to read today’s devotional, almost ninety children died of preventable diseases. More than half of all Africans don’t have access to modern health facilities. As a result, ten million die each year from diarrhea, acute respiratory illness, malaria, and measles. And many of those deaths could be prevented by one injection. You ask, “What can I do about it?” God answers prayer, so you can pray for those who are suffering. You can give, whether it’s a lot or a little. And you can volunteer. You’re surrounded by great causes in need of people. And here’s why you should get involved: Your life is racing by, and if you aren’t careful, one day you’ll look up and your one shot at life will have passed you by. Some people don’t concern themselves with such thoughts. They grind through their days without lifting their eyes to look. They live and die and never ask why. If you want your life to matter, live it in such a way that the world will be glad you did. You were created and redeemed to “do the good things he planned for [you] long ago.” And when you stand before God, He will ask you how well you carried out your assignment, and reward you accordingly.
Soul food: Jer 18-21; Matt 28:16-20; Ps 69:19-36; Prov 8:30-31
2018-04-02
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 CEV
It’s not easy being a Christian parent in a world where peer pressure feels as if it’s crushing down on you at a million pounds per square inch; where values are at an all-time low and immorality at an all-time high. But with God’s help you can do it! To lead your children to Christ, do these five things: (1) Begin when they’re young, and read Bible stories to them each night. Let them hear you pray for them to know Jesus personally, constantly thanking Him for dying for their sins. (2) As you take them to church, explain what the various rituals and seasons (Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Easter, and Christmas) represent, and why they’re observed and celebrated. (3) Be sensitive to every spiritual question they ask, and take the time to answer their questions in a way they can understand. (4) Buy them Christian DVDs and cartoons that will present Bible truths on their level. (5) Trust the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom at the right time to present the gospel to them, and pray for their salvation continuously. On one occasion D. L. Moody reported “two and one-half conversions” at a service he conducted. Someone said, “I suppose you mean two adults and one child.” “No,” Mr. Moody replied. “I mean two children and one adult. The children can give their whole lives to God, but an adult has only half a life left to give.” And remember, the things we learn best are the things we hear most. So: “Memorize his laws and tell them to your children over and over.”
Soul food: Jer 14-17; Matt 28:11-15; Ps 69:1-18; Prov 8:27-29
Deuteronomium 6:6-7 ABA
Dis nie maklik om ‘n Christen-ouer te wees in ‘n wêreld waar groepsdruk voel of dit jou plat druk nie; waar waardes nie meer saakmaak en waar sedeloosheid hoogty vier nie. Met God se hulp kan jy dit egter doen! Om jou kinders na Christus toe te lei, doen die volgende vyf dinge: 1) Begin wanneer hulle klein is en lees elke aand vir hulle Bybelstories voor. Laat hulle toe om te hoor hoe jy bid dat hulle Jesus persoonlik sal ken en hoe jy Hom aanhoudend bedank dat Hy vir hulle sondes gesterf het. 2) Wanneer jy hulle kerk toe neem, verduidelik aan hulle wat die verskeie rituele en seisoene (die Doop, die Laaste Avondmaal, Paasfees en Kersfees) verteenwoordig en hoekom hulle gevier word. 3) Wees sensitief oor elke geestelike vraag wat hulle vra en neem die tyd om hulle vrae op so ‘n manier te antwoord dat hulle dit sal verstaan. 4) Koop vir hulle Christelike DVD’s en strokiesprente wat die Bybelse waarhede op hulle vlak aan hulle kan verduidelik. 5) Vertrou dat die Heilige Gees jou wysheid op die regte tyd sal gee om die evangelie aan hulle te verduidelik; en bid konstant vir hulle verlossing. Op een geleentheid het D.L. Moody verslag gelewer oor ‘twee-en-‘n-half’ bekerings wat tydens een van sy dienste plaasgevind het. Iemand het opgemerk, ‘Ek veronderstel jy bedoel twee volwassenes en een kind.’ ‘Nee,’ het Moody geantwoord. ‘Ek bedoel twee kinders en een volwassene. Die kinders kan hulle hele lewe aan God gee, maar die volwassene het net ‘n halwe lewe om te gee.’ Onthou, die dinge wat ons die beste leer is die dinge wat ons die meeste hoor. Dus: ‘Julle moet die dinge onthou wat ek vandag vir julle sê en julle moet dit vir julle kinders leer…’
Sielskos: Jer 14-17; Matt 28:11-15; Ps 69:1-18; Spr 8:27-29
2018-04-01
Romeine 4:25 NLV
Die Groot Houdini het belowe dat hy uit die dood sal terugkeer en met sy vriende sal praat. Sommige van hulle het selfs mediums opgesoek om te hoor of daar enige woord vanuit die graf was. Daar was egter nie! Net een man wat belowe het om uit die dood op te staan, het sy belofte gehou – Jesus! Hy het dit gedoen ‘…sodat ons vrygespreek kan word’. Saketransaksies in die Bybelse tyd was relatief eenvoudig, sodra die verkoper die prys neergelê het en die koper dit aanvaar het, is die transaksie beklink. Op Goeie Vrydag het Jesus die prys neergelê en op Paassondag het God dit aanvaar; en sodoende is jou verlossing ten volle betaal. Die grootste bewys van die opstanding word egter in die getransformeerde lewens van mense regoor die aarde gevind. In een van sy finale verskynings in die boek Openbaring, het Jesus aangekonding: ‘…Ek is die Eerste en die Laaste, die Lewende. Ek was dood en kyk, nou leef Ek vir altyd… Elkeen wat lewe en in My glo, sal in alle ewigheid nooit sterf nie…’ (Openbaring 1:18 NLV, Johannes 11:26 NLV). Vandag staan Christus voor die deur van jou hart en klop en sê, ‘…As jy my stem herken en die deur oopmaak, sal Ek na jou toe ingaan…’ (Openbaring 3:20 NLV). Tensy jy Christus persoonlik as jou Verlosser ken, is jy sonder hoop in hierdie wêreld en die een wat nog gaan kom. Die opstanding van Christus is jou enigste hoop. Daarsonder het jy niks om na uit te sien nie, behalwe na ‘n gat in die grond. Bely dus vandag jou sondes en plaas jou vertroue in die Een wat dood was en weer vir jou opgestaan het.
Sielskos: 1 Kor 15; Matt 28:1-10; Luk 24:1-12
Romans 4:25 NLT
The Great Houdini promised he’d come back from the dead and talk to his friends. Some actually consulted mediums to see if there was any word from beyond the grave. But there wasn’t! Only one man who promised to rise from the dead, kept his promise. Jesus! And He did it “to make us right with God.” Business transactions in Bible days were relatively uncomplicated. Once the seller laid down a price and the buyer picked it up, the deal was done. On Good Friday Jesus laid down the price, on Easter Sunday God picked it up, and your salvation was paid for. But the greatest proof of the resurrection is found in the transformed lives of people all over the world. The songwriter put it like this: “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!” In one of His final appearances recorded in the book of Revelation, Jesus announced: “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore…Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (Revelation 1:18; John 11:26 KJV). Today Christ stands knocking at the door of your heart, saying, “If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in” (Revelation 3:20). Unless you know Christ personally as your Savior, you’re without hope in this world and the one to come. The resurrection of Christ is your only hope. Without that you have nothing to look forward to but a hole in the ground. So today repent of your sins and place your trust in the One who died and rose again for you.
Soul food: 1 Cor 15; Matt 28:1-10; Luke 24:1-12
