2018-04-13
Zechariah 8:23 NKJV
The prophet Zechariah writes, “Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord…saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you'” (vv. 22-23 NKJV). When people see God at work in your life, they’ll be drawn to you. It happened to a short-order cook named Nicholas Herman. Dissatisfied with his life, he worried constantly about whether or not he was even saved. Then one day as he studied a tree, he was struck by the truth in Psalm 1:3: that the secret to growing spiritually lies in being rooted and grounded in God. So he decided to make his life an experiment in what he termed “the habitual, silent, secret conversation of the soul with God.” Today he’s better known as Brother Lawrence, the name his friends gave him. Chances are, you’ve heard of him and his writings. Although he spent his life in obscurity working in a monastery kitchen, how he interacted with God caused people from around the world to long to know God like he did. His friends said he “found God everywhere…as much while repairing shoes as…praying with the community.” And after he died they compiled a book of his letters and conversations called The Practice of the Presence of God. It’s one of the most widely read books of the last four centuries. Jesus said, “If I am lifted up…will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32 NKJV). The more you cultivate the presence of God in your life, the more others will be attracted to Him. So, let others see God in you!
Soul food: Jer 49-50; Mark 2:18-22; Ps 50:1-15; Prov 10:8-10
2018-04-12
Matteus 25:32 NLV
Die Bybel sê: “Al die nasies sal voor Hom bymekaargebring word en Hy sal hulle van mekaar skei soos ‘n skaapwagter die skape van die bokke skei. Hy sal die skape aan sy regterkant opstel en die bokke aan sy linkerkant. Daarop sal die Koning vir dié aan sy regterkant sê: ‘Kom julle, want my Vader het julle geseën. Kom ontvang julle erfenis – die koninkryk wat my Vader reeds van voor die begin van die wêreld af vir julle gereed hou'” (verse 32-34 NLV). Vir diegene aan sy linkerhand, sê Hy egter: ‘…Gaan weg van My af, want God het julle vervloek!..’ (vers 41 NLV). Hoe bepaal Hy wie staan waar? Is een groep hoogs moreel terwyl die ander groep losbandig gelewe het? Is dit omdat een groep se doktrine korrek is terwyl die ander groep teologies gesproke die pad byster geraak het? Nee. Jesus sê dat die lot van almal teenwoordig op een aspek gebaseer word: om deernis aan diegene in nood te bewys. Jy sê, ‘Maar ons word alleenlik deur genade gered!’ Ja, maar soos Martin Luther uitgewys het, ‘Die geloof wat ons red is nooit alleen nie!’ Die Bybel sê dat geloof sonder dade dood is (sien Jakobus 2:26). Jesus sê dat ons volgens die volgende standaard geëvalueer en beloon sal word: ‘toe Ek niks gehad het om aan te trek nie, het julle vir My klere gegee; toe Ek siek was, het julle na My omgesien; toe Ek in die tronk was, het julle My opgesoek’ (Matteus 25:36 NLV). Dan verpersoonlik Hy dit met die volgende woorde: ‘…As julle iets hiervan vir een van my broers en susters gedoen het… het julle dit vir Mý gedoen’ (vers 40 NLV). Dit beteken dat jy jou hart moet oopmaak en op die lyding rondom jou moet reageer.
Sielskos: Jer 45-48; Mark 2:13-17; Ps 25:16-22; Spr 10:4-7
Matthew 25:32 NKJV
The Bible says: “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom'” (vv. 32-34 NKJV). But here’s what happens to those on the left hand: “He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me'” (v. 41 NKJV). What determines His choice? How does He separate people? Is it based on the fact that one group was highly moral while the other was loose-living? Is it based on the fact that one group was doctrinally correct while the other went astray theologically? No. Jesus said the destiny of all present will be based on one thing: showing compassion to those in need. You object: “We are saved by faith alone!” Yes. But as Martin Luther pointed out, “The faith that saves us is never alone!” The Bible says that faith without works is dead (See James 2:26). Jesus said that this was the standard by which we’ll be evaluated and rewarded: “I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:36 NKJV). Then He personalized it in these words: “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (v. 40 NKJV). That means you must open your heart and respond to the needs around you.
Soul food: Jer 45-48; Mark 2:13-17; Ps 25:16-22; Prov 10:4-7
2018-04-11
Psalm 5:12 NIV
When you ask someone for a favor, you’re generally asking for something they don’t owe you. The Bible says of God: “You bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor.” This word “righteous” doesn’t mean flawless, otherwise none of us would qualify! It means to be clothed in “the righteousness of God,” thereby making us acceptable before God and qualifying us for His favor (2 Corinthians 5:21). And that’s a truth you need to grasp and hold on to! Why? Because when you have God’s favor, people start favoring you too – often for reasons they themselves can’t explain! The favor of God made it possible for people in the Bible who otherwise wouldn’t have amounted to much, to do great things. God called a teenager named Esther to save the Jewish people. So she stepped out in faith, approached the king uninvited, even though it violated protocol, and “obtained favor in his sight” (Esther 5:2 AMPC). God made a way for her to do the job He’d given her. Without the favor of God, Ruth, a Gentile, wouldn’t have been accepted by the Jews. But because God had a plan for her life and her heart was open to Him, she ended up marrying Boaz, “a man of great wealth” (Ruth 2:1 NKJV). And from that union descended King David, and ultimately our blessed Lord Jesus. What favor! The Bible says, “A good man will obtain favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 12:2 NAS). And a single moment of God’s favor will do more for you than a lifetime of striving. So pray for the favor of God today – and start looking for it!
Soul food: Jer 41-44; Mark 2:1-12; Ps 25:8-15; Prov 10:1-3
Psalm 5:13 NLV
Die Bybel sê dat God die vromes seën. Die woord ‘vroom’ beteken nie foutloos nie, anders sou niemand van ons vir God se seën gekwalifiseer het nie! Nee, dit beteken dat ons in die vroomheid van Christus geklee kan wees, om sodoende aanvaarbaar vir Hom te kan wees en vir sy seën en guns te kan kwalifiseer (2 Korintiërs 5:21). Dit is ‘n waarheid waaraan jy moet vashou, want wanneer jy God se seën en guns ervaar, begin ander mense ook gunstig teenoor jou optree – dikwels vir redes wat hulle self nie kan verduidelik nie! Die guns en seën van God het dit vir mense in die Bybel, wat andersins nie veel sou bereik het nie, moontlik gemaak om groot dinge te doen. God het ‘n tiener genaamd Ester geroep om die Joodse nasie te red. Sy het in geloof opgetree en die koning ongenooid genader, selfs al was dit teen die reëls. ‘Die koning was bly toe hy koningin Ester daar in die voorhof sien staan…’ (Ester 5:2 NLV). God het die weg vir haar gebaan om die werk te doen waarvoor Hy haar geroep het. Sonder die guns en seën van God, sou Rut, ‘n nie-Jood, nie aanvaarbaar vir die Jode gewees het nie. Maar omdat God ‘n plan vir haar lewe gehad het en haar hart oop was vir Hom, het sy met Boas getrou, ‘…’n welgestelde, invloedryke man…’ (Rut 2:1 NLV). Uit hulle huwelik het koning Dawid afgestam en uiteindelik ook ons Here Jesus. Die Bybel sê, ‘Die Here hou van ‘n mens wat goeddoen…’ (Spreuke 12:2 NLV). ‘n Enkele oomblik van God se seën en guns kan meer vir jou doen as ‘n leeftyd se wedywering. Bid dus vandag vir God se seën en guns – en wees op die uitkyk daarvoor!
Sielskos: Jer 41-44; Mark 2:1-12; Ps 25:8-15; Spr 10:1-3
