2018-09-23
2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT
When you’re insulted, you can retaliate with a stinging comeback or see it as a growth opportunity. David said, “It is good… that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes” (Psalm 119:71 NKJV). Psychologist Dr. Brenda Shoshanna says: “The person who insults us is a teacher…come to help us reduce our ego, develop patience and compassion, practice unconditional forgiveness, and teach us about life and relationships. If you don’t perceive an insult as an insult, but as a teaching or a gift, it loses its power to hurt you. On a practical level, if you’re insulted, say nothing. Give yourself time. Much harm is created by lashing back, escalating the situation, and saying things you may not mean. Recognize it’s your ego – that false sense of pride acting up – and don’t go along with it.” Paul reached a place where he actually took “pleasure in…insults.” Most of us aren’t quite there yet, but with time and practice it can happen. Speaking of Judas, one author writes: “God sometimes manipulates the actions of our enemies to make them work as friends in order to accomplish His will in our lives. He can bless you through the worst relationships, ones that are painful or negative. The time, effort, and pain we invest in them aren’t wasted because God knows how to make adversity feed destiny into your life. I can’t stop hurts from coming, or promise that everyone who sits at your table will be loyal. But the sufferings of success give us direction, build character, and in the end you find grace to re-evaluate your enemies and realize that like Judas, they are friends in disguise.”
Soul food: 1 Kings 17:1-6; 1 Kings 18:16-39; 1 Kings 19:9-18; 2 Kings 2:1-12
2018-09-22
Acts 6:1 NLT
The Bible says: “As the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.” Why? Because they were outsiders. These women didn’t grow up in Judea or Galilee. They hailed from the distant lands of Greece, Rome, and Syria. If they spoke Aramaic at all, they did so with an accent. Consequently, they were “neglected” (NKJV). The manager of the food pantry gave Hebrew women the first pick. The food bank director separated requests into two stacks: locals and immigrants. How did the church respond? “The Twelve [apostles] called a meeting of all the believers” (v. 2 NLT). Have you ever been to a meeting of “believers” called to deal with those who are “being discriminated against”? Why did the apostles call such a meeting? Because of the example Jesus set from the very outset of His ministry: “And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written…” (Luke 4:17 KJV). That day He announced the six things that God had sent Him to do: (1) Preach the gospel to the poor. (2) Heal the broken-hearted. (3) Proclaim liberty to the captives. (4) Proclaim recovery of sight to the blind. (5) Set at liberty those who are oppressed. (6) Proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. That was the year of Jubilee when all prisoners were set free, all debts forgiven, and all that was taken from you was restored. Jesus meets every need: body, soul, and spirit. And that’s the message you’ve been called to share with others.
Soul food: 2 Tim 1-4; Luke 22:54-62; Ps 19; Prov 24:19-22
Handelinge 6:1 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘Namate die aantal gelowiges steeds toegeneem het, het daar klagtes gekom. Die Griekssprekendes het gekla oor die daaglikse verspreiding van kos aan hulle weduwees. Hulle het beweer dat die Arameessprekendes hulle afskeep.’ Hoekom? Omdat hulle buitestaanders was. Hierdie vrouens het nie in Judea of Galilea grootgeword nie. Hulle was van die verre lande van Griekeland, Rome en Sirië afkomstig. As hulle enigsins Aramees gepraat het, het hulle dit met ‘n aksent gedoen. Daarom is hulle afgeskeep. Die bestuurder van die kosstoor het die Hebreeuse vrouens eerste keuse gegee. Die versoeke is in twee stapels gedeel: plaaslike vroue en immigrante se versoeke. Hoe het die kerk gereageer? ‘Die Twaalf roep toe al die gelowiges bymekaar…’ (vers 2 NLV). Hoekom het die apostels so ‘n vergadering geroep? As gevolg van die voorbeeld wat Jesus van die begin van sy bediening aan hulle gestel het: ‘Die boekrol met die boodskappe van Jesaja die profeet is aan Hom gegee en Hy het dit oopgerol tot by die plek waar dit sê…’ (Lukas 4:17 NLV). Daardie dag het Hy die ses dinge aangekondig wat God Hom gestuur het om te doen: 1) Om die evangelie aan die armes te gee. 2) Om gebroke harte gesond te maak. 3) Om gevangenes vry te laat. 4) Om blindes te laat sien. 5) Om onderdruktes vry te maak. 6) Om aan te kondig dat die tyd van die Here se goedheid gekom het. Dit was die bevrydingsjaar toe alle gevangenes vrygelaat is, alle skuld vergewe is en alles wat van jou weggeneem is, herstel is. Jesus voldoen aan elke behoefte: liggaam, siel en gees. Dit is die boodskap wat jy geroep is om met ander te deel.
Sielskos: 2 Tim 1-4; Luk 22:54-62; Ps 19; Spr 24:19-22
2018-09-21
Mark 4:14 NLT
In Jesus’ parable of the sower, the seed landed on four types of ground, producing four different results. “The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted” (vv. 15-20 NLT). The seed of God’s Word cannot fail: “It always produces fruit” (Isaiah 55:11 NLT). So if God’s promises aren’t being fulfilled in your life, ask yourself, “What kind of soil am I?” Are you a surface person – thin-skinned and easily offended? A shallow person with no spiritual root system? Are you thorny ground? Are “the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things” choking the spiritual life out of you? Or are you rich, fertile ground that produces results? Check the soil of your heart.
Soul food: Mic 5-7; Luke 22:39-53; Ps 24; Prov 24:15-18
Markus 4:14 NLV
In Jesus se vergelyking van die saaier, het die saad op vier tipes grond geval en vier verskillende resultate geproduseer. ‘Hulle by wie die saad op die voetpaadjie val, verteenwoordig die mense wat die woord hoor, maar dan kom Satan dadelik en vat die woord wat op hulle lewens gesaai is, weg. En hulle by wie op klipperige grond gesaai is, verteenwoordig die mense wat die woord hoor en dit dadelik vol blydskap aanneem. Maar soos dit met jong plantjies in sulke grond gaan, skiet hulle nie diep wortel nie. Hulle hou net vir ‘n rukkie. Sodra daar probleme of vervolging ter wille van die Goeie Nuus kom, struikel hulle dadelik in die geloof. Daardie mense by wie tussen die dorings gesaai is, verteenwoordig die mense wat die woord hoor, maar die bekommernisse van hierdie lewe en die lokstem van die rykdom en die hunkering na allerhande goed verstik gou die Woord, en dit bly sonder vrug. Maar hulle by wie op die goeie grond gesaai is, is die mense wat die woord hoor en dit aanneem en ‘n groot oes oplewer – party 30, party 60, party selfs 100 maal wat oorspronklik gesaai is’ (verse 15-20 NLV). Die sade van God se Woord kan nie faal nie: ‘…dit sal… die doel bereik waarvoor Ek dit gestuur het’ (Jesaja 55:11 NLV). Indien God se beloftes nie in jou lewe vervul word nie, moet jy jouself afvra, ‘Watter tipe grond is ek?’ Is jy ‘n voetpaadjie mens – met ‘n dun vel wat maklik aanstoot neem? ‘n Klipperige persoon met geen geestelike wortelsisteem nie? Is jou grond vol dorings? Word die geestelike lewe in jou hart verstik? Of is jy ryk, vrugbare grond wat resultate produseer? Toets die grond van jou hart.
Sielskos: Miga 5-7; Luk 22:39-53; Ps 24; Spr 24:15-18
