2018-10-16
Eksodus 3:11 NLV
Toe God vir Moses sê dat Hy hom gaan gebruik om die Israeliete uit slawerny te bevry, het die gesprek so verloop: “‘Gaan nou! Ek stuur jou na die farao toe. Jy gaan my volk, die Israeliete, weglei uit Egipte.’ ‘Maar wie is ek dan om voor die farao te verskyn?’ het Moses vir God gevra… God het geantwoord: ‘Ek sal by jou wees…'” (verse 10-12 NLV). Moses het sy vrese en onsekerhede in een vraag opgesom, ‘Maar wie is ek dan…?’ Dis egter die verkeerde vraag. Dit gaan nie oor wie jy is nie, maar Wie s’n jy is! Daardie dag het God sy naam, ‘Ek Is,’ aan Moses geopenbaar. Sy naam is die oplossing tot elke probleem en die antwoord op elke vraag. Sy naam kalmeer elke vrees, beseël elke gebed en wen elke stryd. By die aanhoor van sy naam, kniel engele en sidder demone. Deur sy naam is ons sonde oorwin en word ons outoriteit bekragtig. Wie jy is, is absoluut irrelevant. God gebruik ons nie oor wie ons is nie, maar ten spyte daarvan. Dis nou nie asof die hemel bankrot gaan speel as jy nie jou tiende gee nie. As jy jou talente vir iets anders inspan, is dit ook nie asof die koninkryk van God dan ten gronde sal gaan nie. Maar vir redes wat eers in die hiernamaals geopenbaar sal word, het God besluit om sy doelwitte deur gewone mense soos ons, te bereik. Is jy bang om in geloof uit te tree, vir ingeval jy misluk? Lyk die situasie vir jou onmoontlik? Dis nie vir God nie. Vertrou Hom, staan op sy belofte: ‘Ek sal by jou wees…,’ en beweeg vorentoe!
Sielskos: Eks 25-27; Joh 3:22-36; Ps 89:15-37; Spr 26:20-22
Exodus 3:11 NIV
When God told Moses He was going to use him to deliver the Israelites from slavery, the conversation went like this: “‘So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ And God said, ‘I will be with you'” (vv. 10-12 NIV). Moses summarized his fears and insecurities in one question, “Who am I?” But that’s the wrong question. It’s not about who you are, but Whose you are! That day God revealed His name to Moses as “I AM.” His name is the solution to every problem and the answer to every question. His name calms every fear, seals every prayer, and wins every battle. At His name, angels bow and demons quake. At His name, our sin is vindicated and our authority is validated. Who you are is absolutely irrelevant. God doesn’t use us because of us, but in spite of us. It’s not like heaven is going to go bankrupt if you don’t tithe. And if you take your talents elsewhere, it’s not like the kingdom of God is going to go under. But for reasons that will only be revealed on the far side of the space-time continuum, God has chosen to accomplish His purposes through ordinary people like us. Are you afraid of stepping out in faith in case you fail? Does the situation seem impossible for you? It’s not for God. Trust Him, stand on His promise: “I will be with you,” and move ahead!
Soul food: Exo 25-27; John 3:22-36; Ps 89:15-37; Prov 26:20-22
2018-10-15
Psalm 103:13 DB
Om God as ‘n liefdevolle Vader te sien, mag dalk nie maklik kom as jy die littekens van ‘n verwaarloosde of mishandelde kindertyd met jou saamdra nie. Miskien het jy so baie onvervulde behoeftes in jou kindertyd gehad: liefde, sekuriteit, vertroue, gemak, materiële noodsaaklikhede, ens, dat jou gebrek aan hierdie dinge dit vir jou moeilik maak om te glo dat God aan al jou huidige behoeftes sal voorsien. Wat moet jy doen? Erken dat jou beeld van ‘n vader foutief is en dat dit op geen manier na jou hemelse Vader aard nie. Selfs die beste aardse vader kan nie teen Hom opgemeet word nie. Hy wil hê dat jy Hom as ‘n Vader wat omgee, sensitief, vrygewig, betroubaar en liefdevol is, sal benader. Dis hoekom Jesus ons geleer het om Hom ‘Ons Vader’ te noem, nie net ‘Almagtige God en Here’ nie. Soos ‘n goeie vader, verstaan God jou behoeftes en maak ten volle voorsiening daarvoor (sien Matteus 6:25-34). Net soos ‘n goeie ouer die unieke karaktereienskappe van elk van sy kinders herken, so ken Hy jou kenmerkende persoonlikheid, gawes, gedagtes en emosies. ‘Net soos ouers hulle kinders met groot liefde versorg, so versorg die Here elkeen wat Hom dien met arms vol liefde. Die Here weet hoe swak en vol foute ons is. Hy weet dat ons maar net klein en swak mensies is’ (Psalm 103:13-14 DB). God se sorg is nommerpas vir jou spesifieke gawes – en jou swakpunte. Soos ‘n liefdevolle vader aanvaar en vervul Hy sy verantwoordelikheid om vir jou te voorsien. Wat is jou rol in hierdie verhouding? Om soos die kind van ‘n betroubare, vrygewige, liefdevolle Vader op te tree!
Sielskos: Eks 22-24; Joh 3:1-21; Ps 89:1-14; Spr 26:17-19
Psalm 103:13 TM
To see God as a loving Father may not come easily, if you carry the scars of a neglected or abusive childhood. Perhaps you had so many unmet needs growing up: affection, security, trust, comfort, material necessities, etc., and your lack of these things makes it hard to believe God will provide for your needs now. What to do? Recognize that your “father-image” is flawed and in no way resembles your heavenly Father. Even the best earthly father can’t measure up to Him. He wants you to approach Him as a caring, sensitive, generous, dependable, loving Father. That’s why Jesus taught us to call Him “Our Father,” not just “Almighty God and Lord.” Like a good father, God understands your needs and makes full provision for them (See Matthew 6:25-34). And just as a good parent recognizes the unique characteristics of each of his children, He knows your distinctive personality, gifts, thoughts, and feelings. “As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we’re made of mud” (Psalm 103:13-14 TM). God’s care is tailor-made to your specific gifts – and weaknesses. And like a loving father, He accepts and fulfills His responsibility to provide for you. So what’s your role in the relationship? To act like the child of a trustworthy, generous, permanently-loving Father!
Soul food: Exo 22-24; John 3:1-21; Ps 89:1-14; Prov 26:17-19
2018-10-14
John 8:27 NKJV
The people in Jesus’ day found it hard to grasp the concept of God as a Father. Lord, king, judge, they understood – but not Father. The Old Testament rarely speaks of God as Father, whereas the New Testament mentions it often. Until Jesus came and revealed the Father, He remained a mystery. “No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27 NIV). And many of us still don’t comprehend His fatherhood and the rich blessings we have in Him. “Father,” God’s all-inclusive name, incorporates everything we could ever need, while disclosing how He feels toward each one of us. It exemplifies every trait of the best father imaginable. Think what a loving, all-powerful father would do for a needy child. Your heavenly Father will do all that for you – and then some! When you recognize God as your Father, your fears dissolve and you start to believe that all your needs will truly be met. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid…it gives your Father great happiness to give you the [benefits of His] Kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NLT). It makes God happy to offer you the resources of His kingdom! Why? Because He loves you as much as He loves His Son Jesus! Jesus prayed you’d know with confidence that your Father “loved [you] in the same way [He has] loved me” (John 17:23 TM). As His redeemed child, you have all the benefits that come with membership in “the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19 KJV).
Soul food: Heb 11:22; Gen 39:1-23; Gen 45:1-11; Gen 50:15-26
