2018-12-28
Proverbs 29:1 NIV
Years ago civil engineers examined a dam in Pennsylvania that controlled the waters of several rivers which flowed down toward a valley where there was a town. Concerned by what they saw, they told the town officials, “The dam is unsafe and you are in great danger. You need to relocate.” The officials said, “We’ve heard it all before. The dam is all right.” A year later the engineers visited the dam and again came back saying, “We are warning you; you are in danger every hour.” By this time the engineers’ report had spread to the townsfolk, and they laughed it off, saying, “They’re just trying to scare us.” A few months later the engineers issued the same warning, and again it was dismissed. Fifteen days later a boy on a horse rode through the valley shouting, “Run for your lives! The dam has broken and the water is coming.” But the people laughed at him, certain he was trying to scare them. Suddenly a wall of dirty water struck, and in less than thirty minutes Johnstown was in ruins. More than 3,700 people died that day. Question: Has God been warning you about certain things in your life: relationships, habits, attitudes? If so, here are two Scriptures you’d do well to consider carefully: “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice” (Proverbs 12:15 NIV). “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed – without remedy.” The word for you today is: Listen, and be willing to take advice.
Soul food: Job 32-35; Luke 2:21-33; Ps 97; Ecc 10:15-11:3
Spreuke 29:1 NLV
Jare gelede het siviele ingenieurs ‘n dam ondersoek. Hierdie dam het die waters van verskeie riviere wat deur ‘n vallei, waarin daar ‘n dorp geleë is, gevloei het, beheer. Hulle was bekommerd oor wat hulle gesien het en het vir die stadsamptenare gesê, ‘Die dam is onveilig en julle is in groot gevaar. Julle moet die inwoners verskuif.’ Die amptenare het geantwoord, ‘Ons het dit alles al gehoor. Die dam is nie ‘n gevaar nie.’ ‘n Jaar later het die ingenieurs weer die dam besoek en gesê, ‘Ons waarsku julle, julle is elke uur in groot gevaar.’ Teen hierdie tyd het die ingenieurs se verslag na die dorpsinwoners toe versprei, wat dit afgelag het en gesê het, ‘Hulle probeer ons net bangpraat.’ ‘n Paar maande later het die ingenieurs hulle weer gewaarsku en weer is hulle raad van die hand gewys. Vyftien dae later het ‘n seun op ‘n perd deur die dorp gejaag en geskree, ‘Hardloop vir julle lewens! Die dam het gebreek en die water is op pad.’ Die inwoners het egter vir hom gelag en gedink dat hy hulle net probeer skrikmaak. Toe het ‘n muur vuil water hulle egter getref en minder as dertig minute later was Johnstown in puin gelê. Meer as 3700 mense het daardie dag gesterf. Het God jou al ‘n paar keer oor sekere dinge in jou lewe gewaarsku: verhoudings, gewoontes, houdings? Indien dit die geval is, is hier twee Skrifgedeeltes wat jy versigtig moet oordink: ‘Vir ‘n dwaas is net sy eie pad die regte een. Iemand wat wys is, luister na ander se raad’ (Spreuke 12:15 NLV). ‘Wie hom teen teregwysings bly verset, stort skielik ineen. Niks kan dan weer vir hom herstel bring nie.’ Die woord vir jou vandag is: Luister, en wees gewillig om raad aan te neem.
Sielskos: Job 32-35; Luk 2:21-33; Ps 97; Pred 10:15-11:3
2018-12-27
2 Kronieke 26:5 NLV
Iemand het gesê, ‘Voor jy die leer van sukses uitklim, moet jy eers seker maak dat die leer teen die regte muur leun.’ Kom ons wees duidelik. Wanneer jou bedoeling is om God se wil te doen en Hom te eer, beloof Hy sukses aan jou. Dis ‘n fout om alle rykdom met vleeslikheid te assosieer en dit as ‘wêrelds’ te sien. Vooruitstrewende, toegewyde Christene in elke generasie was instrumenteel daarin om die evangelie na die wêreld toe te neem en God se koninkryk te vestig. Lees hierdie twee beloftes. ‘Oorvloed en rykdom vul sy huis, sy regverdigheid duur vir altyd’ (Psalm 112:3 NLV). ‘Met die een hand gee wysheid ‘n lang lewe. Met die ander hand rykdom en eer’ (Spreuke 3:16 NLV). Sommige van ons het ‘n valse konsep van sukses. Hier is ‘n verhaal van drie mans wat gesels het oor wat sukses vir hulle beteken. Een het gesê, ‘Sukses sal wees om na die Withuis uitgenooi te word vir ‘n persoonlike ontmoeting met die president.’ Die tweede man het gesê, ‘Vir my sal sukses beteken om die president in sy kantoor te ontmoet en wanneer sy telefoon lui, sal hy dit ignoreer om sodoende nie ons gesprek te onderbreek nie.’ Die derde man het gesê, “Vir my sal sukses beteken om die president in sy kantoor te ontmoet en wanneer sy telefoon lui, sal hy dit antwoord, dit na my uithou en sê, ‘Dis vir jou.'” As jy na Amazon.com toe gaan, sal jy meer as tweeduisend vyfhonderd boeke kry oor hoe om suksesvol te wees. Jy het egter net een boek nodig: God se Woord. ‘…So lank as wat hy die Here se wil nagestreef het, het God hom sukses gegee.’ Wil jy suksesvol wees? Raadpleeg die Here.
Sielskos: Job 29-31; Luk 2:8-20; Ps 117; Pred 10:15-19
2 Chronicles 26:5 NIV
Someone has said, “Before you try to climb the ladder of success, make sure it’s leaning against the right wall.” Now let’s be clear. When your intention is to do God’s will and honor Him, He promises success. It’s a mistake to associate all wealth with carnality and brand it as “worldly.” Prosperous, committed Christians in every generation have been instrumental in taking the gospel to the world and establishing God’s kingdom. Read these two promises. The first seems male-oriented: “Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 112:3 NKJV). The second seems female-oriented: “Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor” (Proverbs 3:16 NKJV). Some of us have a false concept of success. The story’s told of three men talking about what success would be for them. One said, “Being invited to the White House for a personal meeting with the president would be success.” The second said, “To me success would be meeting with the president in the Oval Office, having the hot line ring during our talk, and watching the president ignore it.” The third guy said, “To me success would be meeting with the president in the Oval Office, the hot line rings and he picks it up and says, ‘It’s for you.'” If you go to Amazon.com, you’ll find over twenty-five hundred books on how to be successful. But you only need one book: God’s Word. Here’s what it says: “As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.” Want to be successful? Consult the Lord.
Soul food: Job 29-31; Luke 2:8-20; Ps 117; Ecc 10:15-19
2018-12-26
Luke 1:41 NLT
Here’s an interesting chapter in the Christmas story – one that teaches us about “spirit friends.” The Bible says: “A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea… She entered into the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth… exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed…Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home” (vv. 39-42, 56 NLT). Besides being cousins, Mary and Elizabeth were “spirit friends.” They didn’t just connect socially, they connected spiritually at a deeper level. That’s why Mary “hurried” to see Elizabeth, and why she spent three months with her. It’s also why Elizabeth confirmed the miraculous purposes of God that were being fulfilled in Mary’s life, and commended her for her obedience. When God introduces you to someone who has been touched by His Spirit and carries within them a vision that’s conceived by the Holy Spirit, reach out to them, treasure them, and build a relationship with them. The connection between these two women didn’t take place because they were part of the same family. The truth is, sometimes our families are the first to criticize us and the last to understand us. Notice, when Mary greeted Elizabeth, the unborn child within her leaped in her womb. How do you recognize a “spirit friend”? When they speak, something within you will resonate. That’s because you are both filled with the same Holy Spirit and empowered to do God’s will.
Soul food: Job 24-28; John 1:6-18; Ps 113; Ecc 10:10-14
