2018-12-23
Galatians 2:20 NIV
If you could change through self-effort, you wouldn’t need the Lord. Plus, any attempt on your part to earn or merit His grace disqualifies you. Why is that? Because you’re striving to be the source of your own salvation, or your own significance, or your own strength. If you want to know what really upsets God – that will do it every time! “So how on earth am I supposed to become more Christlike?” you ask. Die to “self” and allow Christ to live through you! Take a moment to ponder these Scriptures: “Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life…If God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed…God…won’t know what we’re talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells – even though you still experience all the limitations of sin – you yourself experience life on God’s terms. It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself?” (Romans 8:5-11 TM). How can you tell that Christ is alive and working in you? When others look at you they will see Him. When they listen to you they will hear Him. And when they walk with you they will be following Him. “How long does it take to become Christlike?” you ask. It happens a day at a time, over a lifetime.
Soul food: Matt 1; Matt 2
Galasiërs 2:20 NLV
As jy jouself deur jou eie pogings kon verander, sou jy nie die Here nodig gehad het nie. Daarmee saam diskwalifiseer enige poging om sy genade te verdien, jou. Hoekom? Omdat jy daarna strewe om die bron van jou eie verlossing, of jou eie krag te wees. ‘Hoe is ek dan veronderstel om meer soos Christus te word?’ vra jy. Sterf van jouself en laat Christus toe om deur jou te lewe! ‘Mense wat toelaat dat die sonde oor hulle lewens baasspeel, se koppe is heeltyd besig met sonde… Julle is egter nie meer in die greep van die sonde nie. Nee, julle lewens staan nou onder die beheer van die Gees wat in julle bly. As die Gees van Christus nie in iemand se lewe aanwesig is nie, behoort hy glad nie aan Hom nie – so eenvoudig is dit. Christus is ook nou by julle. Daarom sal die Heilige Gees sorg dat julle vir altyd lewe. Selfs al moet julle liggame doodgaan – dit is immers die prys wat ons almal vir die sonde moet betaal – sal die Gees julle op ‘n splinternuwe manier laat leef. Hy sal dit doen omdat julle deur God vrygespreek is. Julle weet baie goed dat God Jesus uit die dood laat opstaan het. Daarom is dit vanselfsprekend dat Hy wat nou deur sy Gees in julle bly, eendag ook elkeen van julle se sterflike liggaam met die hulp van sy Gees lewend sal maak’ (Romeine 8:5-11 DB). Hoe weet jy dat Christus lewendig is in jou en in jou werk? Wanneer ander mense na jou kyk en Hom sien. Wanneer hulle na jou luister en Hom hoor. ‘Hoe lank neem dit om soos Christus te word?’ vra jy. Dit gebeur ‘n dag op ‘n slag, ‘n leeftyd lank.
Sielskos: Matt 1; Matt 2
2018-12-22
Psalm 18:29 NLV
God het jou nie net verlos en jou geroep om Hom te dien nie, Hy het jou ook toegerus. Alles wat jy nodig het om jou taak te vervul is reeds tans in jou lewe; wagtend vir jou om dit te herken. Gedurende die dae van die stormloop vir goud in Kalifornië, het ‘n jong paartjie obsessief oor die soeke na goud geword. Hulle het hulle plaas en al hulle besittings verkoop en na die weskus gereis om dit te gaan soek. Na vele mislukkings het hulle bankrot gespeel en na Europa verhuis. Baie jare later het hulle na Amerika teruggekeer en besluit om hulle ou plaas te besoek. Toe hulle egter daar aankom, was dit deur sekuriteitswagte en ‘n hoë draadheining omring. Toe hulle vra wat aangaan, het hulle ontdek dat hulle ou plaas op die tweede grootste goud reserwe in Amerika lê – en dit was nou in die regering se besit. God het hulpbronne en mense reg rondom jou geplaas wat jy nie opmerk nie. Sommige van die grootste gawes in jou lewe moet nog herken word, omdat hulle nog saadjies is. As jy hulle nie herken nie, kan dit jou duur te staan kom. Paulus het aan die gelowiges in Efese geskryf, ‘Mag God julle harte so verlig dat julle sal insien watter wonderlike vooruitsig sy roeping inhou…’ (Efesiërs 1:18 NLV). Dawid het gebid, ‘Maak oop my oë sodat ek die wonders kan sien wat opgeskryf is in u gebooie’ (Psalm 119:18). Soms kan jy nie die woud van bome sien nie. Daar is skatte in jou en rondom jou wat jy nooit sal sien totdat God dit aan jou openbaar nie. Hy sal dit doen, as jy Hom soek.
Sielskos: Job 18-20; Luk 1:57-66; Ps 47; Pred 10:1-4
Psalm 18:28 NIV
God not only redeemed you and called you to serve Him, He also equipped you. Everything you need to fulfill your assignment is in your life right now, just waiting for you to recognize it. Anything that’s unrecognized becomes unappreciated; and anything that’s unappreciated becomes unrewarded; and anything that’s unrewarded eventually leaves your life. During the days of the California gold rush a young couple became obsessed with the quest for gold. They sold their farm and everything they owned and went out West to search for it. Failure after failure, they eventually ended up bankrupt and moved to Europe. Many years later they returned to America and decided to visit their old farm. But when they arrived they found it surrounded by security guards and a high wire fence. When they inquired, they discovered that under their old farm was the second-largest gold reserve in America – and it was now owned by the government. God has placed resources and people all around you that you’re not seeing. Some of the biggest gifts in your life have yet to be recognized because they’re in seed form. And your failure to recognize them is costing you dearly. Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers saying, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Ephesians 1:18 NIV). And David prayed, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18 NIV). Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. There’s treasure in you and around you that you’ll never see until God reveals it to you. And He will, if you seek Him.
Soul food: Job 18-20; Luke 1:57-66; Ps 47; Ecc 10:1-4
2018-12-21
Psalm 56:3 NLT
Underlying your deepest fears – are thoughts. They may be expressed publicly or entertained privately. Either way, you must arrest them and change them. If you don’t, they will capture and control you. One of the most powerful weapons God has given you for conquering fear and worry is the ability to personalize His promises. Here are just a few: “Don’t be afraid…you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression…the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God” (Isaiah 43:1-3 TLB). And what should your response to God’s promise be? “I will be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. I will not be afraid, neither will I be dismayed, for the Lord my God is with me wherever I go” (See Joshua 1:9 AMPC). “The Lord’s eye is upon me because I fear him [revere and worship him with awe] and because I trust in his mercy and loving kindness” (See Psalm 33:18 AMPC). “When I am tempted to have a fearful and hasty heart, I will say to myself, be strong, fear not! My God will come…and save me” (See Isaiah 35:4 AMPC). “The Lord is my light and my salvation…whom shall I fear?…when troubles come. He will hide me. He will set me on a high rock out of reach of all my enemies. Then I will…sing his praises with much joy” (Psalm 27:1, 5-6 TLB). Do you want to overcome your fears and worries? Personalize God’s promises!
Soul food: Job 15-17; Luke 1:39-56; Ps 12; Ecc 9:10-12
