2019-06-28
Psalm 33:3 NLT
To “play skillfully” means to do it well and strive for excellence when it comes to your God-given talents. One author puts it this way: “There’s a remarkable difference between 99 percent and 100 percent commitment. At 100 percent you see your problems all the way through to their solution. At 99 percent you can still find a way to take the path of least resistance. We live in a culture where excellence is the exception, but God’s Word says, ‘Be a…different person with a fresh newness in all you do’ (Romans 12:2 TLB). You must be willing to pay the price, and here it is: ‘To win…you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best’ (1 Corinthians 9:25 TLB). People will gauge your character by the height of your ideals, the breadth of your compassion, the depth of your convictions, and the length of your persistence. Approach every task thinking how you can do it better.” If you’re good at crunching numbers, excel as an accountant. If you’re a skilled communicator, be the best teacher you can be. If you’re a visionary who can inspire others, be the best possible leader. A former president of Yale University points out that Hamlet could never have been written by a committee, or the Mona Lisa painted by a club, or the New Testament composed by a conference. Creative ideas usually come from individuals. And the great thing about life is if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you often get it!
Soul food: Jer 31-32; Matt 4:12-25; Ps 98; Prov 14:34-35
2019-06-27
Romeine 12:3 ABA
God het vir Moses gesê: ‘…Ek stuur jou na die farao toe. Jy gaan my volk, die Israeliete, weglei uit Egipte’ (Eksodus 3:10 NLV). In plaas van om te dink: ‘Wat ‘n eer,’ het Moses geantwoord: ‘Maar wie is ek dan… om die Israeliete uit Egipte weg te lei?’ (Eksodus 3:11 NLV). Moses se kinderjare as die farao se aangenome kleinseun het hom vir die werk voorberei, maar hy was nou in ballingskap nadat hy ‘n Egiptenaar vermoor het. Dis maklik om Moses se huiwering te kritiseer, maar Mark Roberts merk op: ‘Wyse leiers het ‘n sekere huiwering wat uit persoonlike nederigheid kom en omdat hulle die verantwoordelikheid van leierskap ernstig opneem. God het vir Moses gekies met die volle wete dat hy huiwerig sou wees. God kon iemand anders met meer selfvertroue gekies het, maar Hy het nie. Dink net hoe anders sou hierdie toneel gewees het as Moses geantwoord het: ‘Geen probleem, God. Ek is die regte man vir die taak. Ek het jare se ondervinding van die farao se huishouding!’ Sou iemand met sulke oorvloedige selfvertroue reg vir die werk gewees het? Ek twyfel. As ons huiwering om te lei uit ‘n realistiese sin van ons beperkings en ‘n opregte erkenning van die swaar verantwoordelikheid kom, posisioneer dit ons perfek om gesonde vertroue in ons leierskapsvaardighede te hê. In plaas daarvan om ‘n lys van Moses se vermoëns en prestasies deur te gee, het God eenvoudig gesê: ‘…Ek sal by jou wees…’ (vers 12 NLV).’ Dit maak nie saak hoeveel jy weet of hoeveel mense jou volg nie, die toets van ware leierskap is om in God se krag, nie jou eie nie, op te tree. ‘Want in die koninkryk van God gaan dit nie om blote praatjies nie, maar om ‘n lewe in die krag van God’ (1 Korintiërs 4:20 NLV).
Sielskos: Jer 28-30; Matt 3:11-4:11; Ps 95; Spr 14:29-33
Romans 12:3 NLT
God told Moses, “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring…the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10 NIV). But instead of thinking, “What an honor,” Moses replied, “Who am I to …lead the people?” (Exodus3:11 NLT). Moses’ upbringing as Pharaoh’s adopted grandson had prepared him for the job, but now he was in exile after killing an Egyptian. It’s easy to criticize Moses’ hesitancy, but Mark Roberts observes: “Wise leaders have a certain reluctance that comes from personal humility and taking seriously the responsibility of leadership…After all, God chose Moses knowing full well he’d be reluctant…God [could] have gone after someone with more self-confidence, but He didn’t…Consider how this scene might have been different if Moses had responded, ‘No problem, God. I’m your man…I’ve had years of experience in Pharaoh’s household!’ Would someone with such abundant self-confidence have been right for the job? I doubt it. If our reluctance to lead comes from a realistic sense of our limitations and a genuine recognition of heavy responsibility…it positions us perfectly to have healthy confidence as a leader…Instead of listing Moses’ abilities and accomplishments, God simply said, ‘I will be with you’ (v. 12 NLT).” In other words, “I know you can’t do this alone, but I’ll be with you and that’s what matters.” Paul writes, “Think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” (Romans 12:3 NIV). It doesn’t matter how much you know or how many people follow you, the litmus test of leadership is operating in God’s strength, not your own. “The Kingdom of God is not just…talk; it is living by God’s power (1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT).
Soul food: Jer 28-30; Matt 3:11-4:11; Ps 95; Prov 14:29-33
2019-06-26
Joshua 1:8 NIV
Second, let it in. The word “meditate” means “to ponder, ruminate, or examine attentively.” So don’t just read the Scriptures, thoroughly digest them. Pray, “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions” (Psalm 119:18 NLT). You can read a Scripture dozens of times and suddenly see something you’ve never seen before. The idea is to train your mind to see things from God’s viewpoint. Mark Twain said the two best days in a person’s life are the day they’re born, and the day they discover why they’re born. And the only person who can tell you that, is your Creator. Third, live it out. “Be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8 NIV). Yes, study the Bible, meditate on the Bible, and even memorize the Bible. But if you want to find success in life you must obey the Bible. You must translate truth into action. No one can guarantee you success except God – and that guarantee is found in reading, meditating, and obeying His Word. Value and worth are directly related to purpose. A car that won’t run is worthless. A pen that won’t write is useless. Likewise, if you are going to be what you need to be, you need to find your purpose in life and fulfill it. At death, your fame and fortune will not matter. The thing of eternal value will be your answer to this question: “Did I live my life in the presence of God and for His purpose?” C. S. Lewis put it this way: “He who has God and everything, has no more than the person who has God alone.”
Soul food: Jer 25-27; Matt 2:16-3:10; Ps 64; Prov 14:25-28
Josua 1:8 NLV
Tweedens, mediteer daaroor. Moenie net die Skrifgedeeltes lees nie, neem dit ten volle in. Bid: ‘Maak oop my oë sodat ek die wonders kan sien wat opgeskryf is in u gebooie’ (Psalm 119:18 NLV). Jy kan ‘n teksvers verskeie kere lees en skielik iets sien wat jy nog nooit gesien het nie. Die idee is om jou gedagtes op te lei om dinge uit God se oogpunt te sien. Mark Twain het gesê dat die twee beste dae in ‘n mens se lewe die dag is wat hy gebore word en die dag is wat hy uitvind waarvoor hy gebore is. Die enigste persoon by wie jy dit kan uitvind, is jou Skepper. Derdens, lewe dit uit. ‘…sodat jy alles kan doen wat daarin geskryf is. Jy sal dan sukses behaal op jou pad. Jy sal voorspoedig wees’ (Josua 1:8 NLV). Ja, jy moet die Bybel bestudeer, daaroor mediteer en dit selfs memoriseer. As jy egter sukses in die lewe wil behaal, moet jy die Bybel gehoorsaam. Jy moet aksie daarop neem. Niemand behalwe God kan jou sukses waarborg nie – en daardie waarborg word gevind wanneer jy sy Woord lees, daaroor mediteer en dit gehoorsaam. ‘n Kar wat nie kan ry nie is waardeloos. ‘n Pen wat nie kan skryf nie is waardeloos. Net so moet jy jou doel in die lewe vind en dit vervul. Op jou sterfbed gaan beroemdheid en rykdom nie saak maak nie. Die enigste item van ewige waarde sal jou antwoord op hierdie vraag wees: ‘Het ek my lewe in die teenwoordigheid van God en vir sy koninkryk gelewe?’ C.S. Lewis stel dit so: ‘Die mens wat God en alles het, het niks meer as die persoon wat net vir God het nie.’
Sielskos: Jer 25-27; Matt 2:16-3:10; Ps 64; Spr 14:25-28
