2019-08-09
1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
When William Carey first began considering the possibility of going to India as a pioneer missionary, his father pointed out that he possessed no academic qualifications for the job. Carey answered, “I can plod.” And he did. When he went to India this was his typical day: He arose at 5:45 a.m. to read a chapter in the Hebrew Bible and have private devotions. At 7:00 a.m. he led family prayers in Bengali, read Persian with a tutor, and a portion of Scripture in Hindustani. After breakfast he translated Sanskrit into English. At 10:00 a.m. he went to college to teach until 2:00 p.m., then translated into Bengali until dinner time. After an early supper, he translated into Sanskrit and studied the Telugu language until he preached to an English congregation at 7:30 p.m. About 9:00 p.m. he returned to translating for two hours, wrote to a friend in England, read a chapter from his Greek New Testament, and then finally went to bed. Carey is credited with doing more than anyone else in taking the message of Christ to India and establishing the church there. And he did it because he was a plodder! Here are two Scriptures plodders stand on: (1) “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9 NKJV). (2) “My dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT). These Scriptures could be reduced to five words: Keep plodding and you’ll succeed.
Soul food: Judg 1-3; Matt 15:29-39; Ps 119:49-56; Prov 17:18-21
2019-08-08
Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
Five times in one chapter, Genesis 39, the Bible says, “The Lord was with Joseph.” But that didn’t exempt him from jealousy and betrayal, or the advances of Potiphar’s wife, or her lies that sent him to prison. The Bible says, “They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character” (Psalm 105:18-19 NLT). Joseph didn’t know it, but he was in training for reigning. God wanted to see if he would choose trust over lust, and obedience over expedience. It’s in looking back that you realize why one of God’s names is “Redeemer.” He can redeem everything you’ve been through – the good, the bad, and the ugly. The lesson Joseph learned is this: God is with you even when there is no evidence He is. He is walking alongside you. He is working with you. He is going ahead of you to rearrange circumstances in your favor. His Word says, “‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So that we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV). But sometimes in the plan of God things get worse before they get better. That’s when you must tighten your grip and lean harder on God: “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV).
Soul food: Ruth 1-4; Matt 15:15-28; Ps 119:41-48; Prov 17:17
Hebreërs 13:5 NLV
Vyf keer in een hoofstuk, Genesis 39, sê die Bybel: ‘Die Here was met Josef.’ Dit het hom egter nie van jaloesie of verraad, of Potifar se vrou, of haar leuens wat hom tronk toe gestuur het, gevrywaar nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘Sy voete het hulle in boeie gedwing, en sy nek in ‘n ysterhalsband gesit tot sy woorde waar geword het, en die Here se woorde bevestig is’ (Psalm 105:18-19 NLV). Josef het dit nie geweet nie, maar hy was besig om opgelei te word om te regeer. God wou sien of hy vertroue oor begeerte sou kies en gehoorsaamheid oor gerief sou kies. Dis wanneer jy terugkyk wat jy besef hoekom een van God se name ‘Verlosser’ is. Hy kan alles waardeur jy is verlos – die goeie, die slegte en die lelike. Die les wat Josef geleer het is as volg: God is by jou, selfs wanneer daar geen bewys is dat Hy daar is nie. Hy stap langs jou. Hy werk saam met jou. Hy gaan vooruit om situasies in jou guns te herrangskik. Sy Woord sê: ‘…Ek sal jou nie los nie. Ek sal jou nie in die steek laat nie.’ Ons kan dus met vrymoedigheid sê: ‘…Die Here is my hulp. Daarom sal ek nie bang wees nie. Wat kan nietige mensies my aandoen?’ (Hebreërs 13:5-6 NLV). Dinge word egter in God se plan soms erger voordat dit beter word. Dis wanneer jy jou greep moet versterk en harder op God moet leun: ‘Moenie hierdie vertroue in God deur julle vingers laat glip nie. Dit hou vir julle groot beloning in. Wat julle nodig het, is om te volhard sodat julle kan voortgaan om God se wil te gehoorsaam. Dan sal julle ontvang wat God beloof het’ (Hebreërs 10:35-36 NLV).
Sielskos: Rut 1-4; Matt 15:15-28; Ps 119:41-48; Spr 17:17
2019-08-07
Psalm 42:2 NIV
What comes to mind when you think of the word godliness? Religious rules and regulations? Christians who point fingers and say, “Thou shalt not”? Little wonder so many people avoid us! Is godliness even possible in an age of interstate drivers and internet shoppers? Or do we need to return to the days of Little House on the Prairie in order to be godly? The fact is godliness isn’t a culture, it’s an attitude of the heart. It has little to do with how a person looks (although that’s hard for some of us to see beyond), or what they drive or own. It has nothing to do with our personal preferences and the standards some of us would like to impose on others. The Bible says, “[People] look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). Godliness is an inside job. And the longer you think about it, the more convinced you become that a truly godly person is one whose heart is sensitive to God, who takes God and His Word seriously, and who desires more of Him. David cried, “My soul thirsts for God.” That’s it! You can be rich or poor, young or old, urban or rural, follower or leader, active or quiet, married or single, Democrat or Republican – none of that matters. What matters is having a longing to know God intimately, to obey Him, and walk with Him. So ask yourself, “Do I want to be godly?” And if you don’t like the answer, get down on your knees and ask God to change your heart and attitude.
Soul food: Obad; 2 John; Matt 15:1-14; Ps 119:33-40; Prov 17:16
Psalm 42:2 NLV
Waaraan dink jy wanneer jy die woord goddelikheid hoor? Godsdienstige reëls en regulasies? Christene wat vinger wys en sê: ‘Jy mag nie’? G’n wonder so baie mense vermy ons nie! Is goddelikheid moontlik in ‘n era van ongeduldige bestuurders en internetaankope? Of moet ons na die dae van Little House on the Prairie terugkeer om goddelik te wees? Die feit is dat goddelikheid nie ‘n kultuur is nie, maar ‘n hartshouding. Dit het min te doen met hoe ‘n persoon lyk (alhoewel dit moeilik vir sommige van ons is om verby dit te kyk), of watse kar hulle bestuur of wat hulle besit. Dit het niks te doen met ons persoonlike voorkeure of die standaarde wat sommige van ons op ander mense wil afdwing nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Mense oordeel volgens uiterlike voorkoms, maar die Here kyk na gedagtes en bedoelings’ (1 Samuel 16:7 NLV). Hoe meer jy daaraan dink, hoe meer word jy oortuig dat ‘n opregte goddelike persoon iemand is wie se hart sensitief vir God is, wat God en sy Woord ernstig opneem en wat meer van Hom begeer. Dawid het uitgeroep: ‘Soos ‘n wildsbok smag na water, so smag ek na U, o God.’ Dis dit! Jy kan ryk of arm, jonk of oud, stedelik of plattelands, volgeling of leier, aktief of stil, getroud of ongetroud wees – niks daarvan maak saak nie. Wat saak maak is om ‘n begeerte te hê om God intiem te ken, om Hom te gehoorsaam en saam met Hom die pad te stap. Vra jouself dus af: ‘Wil ek goddelik wees?’ As jy nie van die antwoord hou nie, gaan op jou knieë en vra God om jou hart en houding te verander.
Sielskos: Obad; 2 Joh; Matt 15:1-14; Ps 119:33-40; Spr 17:16
