2019-08-24
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
A man who inherited an antique grandfather clock with a brass pendulum watched as it pushed the big heavy weight back and forth. “What a burden for a 100-year-old clock to bear,” he thought. So one day he opened the glass case and unhooked the pendulum. “Why did you remove my weight?” the clock asked. The man replied, “It was heavy and I wanted to lighten your load.” The old clock exclaimed, “What you don’t understand is, it’s the weight that keeps me going!” Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and…I now live…by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” God allows us to experience frustrations and burdens in order to develop our patience and humility and make us more dependent on Him. Unlike us, He knows “it’s the weight that keeps us going.” That’s why: “The child he loves…he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating…training us…discipline isn’t much fun…It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later…it pays off…for the well-trained…find themselves mature in their relationship with God” (Hebrews 12:6-11 MSG). What “weight” is God using to produce the nature of Christ in you? Paul goes on to say, “Mortify…your members which are upon the earth” (Colossians 3:5). The word “mortify” comes from mortuary – a place where there’s nothing but dead, inactive bodies. In other words, instead of letting your earthly nature rule, ask the Holy Spirit to bring forth new life in you.
Soul food: Ezek 1-4; Matt 21:1-11; Ps 119:161-168; Prov 19:3-8
2019-08-23
Hebreërs 11:34 NLV
Probeer om altyd vir konstruktiewe kritiek oop te wees, maar moenie verwerping persoonlik opvat nie. Moenie toelaat dat jou opinie van jouself deur diegene wat nie jou beste kwaliteite en potensiaal kan raaksien, verkleur word nie. Suksesvolle mense het almal een ding in gemeen: hulle moes verwerping oorkom. In 1902 het ‘n jong skrywer ‘n brief van die digkuns redakteur van The Atlantic Monthly ontvang. Saam met die gedigte wat die agt-en-twintigjarige digter ingestuur het, was ‘n kort nota ingesluit: ‘Ons tydskrif het nie plek vir jou verse nie.’ Tog het hierdie jong man een van die geliefste en populêrste Amerikaanse digters van alle tye geword. Wie was hy? Robert Frost. In 1907 het die Universiteit van Bern die tesis van ‘n jong fisika student verwerp. Tog het daardie student voortgegaan om die wetenskaplike wêreld vir altyd te verander. Wie was hy? Albert Einstein. Toe ‘n sestienjarige student sy skoolrapport onvang het, was daar ‘n nota by wat gelees het: “‘n Opvallende gebrek aan sukses.” Hy het egter geweier om dit te aanvaar. Wie was hy? Winston Churchill. Na die lys van geloofshelde in Hebreërs 11:34, lees ons: ‘…Hulle het krag in hulle swakheid ontvang, was magtig in die oorlog en het vreemde leërs op die vlug laat slaan.’ Dit kan ook jou verhaal wees. Dawid, wat skouspelagtige mislukkings in die lewe ervaar het, het geskryf: ‘Die Here is my krag, my beskermer wat ek met my hele hart vertrou. Hy help my en my hart is vol vreugde…’ (Psalm 28:7 NLV). Die enigste mens wat jou in die steek kan laat, is die mens op wie jy leun. Leun dus minder op mense en meer op God.
Sielskos: Amos 5:18-9:15; Matt 20:29-34; Ps 119:145-160; Spr 19:1-2
Hebrews 11:34 NIV
Always try to be open to constructive criticism, but don’t personalize rejection. Don’t allow your opinion of yourself to be colored by the opinion of those who fail to see your best qualities and potential. Successful people all have one thing in common: they had to overcome rejection. In 1902 an aspiring young writer received a rejection letter from the poetry editor of The Atlantic Monthly. Enclosed with a sheaf of poems the twenty-eight-year-old poet had sent them was this curt note: “Our magazine has no room for your vigorous verse.” Yet he became one of the most beloved and popular American poets of all time. Who was he? Robert Frost. In 1907, the University of Bern turned down a PhD dissertation from a young physics student. Yet that student went on to change the scientific world forever. Who was he? Albert Einstein. When a sixteen-year-old student got his report card from his rhetoric teacher in school, there was a note attached that read: “A conspicuous lack of success.” But he refused to accept it. Who was he? Winston Churchill. After listing the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:34 we read, “Whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle.” That can be your story too. David, who experienced spectacular failure in life, wrote, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped” (Psalm 28:7). The only people who can let you down are the people you lean on. So lean less on people and more on God.
Soul food: Amos 5:18-9:15; Matt 20:29-34; Ps 119:145-160; Prov 19:1-2
2019-08-22
Deuteronomy 29:9 NIV
Two men were talking and one said, “Do you know the secret of success?” The other replied, “No, what is it?” The first man said, “I can’t tell you.” His friend asked, “Why?” The first guy said, “Because it’s a secret!” Success, as God defines it, is not a secret. He repeatedly says in His Word that He wants us to be successful in life. But as our faces differ, so does God’s plan of success for each of us differ. Success is simply discovering God’s will for your life and doing it. Consider high definition television (HDTV). This technology makes possible an additional hundred lines of resolution on a screen so that the picture is virtually lifelike. The industry calls it “super clarity.” Whether you stand ten feet away or two feet away, the picture looks perfectly clear – no fuzzy lines, no distortions, no shadows. What would a successful life look like in high definition? In order to find that level of clarity, you need to dig into God’s Word and find out what He thinks about success. “Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.” When God created man, one of the first things He told him to do was “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22). In the book of Job we read the words, “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly” (Job 8:7 NKJV). But God-ordained success comes with a caveat, and it’s non-negotiable: God will bless you – in order to make you a blessing to others.
Soul food: Amos 1:1-5:17; Matt 20:17-28; Ps 119:137-144; Prov 18:22-24
Deuteronomium 29:9 NLV
Twee mans was besig om te gesels toe een sê: ‘Weet jy wat die geheim tot sukses is?’ Die ander een het geantwoord: ‘Nee, wat is dit?’ Die eerste man het gesê: ‘Ek mag nie vir jou sê nie.’ ‘Hoekom nie?’ ‘Want dis ‘n geheim!’ Sukses, soos God dit definieer, is nie ‘n geheim nie. Hy sê herhaaldelik in sy Woord dat Hy wil hê dat ons suksesvol in die lewe moet wees. Net soos ons voorkoms egter verskil, so verskil God se plan vir sukses vir elkeen van ons. Sukses beteken eenvoudig dat jy God se wil vir jou lewe ontdek en dit doen. Dink aan hoë-definisie televisies (HDTV). Hierdie tegnologie maak ‘n bykomende honderd lyne resolusie op ‘n skerm moontlik, sodat die beeld feitlik lewensgetrou lyk. Die industrie noem dit ‘super helderheid.’ Of jy nou drie meter of ‘n halwe meter wegstaan, die beeld lyk heeltemal duidelik – geen lyne of skaduwees nie. Hoe sal ‘n suksesvolle lewe in hoë definisie lyk? Om daardie vlak van helderheid te kry, moet ons God se Woord bestudeer en uitvind hoe Hy oor sukses dink. ‘Daarom, wees gehoorsaam aan die voorwaardes van hierdie verbond sodat julle voorspoedig kan wees in alles wat julle doen.’ Toe God die mens geskep het, was een van die eerste dinge wat Hy vir hom gesê het om te doen, om vrugbaar te wees en te vermeerder (sien Genesis 1:28). In die boek Job lees ons die volgende woorde: ‘En al het jy met min begin, sal jy met baie eindig’ (Job 8:7 NLV). Godgegewe sukses kom egter met ‘n voorwaarde wat ononderhandelbaar is: God sal jou seën – sodat jy ‘n seën vir ander mense kan wees.
Sielskos: Amos 1:1-5:17; Matt 20:17-28; Ps 119:137-144; Spr 18:22-24
