2019-09-03
Proverbs 22:6 CEV
A mother who smokes passes on the nicotine to her baby in her breast milk. Unintentionally she pollutes her child with her own vices. And it’s the same when we pass on things like bitterness, guilt, and insecurity to our kids. That’s why we need God’s help; only He can bring healing to the root of our problem and break the cycle. No one else can teach faith to your children like you. The foundation must be laid by you and built on by them. And don’t just teach them your doctrine; expose them to your faith. Tell them Who brought you through the tough places. That way, when they encounter their own tough places they’ll be armed with more than a set of religious rules; they’ll have confidence in God for themselves. And stop beating yourself up over past mistakes; there are things all of us wish we’d done differently. The truth is that God can alter the effects of your past and prevent tragedy in your future. He’s the God of restoration who makes “all things new” (Revelation 21:5 NKJV). He can bring right out of wrong, good out of bad, and enable you to pour His wisdom and love into your children. This is your chance of a lifetime – seize it! Let go of yesterday and take hold of tomorrow. Your children are your tomorrow; they’re being shaped by you. Give them a taste of the things of God when they’re little, and when they grow up the world will never satisfy them.
Soul food: Ezek 27:25-30:26; Matt 23:1-12; Ps 112; Prov 20:1-4
2019-09-02
Handelinge 26:19 DB
Wanneer God jou ‘n visioen vir jou lewe gee, moet jy weet hoe om: 1) Dit te behou. Jou visioen vind binne ‘n sekere tydsraamwerk plaas: ‘…Stadig maar seker breek die tyd aan wanneer die visioen waar sal word…’ (Habakuk 2:3 NLV). Sommige van ons kan ‘n visioen kry, maar dit nie voltooi nie, omdat ons nie die ongemak en harde werk wat daarmee gepaard gaan, kan hanteer nie. Sommige van ons jaag voor God uit en ons visioen sterf ‘n stille dood. Jesus het gesê: ‘Wat uit ‘n menslike liggaam gebore is, is menslik, en wat uit die Gees gebore is, is gees’ (Johannes 3:6 NLV). Wanneer jou visioen uit die Gees gebore word, sal dit deur die Gees onderhou word. Wanneer dit egter uit die vlees gebore word, is jy op jou eie! 2) Dit weg te steek. Dis ‘n fout om jou visioen met mense wat dit nie kan waardeer nie, te deel. Josef het dit gedoen en in ‘n put beland. Nie almal sal jou sukses vier nie, veral nie as jou lig helderder as hulle s’n skyn nie. Vra dus vir God vir die vermoë om onderskeid te kan tref. 3) Dit water te gee. Lees hierdie twee Skrifgedeeltes versigtig en biddend: ‘…Maar Dawid het by die Here sy God krag ontvang’ (1 Samuel 30:6 NLV); ‘…julle… moet aanhou om julleself op te bou op die fondament van julle allerheiligste geloof…’ (Judas 20). Jy moet weet hoe om jouself geestelik aan te moedig en op te bou en hoe om jou visioen water te gee. God het vir Habakuk gesê: ‘…Skryf my antwoord, die visioen, in groot, duidelike letters…’ (Habakuk 2:2 NLV). Skryf jou visioen op ‘n kaartjie en dra dit saam met jou. Begin optree soos die persoon wat jy verwag om te wees wanneer dit ‘n realiteit word – en dit sal ‘n realiteit word!
Sielskos: Eseg 24:1-27:24; Matt 22:34-46; Ps 20; Spr 19:24-29
Acts 26:19 NIV
When God gives you a vision for your life, you need to know how to: (1) Hold it. Your vision is governed by a time frame: “The vision is…for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it” (Habakkuk 2:3). Some of us can conceive a vision, but we can’t carry it to full term because we’re not willing to endure the stretching and discomfort involved. We rush ahead of God and our vision is stillborn, or too weak to survive. Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). When your vision is born of the Spirit, it’ll be sustained by the Spirit. But when it’s born of the flesh, you’re on your own! (2) Hide it. It’s a mistake to share your vision with those who can’t appreciate it. Joseph did that, and he landed in a pit. Not everybody will celebrate your success, especially if your light shines brighter than theirs. So ask God for discernment. Judas may seem like your friend right now, but inevitably he’ll betray you. (3) Water it. Read these two Scriptures carefully and prayerfully: “David encouraged himself in the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6); “Building up yourselves on your most holy faith” (Jude 20). You must know how to encourage and build yourself up spiritually and how to water your vision. God told Habakkuk, “Write the vision, and make it plain” (Habakkuk 2:2). Write your vision on a three-by-five card and carry it with you. And start acting like the person you expect to be when it becomes reality – and it will!
Soul food: Ezek 24:1-27:24; Matt 22:34-46; Ps 20; Prov 19:24-29
2019-09-01
Miga 6:8 NLV
Die profeet Miga het gevra: ‘As ‘n mens kom om die Here te aanbid, wat moet jy saambring? Moet ons God aanbid deur jaaroud kalwers te offer? Sal dit vir die Here aanvaarbaar wees as ons duisende ramme offer of tienduisend strome olyfolie aanbied? Sal dit Hom bly maak as ons ons oudste kinders offer om te vergoed vir ons sonde?’ (verse 6-7 NLV). Voel jy of jy nooit goed genoeg sal wees om God te behaag nie? Lyk godsdiens vir jou soos ‘n stel onmoontlik eise wat jou skuldig laat voel en ontwerp is om ‘n ver verwyderde godheid te paai wat daarvan hou om ons te laat rondskarrel? Dankie tog vir Miga, wat hierdie idee vir ons uit die weg geruim het deur te sê: ‘Nee, Hy het reeds gesê wat reg is…’ (vers 8 NLV). Omdat jy verlos is en met God se Gees gevul is, kan jy: 1) Reg laat geskied, selfs wanneer niemand anders dit doen nie. Hoekom? Om jou vrymoedigheid voor God in stand te hou! (sien 1 Johannes 3:21-22). Niks in jou lewe is belangriker as dit nie. 2) Liefde en trou bewys. Jesus het deur die lewe gegaan en mense opgehef. Sy woord vir jou vandag is: ‘…Ja, gaan nou, en doen dieselfde’ (Lukas 10:37 NLV). 3) Nederig voor God lewe. Wanneer God jou bevorder, sal jou grootste uitdaging wees om seker te maak dat Hy al die glorie ontvang. Elke goeie ding wat jy vandag het, is ‘n gawe van Hom af; probeer om dit te onthou! Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: ‘…Die Here verwag van julle om reg te laat geskied, om liefde en trou te bewys, en om nederig voor God te lewe.’
Sielskos: Jona 1:10-2:10; Matt 12:38-42
Micah 6:8 NIV
The prophet Micah asks: “With what shall I come before the Lord…Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings…with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for…the sin of my soul?” (vv. 6-7 NIV). Do you feel like you can never be good enough to please God? Does religion look to you like a set of impossible, guilt-inducing demands designed to appease a distant deity who takes delight in making us squirm? Thank God for Micah, who comes along and dispels that notion by telling us, “He has showed you, O man, what is good” (v. 8 RSV). Because you’ve been redeemed and filled with God’s Spirit, you can: (1) “Do right” even when nobody else is. Why? In order to maintain your confidence before God! (See 1 John 3:21-22). Nothing in your life is more important than that. (2) “Love mercy.” Remember the old Nancy Sinatra hit song, “These boots were made for walkin’, and that’s just what they’ll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you”? Jesus went through life lifting people up, not walking all over them. And His Word to you today is: “Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:37). (3) “Walk humbly with your God.” When God promotes you, your greatest challenge will be to make sure He gets all the glory. Every good thing you have today is a gift from Him; try to remember that! So the word for you today is: “Do right…love mercy…walk humbly.”
Soul food: Jonah 1:10-2:10; Matt 12:38-42
