2019-09-10
Judges 11:1 NKJV
Sociologists tell us that human behavior is largely determined by two things: our parents and our environment. Judging by that, they’d have written Jephthah off as a lost cause! But not God. His Word says, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV). When Jesus becomes Lord of your life, neither genes nor environment can prevent you from becoming everything He intends you to be. Before his life was over, Jephthah became famous as Israel’s youngest governor, and is listed among the Bible heroes in Hebrews chapter 11. That’s because God is a turnaround specialist! Maybe you were born in less-than-ideal circumstances, and you’re wondering if you can ever overcome them. The answer is yes! So the next time someone tries to use your past to put you down, remind them about Jephthah. The truth is, our God is awesome! He can lift the disadvantaged higher than those who have had every possible advantage. His strength is revealed and released in our weakness (See 2 Corinthians 12:9). He specializes in using those who have been rejected. He used Joseph, a man thrown into a pit by his brothers and written off by his father as dead. He used David, a shepherd boy alienated and ignored by his family. He used Jesus, “the stone the builders rejected” (Psalm 118:22 NIV), who went on to become “the chief cornerstone” (Luke 20:17). And He can do the same for you. So be encouraged; God has a plan for your life and as you spend time with Him He will show you what it is.
Soul food: Ezek 46-48; Matt 24:36-51; Ps 78:40-55; Prov 20:22-24
Rigters 11:1 NLV
Sosioloë vertel ons dat menslike gedrag grootliks deur twee dinge bepaal word: ons ouers en ons omgewing. Jefta sou dus volgens hulle ‘n verlore saak gewees het! Nie volgens God nie. Sy Woord sê: ‘Vergeet al die dinge wat in die verlede gebeur het… Ek gaan iets nuuts doen…’ (Jesaja 43:18-19 NLV). Wanneer Jesus die Here van jou lewe word, kan nie gene of omgewing jou daarvan weerhou om alles wat Hy vir jou in gedagte het, te word nie. Voor sy lewe verby was, het Jefta Israel se jongste heerser geword en is hy saam met die geloofshelde in Hebreërs hoofstuk 11 genoem. Miskien is jy in minder ideale omstandighede gebore en wonder jy of jy dit ooit kan oorkom. Die antwoord is ja! Die volgende keer wat iemand dus jou verlede gebruik om jou te probeer afbreek, herinner hulle aan Jefta. Ons God is wonderlik. Hy kan die benadeelde hoër as diegene wat elke moontlike voordeel gehad het, ophef. Sy krag word in ons swakheid geopenbaar en vrygestel (sien 2 Korintiërs 12:9). Hy spesialiseer daarin om mense te gebruik wat verwerp is. Hy het vir Josef, ‘n man wat deur sy broers in ‘n put gegooi en deur sy pa as dood afgeskryf is, gebruik. Hy het Dawid, ‘n veeoppasser wat van sy familie vervreem en deur hulle geïgnoreer is, gebruik. Hy het Jesus, ‘Die klip wat die bouers afgekeer het…’ (Psalm 118:22 NLV), gebruik om die ‘…hoekklip van die gebou…’ (Lukas 20:17 NLV) te word. Hy kan dieselfde vir jou doen. Wees dus bemoedig; God het ‘n plan vir jou lewe en soos jy tyd saam met Hom spandeer, sal Hy vir jou wys wat dit is.
Sielskos: Eseg 46-48; Matt 24:36-51; Ps 78:40-55; Spr 20:22-24
2019-09-09
Prediker 3:1-8 NLV
Wanneer laas het jy die tyd geneem om te lag, te dans en lief te hê? Kan jy onthou? In die woorde van ‘n onbekende digter: ‘This is the age of the half-read page; the quick hash and the mad dash. The bright knight with the nerves tight; the plane hop and the brief stop. The lamp-tan in a brief span; the big shot in a good spot. The brain strain and the heart pain; the catnaps until the spring snaps…and the fun’s done!’ Dit laat mens dink, nè? Moet dit egter so wees? Nee, as dit is hoe jou lewe vandag lyk, is die kans goed dat dit is omdat jy dit so gemaak het. Jy is die enigste een wat dit kan verander! Jy sê jy is besig? Ons is almal besig. Wie sê dat jy nie die lewe kan geniet wanneer die pas versnel nie? Vir seker nie God nie! Chuck Swindoll skryf: ‘Ek weier dat vrolikheid die agterste gestoeltes inneem wanneer verantwoordelikheid aan die stuur kom. As die pret weg is, is dit omdat ons dit nie daar wil hê nie, nie omdat dit nie inpas nie. Ek gee nie om of jou ‘doenlysie’ tot by die horison strek nie, jy moet weer in balans kom en die tyd neem om te lag, van vreugde te dans en lief te hê. Hoekom? Omdat die Bybel so sê! Jou familie en vriende sal jou ook meer geniet wanneer jy dit doen.’ Die Psalmdigter het gesê: ‘U wys vir my die lewenspad; in u teenwoordigheid is vreugde, en aan u regterhand is daar blydskap vir altyd’ (Psalm 16:11 NLV). Gaan dus voort en geniet jou lewe soos God dit bedoel het om te wees – voor jy jou oë uitvee, is dit verby.
Sielskos: Eseg 43-45; Matt 24:26-35; Ps 78:32-39; Spr 20:20-21
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV
When did you last take time to laugh, to dance, and to love? Can you even remember? In the words of an unknown poet: “This is the age of the half-read page; the quick hash and the mad dash. The bright knight with the nerves tight; the plane hop and the brief stop. The lamp-tan in a brief span; the big shot in a good spot. The brain strain and the heart pain; the catnaps until the spring snaps…and the fun’s done!” Sobering words, right? But does it have to be that way? No, if it’s that way in your life today, chances are it’s because you made it that way. And you’re only one who can make it different! You say you’re busy? We’re all busy. Who says you can’t enjoy life even when the pace picks up? Certainly not God! Chuck Swindoll writes: “I refuse to force hilarity into the back seat every time responsibility takes the wheel. If the fun’s gone, it’s because we didn’t want it around – not because it didn’t fit…I don’t care if your ‘to do’ list is as long as the horizon, you need to get back in balance and take the time to laugh…to dance…and to love. Why? Because the Bible says so! Furthermore, your family and friends will enjoy you a lot more when you do.” The psalmist said, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11 NKJV). So go ahead and enjoy your life the way God intended – it will be over before you know it.
Soul food: Ezek 43-45; Matt 24:26-35; Ps 78:32-39; Prov 20:20-21
2019-09-08
Psalm 90:12 NKJV
In a 1985 newspaper essay, Anne Wells wrote: “My brother-in-law opened my sister’s bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. It was an exquisite silk handmade slip; the price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. ‘Jan bought this the first time we went to New York…eight or nine years ago,’ [he said]. ‘She never wore it; she was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion.’ He put the slip on the bed with the other clothes we were taking – to the mortician. Then he turned to me, ‘Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion!'” Those words changed Anne Wells’ life. She continued: “I’m not saving anything anymore. Now we use our good china…for every special occasion – like losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. ‘Someday’ and ‘one of these days’ are fighting a losing battle to stay in my vocabulary. If it’s worth seeing, hearing, or doing, I want to see, hear, and do it now. I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes I tell myself this is a special occasion.” Makes you think, doesn’t it? Makes you want to drain the last ounce of joy out of every day and break free from the cement of procrastination that whispers, “You can do it later.” Wise up! Forgive that offense, tell that person you love them, take that trip, go back to school. Decide today to do the thing you’ve been putting off.
Soul food: Gen 2:7-25; 1 Cor 15:39-55
