2019-10-26
Proverbs 13:22 NLT
Many people are reluctant to draw up a will. At a subconscious level they fear that as soon as they do, they’ll “cash in their chips.” But not according to the Bible. In Scripture long life is one of God’s promises to us: “Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life” (Proverbs 10:27 NLT). So with that in mind, here’s an important question for you to answer, sooner rather than later. If you died tomorrow would your money, your home, your furnishings, your clothing and your valuables go to the people you intended? Are you sure? The best way to be certain is to sit down now while you’re in good health and sound mind and write down what you want to leave and to whom. Think also of your liquid assets. Do you want to leave a certain amount to your family, or your church, or a ministry or charity you believe in? If you do, call a lawyer and have it clearly spelled out in a legal document. Don’t leave a mess that’ll mean more work for the courts, more taxes for the government, and a legacy of disappointment and confusion for your loved ones. The Bible says, “Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren.” Your stewardship doesn’t end at the grave. In fact, if the parable of the talents Jesus taught us means anything at all, it means you’ll be judged according to what you did with what was entrusted to you in this life (See Matthew 25:15). So don’t put this off – deal with it right away.
Soul food: 1 John 1:1-3:10; John 7:14-24; Ps 104:19-26; Prov 24:28
Spreuke 13:22 NLV
Baie mense is huiwerig om ‘n testament op te stel. Op ‘n onbewustelike vlak vrees hulle dat sodra hulle dit doen, hulle enige oomblik sal sterf. Dis egter nie ‘n Bybelse beginsel nie. In die Skrif is een van God se beloftes aan ons ‘n lang lewe: ‘Hy wat ontsag het vir die Here, maak sy lewe langer…’ (Spreuke 10:27 NLV). Met dit in gedagte, is daar ‘n belangrike vraag wat jy kort voor lank moet beantwoord. As jy môre sou doodgaan, sal jou geld, jou huis, jou meubels, jou klere en jou waardevolle items na die mense toe gaan wat jy bedoel het wat dit moet kry? Is jy seker? Die beste manier om seker daarvan te wees is om nou, terwyl jy in goeie gesondheid en by jou volle verstand is, neer te skryf wat jy aan wie wil nalaat. Dink ook aan jou likiede bates. Wil jy ‘n sekere bedrag aan jou familie, of jou kerk, of ‘n bediening of liefdadigheidsorganisasie waarin jy glo, nalaat? As jy dit wil doen, skakel ‘n prokureur en spel dit duidelik in ‘n wetlike dokument uit. Moenie ‘n gemors wat meer werk vir die howe, meer belasting vir die regering en ‘n nalatenskap van teleurstelling en verwarring vir jou geliefdes beteken, agterlaat nie. Die Bybel sê: “‘n Goeie mens laat iets na vir kleinkinders…” Jou verantwoordelikheid eindig nie by die graf nie. Inteendeel, as Jesus se vergelyking van die talente ons enigiets geleer het, is dit dat jy volgens wat jy gedoen het met dit wat in jou lewe aan jou toevertrou is, geoordeel sal word (sien Matteus 25:15). Moet dus nie uitstel nie – hanteer dit dadelik.
Sielskos: 1 John 1:1-3:10; Joh 7:14-24; Ps 104:19-26; Spr 24:28
2019-10-25
Psalm 103:13 DB
As jy steeds die letsels van ‘n slegte kindertyd saam met jou dra, kan dit moeilik wees om God as jou liefdevolle Vader te sien. So baie behoeftes waaraan nie in jou kindertyd voldoen is nie – liefde, sekuriteit, vertroue, vertroosting, koestering en materiële benodighede – kan dit moeilik maak om te glo dat God nou in jou behoeftes sal voorsien. Wat staan jou dus te doen? Erken dat jou interne beeld van ‘n vader verwronge is en op geen manier van toepassing op jou hemelse Vader is nie. Selfs die beste pa is net ‘n vae afbeelding van jou hemelse Vader. God wil hê dat jy Hom as ‘n sorgsame, sensitiewe, vrygewige en standvastige Vader moet sien. Dis hoekom Jesus ons geleer het om Hom ‘Ons Vader’ in plaas van ‘Almagtige God en Here’ te noem. Dit is ook hoekom Hy God ‘jou Vader’ en nie net ‘My Vader’ genoem het nie. Soos ‘n goeie vader, het God jou elke behoefte voorsien en daaraan voldoen (sien Matteus 6:25-34). Net soos ‘n goeie ouer die individuele eienskappe van sy kinders verstaan, so ken jou hemelse Vader jou unieke behoeftes, gedagtes en gevoelens. ‘Net soos ouers hulle kinders met groot liefde versorg, so versorg die Here elkeen wat Hom dien met arms vol liefde. Die Here weet hoe swak en vol foute ons is. Hy weet dat ons maar net klein en swak mensies is’ (Psalm 103:13-14 DB). Sy versorging is nommerpas gemaak vir jou spesifieke behoeftes en beperkinge. Net soos ‘n goeie aardse vader die verantwoordelikheid aanvaar om vir sy kinders te sorg, hou jou hemelse Vader Homself verantwoordelik om aan jou behoeftes te voldoen; en Hy wil hê dat jy daarvolgens moet optree deur Hom te vertrou. Met ander woorde, jou rol is om soos die kind van ‘n betroubare, vrygewige, liefdevolle Vader op te tree.
Sielskos: Esra 9-10; Joh 7:1-13; Ps 104:1-18; Spr 24:26-27
Psalm 103:13 TLB
To see God as your loving Father may not come easily if you carry the scars of an abusive childhood. So many needs that went unmet in your childhood – affection, security, trust, comfort, nurture, and material requirements – can make it hard to believe that God will provide for your needs now. So what to do? Recognize that your internalized father-image is flawed and in no way fits your heavenly Father. Even the best father is a blurred carbon copy of your heavenly Father. God wants you to see Him as a caring, sensitive, generous, dependable Father. That’s why Jesus taught us to call Him “Our Father,” not just “Almighty God and Lord.” It’s also why He called God “your father” and not just “My father.” Like a good father, God has anticipated your every need and provided for it (See Matthew 6:25-34). Just as good parents understand the individual characteristics of their children, your heavenly Father knows your unique needs, thoughts, and feelings. “As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out” (Psalm 103:13-14 MSG). His care for you is tailor-made to fit your specific requirements and limitations. And just as a good earthly father accepts and fulfills his responsibility to provide for his children, your heavenly Father holds Himself responsible for meeting your needs, and He wants you to act accordingly by trusting Him. In other words, your role is to act like the child of a trustworthy, generous, permanently loving Father.
Soul food: Ezra 9-10; John 7:1-13; Ps 104:1-18; Prov 24:26-27
2019-10-24
John 8:27 NKJV
Religious people in Jesus’ day found the concept of God’s fatherhood hard to grasp. Lord, king, judge, they understood – not Father. Their Old Testament scriptures barely spoke half a dozen times of God as Father, whereas the New Testament mentions it hundreds of times. Jesus Himself said, “No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27 NIV). The truth is, until Jesus revealed the Father, God remained a mystery to them. And many of us still don’t comprehend His fatherhood and the rich blessings we have in Him. Father, God’s all-inclusive name, incorporates everything you’ll ever need and discloses exactly how He feels about you. He exemplifies every trait of the best father imaginable. Whatever a loving father would do for his needy child, your heavenly Father will do for you – and then some. Once we recognize God as our Father, our fears dissolve as we start to realize that all our needs will be met. Jesus said, “It gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NLT). It makes God happy to give you the resources of His kingdom. Why? Because He loves you as much as He loves Jesus! In John 17:23, Jesus prayed you’d know with confidence that your heavenly Father loves you “in the same way [he has] loved me” (MSG). So treat God as your Father, and start acting like His child and enjoying the benefits of family membership (See Ephesians 2:19).
Soul food: Ezra 6-8; John 6:52-71; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
