2019-12-06
Esther 4:14 NKJV
Moses began his ministry when he was eighty. Esther started hers as a teenaged girl. When she heard the words of Mordecai – “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – she could easily have said, “Give me time to grow up, get married, have children, and fulfill my dreams before asking me to put my life on the line to save the Jewish people.” But she didn’t. She said, “I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish” (v. 16 AMPC). Often what God does in you while you’re waiting is more important than the thing you’re waiting for. Sometimes you think you’re ready but God knows you’re not, so He puts you into the school of faith. That’s where you learn to listen to “the teacher” (the Holy Spirit), study your lessons, pass the tests, and graduate so that God can use you. It’s not a comfortable place to be, but God is more interested in your character than your comfort. Missionary Nancy Cockrell writes: “It was God’s plan all along to bring you here to serve Him, by using your gifts to minister to others – for such a time as this. He has given you the grace to reflect the love and character of Christ, to be a light in a darkened world – for such a time as this. You have a unique place of service in God’s kingdom, touching lives as only you can do – for such a time as this.” So here’s the question: Is God telling you today – your time has come?
Soul food: Col 3-4; Philemon; John 17:13-26; Ps 148:1-6; Prov 29:11-15
Ester 4:14 NLV
Ester het haar bediening as tienermeisie begin. Toe sy die woorde van Mordegai hoor – ‘…Wie weet, of dit nie miskien juis met die oog op ‘n tyd soos hierdie is dat jy koningin geword het nie!’ – kon sy maklik gesê het: ‘Gee my tyd om groot te word, te trou, kinders te kry en my drome te vervul voor jy my vra om my lewe op die spel te plaas om die Joodse volk te red.’ Sy het dit egter nie gedoen nie. Sy het gesê: ‘…Al is dit in stryd met die wette sal ek na die koning toe gaan. As ek dan daarvoor moet sterf, moet ek maar sterf’ (vers 16 NLV). Dikwels is dit wat God in jou doen terwyl jy wag, belangriker as dit waarvoor jy wag. Soms dink jy jy is gereed, maar God weet jy is nie, daarom plaas Hy jou in die skool van geloof. Dis daar waar jy leer om na die onderwyser (die Heilige Gees) te luister, jou lesse te leer, die toetse te slaag en graad te ontvang sodat God jou kan gebruik. Dis nie ‘n gemaklike plek om te wees nie, maar God is meer in jou karakter as in jou gemak geïnteresseerd. Die sendeling Nancy Cockrell skryf: ‘Dit was al die tyd God se plan om jou tot hier te bring om Hom te dien, deur jou gawes te gebruik om ander te bedien. Hy het jou die genade gegee om op die liefde en karakter van Christus te reflekteer, om ‘n lig in ‘n donker wêreld te wees. Jy het ‘n unieke plek van diens in God se koninkryk, waar jy lewens aanraak soos net jy kan – alles vir ‘n tyd soos hierdie.’ Die vraag is dus: Sê God vandag vir jou dat jou tyd aangebreek het?
Sielskos: Kol 3-4; Filemon; Joh 17:13-26; Ps 148:1-6; Spr 29:11-15
2019-12-05
Johannes 14:12 NLV
Dis goed om te lees wat Jesus gedoen het toe Hy tussen ons geleef het. Wanneer jy egter iemand sien wat lewe soos Hy geleef het, het daardie persoon Jesus se ‘kleed’ aangetrek. In plaas daarvan om net ‘n historiese figuur te wees, word sy leefstyl ‘n realiteit. Is dit nie waarna mense soek nie? Ghandi het een maal gesê dat as hy Christene kon ontmoet wat soos Christus is, sal hy ook een word. Ongelukkig het die Christene wat hy geken het, wapens gedra en hom en sy mense aan slawerny onderwerp. Dit hoef egter nie so te wees nie. Jesus het gesê: ‘…wie aanhou om in My te glo, sal ook die werke doen wat Ek doen; hy sal selfs nog groter dinge as dit doen…’ Miskien wonder jy hoe ons ooit groter werke as Jesus sou kon doen. Hier is hoe: Hy was een man wat tot een plek beperk was, terwyl sy verloste familie in staat is om sy werke dwarsdeur die wêreld te vermenigvuldig. Hoe was Jesus dus? Hy was in die eerste plek barmhartig, nie veroordelend nie. Onthou jy die vrou wat gevang is toe sy egbreuk gepleeg het? Toe die Fariseërs haar wou stenig, het Hy gesê: “…’Laat die een onder julle wat sondeloos is, die eerste een wees wat ‘n klip na haar gooi'” (Johannes 8:7 NLV). Eina! Van wie het Jesus gepraat? Die Fariseërs of die godsdienstige hiërargie? Nee, Hy het van Homself gepraat! Hy was die enigste een wat sondeloos was en Hy het geen klippe gehad om te gooi nie. As jy wil weet hoe dit lyk om Jesus se kleed aan te trek, maak ‘n lys van die Bybelse nege ‘vrugte van die Gees’ (of Christuseienskappe) wat die Heilige Gees in jou lewe wil uitbring: ‘…liefde, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedheid, getrouheid, sagmoedigheid en selfbeheersing…’ (Galasiërs 5:22-23 NLV).
Sielskos: Kol 1-2; Joh 17:1-12; Ps 147:12-20; Spr 29:6-10
John 14:12 NKJV
It’s good to read about what Jesus did when He walked among us. But when you see someone living the way He did, it’s called “putting skin on Jesus.” Instead of just being a historic figure, His lifestyle becomes a reality. And isn’t that what people are looking for? Gandhi once said if he could meet Christians who were like Christ, he’d become one too. Unfortunately, the Christians he knew carried weapons and subjected him and his people to servitude. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do.” Maybe you’re wondering how we could possibly do greater works than Jesus. Here’s how: He was one man confined to one place, whereas His redeemed family is capable of multiplying His works throughout the world. So what was Jesus like? For starters, He was compassionate, not condemning. Remember the woman caught in the act of adultery? When the Pharisees wanted to stone her, He said, “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” (John 8:7 NLT). Ouch! Who was Jesus talking about? The Pharisees or the religious hierarchy? No, He was talking about Himself! He was the only one without sin and He had no stones to throw! If you want to know what “putting skin on Jesus” looks like, the Bible lists these nine “fruits” (or Christlike qualities) that the Holy Spirit wants to produce in your life: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).
Soul food: Col 1-2; John 17:1-12; Ps 147:12-20; Prov 29:6-10
2019-12-04
Psalm 34:7 NKJV
Just as a president and a prime minister are constantly surrounded by security guards, as a redeemed child of God you are surrounded by angels. You may not be able to see the president or prime minister’s security detail, but just let someone make a threatening move and trained guards instantly form a protective shield around him. Dr. James McConnell, founder of Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was preaching one night during “The Troubles” (as the sectarian war was commonly called), when a paramilitary leader with a gun came into the church to kill him. Why? Because the man’s wife had become a Christian and her life was so radically changed that he hardly recognized her. The man only took a few steps up the aisle when he stopped dead in his tracks, turned, and ran out of the church. What happened? The man, who later became a Christian, testified that he’d seen two big angels standing on either side of Pastor McConnell! When Paul’s ship encountered a storm and everyone thought they were going to perish, Paul announced: “There stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid’…take heart…for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:23-25 NKJV). Today, you have a divine security detail watching over you.
Soul food: Josh 22-24; John 16:19-33; Ps 147:1-11; Prov 29:1-5
