2020-03-21
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
As you read this devotional, always remember that the power doesn’t lie in the writer’s thoughts or comments, but in the written Word of God. Paul tells us, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” It’s impregnated with divine seeds of life, and those seeds will spring to life within you, producing the fruit of the Spirit, and “delivering on” the promises of God. View this devotional as a gateway rather than a goal. See it as the little book that whets your appetite for the Big Book! When you read each day’s devotion, have your Bible beside you and turn to the Scriptures that are referenced. As you deposit the Word of God within you every day, wonderful things will begin to happen in your life. The psalmist writes: “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (Psalm 1:1-3 NLT). Note the words “they prosper in all they do.” As you renew your mind with Scripture, your faith will grow, your outlook will be altered, and every area of your life will start to change for the better. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Soul food: Job 11-14; Matt 24:26-35; Ps 13; Prov 8:14-16
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
There is so much power in God’s Word. Paul tells us, ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.’ And in Hebrews, we’re told: ‘For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart’ (Hebrews 4:12 NIV). God’s Word has the power to change us, inspire us, discipline us, comfort us, and encourage us. Even when we read passages of Scripture that we’ve read many times before, it still has the power to impact us. The Spirit can show us things we’ve never noticed before. As we take in the Word of God every day, amazing things will begin to happen in our lives. The psalmist writes that those who love God’s Word ‘are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do’ (Psalm 1:3 NLT). God’s Word has the power to sustain us through the tough times in life. But we need to choose to be open to that power. If we refuse to spend time reading the Bible and asking the Spirit to speak to us through it, we’re unlikely to experience the transformative power contained inside it. Even when life is hard and we’re walking through a valley, we need to spend time reflecting on God’s Word. The promises found inside are true no matter how we feel, and no matter how bad things in our lives seem. As we renew our mind with Scripture, our faith will grow, our outlook will be altered, and every area of our lives will start to change for the better.
Job 11-14; Matt 24:26-35; Ps 13; Prov 8:14-16
2 Timoteus 3:16-17 NLV
Soos jy hierdie dagstukkie lees, moet jy onthou dat die krag nie in die skrywer se gedagtes of opmerkings lê nie, maar in die geskrewe Woord van God. Paulus sê vir ons: ‘Die hele Skrif is deur God geïnspireer…’ Dis met die goddelike sade van lewe bevrug en daardie sade sal binne-in jou opskiet, die vrug van die Gees produseer en God se beloftes in jou lewe tot stand bring. Sien hierdie dagstukkie as ‘n poort, eerder as ‘n doelwit. Sien dit as die klein boekie wat jou eetlus vir die Groot Boek aanwakker! Hou die Bybel byderhand wanneer jy elke dag se dagstuk lees en blaai na die teksverse waarna verwys word. Soos jy die Woorde van God elke dag in jou deponeer, sal wonderlike dinge in jou lewe begin gebeur. Die Psalmdigter skryf: ‘Gelukkig is die mense wat nie optree volgens die raad van goddeloses, of rondstaan op die pad van sondaars, of sit in die vergadering van spotters nie, maar vreugde vind in die gebooie van die Here en sy voorskrifte dag en nag oordink. Hulle is soos bome geplant langs ‘n rivier, wat vrugte dra op die regte tyd. Hulle blare verwelk nie; in alles wat hulle doen, is hulle voorspoedig’ (Psalm 1:1-3 NLV). Let op die woorde: ‘in alles wat hulle doen, is hulle voorspoedig.’ Soos jy jou gedagtes met die Skrif vernuwe, sal jou geloof groei, jou uitkyk verander en elke area in jou lewe sal ten goede begin verander. ‘Die hele Skrif is deur God geïnspireer en is nuttig om ons te leer wat waar is en om ons te laat besef wat verkeerd in ons lewe is. Dit ruk ons reg en kweek ‘n regte leefstyl. Dit is God se manier om ons voor te berei, ten volle toegerus vir elke goeie ding wat Hy wil hê ons moet doen.’
Sielskos: Job 11-14; Matt 24:26-35; Ps 13; Spr 8:14-16
2020-03-20
Psalm 119:165 NLT
When we know we’re doing something we shouldn’t, we can feel uncomfortable and guilty. We lose our peace of mind. And the longer we disobey God, the less peace we feel. This happened to Jonah. God had told Him to go to Nineveh and tell them that He wasn’t happy with the way they were living. But Jonah decided to head to Tarshish on a boat instead. It might have made Jonah feel better initially, but a storm soon started and His peace was taken away. Eventually he said: ‘Throw me into the sea…and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault’ (Jonah 1:12 NLT). Even though Jonah was doing what he wanted to do, he wasn’t at peace because he knew that he should be doing what God wanted him to do. Also his actions caused other people to lose their peace too. The storm came because of his disobedience, and it caused the sailors to be afraid. If we’re not doing what’s right, we can not only cause problems for ourselves, but we can have a negative impact on those around us. If we want to experience peace, we need to be following God’s call on our lives. The Bible says: ‘Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.’ When we know what God wants us to do, and we obey Him, we experience ‘great peace’. This peace also comes from keeping our eyes fixed on God, no matter what our situation. In Isaiah we’re told, ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!’ (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). When we’re completely surrendered to God, and focused on Him, we will experience His perfect peace.
Job 8-10; Matt 24:15-25; Ps 116:12-19; Prov 8:10-13
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
The secret to “perfect peace” lies in this Scripture: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” It’s not your circumstances, but how you think about them that robs you of peace. Focusing on your circumstances just causes more anxiety, because circumstances constantly change and often spin out of your control. However, God never changes, and nothing ever spins out of His control. Peace and worry are mutually exclusive. Worry throttles your confidence, chokes your perspective, and suffocates your spirit. It robs you of the peace that comes from knowing the God who can handle anything, and through whom all things are possible. The reason we worry so much is because we engage in exactly the opposite behavior to that which brings peace. Worry is like a “no-confidence” vote in God. You may not intend it that way, but every time you give in to worry, in essence, you’re saying: “I don’t believe God can or will handle this for me. I’m not sure I can trust Him in this matter, so I’ll just have to carry this burden and take care of the problem myself.” God is either the object of your trust or just a part-time helper you call on when you can’t handle things on your own. It’s reminiscent of the elephant and the mouse that walked over a bridge. When they got to the other side, the mouse said, “Man, we really shook that bridge!” When you begin to see God as playing the major role and you the minor one, you’ll begin to find the peace which has eluded you for so long.
Soul food: Job 8-10; Matt 24:15-25; Ps 116:12-19; Prov 8:10-13
