2020-04-19
Proverbs 11:14 MSG
The best wisdom in life comes from God. We can go to Him with every problem we have, and every mountain we need Him to move. But He can also speak to us through other people. He designed us to live in community and to support each other. But we need to make sure that we’re surrounding ourselves with people who will lead us closer to Jesus, rather than encouraging us to go down the wrong paths. We need people we can rely on to give us good advice. The Message says: ‘Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.’ We need people to direct us the right way, and hold us accountable. If we follow the directions of unwise people, we can end up being led the wrong way. Jesus said: ‘If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit’ (Matthew 15:14 NIV). We need people who can see that God’s got a plan for us, and who encourage us to step out of our comfort zones into our calling. We need people who want us to be the best we can possibly be. Sometimes we might feel uncomfortable around people who are pushing us closer to God. We might be frustrated if they gently show us where we’ve been going wrong. But the Bible says: ‘The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice’ (Proverbs 12:15 NIV). We need to humble ourselves, and be open to the advice they have. However, we also have to make sure that we’re talking to God about the advice we’re being given. Some people may think they’re helping us, but actually the advice isn’t godly. We need to ask God to help us discern which advice to follow, and which people to surround ourselves with.
Matt 5:7; Matt 18:21-35; Ps 103:8-18; Lam 3:22-24
2020-04-18
Romeine 10:8 NLV
As jy nie versigtig is nie, is dit maklik om woorde van twyfel te spreek wat dit wat God in sy Woord sê, weerspreek. Paulus skryf: ‘Die boodskap is hier by jou, op jou lippe en in jou hart. Want as jy met jou mond bely dat Jesus die Here is en met jou hart glo dat God Hom uit die dood opgewek het, sal jy gered word’ (verse 8-9 NLV). Spreek dus God se Woord oor jou situasie uit en kyk hoe Hy namens jou aan die werk spring. Jy moet in lyn met God se Woord kom en leer om te sê wat Hy sê, maak nie saak hoe sleg dinge op die oomblik lyk nie. As dit wat jy sê nie is wat God sê nie, is dit teenproduktief. As dit egter is wat God sê, word jou woorde kragtige wapens. Die Bybel sê: ‘Hoe kragtig is opregte woorde…’ (Job 6:25 AFR53). Die woord ‘kragtig’ kom van die Hebreeuse woord ‘marats’, wat beteken ‘om te druk.’ Net soos die koning se seëlring sy seël van outoriteit op ‘n dokument afdruk, seël jou belydenis van geloof die saak voor God. Jesus het gesê: ‘Dit verseker Ek julle, julle kan vir hierdie berg sê: ‘Mag God jou oplig en in die see gooi,’ en dit sal so gebeur. Al wat nodig is, is dat julle regtig sal glo en nie in julle harte twyfel nie. Daarom verklaar Ek vir julle, alles wat julle in die gebed vra, sal julle ontvang, mits julle God daarmee vertrou’ (Markus 11:23-24 NLV). Moenie net met God oor jou berg praat nie, praat met jou berg deur God se Woord te gebruik! Wanneer jy God se Woord jou woord maak, sal jou berg begin beweeg.
Sielskos: Lev 23:26-25:55; Mark 2:1-12; Ps 130; Spr 10:12
Romans 10:8 MSG
If you’re not careful, it’s easy to speak words of doubt that contradict what God says in His Word. Paul writes, “The word that saves is…as near as the tongue in your mouth…It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us.” So, speak God’s Word over your situation and watch Him go to work on your behalf, setting things right for you. The word “confession” comes from the Greek word homologia, which means “to come into agreement with, or say the same thing.” That means you must come into agreement with God’s Word and learn to say what He says, no matter how bad things look at the time. If it’s not what God is saying, it’s counterproductive. But if it is, your words become powerful weapons. The Bible says, “How forcible are right words!” (Job 6:25). This word “forcible” comes from the Hebrew word marats which means “to press.” Just like a king’s signet ring pressed his seal of authority onto a document, your confession of faith seals the matter before God. Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore…whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:23-24 NKJV). Don’t just speak to God about your mountain – speak to your mountain using God’s Word! When you make God’s Word your word, your mountain will begin to move.
Soul food: Lev 23:26-25:55; Mark 2:1-12; Ps 130; Prov 10:12
Romans 10:17 NCV
When we’re feeling afraid, facing disappointment, or going through a tough time, it can be tempting to start speaking negatively about our situation. We can let our doubts overtake us, and we wonder whether what God’s promised is really true. But even in times of doubt, we need to speak God’s Word over our situation. When we declare the truth out loud, our faith increases. We need to come into agreement with God’s Word and learn to say what He says, no matter how bad things look at the time. The Bible says: ‘Faith comes from hearing the Good News.’ When we say and hear the truth, our faith grows and we rebuild our trust in God. His Word is like a sword and we can use it to fight against the lies of the enemy, and our own thoughts. In Ephesians we’re told: ‘Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’ (6:17 NLT). We might not always be able to change our situations on our own, but when we speak out God’s truth we renew our minds (have a read of Romans 12:2) and our attitudes are changed. Once our minds are fixed on God and His power, we’ll expectantly believe that we’ll see change in our situations too. But Jesus also taught us that we can speak to our problems and see them move. He said: ‘You can say to this mountain, “May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” and it will happen’ (Mark 11:23 NLT). God has the power to move every mountain in our lives, even the ones that seem impossible to be moved. We just need to speak the promises and power of God over our situations, and then watch Him move our mountains.
Lev 23:26-25:55; Mark 2:1-12; Ps 130; Prov 10:12
2020-04-17
1 Johannes 2:1 NLV
Die maan en die sterre wat jy op ‘n helder nag kan sien, is maar druppels in die grootse see van die heelal. Ons son is maar een van meer as 100 biljoen sterre waaruit die Melkweg bestaan. Daar mag dalk soveel as 100 biljoen ander sterrestelsels wees – biljoene wat moontlik uit honderde miljoene planete soos ons s’n bestaan. Die Hubble-ruimteteleskoop kan sterrestelsels so ver as twaalf biljoen ligjare weg optel – dis twaalf biljoen maal ses triljoen myle! Dit alles is geskep omdat God dit so beveel het (sien Genesis 1). Wat nog wonderbaarliker as dit is, is dat die Een wat dit alles geskep het, lief is vir jou en oor elke detail van jou lewe omgee. Wanneer jy swak is, is Hy sterk. Wanneer jy droogmaak, vergewe Hy jou. Die Bybel sê: ‘…As iemand egter sonde doen, ons het ‘n Helper by die Vader wat ons saak stel, Jesus Christus, die regverdige. Hy is die versoeningsoffer vir ons sondes…’ (verse 1-2 NLV). God se genade is wonderbaarlik en jy hoef nie iets te doen om dit te verdien nie. Omdat God jou Vader is, kan jy Hom enige tyd kontak en welkom voel. Jy is aan die Een gekonnekteer wat ‘…ten volle met ons in ons swakhede saamvoel, want Hy moes presies dieselfde versoekings as ons trotseer – behalwe dat Hy nie voor die sonde geswig het nie. Kom ons gaan dan met volle vrymoedigheid na die troon van ons genadige God. Hy sal aan ons sy deernis en onverdiende goedheid bewys sodat ons op die regte tyd gehelp sal word’ (Hebreërs 4:15-16 NLV). Jy is aan oneindige genade gekonnekteer – hoe wonderlik is dit nie?
Sielskos: Lev 21:1-23:25; Mark 1:35-45; Ps 127; Spr 10:11
