2020-05-26
Philippians 2:10 NCV
During one of the crusades, Philippe Auguste, king of France, assembled all his noble knights and encouraged them to be strong in battle. On the table he placed his royal crown, bearing the inscription “To the most worthy,” and pledged it as a prize to be given to the bravest fighter. After the army went to battle and returned victorious, they encircled the table where the crown sat. Then one of the nobles stepped forward, lifted the crown, and placed it on the king’s head, saying, “Thou, O king, art the most worthy.” The Bible says, “Every knee will bow to the name of Jesus – everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (vv. 10-11 NCV). Note the words “every knee will bow.” In 2011, the population reference bureau estimated that 106 billion people had been born since the dawn of the human race. Guess what? Every single one of them will bow to the name of Jesus. Try to imagine all those people – over ten times the world’s population – kneeling before Christ and saying, “Thou, O king, art most worthy.” And in that moment Christ will assume His position “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion…not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21 NAS). Then He, the author and finisher of it all, will close the book on this life and open the book on the next. That’s the beginning of the unending story that we, the redeemed of the Lord, wait for and long for.
Soul food: 1 Kings 3-5; Mark 11:27-33; Ps 128; Prov 12:10-11
Filippense 2:10 NLV
Gedurende een van die kruistogte het Philippe Auguste, koning van Frankryk, al sy edele ridders bymekaar geroep en hulle aangemoedig om sterk tydens die geveg te staan. Hy het sy koninklike kroon, wat met die inskripsie: ‘Aan die waardigste,’ gegraveer was, op die tafel gesit en dit as prys aan die braafste vegter beloof. Nadat sy weermag die stryd gewen het, het hulle die tafel waarop die kroon gesit is, omring. Toe het een van die ridders vorentoe getree, die kroon opgelig en dit op die koning se kop geplaas deur te sê: ‘U, o Koning, is die waardigste.’ Die Bybel sê: ‘So sal by die noem van Jesus se heerlike Naam elke knie in die hemel en op die aarde en onder die aarde buig, en elke tong sal erken: ‘Jesus Christus is Here!’…’ (verse 10-11 NLV). Let op die woorde: ‘elke knie sal buig.’ Die bevolkingsverwysingsburo het in 2011 geskat dat daar sedert die begin van die mensdom ongeveer 106 biljoen mense gebore is. Raai wat? Elke liewe een van hulle sal voor die Naam van Jesus kniel. Kan jy jou net indink hoe al daardie mense – meer as tien keer die wêreld se huidige bevolking – voor Christus sal kniel en sê: ‘U, o Koning, is die waardigste.’ In daardie oomblik sal Christus sy plek inneem, ‘…hoog verhewe bo alle magte en kragte wat daar in die hemel en op die aarde is… nie net… in hierdie wêreld nie, maar ook in die wêreld wat kom’ (Efesiërs 1:21 NLV). Dan sal Hy, die skrywer en voleinder van dit alles, die boek op hierdie lewe toemaak en die boek op die volgende een oopmaak. Dis net die begin van die nimmereindigende storie waarna ons, die verlostes van die Here, wag en waarna ons smag.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 3-5; Mark 11:27-33; Ps 128; Spr 12:10-11
Philippians 2:10 NCV
If something or someone is worthy, it means that they deserve respect and praise. And Jesus is worthy of our respect and praise. It’s great when we talk to God like a friend, and share all our concerns; it’s what He wants us to do. But we also need to remember that He deserves our respect. We should be in awe of Jesus and what He has done for us. The Bible says, ‘every knee will bow to the name of Jesus – everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord’ (vv.10-11 NCV). Jesus is worthy of every single person on this earth bowing down to Him. The book of Revelation shows us how the heavenly creatures worship God. All day and all night they worship Him, and call Him holy. The elders fall down before God’s throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being’ (Revelation 4:11 NIVUK). When we think about how worthy God is, are we giving Him enough of our time and praise? Do we struggle to fit a few minutes of prayer into our busy lives, and only give Him praise at church? Or are we constantly worshipping Him and declaring His holiness? The Bible says, ‘let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name’ (Hebrews 13:15 NIV). He is worthy of more than a few rushed moments of prayer and a quick read of a Bible verse. He is worthy of our constant praise, our devotion, and our love.
1 Kings 3-5; Mark 11:27-33; Ps 128; Prov 12:10-11
2020-05-25
John 1:14 MSG
Jesus came into the world for two reasons. First, to give you the greatest gift of all – eternal life. Second, to let you know He cares about every detail of your life. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NKJV). In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases it: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” Roughly 20 percent of everything Jesus taught had to do with your finances, your job, and your earthly needs. He cares! And when you can’t make ends meet, the Bible says, “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). When your business is going under, His promise is “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit” (Isaiah 48:17 NKJV). God cares about the burden you’re carrying today, so if your needs aren’t being met, reevaluate your understanding of your heavenly Father. Have you even discussed your finances with Him? How about the purchase of your home? Did you feel the inner confirmation of the Holy Spirit that the timing was right? Have you been tithing, sowing into God’s kingdom and expecting a harvest in return? Seed sown in good ground always produces a harvest, and faith is the magnet that pulls the harvest into your life. The word for you today is – God loves you and wants to bless every area of your life.
Soul food: 1 Kings 1-2; Mark 11:12-26; Ps 45; Prov 12:7-9
Johannes 1:14 NLV
Jesus het vir twee redes na hierdie wêreld gekom. Eerstens om vir jou die grootste geskenk van alles te gee – ewige lewe. Tweedens, sodat jy weet dat Hy oor elke detail van jou lewe omgee. ‘Jesus het toe as mens aarde toe gekom. ‘n Mens kan sê Hy het onder ons kom huis opsit. Ons het gesien hoe belangrik en wonderlik Hy is. Net die unieke Seun van die Vader is so groot en belangrik. Hy was soos ‘n fontein van die goeie dinge wat God vir ons so onverdiend wil gee. By Hom kon ons ontdek wat regtig waar en eg is’ (Johannes 1:14 DB). Nagenoeg 20 persent van alles wat Jesus onderrig het, het met jou finansies, jou werk en jou aardse behoeftes te doen. Hy gee om! Wanneer jy nie al jou verpligtinge kan nakom nie, sê die Bybel: ‘…God [sal] uit sy ontsaglike rykdom vir julle voorsien in elke behoefte wat julle het’ (Filippense 4:19 NLV). Wanneer jou maatskappy besig is om ten gronde te gaan, is sy belofte: ‘…Ek is julle God die Here wat vir julle leer om te doen wat julle moet doen, en Ek lei julle op die pad waar julle moet loop’ (Jesaja 48:17 ABA). God gee om oor die las wat jy vandag dra, so as jou behoeftes nie vervul word nie, herevalueer jou begrip van jou hemelse Vader. Het jy al jou finansies met Hom bespreek? Wat van die aankoop van jou huis? Het jy ‘n innerlike bevestiging van die Heilige Gees ontvang dat die tydsberekening daarvoor reg is? Het jy jou tiende gegee, en in God se koninkryk gesaai? Sade wat in goeie grond gesaai word bring altyd ‘n oes mee en geloof is die magneet wat die oes in jou lewe intrek. Die woord vir jou vandag is: God is lief vir jou en wil elke area van jou lewe seën.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 1-2; Mark 11:12-26; Ps 45; Spr 12:7-9
