2020-06-14
1 Timothy 4:8 NKJV
As you move into your forties, fifties, and sixties, you’ll tend to become more sedentary. One woman made a lifelong commitment not to sweat. Another one joked that the only reason for jogging was to look better at her funeral. A driver put this bumper sticker on his car: “I’m pushing fifty, and that’s enough exercise.” The Bible says, “Bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” Does that mean taking care of your body isn’t important? No, it means you must stay in balance! What’s the point of working to develop the virtues of a saint if you die before your time with blocked arteries? You say, “But I don’t like jogging or lifting weights.” Then here’s some good news. A recent medical study found if you spend forty-five minutes a day doing household chores such as mowing the lawn, you’ll enjoy greater longevity than those who are inactive. It’s even better if you do some push-ups and sit-ups, but it’s not necessary. If you fail to maintain your car, you have no right to blame the manufacturer. And if you fail to maintain your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, you have no right to blame God. You say, “But I believe in divine healing.” And God promises it to you in His Word (See James 5:14-15). But He expects you to use faith – and wisdom. So put down the TV remote control, get off the couch, and do a little home cleanup or repair. Not only will your house look better, but you’re likely to live longer.
Soul food: Rev 19:11-16; Acts 3:1-16; Phil 2:5-11
2020-06-13
2 Petrus 1:3 NLV
Petrus skryf: ‘…sy Goddelike krag [het] ons alles laat kry wat ons nodig het om naby aan Hom te lewe.’ Om die lewe voluit te lewe, is drie dinge nodig: 1) ‘n Bietjie ekstra. Dis die ekstra myl beginsel wat Jesus ons geleer het (sien Matteus 5:41) en verg twee dinge: a) Ekstra inspanning. Die lewensafrigter en skrywer Art Williams het gesê: ‘Jy klop 50 persent van mense deur hard te werk… die ander 40 persent deur ‘n eerlike persoon met integriteit te wees… en die laaste 10 persent is ‘n luggeveg.’ As jy wil wen, moet jy besluit om altyd ‘ietsie ekstra’ te doen. b) Ekstra tyd. ‘…Stadig maar seker breek die tyd aan… Wag geduldig… Wees seker dit gaan gebeur…’ (Habakuk 2:3 NLV). Gutzon Borglum, die beeldhouer wat die Mount Rushmore gedenkteken van die Amerikaanse presidente geskep het, is gevra of hy dink dat sy werk perfek is. Hy het geantwoord: ‘Nie vandag nie, president Washington se neus is ‘n paar sentimeters te lank. Dis egter beter so. Dit sal verweer en oor tienduisend jaar presies reg wees.’ 2) Jou beste poging. Andrew Carnegie het gesê: ‘Dit help nie om mense te probeer help wat nie hulleself wil help nie. Jy kan nie iemand by ‘n leer opstoot tensy hy of sy eers gewillig is om dit te klim nie.’ 3) Die regte mentor. Paulus skryf: ‘…volg my voorbeeld…’ (Filippense 3:17 NLV). Goeie mentors lei deur goeie voorbeelde te wees; hulle weet dat hulle eers respek moet verdien voor mense hulle sal volg. Hulle weet of jy ‘n klop op die skouer of ‘n skop op die bas nodig het. As jy so ‘n mentor het, is jy geseënd. As jy nie so ‘n mentor het nie, vra God om een vandag oor jou pad te stuur.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 4:18-6:33; Mark 16; Ps 80:12-19; Spr 13:13-16
2 Peter 1:3 NIV
Ever felt stressed out because you don’t think you have what it takes to live like Jesus? Maybe you’ve felt under pressure because, however hard you try, you don’t feel good enough for God? The good news is that God’s already ‘given us everything we need for a godly life.’ Everything we might possibly need to be able to live God’s way, we already have access to. These are things like wisdom, strength, peace, courage, and love. He equips us to be able to do the things He’s called us to. The Holy Spirit lives within us to guide, instruct, and transform us. The Bible says: ‘Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?’ (1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV). We just need to listen to the Spirit’s promptings rather than doing the things we want to do. God hasn’t left us to do everything on our own. He cares about each of us, and provides us with what we need. Paul encouraged the church in Philippi by saying: ‘My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:19 NIV). And that can encourage us too. It’s worth remembering that God’s given us ‘everything we need’, not ‘everything we want’. There will be things we pray for that we don’t get. They might not actually be good for us, even though we think they would be. So when we’re worried that we can’t live God’s way or we’re frustrated because God’s not giving us the things we want, let’s remember that God sees the bigger picture and He’s already provided everything we need.
2 Kings 4:18-6:33; Mark 16; Ps 80:12-19; Prov 13:13-16
2 Peter 1:3 NIV
Peter writes, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life” (v. 3 NIV). Living life to the fullest requires three things: (1) A little extra. This is the extra mile principle Jesus taught (See Matthew 5:41), and it calls for two things: (a) Extra effort. Life coach and author Art Williams said, “You beat 50 percent of the people by working hard…the other 40 percent by being a person of honesty and integrity and standing for something…the last 10 percent is a dogfight.” If you want to win, make up your mind to always do “a little extra.” (b) Extra time. “Though [your vision] linger, wait for it; it will certainly come [to pass]” (Habakkuk 2:3 NIV). Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor who created the Mount Rushmore memorial to America’s presidents, was asked if he considered his work to be perfect. He replied, “Not today. The nose of President Washington is an inch too long. It’s better that way, though. It will erode and be exactly right in ten thousand years.” (2) Your best effort. Andrew Carnegie said, “There’s no use trying to help people who won’t help themselves. You can’t push anyone up a ladder unless he or she is first willing to climb it.” (3) The right mentor. Paul writes, “Pattern your lives after mine” (Philippians 3:17 NLT). Good mentors lead by example; they know that to be followed, they must first be respected. They know whether you learn visually or verbally. They know whether you need a pat on the back or a kick in the seat of the pants. If you have such a mentor, you’re blessed. If not, ask God to send one into your life today.
Soul food: 2 Kings 4:18-6:33; Mark 16; Ps 80:12-19; Prov 13:13-16
2020-06-12
Psalm 123:2 NLV
Dis altyd lekker om vir die werk wat jy doen gewaardeer te word, maar wanneer dit nie gebeur nie, kan dit jou selfwaarde affekteer. Dis hoekom die Bybel sê: ‘Soos oë van slawe gerig is op die hand van hulle meester… so is ons oë gerig op die Here…’ Jou waarde kom van God, nie van jou baas af nie. Wanneer jy dit vergeet, stel jy jouself vir frustrasie in die werkplek oop. Dit kan gebeur dat jy minder effektief in jou werk word, omdat jy nie gewillig is om besluite en risiko’s te neem nie, vir ingeval dit ander mense se dunk van jou affekteer. Jy word dan inderwaarheid ‘n ‘ja’ man of vrou, wat net knik en met almal saamstem om hulle tevrede te stel sodat hulle van jou sal hou. Gevolglik daal jou waarde vir die maatskappy, omdat jy nie jou Godgegewe gawes ten volle gebruik nie. Jou posisie is net ‘n klein gedeelte van wie jy is, ‘n speek wat van die kern van jou identiteit as seun of dogter van die Koning van konings, uitgaan. Jy is nie die rat wat die wiel draai nie. Deur te weet wie jy is, apart van wat jy doen, is net so noodsaaklik vir sukses in die werkplek soos jou ervaring en vaardighede. Wanneer ander mense weet dat jy konstante goedkeuring nodig het, bemagtig dit hulle om jou te manipuleer, jou te definieer en jou selfwaarde te beïnvloed. Dis te veel mag om vir enigiemand te gee! Of jy nou met ‘n besem vee of aan die hoof van ‘n miljoen-rand projek staan, onthou: ‘Wat julle ook al…doen, doen alles tot eer van God’ (1 Korintiërs 10:31 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Kon 1:1-4:17; Mark 15:33-47; Ps 80:1-11; Spr 13:11-12
