2020-06-20
Rigters 16:22 NLV
Die Bybel sê vir ons dat Simson se afgeskeerde hare weer begin groei het. Die proses van vernuwing het begin. Simson het homself bekeer, God het vir hom sy krag teruggegee en hy het sy lewe op ‘n inspirerende, heldhaftige daad geëindig. Miskien voel jy dat jy jou lewe so erg opgemors het dat God jou nooit weer sal liefhê of sal gebruik nie – maar onthou vir Simson! God het nooit oor hom moed opgegee nie; en Hy het ook nie oor jou moed opgegee nie. Hy sien jou potensiaal raak en onthou hoekom Hy jou geskape het; jy is geskep om groot dinge te vermag. Dis eers wanneer jy na die middel van God se wil toe beweeg, dat jy ontdek hoekom jy geskep is. Wanneer jy dit doen, begin dinge in plek val. Daar is iets bemoedigends aan Simson. Hy is in God se lys van geloofshelde ingesluit – die panorama van mense van groot geloof wat in Hebreërs 11 genoem word. Hoekom? Omdat God iemand wat soos ‘n totale mislukking lyk, kan neem en hulle kan gebruik om groot dinge te doen. As Hy net perfekte mense gebruik het, sou niks ooit gedoen word nie. Nee, Hy gebruik gewone mense met swakhede, wat soms op radikale maniere misluk. Wat moet jy dus doen as jy ‘n Simson is? Gee jou lewe aan God oor. Gee vir Hom al die stukke en laat Hom toe om dit weer aanmekaar te sit. Hy kan vir jou die krag gee om weg te breek van die dinge wat jou vashou en Hom daarvan weerhou om in jou lewe te werk. Net God ken jou ware potensiaal en jy sal dit nooit op jou eie kan uitbring nie. Hy moet dit in sy krag doen – laat Hom dus toe om vandag te begin!
Sielskos: 2 Kon 21-23; Luk 1:67-80; Ps 144:1-8; Spr 14:1-4
Judges 16:22 NIV
After Samson revealed the secret of his strength and his hair was cut off, the Bible tells us that ‘the hair on his head began to grow again.’ The process of renewal was starting. Samson repented, God gave him back his strength, and he ended his life with an act of heroism (you can read about this in Judges 16:23-31). Sometimes we can feel like we’ve messed up so badly that God will never love us or use us again. But the story of Samson helps us to have hope. God didn’t give up on Samson, and He won’t give up on us either. He sees our potential and remembers why He made us. We were created for great things. It’s only as we move into the centre of God’s will that we discover why we were made. When we do, things will begin to fall back into place. Samson is included in the list of people who had great faith (you can find this in Hebrews 11). So why was he included when he’d made so many mistakes? God can take a person who has completely messed up and use them to accomplish great things. He uses ordinary people with weaknesses, who sometimes fail in big ways. If we’ve messed up we need to hand our lives over to God again. We need to give Him all the pieces and let Him put them together. He can give us the power to break free from the things that are holding us back and preventing Him from working in our lives. Only God knows our true potential, and we’ll never reach that on our own. We need His help and His strength. So let’s allow Him to get started today.
2 Kings 21-23; Luke 1:67-80; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 14:1-4
Judges 16:22 NKJV
With regard to Samson, the Bible tells us, “The hair of his head began to grow again.” The process of renewal was starting. Samson repented, God gave him back his strength, and he ended his life with an inspiring act of heroism. Maybe you feel like you’ve messed up so badly that God will never love you and use you again – but remember Samson! God never gave up on him, and He hasn’t given up on you. He sees your potential and remembers why He made you: You were created for great things. It’s only as you move into the center of God’s will that you discover why you were made. When you do, things will begin to fall back into place. There is something very encouraging about Samson. He’s included in God’s hall of fame – the panorama of people of great faith detailed in Hebrews 11. Why? Because God can take a person who seems like a total failure and use them to accomplish great things. If He only used people who were perfect, nothing would ever get done. Instead, He uses ordinary people with weaknesses, who sometimes fail in big ways. So what should you do if you’re a Samson? Turn your life over to the Lord. Give Him all the pieces and let Him put them together. He can give you the power to break loose from the things that are tying you down and preventing Him from working in your life. Only God knows your potential, and you will never bring it out on your own. He must do it in His strength – so let Him start today!
Soul food: 2 Kings 21-23; Luke 1:67-80; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 14:1-4
2020-06-19
Judges 13:7 NKJV
You’re asking for trouble when you refuse to take God seriously. The angel who announced Samson’s birth said he was to “be a Nazirite,” indicating that he was to be dedicated to doing God’s will. But Samson was careless about his spiritual life. He prayed only when he was in trouble. He was impulsive; he did whatever he felt like doing. The truth is, we’d save ourselves so many problems and spare ourselves so much pain if we’d just stop and ask God for direction. Samson turned to God only when he got into a jam. It’s what we call “foxhole Christianity.” We pray, “Lord, if You get me out of this dilemma, I promise I’ll live for You from now on.” But here’s the question: Is God just an afterthought, a convenience to you? When things get tough and you’re in a tight spot you turn to Him in desperation, but when everything’s all right you ignore Him? Only when Samson was captured by the Philistines, his eyes gouged out, and he was grinding grain at a mill like an ox, do we read that he turned to God and prayed. What kind of history might Samson have had if he’d prayed right from the beginning? Why did he wait until everything fell apart before turning to God? It doesn’t have to be that way in your life! The psalmist said, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours” (Psalm 128:1-2 NIV).
Soul food: 2 Kings 18:17-20:21; Luke 1:57-66; Ps 139:13-24; Prov 13:25
Rigters 13:7 NLV
Jy soek moeilikheid wanneer jy weier om God ernstig op te neem. Die engel wat Simson se geboorte aangekondig het, het gesê dat hy ‘van sy geboorte tot sy dood aan God gewy [sal] wees.’ Simson was egter agtelosig oor sy geestelike lewe. Hy het net gebid wanneer hy in die moeilikheid was. Hy was impulsief; hy het gedoen net waarvoor hy lus was. Die waarheid is dat ons onsself soveel probleme en pyn sal spaar as ons net stop en God vir aanwysings vra. Simson het net na God toe gedraai wanneer hy in die moeilikheid was. Ons doen dit ook. Ons bid: ‘Here, as U my net uit hierdie dilemma kan red, belowe ek dat ek van nou af vir U sal lewe.’ Die vraag is egter: Is God net ‘n nagedagte of ‘n gerief vir jou? Wanneer dinge moeilik raak en jy in ‘n moeilike posisie is draai jy uit desperaatheid na Hom, maar wanneer dinge goed gaan ignoreer jy Hom? Eers toe Simson deur die Filistyne gevange geneem is, sy oë uitgesteek is en hy soos ‘n os die meule moes laat draai, lees ons dat hy na God toe gedraai en gebid het. Hoe sou Simson se lewe kon gelyk het as hy reg van die begin af gebid het? Hoekom het hy gewag tot alles uitmekaar val voor hy na God gedraai het? Dit hoef nie so in jou lewe te wees nie! Die Psalmdigter het gesê: ‘Geseënd is hulle wat die Here dien, wat wandel op sy weë. Jy sal die vrug van jou arbeid geniet en gelukkig en voorspoedig wees’ (Psalm 128:1-2 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Kon 18:17-20:21; Luk 1:57-66; Ps 139:13-24; Spr 13:25
