2020-07-26
Psalm 46:10 NIV
Psalm 46:10 is a verse which is often quoted. But when we hear a verse a lot, it can sometimes lose its meaning for us. So let’s take a look at it in detail: 1) ‘Be still.’ We can find being still really challenging, especially as our culture tells us that to be worth something we need to be busy. It can be hard to experience moments of stillness and silence with all the distractions we face today. Our to-do lists seem to just keep growing, and people can make more and more demands on our time. But God wants us to take time to ‘be still.’ This isn’t an excuse for us to be lazy; it’s a way of recognising that we need God’s help and guidance in our lives. Being still means surrendering to Him by slowing down and waiting. We need to ask Him to reveal His will; then ‘be still,’ and trust that He knows what He’s doing. 2) ‘Know that I am God.’ This means acknowledging that we’re not God. When we don’t obey God, consult Him, or accept His timing, we remove Him from the throne of our lives and end up trying to take His place. In Psalm 46:10, God goes on to say: ‘I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ God wants us to acknowledge who He is, and put Him first in our lives. It’s important for us to have vision and goals for the future, but these should be God-given goals. When we don’t stop and acknowledge that God’s in charge, we can find ourselves being distracted by lots of different things which aren’t actually His will for us. Will you ‘be still’ and know that He’s God today?
Gen 39:1-39; Gen 45:1-13; Gen 50:22-26
Psalm 46:11 NLV
Kom ons kyk na hierdie Skrifgedeelte. 1) “Wees stil.” Aktiwiteit wat uit angstigheid gebore word, verhoed inderwaarheid dat God jou wys dat Hy namens jou sterk is. Dit beteken nie dat jy passief of lui kan wees nie; dit beteken dat jy doen wat God jou lei om te doen, in plaas daarvan om Hom vooruit te hardloop. Dit beteken dat jy jouself aan Hom onderwerp deur stadiger te beweeg en te wag. Hoekom? Om seker te maak dat jy vrede het om die idees aan te pak wat jy glo Hy vir jou gegee het (sien Kolossense 3:15). Vra Hom om sy wil aan jou te openbaar en wees dan stil; en erken dat Hy in beheer is en weet wat Hy doen. 2) “Weet ek is God.” Wanneer jy nie vir God gehoorsaam, raadpleeg of sy tydsberekening in ag neem nie, verwyder jy Hom van die troon in jou lewe en probeer jy sy plek inneem. Jy kan dink hoe goed dit uitwerk, nè? Ons hoor baie van doelwitte en visies stel. Dis ‘n Skriftuurlike beginsel, want: ‘Wanneer ‘n volk nie duidelikheid het oor die wil van God nie, word hulle koersloos…’ (Spreuke 29:18 NLV). Die Bybel sê egter ook: ‘…Stadig maar seker breek die tyd aan wanneer die visioen waar sal word. Wag geduldig…’ (Habakuk 2:3 NLV). Jy sal nooit jou visie sonder die hulp van die Een wat dit vir jou gegee het, vervul nie. Die negentiende eeuse prediker, Henry Ward Beecher, het gesê: ‘Die krag van ‘n mens bestaan daaruit om die rigting uit te vind waarin God beweeg en dan daardie pad te vat.’ Onthou, jy verloor nie tyd wannneer jy op God wag nie. Moet dus nie toelaat dat ‘n self-help seminaar of ‘n Tipe A persoonlikheid jou druk om voor God uit te beweeg of op jou eie stoom aan te gaan nie.
Sielskos: Gen 39:1-39; Gen 45:1-13; Gen 50:22-26
Psalm 46:10 KJV
Let’s take a look at this Scripture. (1) “Be still.” Activity born out of anxiety actually prevents God from showing Himself strong on your behalf. That doesn’t mean you can be passive or lazy; it means doing what God leads you to do without running ahead of Him. It means submitting to Him by slowing down and waiting. Why? To make sure you have a sense of peace to go along with the ideas you believe He’s giving you (See Colossians 3:15). Ask Him to reveal His will; then “be still,” acknowledge that He’s in charge and He knows what He’s doing. (2) “Know that I am God.” This means acknowledging that you are not God! When you don’t obey God, consult Him, or recognize His timing, you remove Him from the throne of your life and end up trying to take His place. And you know how well that works, right? We hear a lot about goal-setting and vision. And it’s a scriptural principle, for “where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). But the Bible also says, “The vision is…for an appointed time…Though it tarries, wait for it” (Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV). You’ll never fulfill your vision without the help of the One who gave it to you. Nineteenth-century American clergyman Henry Ward Beecher said, “The strength of a man consists in finding out the way God is going, and going that way.” Remember, there’s no time lost in waiting if you’re waiting on the Lord. So don’t let a “how to” seminar or a “type A personality” stampede you into getting ahead of God, or attempting to forge ahead under your own steam.
Soul food: Gen 39:1-39; Gen 45:1-13; Gen 50:22-26
2020-07-25
Matthew 26:41 NKJV
Why did Jesus tell His disciples, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”? Because He knows that without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, we’re not equal to the temptations that come our way. Jesus didn’t doubt the disciples’ love for Him or their willingness to serve Him, but He knew they couldn’t do it in their own strength. And you can’t either. When you fight the flesh in the power of the flesh, you end up fighting yourself – and you lose every time. Note the words “lest you enter into temptation.” You’ll never be exempt from temptation, but you don’t have to “enter into” it. Indeed, your regenerated spirit can’t “enter into” it because sin has no appeal to it. But your unregenerated “flesh” will always be attracted to sin. And becoming a Christian increases the frequency, variety, and intensity of the temptations you face. Why? Because Satan, “the tempter,” doesn’t give up control easily. He will fight you constantly, and on different fronts. The Bible speaks of “manifold temptations” (1 Peter 1:6 KJV). The word “manifold” means there are “many kinds” of temptation. What’s the answer? “Manifold grace!” (1 Peter 4:10 KJV). The moment temptation rears its head, and before you have time to “enter into” it, draw on God’s grace. How do you do that? Jesus said, “Watch and pray.” The New Living Bible says, “Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you.” Sheep don’t have the strength or skill to overcome the wolf. But they have the strategy! They just draw close to the Shepherd and He deals with the wolf.
Soul food: Acts 18-19; Luke 9:37-45; Ps 42:6-11; Prov 16:17-19
Matteus 26:41 NLV
Hoekom het Jesus vir sy dissipels gesê: ‘Wees waaksaam en bid. Anders sal die versoeking vir julle te sterk word. ‘n Mens se gees is wel gewillig, maar jou liggaam hou nie altyd by nie’? Omdat Hy weet dat ons nie sonder die inwonende krag van die Heilige Gees opgewasse is teen die versoekings wat oor ons pad kom nie. Jesus het nie aan die dissipels se liefde of hulle gewilligheid om Hom te dien getwyfel nie, maar Hy het geweet dat hulle dit nie in hulle eie krag kon doen nie. Jy kan ook nie. Jy sal nooit van versoeking ontslae wees nie, maar jy hoef nie daaraan toe te gee nie. Jou nuutgeskape gees kan inderwaarheid nie daaraan toegee nie, omdat sonde geen aantrekkingskrag het nie. Jou ou ‘vlees’ sal egter altyd tot sonde aangetrokke wees. Wanneer jy ‘n Christen word, verhoog die frekwensie, verskeidenheid en intensiteit van die versoekings wat jy in die gesig moet staar. Hoekom? Omdat Satan, ‘die verleier,’ nie maklik beheer opgee nie. Hy sal jou aanhoudend en op verskillende fronte aanval. Die Bybel sê dat ons voor baie beproewings te staan sal kom (sien 1 Petrus 1:6). Wat is die antwoord? Baie genade! Die oomblik wat versoeking sy lelike kop uitsteek en voor jy nog kans kry om daarop te reageer, put krag uit God se genade. Hoe doen jy dit? Jesus het gesê: ‘Vra God om julle te help om nie verkeerde dinge te wil doen nie. Ek weet julle sê julle wil graag die regte dinge doen, maar dit gebeur nie altyd so nie, nie waar nie? Wees daarom altyd op en wakker’ (Matteus 26:41 DB). Skape het nie die krag of die vaardighede om die wolf te oorwin nie. Hulle het egter die strategie! Hulle beweeg net nader aan die Skaapwagter, wat dan met die wolf afreken.
Sielskos: Hand 18-19; Luk 9:37-45; Ps 42:6-11; Spr 16:17-19
