2020-09-29
Hebrews 5:13 NIV
Paul wrote: ‘You need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness’ (Hebrews 5:12-13 NIV). Righteousness isn’t something we achieve through our own efforts, it’s a position God places us in when we trust in Christ. From that point on, God wants us to see ourselves as ‘righteous’, which is how He sees us. ‘No one can be made right with God by following the law. The law only shows us our sin. But God has a way to make people right with him without the law…God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ’ (Romans 3:20-22 NCV). If we’re striving to be righteous through our own efforts, we need to remember that ‘God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT). God made Jesus ‘to be the offering for our sin’, and the moment we believe in Jesus, He makes us ‘right with God’. That doesn’t mean we’ll never sin, or that we can just do what we like. Even though we’re believers, we still have bad habits and weaknesses that can draw us away from God. But when we understand that our position is ‘in Christ’, we can have complete confidence in God and trust in His love to help us overcome those weaknesses. Romans 14:17 says: ‘The kingdom of God is…righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (NIV). When we know God sees us as righteous, we have peace, which brings us joy.
1 Sam 4-7; Luke 24:1-12; Ps 68:12-23; Prov 22:3-4
2020-09-28
Romeine 4:12 AFR53
Die Bybel praat van diegene wat ‘…ook wandel in die voetstappe van die geloof van ons vader Abraham…’ Hoe wandel jy so? 1) Abraham het geglo in ‘…’n God wat dooies lewendig maak en deur sy roepstem dinge wat nog nie bestaan nie, aanspreek asof hulle reeds werklikheid is (vers 17 NLV). Wanneer God aan jou ‘n belofte maak, het Hy die mag om dit ‘n werklikheid te maak, selfs wanneer al die bewyse en omstandighede dit wat Hy gesê het, weerspreek. 2) ‘Teen alle verwagting in het Abraham geglo dat hy nog die stamvader van baie volke sou word…’ (vers 18 NLV). Toe daar geen rede meer was om te hoop nie, het Abraham steeds gehoop. Hoekom? Want sy hoop was in God! As jy vandag hooploos voel, dink aan hierdie woorde: ‘Keer terug na die vesting toe, gevangenes vol hoop! Ek belowe dat Ek julle dubbel sal vergoed vir al julle swaarkry’ (Sagaria 9:12 NLV). 3) “Teen alle verwagting in het Abraham geglo… op grond van God se belofte: ‘Jou nageslag sal so baie wees soos die sterre aan die hemel'” (Romeine 4:18 NLV). Wanneer God ‘n belofte maak, bevat dit reeds die krag om die belofte te vervul. ‘Net so is dit met die woord wat uit my mond kom: Dit sal nie leeg na My toe terugkeer nie, maar dit sal doen wat Ek verwag en die doel bereik waarvoor Ek dit gestuur het’ (Jesaja 55:11 NLV). 4) ‘Abraham het nie getwyfel aan God se belofte nie; inteendeel, sy geloof het sterker geword…’ (Romeine 4:20 NLV). Abraham het nie geweifel, geaarsel, innerlik met homself gestry of toegelaat dat ander mense se opinies hom beïnvloed nie. Hy het vasberade en standvastig gebly. Dís hoe jy in geloof wandel!
Sielskos: 1 Sam 1-3; Luk 23:50-56; Ps 68:1-11; Spr 22:1-2
Romans 4:12 NKJV
The Bible talks about those “who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had.” How do you walk like that? (1) Abraham believed “God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (v. 17 NKJV). When God makes you a promise, He has the power to bring it to pass, even when all the evidence and surrounding circumstances run contrary to what He said. (2) “Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed…that he became the father of many nations” (v. 18 NKJV). When all reason for hope was gone, Abraham still hoped. Why? Because his hope was in God! If you’re feeling hopeless today, think about these words: “Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you” (Zechariah 9:12 NKJV). (3) “Who…believed…according to what was spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be'” (Romans 4:18 NKJV). Note the phrase “according to what was spoken.” When God makes a promise, it contains the self-fulfilling power to bring it to pass. “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and…prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 NKJV). (4) “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith” (Romans 4:20 NKJV). The word “waver” tells us Abraham didn’t dither, vacillate, argue within himself, or let other people’s opinions influence him. Instead, he remained resolute and steadfast. That’s how you walk by faith!
Soul food: 1 Sam 1-3; Luke 23:50-56; Ps 68:1-11; Prov 22:1-2
Romans 4:12 NKJV
The Bible talks about those ‘who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had’. But how do we walk by faith? 1) Abraham ‘believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing’ (v.17 NLT). When God makes a promise, He has the power to make it happen, even when all the circumstances say that it’s impossible. 2) ‘Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping – believing that he would become the father of nations’ (v.18 NLT). When it seemed like there was no hope left, Abraham didn’t give up, because his hope was in God. When we’re going through times when things look hopeless, let’s think of these words: ‘Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you’ (Zechariah 9:12 NIV). 3) ‘For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have”‘ (Romans 4:18 NLT). When God makes a promise, it contains the power to make it happen. ‘The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do’ (Isaiah 55:11 NCV). 4) ‘Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God’ (Romans 4:20 NLT). Abraham didn’t doubt God, argue within himself, or let other people’s opinions influence him. Instead, he remained steadfast and trusted God. And by doing that, he glorified God. So let’s use him as our example of walking by faith.
1 Sam 1-3; Luke 23:50-56; Ps 68:1-11; Prov 22:1-2
2020-09-27
Spreuke 23:4 NLV
Meer geld kan jou meer geleenthede gee om goed in die wêreld te doen. Jesus het gesê: ‘Hierdie Goeie Nuus van God se koningsheerskappy sal eers in die hele wêreld, aan al die nasies, verkondig word voordat die einde kom’ (Matteus 24:14 NLV). Om hierdie opdrag te vervul sal geld kos – en baie daarvan. Geld self sal jou egter nie gelukkig maak of veilig laat voel nie. Salomo, een van die wêreld se rykste mans, skryf: ‘Moenie jou afsloof om ryk te word nie. Wees verstandig genoeg om binne perke te bly. As jy nog na jou rykdom kyk, is dit eensklaps weg soos ‘n voël wat wegvlieg in die lug’ (Spreuke 23:4-5 NLV). Toe een van die wêreld se rykste mans onlangs oorlede is, het ‘n verslaggewer een van sy familielede gevra: ‘Hoeveel het hy nagelaat?’ Die familielid het geantwoord: ‘Alles wat hy gehad het!’ Maak nie saak hoeveel geld jy maak, spaar, belê of hou nie, uiteindelik gaan jou geld jou verlaat, of jy gaan jou geld verlaat. Iemand het een keer wys opgemerk dat die mens sewe ouderdomme het. Eerstens, sien ‘n kind die aarde. Tweedens, wil hy die aarde hê. Derdens, werk hy om die aarde te kry. Vierdens, besluit hy hy sal met die helfte daarvan tevrede wees. Vyfdens, besluit hy dat hy met minder as helfte tevrede sal wees. Sesdens, is hy tevrede om ‘n stukkie grond so groot soos ‘n graf te kan hê. Sewende, kry hy dit! Daar is baie dinge waarsonder jy kan lewe – en groot rykdom is een daarvan. Jy kan egter nie sonder vrede met God, ‘n familie gevul met liefde, ‘n lewenslange vriendskap met jou kinders en ‘n lewe wat ter ere van God geleef is, ‘n goeie lewe maak nie.
Sielskos: Lev 16; Lev 23:26-32; Heb 9:1-14
