2020-09-20
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
Some folks think that God’s sole purpose is to save their soul, help them become as morally upright and as spiritually mature as possible, and one day take them to heaven to live with Him. And in a sense that’s true. But here’s what isn’t true – that God is not interested in your job, your health, your relationships, your finances, or your dreams and goals because somehow those things are carnal, worldly, and temporal. When you think like that, you “spiritualize” every promise you read in Scripture, and when you pray, you believe the only thing God wants to do is help you become more spiritual. Let’s look into the Scriptures and see what God really says about this. The truth is, in fact, the exact opposite (See Joshua 1:8; Isaiah 48:17; 3 John 2). By maintaining that God plays no part in your achieving career success or financial security, you’re contradicting His Word. And when you do that, you’re on dangerous ground, because you’re making yourself the sole source of your success, and the Bible calls that – pride! What Jesus taught is this: “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles [who do not serve God] seek…For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV). So let’s be clear: God wants you to succeed in life for the right reasons, and He wants you to have all the things you need to do it.
Soul food: Matt 17:1-9; John 19:25-27; Rev 1:1-11
Matteus 6:33 NLV
Sommige mense dink dat God se hoofdoel is om hulle siele te red, om hulle te help om so moreel opreg en geestelik volwasse as moontlik te word en om hulle eendag hemel toe te neem om saam met Hom daar te woon. In ‘n sin is dit waar. Hierdie siening dink egter dat God nie in jou werk, jou gesondheid, jou verhoudings, jou finansies of jou drome en doelwitte geïnteresseerd is nie, omdat hierdie dinge wêrelds, vleeslik en tydelik is. Kom ons kyk na die Skrif en sien wat God regtig hieroor sê. Die waarheid is inteendeel die teenoorgestelde (sien Josua 1:8; Jesaja 48:17; 3 Johannes 2). Deur te glo dat God geen deel daaraan het om sukses in jou beroep of finansiële sekuriteit te behaal nie, is in direkte teenstelling met wat sy Woord sê. Wanneer jy dit glo, beweeg jy op gevaarlike terrein, omdat jy jouself die enigste bron van jou sukses maak – en die Bybel noem dit trots! Wat Jesus ons geleer het is as volg: ‘Moet julle dus nie bekommer en vra: ‘Wat sal ons tog eet?’ of: ‘Wat sal ons drink?’ of: ‘Wat sal ons aantrek?’ nie. Dit is die ongelowiges wat oor hierdie soort dinge begaan is. Julle hemelse Vader weet tog dat julle dit alles nodig het. Nee, maak die koningsheerskappy van God en dit wat voor Hom reg is, julle prioriteit; dan sal God vir julle al hierdie ander dinge byvoeg’ (Matteus 6:31-33 NLV). Kom ons wees dus duidelik: God wil hê dat jy om die regte redes sukses in die lewe moet behaal; en Hy wil hê dat jy al die dinge sal hê wat jy nodig het om dit te doen.
Sielskos: Matt 17:1-9; Joh 19:25-27; Op 1:1-11
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
Some people think that God’s only interested in saving souls, making people morally pure, then taking them to Heaven. God is interested in those things, but He’s also interested in so much more. He sent His only Son so that we ‘may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance’ (John 10:10 AMP). This means that God cares deeply about everything that makes up our day-to-day, and wants our lives to be good. In Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus speaks these words to us: ‘Do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For after all these things the Gentiles [who do not serve God] seek…For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (NKJV). This explains to us that God wants to provide us with everything that we need, making sure that we have enough to eat and drink, clothes to wear, and every other thing that we need to thrive. It lets us know that He’s working to take care of all of those things. What we have is given to us by God, right down to the practical, everyday things. Whatever we still need will be provided by Him. He’s not only a God of the spiritual; He’s at work in the practical too. He welcomes us to ask Him into every real-life thing, from our basic necessities, through to the bigger picture of our careers and relationships. If we seek Him and His Kingdom in our daily lives, then we’ll begin to recognise Him in every aspect.
Matt 17:1-9; John 19:25-27; Rev 1:1-11
2020-09-19
Ephesians 4:23 AMPC
We can learn a lot about the importance of a good attitude by looking at the children of Israel. It’s estimated that about 1.5 million Israelites came out of Egypt. God delivered them from slavery and led them to the Promised Land. The trip should have taken about eleven days, but instead it took forty years. Why? Because they were constantly complaining about everything! They complained about the food God sent from heaven each day. And any time something difficult crossed their path they were ready to give up and go back to Egypt – back to slavery. What’s astounding is that out of the 1.5 million people who left Egypt, only two from the original group made it into the Promised Land. And today there are many Christians who have also escaped from “Egypt” (their former life of slavery to sin), believers who are always looking forward to the Promised Land, yet they end up wandering in the wilderness their entire lives, dealing with the same old problems and issues. Are you one of them? Do you feel like you’ve been circling the same mountain for too long? (See Deuteronomy 2:3). If so, here’s your answer: “Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24 AMPC). In other words – change your attitude!
Soul food: Eze 46-48; Luke 22:54-62; Ps 3; Prov 21:4-8
Efesiërs 4:23 NLV
Ons kan baie oor die belangrikheid van ‘n goeie houding leer deur na die kinders van Israel te kyk. Daar word geskat dat 1.5 miljoen Israeliete uit Egipte weggetrek het. God het hulle uit slawerny gered en hulle na die Beloofde Land toe gelei. Die reis moes omtrent elf dae geneem het, maar dit het toe veertig jaar geneem. Hoekom? Omdat hulle konstant oor alles gekla het! Hulle het gekla oor die kos wat God daagliks vir hulle uit die hemel gestuur het. Elke keer wat iets moeiliks oor hulle pad gekom het, was hulle gereed om tou op te gooi en terug te gaan Egipte toe – terug na slawerny toe. Wat verstommend is, is dat slegs twee mense uit die oorspronklike groep van 1.5 miljoen mense wat Egipte verlaat het, die Beloofde Land binnegegaan het. Vandag is daar ook baie Christene wat uit ‘Egipte’ (hulle vorige lewe as slawe van die sonde), ontsnap het, gelowiges wat altyd na die Beloofde Land uitsien, maar steeds hulle hele lewe lank in die woestyn ronddwaal terwyl hulle dieselfde probleme en kwessies hanteer. Is jy een van hulle? Voel jy of jy te lank al in die bergwêreld rondtrek? (Sien Deuteronomium 2:3) As dit die geval is, is hierdie jou antwoord: ‘naamlik dat julle, wat julle vroeëre leefstyl betref, die ou, sondige mens soos vuil klere moet uittrek. Bedrieglike begeertes laat hierdie mens te gronde gaan. Julle moet op ‘n nuwe, geestelike manier leer dink. Ja, trek die nuwe mens soos skoon klere aan, die mens wat na God se beeld geskape is: iemand wat werklik reg lewe voor God en werklik aan Hom toegewy is’ (Efesiërs 4:22-24 NLV). Met ander woorde – verander jou houding!
Sielskos: Eseg 46-48; Luk 22:54-62; Ps 3; Spr 21:4-8
