2021-02-23
Romans 9:1 AMP
Paul wrote: ‘My conscience testifies with me [enlightened and prompted] by the Holy Spirit.’ When the Holy Spirit speaks to your conscience, two things happen. 1) He illuminates your heart with the truth. 2) He prompts you about what to do, because some things might be ‘right’ for others but ‘wrong’ for you. God has a particular plan for each of us and He doesn’t want us to be negatively influenced or to stray away from His path, so it’s important to follow His guidance.
Here are some Scriptures to think about when it comes to keeping our consciences clear: ‘I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people’ (Acts 24:16 NLT). ‘Keeping your faith [leaning completely on God with absolute trust and confidence in His guidance] and having a good conscience; for some [people] have rejected [their moral compass] and have made a shipwreck of their faith’ (1 Timothy 1:19 AMP). ‘They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience’ (1 Timothy 3:9 NIV). ‘Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, seeking to conduct ourselves honourably [that is, with moral courage and personal integrity] in all things’ (Hebrews 13:18 AMP). ‘The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a genuine faith’ (1 Timothy 1:5 NLT).
As redeemed children of God, if we sin wilfully and don’t repent, we lose your sense of peace and joy. So let’s make the effort to keep our consciences clear and allow ourselves to be influenced by God.
Gen 17-19; Matt 17:14-27; Ps 40:9-17; Prov 6:6-8
Romans 9:1 AMPC
Paul writes: “My conscience [enlightened and prompted] by the Holy Spirit bearing witness with me.” Note that when the Holy Spirit speaks to your conscience, two things happen. First, He illuminates your heart with the truth. Second, He prompts you about what to do. Some things may be “right” for others and be “wrong” for you. Why? Because God has a particular plan for your life and He doesn’t want you to be negatively influenced, or even derailed.
Read the following Scriptures and consider them prayerfully: “Therefore I always exercise and discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men” (Acts 24:16 AMPC). “Holding fast to faith (that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting and thrusting from them [their conscience], some individuals have made shipwreck of their faith” (1 Timothy 1:19 AMPC). “They must possess the mystic secret of the faith [Christian truth as hidden from ungodly men] with a clear conscience” (1 Timothy 3:9 AMPC). “For we are convinced that we have a good (clear) conscience, that we want to walk uprightly and live a noble life, acting honorably and in complete honesty in all things” (Hebrews 13:18 AMPC).
As a redeemed child of God, when you sin willfully and don’t repent, you lose your sense of peace and joy and become uncomfortable in your own skin. So the word for you today is – keep your conscience clear.
Soul food: Gen 17-19; Matt 17:14-27; Ps 40:9-17; Prov 6:6-8
Romeine 9:1 NLV
Paulus skryf: ‘…my gewete, bekragtig deur die Heilige Gees, bevestig dat wat ek nou gaan sê die waarheid is.’ Let op dat wanneer die Heilige Gees met jou gewete praat, twee dinge gebeur. Eerstens, verhelder Hy jou hart met die waarheid. Tweedens, wys Hy jou wat om te doen. Sommige dinge mag dalk ‘reg’ vir ander mense, maar ‘verkeerd’ vir jou wees. Hoekom? Omdat God ‘n spesifieke plan vir jou lewe het en Hy wil nie hê dat jy negatief beïnvloed moet word of die pad byster moet raak nie.
Lees die volgende Skrifgedeeltes en dink met gebed oor hulle na: ‘Daarom doen ek ook my uiterste bes om altyd ‘n skoon gewete voor God en die mense te hê’ (Handelinge 24:16 NLV). ‘Hou styf vas aan jou geloof in Christus, en hou altyd jou gewete skoon. Want sommige mense het opsetlik hulle gewete onderdruk, en as gevolg daarvan het hulle geloof skipbreuk gely’ (1 Timoteus 1:19 NLV). ‘Hulle moet verbind wees aan die geopenbaarde waarhede van die Christelike geloof, en hulle moet met ‘n skoon gewete leef’ (1 Timoteus 3:9 NLV). ‘Bid vir ons. Ons glo dat ons gewete skoon is, want ons probeer om in alle omstandighede reg op te tree’ (Hebreërs 13:18 NLV).
As verloste kind van God, verloor jy jou sin van vrede en vreugde en word jy ongemaklik in jou eie vel, wanneer jy opsetlik sondig en nie berou daaroor het nie. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – hou jou gewete skoon.
Sielskos: Gen 17-19; Matt 17:14-27; Ps 40:9-17; Spr 6:6-8
2021-02-22
Psalm 30:5 NCV
Pain is an inevitable part of life and growth, and sometimes it can be beneficial. Let’s take a look at why it can be helpful:
1) It can let us know there’s something wrong that needs to be put right.
2) It makes us acknowledge there’s a problem.
3) It encourages us to seek help to put things right.
4) It makes us willing to accept treatment that we might find uncomfortable so we can be made whole again.
It sounds strange, but the more we dread and resist any pain we’re feeling, the more its effect on us increases, and the stronger it becomes. When we’re being treated for something that’s physically painful, a doctor will often tell us to ‘breathe’ and ‘relax’. The more we fight the pain, the more we’ll be hurt. This can apply to emotional pain too. If we try to ignore how we’re feeling and pretend we’re okay, the hurt just builds up inside us and wears us down.
When we experience pain, whether it’s emotional or physical, we shouldn’t try to ignore, hide, or fight it. We need to walk through it and allow it to accomplish its purpose. The Bible says: ‘When troubles…come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy…when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing’ (James 1:2-4 NLT).
Painful experiences can bring all kinds of opportunities for learning, developing our character, and growing our trust in God. So when pain comes our way, let’s take a breath, relax, and walk through it with God by our side.
Gen 13-16; Matt 17:1-13; Ps 40:1-8; Prov 6:1-5
Psalm 30:6 NLV
Pyn is ‘n onvermydelike deel van die lewe en van groei; ‘n voordelige deel! Stop en dink oor die voordele daarvan na:
1) Dit laat jou weet wanneer daar iets in jou liggaam is wat verkeerd is en wat reggestel moet word.
2) Dit forseer jou om te erken dat daar ‘n toestand is waarvan jy nie geweet het nie; een wat moontlik jou lewe kan neem.
3) Dit laat jou jou prioriteite en skedule herrangskik en hulp soek.
4) Dit maak jou gewillig om behandeling wat jy nie noodwendig geniet nie, te ondergaan, met die geloof dat dit jou weer heel sal maak.
Kry jy die idee? Vreemd as wat dit mag voorkom, hoe meer jy pyn vrees en teenstaan, hoe groter is die effek daarvan op jou. Dit wat ons teenstaan, duur voort en hoe meer ons pyn teenstaan, hoe sterker word dit. Wanneer ‘n swanger vrou in kraam gaan, is die raad van haar mediese span gewoonlik om te ‘ontspan.’ Hulle weet dat hoe meer sy die pyn beveg, hoe sterker dit sal word en dat die bevalling dan al hoe langer sal neem. Wanneer jy dus pyn ervaar, moet dit nie beveg nie. Stap daardeur en laat dit toe om die doelwit te bereik.
Die Bybel sê: ‘…wanneer julle in allerhande beproewings beland, moet julle eintlik baie bly wees. Julle weet mos: Wanneer ‘n mens se geloof ‘n toets deurstaan, veroorsaak dit dat jy kan volhard. Julle moet egter enduit volhard. Dan sal julle julle lewensdoel bereik en geestelik gesond wees. Julle sal niks kortkom nie’ (Jakobus 1:2-4 NLV). Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – leer om hierdie seisoen van pyn te verduur, met die wete dat God jou vreugde aan die ander kant daarvan beloof het!
Sielskos: Gen 13-16; Matt 17:1-13; Ps 40:1-8; Spr 6:1-5
