2021-06-24
Romans 9:5 NIV
Some people say that Jesus Christ never existed. Josephus, who was one of the most well-known and well-respected Jewish historians, is attributed as writing this: ‘Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works – a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this date.’ This was written during the first century, and it’s highly likely there were people living who remembered Jesus, and maybe even saw Him.
A Christian minister wrote: ‘While sceptics may choose to reject the Bible’s moral message, they cannot deny its historical accuracy. Over 25,000 archaeological finds demonstrate that the people, places, and events mentioned in the Bible are real and are accurately described. No archaeological finding has ever refuted the Bible. In fact, the descriptions in the Bible have often led archaeologists to amazing discoveries. Non-Christian journalist Jeffrey Sheler, author of the book Is The Bible True?, concluded, “In extraordinary ways, modern archaeology is affirming the historical core of the Old and New Testaments, supporting key portions of crucial biblical stories.”‘ We can trust the Bible, so let’s reaffirm our faith and love for Jesus, our Saviour, today.
Jer 10-13; Luke 2:21-33; Ps 17; Prov 14:13-16
2021-06-23
Acts 15:37-38 NLT
Paul and Barnabas were a great missionary team. On their first tour, a young man named John Mark had joined them. But it seems he had grown homesick and returned to Jerusalem. On their second missionary tour, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them again, but Paul said no. “Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark…Paul chose Silas” (vv. 39-40 NLT).
Can you imagine it; two spiritual giants couldn’t resolve their conflict! Yes, it happens in the best of circles. Paul was the totally focused, no-nonsense type. Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement,” was the long-suffering and lovable type who believed in reconciliation and refused to strike anybody off his list. There are two valuable lessons in this story about handling disagreements.
(1) When it comes to our friends and family members, we all have blind spots. Rare is the leader who has the objectivity to look beyond a blood bond and focus on what is best for the organization. As a result, the vision God gave them often suffers.
(2) Sometimes you need a wise and trusted third party to help resolve the problem. When it comes to trouble in the church, Jesus laid down clear guidelines. First, you must go privately, one on one, and deal with the issue. Second, if that doesn’t work, you should take one or two others with you and try to resolve it. Third, you must take the situation to mature spiritual leaders and get their input (See Matthew 18:15-18). That’s the scriptural way to handle disagreements, and it must be our way too.
Soul food: Jer 7-9; Luke 2:8-20; Ps 8; Prov 14:9-12
Handelinge 15:37-38 NLV
Paulus en Barnabas was ‘n wonderlike sendelingspan. Op hulle eerste reis, het ‘n jong man genaamd Markus by hulle aangesluit. Dit blyk egter dat hy later na sy huis terugverlang het en na Jerusalem teruggekeer het. Op hulle tweede sendingsreis, wou Barnabas weer vir Markus saamneem, maar Paulus het nee gesê. ‘Daar het toe kwade gevoelens tussen hulle ontstaan, en hulle het elkeen sy eie koers gegaan. Barnabas het vir Markus gevat… Paulus het Silas gekies…’ (verse 39-40 NLV). Kan jy jou dit indink; twee geestelike reuse wat nie hulle konflik kon oplos nie! Ja, dit gebeur in die beste sirkels.
Paulus was totaal gefokus en het nie nonsens verdra nie. Barnabas, wie se naam ‘seun van bemoediging’ beteken het, was die liefdevolle tipe wat in versoening geglo het. Daar is twee belangrike lesse in hierdie verhaal oor hoe om meningsverskille te hanteer, te leer.
1) Wanneer dit by ons vriende en familielede kom, het ons blinde kolle. Dit gebeur selde dat ‘n leier die objektiwiteit het om verby ‘n band van bloed te kyk en te fokus op wat die beste vir die organisasie is. Gevolglik ondermyn dit dikwels die visie wat God hulle gegee het.
2) Soms het jy ‘n wyse en betroubare derde party nodig om te help om die probleem op te los. Wanneer dit by moeilikheid in die kerk kom, het Jesus duidelike riglyne daargestel. Eerstens moet jy privaat, in ‘n een-tot-een gesprek, die kwessie probeer oplos. Tweedens, as dit nie werk nie, moet jy een of twee ander saam met jou neem om dit te probeer oplos. Derdens, moet jy die situasie na volwasse, geestelike leiers neem en hulle insette daarop kry (sien Matteus 18:15-18). Dis die Skriftuurlike manier om meningsverskille te hanteer, en dit moet ook ons manier wees.
Sielskos: Jer 7-9; Luk 2:8-20; Ps 8; Spr 14:9-12
2 Timothy 3:16 NCV
Another question we might have is: How can we trust the Bible when humans wrote it? One way to work through this question is to think about writing a letter to someone – do you write the letter or does the pen? The pen is just the instrument you use to get your words down on paper. In a similar way, God used humans as instruments to write His ‘letter’ to us. Josh McDowell, a Christian apologist, says: ‘Here’s the picture: 1,500 years, 60 generations, 40 authors, different walks of life, different places, different times, different moods, different continents, three languages, writing on hundreds of controversial subjects. Yet when they are brought together there is absolute harmony from beginning to end.’
In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read: ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults , and for teaching how to live right’ (NCV). Here’s what Billy Graham had to say about Scripture: ‘If I didn’t believe that the Bible and the gospel of Jesus Christ held the answer to this world’s baffling problems, I would go back to the farm and the rural life that I love and spend my days in peaceful solitude.’
We can trust the Bible because even though the words were written by humans, every word was inspired by God and His voice speaks through them. John said: ‘I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God so you will know you have eternal life’ (1 John 5:13 NCV). So many of the Bible’s prophecies and promises have come true, and although living out its principles isn’t always easy, it always proves to be the best and right way to live.
Jer 7-9; Luke 2:8-20; Ps 8; Prov 14:9-12
2021-06-22
Hebreërs 11:6 NLV
Sommige skeptici hou daarvan om te vra: ‘Van watter ‘god’ praat jy: Thor, Zeus, ensovoorts?’ Die afleiding wat van hierdie vraag gemaak kan word is: ‘Hulle was mitiese gode, net soos jou god.’ Ateïste is korrek dat hierdie gode mites was. Die mens word tot afgodery soos ‘n mot na ‘n vlam toe aangetrek. Daar is miljoene vals gode. Hindoeïsme het omtrent 330 miljoen.
Daar is egter net een skepper en dis die God wat Homself aan Moses openbaar het. Dis die God wat vlees in die persoon van Jesus Christus geword het, wat vir ons gesterf en weer opgestaan het en wat vir ons verlossing bewerkstellig het. Dis die God voor wie jy op die oordeelsdag te staan gaan kom. Jy sê: ‘Ek glo nie in die oordeelsdag nie!’ Wat as jy verkeerd is?
Nog ‘n argument wat ateïste gebruik is om te sê dat hulle nie kan bewys dat God bestaan nie, net soos ek en jy nie kan bewys dat die tandemuis dalk bestaan nie. Dis pseudo-intellektueel en ‘n neerbuigende manier om geloof aan God gelyk aan geloof in die tandemuis te stel. Soos een prediker egter skryf: ‘Geloof in die bestaan van die tandemuis is onbeduidend. Geloof in, en as gevolg daarvan, gehoorsaamheid aan God het ewige gevolge!’ Onherroeplike gevolge!
Die Bybel sê: ‘…Ons moet tog almal eendag voor God se regbank verskyn. Die Skrif sê tog: ‘So seker as Ek lewe,’ verklaar die Here, ‘elke knie sal voor My buig, en elke tong sal bely dat Ek God is.’ Elkeen van ons sal dus oor ons eie doen en late voor God verantwoording moet doen’ (Romeine 14:10-12 NLV). Aanvaar dus vandag Jesus as jou Redder, en jy sal God in vrede ontmoet.
Sielskos: Jer 4-6; Luk 2:1-7; Ps 144:9-15; Spr 14:5-8
