2021-07-15
1 Timothy 6:17-18 NLT
Taskmasters don’t come much tougher than Bob Thompson. For forty years he pushed his highway workers hard six days a week from April to December to finish the job before the first frost. Their loyalty, sweat, and hard work helped make him a very rich man. Thompson remembered this and returned the favour. When he sold his company, Michigan’s largest asphalt and paving business, he gave his 550 current and retired employees $128 million from his gains. Even surviving spouses got checks. Some ninety employees became instant millionaires.
Thompson started the Thompson-McCully Company with $3,500 his wife, Ellen, earned from substitute teaching. The first five years in business were challenging. Thompson didn’t take a salary. So why later did he give away so much of his fortune? “It was the right thing to do,” he said. “You realize the people around you have gone through all the pain and suffering with you. I wanted to pay them back.” When the checks were handed out, Thompson wasn’t present. He said, “I didn’t want to be there because it gets too emotional.”
This man practiced what the apostle Paul talked about: “Teach those who are rich…to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.” Doing good isn’t a moonlighting occupation, it’s a full-time job. The person of character is guided by the North Star of goodness that leads him or her to ask in every situation, “What’s the right thing to do?” And the answer is always: “Do the right thing by others.”
Soul food: Acts 10-11; Luke 7:24-35; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 15:33
2021-07-14
Lukas 5:5 NLV
Les vyf: Staan op God se beloftes. Met hulle vorige visvangpoging, het die dissipels op hulle eie ervaring en vermoëns staatgemaak. Hierdie keer het hulle egter op Christus se belofte staatgemaak: ‘…Vaar nou dieper in en gooi jou nette uit, en jy sal baie vis vang’ (vers 4 NLV). Jesus het nie spesifiek gesê: ‘Petrus, as jy saam met My gaan visvang, belowe Ek dat jy ‘n groot vangs sal vang nie.’ Dit was nie nodig vir Hom om dit te sê nie, want Petrus het besef dat toe Christus vir hom sê om te gaan visvang, en toe vir hom presies sê waar om sy nette uit te gooi, was daar geen manier wat die nette leeg sou terugkom nie!
Wanneer jy God se teenwoordigheid in jou boot, God se plan in jou gedagtes en God se beloftes in jou hart ontvang, kan jy nie misluk nie. Miskien sê jy: ‘Dit klink alles goed en wel, maar jy ken nie my omstandighede nie.’ As jy deur jou omstandighede oorweldig voel, doen die volgende: Lees jou Bybel, vind ‘n spesifieke belofte van God en begin dit vir jouself opeis. Begin om van God te verwag om op te tree en jy sal vind dat sy belofte nuwe hoop in jou situasie sal meebring.
Net omdat jy nie jou probleem al opgelos het nie, beteken dit nie dat die oplossing nie bestaan nie. Met God, begin sukses dikwels op die punt van mislukking. Dis nadat jy heel nag jou nette uitgegooi het en niks gevang het nie, dat Hy intree. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – moenie tou opgooi nie! Probeer weer. Doen dit hierdie keer met Jesus in jou boot; en Hy sal die wêreld se verskil maak.
Sielskos: Hand 8-9; Luk 7:11-23; Ps 118:10-18; Spr 15:31-32
Luke 5:5 NIV
Lesson five: Stand on the promises of God. In their previous fishing attempt, the disciples were trusting in their own experience and ability. But this time they were trusting in Christ’s promise: ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch’ (v.4 NIV). Jesus didn’t specifically say, ‘Peter, if you go fishing with me, I promise you a big catch.’ He didn’t need to say it because Peter realised that when Christ told him to go fishing, and then got into his boat, and then told him exactly where to put down the net, there was no way it was going to come up empty. Peter trusted God and expected Him to act. He expected Him to keep His promise.
When we get God’s presence in our boats, God’s plan in our heads, and God’s promises in our hearts, we can’t fail. But we might be saying to God, ‘That sounds great, but right now I’m defeated by the problems I’m experiencing. I’m having some hard times, and I’m struggling to trust You.’ If we’re feeling beaten by our circumstances, here’s one thing we can do to help us rebuild our trust in God: read the Bible, find a specific promise from Him, and start claiming it.
When we start expecting God to act, we’ll find that His promise will inject new hope into our situations. Just because we haven’t solved the problem doesn’t mean there’s no answer. With God, success often begins at the point of failure, and it’s after we’ve ‘fished all night and caught nothing’ that He steps in.
So today, be encouraged and don’t give up. Try again, but this time do it with Jesus in your boat, and He’ll make all the difference.
Acts 8-9; Luke 7:11-23; Ps 118:10-18; Prov 15:31-32
Luke 5:5 NIV
Lesson five: Stand on the promises of God. In their previous fishing attempt, the disciples were trusting in their own experience and ability. But this time they were trusting in Christ’s promise: “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (v. 4 NIV). Now, Jesus didn’t specifically say, “Peter, if you go fishing with me, I promise you a big catch.” He didn’t need to say it because Peter realized that when Christ told him to go fishing, and then got into his boat, and then told him exactly where to put down the net, there was no way it was going to come up empty! Peter expected God to act. He expected Him to keep His promise.
When you get God’s presence in your boat, God’s plan in your head, and God’s promises in your heart, you can’t fail. Maybe you’re saying, “That sounds great, but you don’t know my circumstances. Right now I’m defeated by the problems I’m experiencing. I’m having some hard times.”
If you’re feeling beaten by your circumstances, do this: Read your Bible, find a specific promise from God, and start claiming it. Start expecting God to act, and you’ll find that His promise will inject new hope into your situation. Just because you haven’t solved your problem doesn’t mean the solution doesn’t exist. With God, success often begins at the point of failure. It’s after you’ve “fished all night and caught nothing,” that He steps in.
So the word for you today is – Don’t give up! Try again. This time do it with Jesus in your boat, and He will make all the difference.
Soul food: Acts 8-9; Luke 7:11-23v; Ps 118:10-18; Prov 15:31-32
2021-07-13
Lukas 5:4 NLV
Les vier: God se plan vir jou lewe behels altyd risiko’s. Hoekom? Omdat Hy wil hê dat jy jou lewe deur geloof moet lei. Hoekom dink jy het Jesus vir Petrus gesê: ‘Vaar nou dieper in’? Omdat dit is waar die groot visse is. Die meeste mense bestee hul lewens in die vlak waters van die lewe. Daar is min diepte aan hulle lewens; hulle is tevrede daarmee om nooit in die dieper waters in te gaan nie. Hoekom? Omdat dit veiliger in die vlak water is. Hulle dink: ‘As ek in die diep water gaan, mag daar dalk golwe wees. Dit mag dalk my boot wieg en my boot mag dalk omslaan. Ek sal dus maar net hier bly waar dit gemaklik is en hier rondplas.’
Ons maak skaars ons voete nat, omdat ons bang is dat ons nie kop bo water sal kan hou nie. Ons dink: ‘As ek regtig ernstig oor my toewyding aan God raak, mag Hy my dalk ‘n fanatikus maak. My familie kan dalk regtig ontsteld raak. Wat sal my vriende dink? Wat as God my vra om iets te doen waartoe ek nie in staat is nie?’ Dus is ons geneë daarmee om in die vlak water te bly – en ons loop so baie mis.
Verstaan die volgende: God se plan vir jou lewe is ‘n goeie plan, een wat tot jou voordeel sal werk (sien Jeremia 29:11-14). Hy sê: ‘Laat My toe om in jou boot te klim. Laat my teenwoordigheid saam met jou gaan – in jou besigheid, jou loopbaan, jou familie, jou huwelik, in elke area. Laat My toe om jou te lei. Werk saam met my plan en Ek sal jou meer as in jou wildste drome seën.’ Neem Hom vandag op sy woord en vaar in geloof uit.
Sielskos: Hand 6-7; Luk 7:1-10; Ps 118:1-9; Spr 15:27-30
