2021-08-23
Daniël 5:14 NLV
Selfs al was Daniël ‘n gevangene, het hy geweier om middelmatigheid te aanvaar. Dit het hom onder die aandag van die koning van Babel gebring wat gesê het: ‘Ek hoor dat die gode in jou woon en dat jy besondere insig, begrip en wysheid het.’ Wat ‘n wonderlike reputasie! En wat ‘n berisping vir diegene van ons wat maar net aanploeter. Die Bybel sê: ‘Sien jy iemand wat bedrewe is in sy beroep? Hy werk vir konings en nie vir gewone mense nie’ (Spreuke 22:29 NLV).
Die manier om aandag in die lewe te trek en vooruit te beweeg, is om te studeer, te groei en jou vaardighede op te knap. Het jy ‘n middelmatige houding teenoor jou werk, jou verhoudings en die lewe oor die algemeen? Indien dit die geval is, oorweeg bietjie die vlakke van frustrasie wat jy sou ervaar as die mense wat jou moet bedien, so ‘n houding gehad het. Wat as die kelner koue kos en jou drankie in ‘n vuil glas vir jou bedien het? Sou jy daaroor gekla het? Dink dan hoe mense voel wanneer jy hulle slordige vakmanskap en ‘n ‘kan-nie-minder-omgee’ houding gee nie.
Daar word gesê dat uitnemendheid sy eie beloning is. Ja, jy sal vir uitnemendheid beloon word, maar jou grootste beloning sal kom uit die wete dat jy jou beste gedoen het. Aristotel het gesê: ‘Ons is wat ons herhaaldelik doen. Uitnemendheid is dus nie ‘n daad nie, maar ‘n gewoonte.’ Kyk na die lewens van mense wat in hulle veld uitblink. Bestudeer hulle gewoontes en leer van hulle. Identifiseer hulle karaktereienskappe en strewe daarna om dit te ontwikkel. Eers wanneer jy jou beste gedoen het, kan jy op God vertrou om die res te doen.
Sielskos: Klaag 1:1-3:39; Luk 16:19-31; Ps 119:121-128; Spr 18:13-20
Daniel 5:14 NKJV
Even though Daniel lived in captivity, he refused to settle for mediocrity. This brought him to the attention of the king of Babylon who said, “I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.” What a résumé. What a reputation. And what a rebuke to those who “just want to get by.” The Bible says, “Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people” (Proverbs 22:29 NLT).
The way to get noticed and to get ahead in life is to study, grow, and sharpen your skill set. Question: Do you have a mediocre attitude toward your work, your relationships, and your life in general? If so, consider the level of frustration you’d experience if the people who served you had a “that’ll do” attitude. What if a waiter served your food cold and your drink in a dirty glass? Do you think you’d complain? If so, imagine how people feel when you give them shoddy workmanship and a “could care less” attitude.
They say “excellence is its own reward.” Yes, you’ll be rewarded for excellence, but your biggest reward will come from knowing you did your best. Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Observe the lives of people who excel in their fields. Study their habits and learn from them. Identify their character traits and seek to develop them. Bottom line: only when you have done your best, can you trust God to do the rest.
Soul food: Lam 1:1-3:39; Luke 16:19-31; Ps 119:121-128; Prov 18:13-20
2021-08-22
Psalm 19:9 NLV
Die manier waarop jy Bybelstudie benader is noodsaaklik. Jy moet twee dinge doen: 1) Dit met integriteit benader. Toe ‘n nuwe Christen een keer tydens ‘n Bybelstudiegroep sê: ‘Ek sukkel om sekere dele van die Bybel te glo,’ het die ander lede geglimlag en hande geklap. Hulle het dit nie gedoen omdat ongeloof goeie nuus is nie; hulle het dit gedoen omdat hy uiteindelik eerlik genoeg was om sy vertwyfeling te erken. Moenie bekommerd wees nie; God is nie kwaad vir jou nie. Totdat jy gewillig is om oor jou vertwyfeling te praat, kan jy hulle nie oplos nie. Toe Tomas die opstanding betwyfel het, het Jesus opgedaag om hom daarvan te oortuig. Hy sal ook vir jou opdaag! Jesus het gesê: ‘Wanneer Hy ook al kom, die Gees van die waarheid, sal Hy julle begelei in die volle waarheid… Hy sal My verheerlik omdat Hy dit wat Hy van My ontvang het, aan julle meedeel’ (Johannes 16:13-14 NLV).
2) Dit met verwagting lees. Sodra jy die skrywer van ‘n boek ontmoet het en sy handtekening op die boek gekry het, voel jy anders oor die boek. Jy koester dit. Wanneer jy die Bybel met ‘n hart vol verwagting lees, ontmoet jy die skrywer daarvan. Soos jy sy woorde lees, begin jy sy teenwoordigheid aanvoel en begin jy besef dat Hy persoonlik met jou praat. Jesus het gesê: ‘Dit is die Gees wat lewend maak, die liggaam baat jou niks. Die woorde wat Ek aan julle gerig het, is Gees en lewe’ (Johannes 6:63 NLV). Wanneer jy met ‘n honger en verwagting na die Skrif toe kom, gaan jy nooit teleurgesteld daarvan weg nie.
Sielskos: Jos 2:1-24; Hand 9:20-30
Psalm 19:8 NLT
How do you approach Bible reading? Your attitude and the way you approach it are very important. If we want to get the most out of God’s Word, there are two things we must do each time we read the Bible:
1) Approach it with integrity. When there are parts of the Bible we don’t understand or struggle to believe, we should be honest about our doubts and uncertainty. God isn’t upset or angry with us when we tell Him what we’re finding difficult, because we can’t begin to resolve our doubts until we’re willing to bring them into the open and talk about them. When Thomas questioned the resurrection, Jesus helped him come to a place of belief. And He’ll do the same for us. It’s a mistake to try to force ourselves to believe something or to avoid reading part of the Bible so our faith isn’t challenged. Jesus said, ‘When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth…He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you’ (John 16:13-14 NIV).
2) Read it with expectancy. When we read the Bible with expectant hearts, the Author shows up. As we read His words, we’ll begin to sense His presence and realise He is speaking to each of us personally. Jesus said, ‘The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life’ (John 6:63 NIV). When we come to the Scriptures with a hunger and an expectancy, we never go away disappointed.
Josh 2:1-24; Acts 9:20-30
Psalm 19:8 NIV
How you approach reading the Bible is crucial. You must do two things: (1) Approach it with integrity. When a new Christian in a Bible study group said, “I’ve had a hard time believing some parts of the Bible,” the others smiled and applauded. They didn’t do it because unbelief is good news; they did it because he’d finally gotten honest enough to admit his doubts. Don’t worry; God’s not upset with you. Until you’re willing to talk about your doubts, you can’t resolve them. When Thomas questioned the resurrection, Jesus showed up just to convince him. And He will show up for you too! It’s a mistake to try to force yourself into believing something or avoid reading it so you don’t get disturbed. Jesus said, “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth…He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you” (John 16:13-14 NIV).
(2) Read it with expectancy. Once you’ve been to a book signing, met the author and gotten his autograph, you feel very different about the book. You treasure it. And when you read the Bible with an expectant heart, the author shows up. As you read His words you begin to sense His presence and realize He is speaking to you personally. Jesus said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63 NIV). When you come to the Scriptures with a hunger and an expectancy, you never go away disappointed.
Soul food: Josh 2:1-24; Acts 9:20-30
