2021-08-20
James 4:10 NKJV
Paul defines humility in these words: ‘Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves’ (Romans 12:3 NLT). The Bible says, ‘God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life’ (Genesis 2:7 NIV). God’s intention for us was to live in Paradise and enjoy His presence every day. But we disobeyed Him and decided to live by our own rules instead of His. And the result was that God said, ‘For dust you are, and to dust you will return’ (Genesis 3:19 NIV).
It’s a very humbling thought – there’s little value in our earthly bodies, and no matter what we achieve, what we have, and what we own, they’ll finish up how they started. But humility doesn’t mean we have no value at all. We know that God values us, because He paid such a high price for our salvation. ‘Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could become right with God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NCV).
Humility also doesn’t mean that we just let people walk all over us, or that we need to be weak, without our own convictions and opinions. True humility means acknowledging God as the source of everything we have, and everything we need, and always remembering to give Him credit and thanks for both. ‘Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him. Praise the Lord forever!’ (Romans 11:36 CEV).
Paul wrote: ‘May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Galatians 6:14 NIV). Let’s try to keep that attitude too, and give God the glory for everything.
Gal 1-3; Luke 15:11-32; Ps 119:105-112; Prov 18:9
2021-08-19
Acts 27:14 NKJV
The ship Paul was sailing on to Rome was wrecked by a storm named Euroclydon, meaning typhoon, tempest, or cyclone. Here are some valuable lessons we can learn from his experience.
(1) God can make a bad situation work for your good. Because of this shipwreck, Paul ended up on Malta, where the people heard the gospel for the first time. Plus, when he and his followers “departed, they provided such things as were necessary” (Acts 28:10 NKJV). Sometimes your problem can provide a platform for God to work in ways that’ll amaze you. Your future isn’t, nor ever will be, in the hands of people. It’s in God’s hands, and what He owns He protects and provides for.
(2) To reach your God-ordained destination you’ll have to sail through storms. Paul said, “All hope that we would be saved was finally given up” (Acts 27:20 NKJV). There’ll be days when you wonder how you’re going to make it, but by God’s grace you will (See Psalm 37:34 TLB).
(3) Storms reveal how well you know the Lord. Paul said, “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul'” (Acts 27:23-24 NIV). In hard times you discover the strength of your connection to God.
(4) He can bring success from what looks like failure. Notice two particular things in this story: (a) you may have to throw some things overboard to reach your destination (See v. 18). (b) Despite your best efforts, occasionally you’ll run aground (See v. 26). That’s when you must remember what God promised you – and stand on it (See v. 25).
Soul food: Judg 19:16-21:25; Luke 15:1-10; Ps 119:97-104; Prov 18:6-8
Acts 27:14 NLT
The ship Paul was sailing on to Rome was wrecked by a powerful storm called a ‘northeaster’. Here are some valuable lessons we can learn from his experience.
1) God can make a bad situation work for our good. Because of this shipwreck, Paul ended up on Malta, and shared the gospel with people who hadn’t heard it before. Plus, when he and his followers left the island, ‘people supplied [them] with everything [they] would need for the trip’ (Acts 28:10 NLT). Sometimes a problem can provide a platform for God to work in ways that’ll amaze us. Our future isn’t in the hands of people, and it never will be. It’s in God’s hands, and what He owns He protects and provides for.
2) We’ll have to sail through storms to reach the destination God’s set for us. Paul said, ‘All hope that we would be saved was finally given up’ (Acts 27:20 NKJV). There’ll be days when we wonder how we’re going to make it, but with God’s grace we will (see Psalm 37:34).
3) Storms reveal how well we know the Lord. Paul said, ‘Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul”‘ (Acts 27:23-24 NIV). In difficult times we discover how strong our connection to God is.
4) He can bring success from what looks like failure. Notice two particular things in this story: a) We might have to throw some things overboard to reach our destination (see v.18). b) Despite our best efforts, occasionally we’ll run aground (see v.26). That’s when we must remember what God has promised, believe it, and trust Him.
Judg 19:16-21:25; Luke 15:1-10; Ps 119:97-104; Prov 18:6-8
Handelinge 27:14 NLV
Die skip waarmee Paulus Rome toe geseil het, is deur ‘n sterk storm genaamd die ‘Noordooster’ stukkend geslaan. Hier is ‘n paar waardevolle lesse wat ons uit sy ervaring kan leer.
1) God kan ‘n slegte situasie ten goede vir jou laat uitwerk. Paulus het as gevolg van die storm op Malta opgeëindig, waar die mense die Evangelie vir die eerste keer aangehoor het. Ook, toe hy en sy volgelinge vertrek het, het die mense van Malta, ‘…vir ons alles opgelaai wat ons nodig gehad het’ (Handelinge 28:10 NLV). Soms kan jou probleem ‘n platform vir God wees om op maniere te werk wat jou sal verstom. Jou toekoms is in God se hande en Hy beskerm en versorg dit wat aan Hom behoort.
2) Om jou bestemming wat deur God vir jou bestem is te bereik, sal jy deur stormwaters moet vaar. Paulus het gesê: ‘…Uiteindelik is alle hoop laat vaar dat ons gered sou word’ (Handelinge 27:20 NLV). Daar sal dae wees wat jy wonder hoe jy dit gaan maak, maar jy sal dit deur God se genade doen (sien Psalm 37:34).
3) Storms sal openbaar hoe goed jy die Here ken. Paulus het gesê: “Verlede nag het daar ‘n engel van die God aan wie ek behoort en wat ek dien, langs my gestaan en vir my gesê: ‘Hou op bang wees, Paulus…'” (Handelinge 27:23-24 NLV).
4) Hy kan sukses uit iets wat na mislukking lyk, voortbring. Let twee spesifieke dinge in hierdie verhaal op: a) Jy mag dalk party dinge oorboord moet gooi om jou bestemming te bereik (sien vers 18). b) Ten spyte van jou beste pogings, sal jou skip met tye strand (sien vers 26). Dis wanneer jy dit wat God aan jou beloof het moet onthou – en daarop staan (sien vers 25).
Sielskos: Rig 19:16-21:25; Luk 15:1-10; Ps 119:97-104; Spr 18:6-8
2021-08-18
Joshua 9:14 MSG
When you consult God before making decisions, it keeps you out of all sorts of trouble. Joshua learned this the hard way. He had just conquered Jericho, the biggest city in the Promised Land. Flushed with victory, the Israelites felt like they didn’t need to consult God concerning their next move. But over-confidence can be deadly!
The Gibeonites, one of the enemy nations in the Promised Land, realized they couldn’t win against God’s people, so they sent negotiators in to make peace with them. And it worked. Even though the Gibeonites were lying, Joshua presumed they were telling the truth and signed a treaty. And it proved to be one of the biggest mistakes of his life. From that day on the Gibeonites became a constant thorn in Israel’s side. Joshua lived to regret that he “didn’t ask God about it.” Some of the oldest hymns contain the greatest truths. Here’s one: “O what peace we often forfeit; O what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
Are you a “make-it-happen-in-your-own-strength” kind of person? There’s a fine line between God-given assurance and self-sufficiency, and when you cross that line it can cost you dearly. If you’ve a tendency to move too quickly or operate in your own strength and skill, read these words carefully and prayerfully: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes” (Proverbs 3:5-7 NKJV).
Soul food: Judg 16:1-19:15; Luke 14:25-35; Ps 119:89-96; Prov 18:1-5
