2021-10-28
Jesaja 30:21 NLV
Iemand het een keer geskerts: ‘Toe Columbus sy reis begin het, het hy nie geweet waarheen hy op pad is nie. Toe hy daar aangekom het, het hy nie geweet waar hy is nie. En toe hy tuis gekom het, het hy nie geweet waar hy was nie.’ Ons het almal hulp nodig om te weet watter rigting om in te slaan; of ons moet verhuis of nie, ‘n sekere werk moet aanvaar, ensovoorts. Goeie nuus! God sal jou lei en wanneer jy ‘n verkeerde afdraai vat, sal Hy jou weer op die regte pad bring.
Hier is drie maniere waarop Hy dit doen: 1) Deur wyse raad. Ander was al in dieselfde situasie as jy. ‘Onthou julle voorgangers… Dink aan watter voorbeeldige lewe hulle enduit gelei het en vertrou soos hulle op God’ (Hebreërs 13:7 NLV). Is jou besigheid in die moeilikheid? Gaan praat met ‘n suksesvolle entrepreneur. Ondervind jy ‘n middeljarekrisis? Voor jy iets doen waaroor jy gaan spyt wees, vra vir hulp. Salomo het gesê: ‘Vir ‘n dwaas is net sy eie pad die regte een. Iemand wat wys is, luister na ander se raad’ (Spreuke 12:15 NLV).
2) Deur gebed en om te luister na God se stem. Jesus het gesê: ‘My skape luister na my stem; en Ek ken hulle en hulle volg My’ (Johannes 10:27 NLV). Jesaja skryf ook: “Jy sal ‘n stem hoor sê: ‘Hier is die regte pad. Draai om en loop hierlangs.'” Dis die tipe gerusstelling wat jy nodig het. Dus: ‘Moet oor niks bekommerd wees nie, maar bid oor alles…’ (Filippense 4:6 NLV).
3) Deur die Skrif. Paulus sê: ‘Laat die rykdom van alles wat Christus ons leer, julle leefstyl bepaal…’ (Kolossense 3:16 NLV). Dit beteken egter dat jy die Skrif moet lees, dit moet verpersoonlik en daarvolgens moet optree.
Sielskos: Esra 9-10; Joh 7:1-13; Ps 104:1-18; Spr 24:26-27
Isaiah 30:21 CEV
Someone quipped, “When Columbus set out, he didn’t know where he was going. When he arrived, he didn’t know where he was. And when he returned home, he didn’t know where he’d been.” We all need help knowing what direction to go; whether or not to relocate, take a certain job, commit to a relationship, etc. Good news! God will direct you, and when you make a wrong turn he will redirect you.
Here are three ways in which He does it: (1) Through wise counsel. Others have sat where you’re sitting: “Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7 NRS). Is your business floundering? Talk to a successful entrepreneur. Are you experiencing a midlife crisis? Before doing something you’ll regret, ask for help. Solomon said, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice” (Proverbs 12:15 NIV).
(2) Through prayer and listening for His voice. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 NIV). And Isaiah writes, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, ‘This is the road! Now follow it.'” That’s the kind of assurance you need. So, “Instead of worrying, pray” (Philippians 4:6 MSG).
(3) Through Scripture: Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16 NKJV). One author observes: “The Bible is to God, what a surgical glove is to a surgeon. He reaches through it to touch deep within you.” But that means reading it, personalizing it, and acting on it.
Soul food: Ezra 9-10; John 7:1-13; Ps 104:1-18; Prov 24:26-27
2021-10-27
Psalm 32:8 NLT
Vincent’s passion for ministry led him to the Belgian coalfields where he preached to miners, fed the hungry, and earned a place in the people’s hearts. His church was filled to capacity with those eager to learn about Jesus. But his superiors weren’t happy because Vincent wore cast-offs, lived in a shack, and gave his salary to the people. “You look worse than the people you teach,” they said. “Wouldn’t Jesus have done the same?” Vincent asked. His bosses disagreed, and he was dismissed from the ministry.
He was hurt and angry. His only desire had been to build a church that glorified God, so why hadn’t God let it happen? Then one day he watched an old miner struggling under a load of coal. Moved by the sight, he began to sketch the bowed figure. And although he didn’t realize it at the time, he’d discovered his real calling. The young preacher who was rejected by his denomination eventually became an artist the world will long remember – Vincent van Gogh.
David said: “It was my desire to build a temple…but God said to me…’Your son Solomon will build my Temple'” (1 Chronicles 28:2-3, 6 NLT). When God gives you a red light, be sensitive to it. And when He overrules your plans to implement His own, say, “Amen!”
F.B. Meyer wrote: “Are you in difficulty about your way? Go to God…get direction from the light of His smile or the cloud of His refusal…Wait there silent and expectant, though all around you insist on immediate decision or action – and the will of God will be made clear.”
Soul food: Ezra 6-8; John 6:52-71; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
Psalm 32:8 NLV
Vincent se passie vir die bediening het hom na die Belgiese steenkoolvelde gelei, waar hy vir die mynwerkers gepreek het, die hongeres kos gegee het en ‘n plek in mense se harte verdien het. Sy kerk was tot oorlopens toe vol met mense wat gretig was om van Jesus te leer. Sy base was egter nie tevrede nie, omdat Vincent ou klere gedra het, in ‘n pondok gewoon het en sy salaris vir die mense gegee het.
‘Jy lyk erger as die mense wat jy onderrig,’ het hulle gesê. ‘Sou Jesus nie dieselfde gedoen het nie?’ het Vincent gevra. Sy base het nie saamgestem nie en hy is uit die bediening ontslaan. Hy was seergemaak en kwaad. Sy enigste begeerte was om ‘n kerk te bou wat God verheerlik, so hoekom het God dit nie laat gebeur nie?
Toe eendag sien hy ‘n bejaarde mynwerker wat met ‘n vrag steenkool sukkel. Dit het emosies by hom opgewek en hy het die geboë figuur begin skets. Op daardie oomblik het hy sy ware roeping ontdek. Die jong prediker wat uit sy bediening gewerk is, sou uiteindelik ‘n kunstenaar word wat die wêreld vir lank sou onthou – Vincent van Gogh. Dawid het gesê: ‘…Dit was my begeerte om ‘n huis vir die verbondsark van die Here te bou… Maar God het vir my gesê: ‘Jy mag nie ‘n tempel bou… nie… Jou seun Salomo sal my tempel… bou…’ (1 Kronieke 28:2-3, 6 NLV).
Wanneer God jou planne oorheers om sy planne te implementeer, sê: ‘Amen!’ F.B. Meyer het geskryf: ‘Is jy in die moeilikheid oor jou manier van dinge doen? Gaan na God toe. Wag stil en afwagtend daar, selfs wanneer alles rondom jou ‘n onmiddellike besluit of aksie eis – en die wil van God sal duidelik gemaak word.’
Sielskos: Esra 6-8; Joh 6:52-71; Ps 114; Spr 24:23-25
Psalm 32:8 NLT
Vincent van Gogh’s path to becoming an artist can teach us so much. At first, his passion for ministry led him to the Belgian coalfields where he preached to miners, fed the hungry, and earned a place in the people’s hearts. His church was filled to capacity with those eager to learn about Jesus. But his superiors weren’t happy because Vincent wore cast-offs, lived in a shack, and gave his salary to the people. ‘You look worse than the people you teach,’ they said. ‘Wouldn’t Jesus have done the same?’ Vincent asked. His bosses disagreed, and he was dismissed from the ministry.
He was hurt and angry. His only desire had been to build a church that glorified God, so why hadn’t God let it happen? Then one day he watched an old miner struggling under a load of coal. Moved by the sight, he began to sketch the bowed figure. And although he didn’t realise it at the time, he’d discovered his real calling. The young preacher who was rejected by his denomination eventually became an artist the world will long remember, inspiring many people through his work. David said: ‘It was my desire to build a Temple…but God said to me…”Your son Solomon will build my Temple”‘ (1 Chronicles 28:2-3, 6 NLT).
When God gives us a red light, we should be sensitive to it and pay attention. And when He overrules our plans to implement His own, we should say, ‘Your will be done.’ F.B. Meyer wrote: ‘Are you in difficulty about your way? Go to God…get direction from the light of His smile or the cloud of His refusal…Wait there silent and expectant, though all around you insist on immediate decision or action – and the will of God will be made clear.’
Ezra 6-8; John 6:52-71; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
