2021-10-26
Acts 16:7 CEV
When God gives us a green light, we must go. And when He gives us a red light, we must stop. ‘Paul and his friends went through Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit would not let them preach in Asia. After they arrived in Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not let them. So they went on through Mysia until they came to Troas. During the night, Paul had a vision of someone from Macedonia who was standing there and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” After Paul had seen the vision, we began looking for a way to go to Macedonia…sure that God had called us to preach the good news there’ (v.6-10 CEV).
After a series of green lights, God gave Paul a red light. Why? 1) Because the timing wasn’t right. Apollos had to go there first and lay the groundwork. 2) Because God needed Paul and Barnabas elsewhere. 3) Because God wanted them to be more seasoned before embarking on such a major mission.
Notice the words, ‘They tried to go…but the Spirit of Jesus would not let them.’ It’s so reassuring to know that God loves us so much that He’ll save us from our own misguided plans. The Canadian preacher A.B. Simpson said: ‘Often there’s nothing as godly as inactivity on our part, or nothing as harmful as restless working, for God has promised to work His sovereign will.’
Today, God might be saying to you, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted’ (Psalm 46:10 NKJV). Please pay attention to Him!
Ezra 3-5; John 6:35-51; Ps 127; Prov 24:19-22
Acts 16:7 CEV
When God gives you a green light, you must go. And when He gives you a red light, you must stop. “Paul and his friends went through Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit would not let them preach in Asia. After they arrived in Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not let them. So they went on through Mysia until they came to Troas. During the night, Paul had a vision of someone from Macedonia who was standing there and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us!’ After Paul had seen the vision, we began looking for a way to go to Macedonia…sure that God had called us to preach the good news there” (vv. 6-10 CEV).
After a series of green lights, God gave Paul a red light. Why? (1) Because the timing wasn’t right. Apollos had to go there first and lay the groundwork. (2) Because God needed Paul and Barnabas elsewhere. (3) Because God wanted them to be more seasoned before embarking on such a major mission.
Note the words, “They tried to go…but the Spirit…would not let them.” How reassuring! God loves you so much that He will save you from your own misguided plans. The Canadian preacher A.B. Simpson said: “Often there’s nothing as godly as inactivity on our part, or nothing as harmful as restless working, for God has promised to work His sovereign will.” Today God may be saying to you, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted [in this situation]” (Psalm 46:10 NKJV). Please pay attention!
Soul food: Ezra 3-5; John 6:35-51; Ps 127; Prov 24:19-22
Handelinge 16:7 NLV
Wanneer God jou ‘n groen lig gee, moet jy gaan. En wanneer Hy jou ‘n rooi lig gee, moet jy stop. ‘Hulle het deur die streke van Frigië en Galasië gereis omdat hulle deur die Heilige Gees verhinder is om die woord op daardie stadium in die provinsie Asië te verkondig. Toe hulle naby Misië kom, het hulle Bitinië toe probeer gaan, maar die Gees van Jesus het hulle nie toegelaat nie. Hulle het deur Misië gereis na Troas toe. Daar het Paulus in die nag ‘n visioen ontvang. Hy het ‘n Masedoniese man gesien wat hom staan en smeek: ‘Kom oor na Masedonië toe en help ons.’ Nadat Paulus die visioen gesien het, het ons onmiddellik Masedonië toe vertrek omdat ons tot die oortuiging gekom het dat God ons geroep het on die evangelie daar te verkondig’ (verse 6-10 NLV).
Na ‘n reeks groen ligte, het God vir Paulus ‘n rooi lig gegee. Hoekom? 1) Omdat die tydsberekening nie reg was nie. Apollos moes eers soontoe gaan om die grondslag te lê. 2) Omdat God Paulus en Barnabas êrens anders nodig gehad het. 3) Omdat God wou gehad het dat hulle meer ervare moes wees voordat hulle so ‘n groot taak onderneem het. Let die woorde op: ‘…Hulle… het… probeer gaan, maar die Gees van Jesus het hulle nie toegelaat nie’. Hoe gerusstellend!
A.B. Simpson het gesê: Dikwels is daar niks so goddelik soos onaktiwiteit van ons kant af nie, of niks so skadelik soos ‘n onrustige gewerskaf nie, want God het belowe om sy soewereine wil te bewerk.’ Vandag mag God dalk vir jou sê: ‘Wees stil en weet Ek is God! Ek sal vereer word [in hierdie situasie]…’ (Psalm 46:11)
Sielskos: Esra 3-5; Joh 6:35-51; Ps 127; Spr 24:19-22
2021-10-25
Eksodus 33:14 AFR83
Beantwoord die volgende vrae eerlik. 1) Is jy soms knorrig sonder om te weet hoekom? 2) Werk jy hard maar voel ongewaardeer? 3) Voel jy skuldig en onproduktief wanneer jy ontspan? 4) Bevind jy jouself waar jy skree om jou punt te maak, eerder as om kalm daaroor te praat? 5) Kan jy die laaste keer onthou wat jy gelag het totdat die trane geloop het? 6) Is jy moeg na ‘n afdag as gevolg van al die take wat jy moes verrig? 7) Neig jy om meer te eet wanneer jy gespanne en oorweldig voel? 8) Is jy gedurig op die verdediging? 9) Ly jy aan onverklaarbare maagpyne en hoofpyne? 10) Het jou doenlysie voetnotas?
Hoe het jy met hierdie toets gevaar? Is jy verras? As jy in pas met jouself is, behoort jy nie te wees nie. Die simptome van stresoorlading kom nie oornag voor nie. Wanneer jou rekenaar begin vries, weet jy dat dit tyd is om hom af te sit en weer aan te sit. Wanneer ‘n waarskuwingslig op jou paneelbord flikker, sal jy nie droom om dit te ignoreer nie. Wanneer die badkamerskaal se wysertjie soos ‘n waaier begin tol, weet jy dat dit tyd is om minder koek te eet!
Die punt is: as jy aanhou om die waarskuwingstekens te ignoreer, sal stres uiteindelik ‘n tol van jou gesondheid eis. Jesus het gesê: ‘…Julle moet regtig nie ontsteld of beangs word nie’ (Johannes 14:27 NLV). Met ander woorde, werk daaraan om jou reaksies te beheer. Hou op om oor elke klein dingetjie wat in jou lewe verkeerd gaan, jou vrede te verloor. Wanneer jy niks aan die situasie kan doen nie, moet jy leer om God te vertrou, dit te laat gaan en jou vreugde te behou.
Sielskos: Esra 1-2; Joh 6:25-34; Ps 98; Spr 24:15-18
Exodus 33:14 CEV
When your computer starts freezing up, you know it’s time to turn it off and reboot. When a warning light flashes on the dashboard of your car, you wouldn’t dream of ignoring it. When the clock starts to lose time, you know what time it is – it’s time to change the batteries! But the serious point here is that all of these things have warning signs that alert us to a problem and prompt us to do something about it. And it’s the same with stress – stress overload doesn’t appear overnight; there have probably been warning signs for several days, weeks, or even longer.
The problem is that we can ignore them, push them aside because we think we’re too busy to deal with them right then, or not recognise them for what they really are. But God doesn’t want us to live in a place of stress. Jesus said, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (John 14:27 NIV).
If we’re feeling overwhelmed with stress, it’s important that we get help from someone we trust, a doctor, or another medical professional who can support us. But God gives us some strategies as well. When we notice the warning signs of stress, or feel it building up inside us, we can: 1) Pray about it. ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’ (Philippians 4:6 NIV). 2) Hand it over to God. ‘Cast you cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken’ (Psalm 55:22 NIV).
Ezra 1-2; John 6:25-34; Ps 98; Prov 24:15-18
