2021-12-16
Handelinge 26:16 NLV
‘n ‘Dienskneg’ fokus daarop om sy meester se wil te doen. ‘n ‘Getuie’ getuig van dit wat hy of sy persoonlik ervaar het. As verloste kind van God, word jy geroep om beide te doen. Kom ons kyk na elkeen.
1) Jy is God se dienskneg. Dit beteken dat jou ore daarop ingestel moet wees om te luister na wat Hy wil hê jy moet doen, wanneer Hy wil hê jy dit moet doen en hoe Hy wil hê jy dit moet doen. Om sy wil te doen, moet die belangrikste item op jou daaglikse agenda wees.
2) Jy is God se getuie. Die waarde van ‘n getuie hang af van hoe naby hulle aan ‘n gebeurtenis was en wat hulle daar geobserveer het. Johannes skryf: ‘…[Hy] is die Een wat ons gehoor en met ons eie oë gesien het… ons het dit gesien en getuig daarvan…’ (1 Johannes 1:1-2 NLV).
Die geselskap waarin jy jou bevind, beïnvloed jou. Wanneer jy elke dag tyd met Jesus bestee, sal ander mense deur jou lewe beïnvloed word. Die Bybel sê: ‘…’n Mens wat wys is, red ander se lewens’ (Spreuke 11:30 NLV). Wanneer jy jou geloof deel, moet jy wysheid, takt en genade aan die orde van die dag lê. Die kans is goed dat baie mense wat jy teëkom, reeds ten minste een slegte ervaring met Christene en die kerk gehad het, dus moet jy ‘wys’ wees.
Hoe doen mens dit? Deur hulle te vertel dat Jesus die Groot Geneesheer is wat gebroke harte weer heel maak. Dat die kerk ‘n hospitaal is waar sommige mense gesond is terwyl ander nog in intensiewe sorg is. As jy dit behoorlik verduidelik en mense dit verstaan, sal hulle na Jesus toe aangetrek word. Wat is dus jou opdrag? Om sy dienskneg en getuie te wees!
Sielskos: 2 Tim 1-4; Joh 20:1-9; Ps 105:37-45; Spr 30:20-23
John 14:26 NLT
Are you unsure how to begin finding answers to problems? Let’s take a look at some biblical wisdom about problem solving. First, listen to the Holy Spirit within you. He’ll constantly remind us of God’s plan and show us how to carry it out. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will ‘teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you’ (v.26 NLT). Has God instructed you to do something? If you haven’t done it yet, trust Him and take that step.
Second, spend time with God every day: ‘One thing have I asked of the LORD…that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life…He will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble’ (Psalm 27:4-5 ESV). A shelter is a place of safety and protection. Even if things around us seem to be going horribly wrong, God’s sheltering presence is an oasis of peace. And if we spend time with Him in prayer and praise every day, we won’t have to run far to find Him when problems appear. Alone time with God helps restore our perspective and see problems from God’s point of view.
Third, never be too proud to seek advice and assistance. The Bible says those of us who are strong should bear the burdens of the weak (see Romans 15:1). There are times when we need to lift others, and times when we need to be lifted. The paralysed man in Luke 5 couldn’t get himself to Jesus, so his friends got him there. David turned to the men of Issachar because they ‘had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do’ (1 Chronicles 12:32 NKJV). When God provides help, let’s reach for it.
2 Tim 1-4; John 20:1-9; Ps 105:37-45; Prov 30:20-23
Acts 26:16 NLT
A “servant” focuses on doing his master’s will. And a “witness” testifies to what he or she has seen and personally experienced. And as a redeemed child of God, you’re called to do both. Let’s look at each one individually.
(1) You’re God’s servant. That means your ears must be attuned to what He wants you to do, when He wants you to do it, in the way He wants it done. Doing His will should be the most important item on your daily agenda.
(2) You’re His witness. The value of a witness depends on how close they were to an event when it happened, and what they observed. John writes, “We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands….Now we testify” (1 John 1:1-2 NLT).
Remember the old adage “you become like the company you keep”? Well, when you spend time with Jesus each day, others will be influenced by your life. The Bible says, “He that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). When it comes to sharing your faith, you must show wisdom, tact, and grace. Chances are, many people you meet have had at least one bad experience with Christians and church, so you must be “wise.”
And how do you do that? By letting them know Jesus is the Great Physician who heals broken hearts. That the church is a hospital where some are doing well while others are still in critical care. Properly understood and presented, this will draw people to Jesus instead of driving them away. So…what’s your assignment? To be His servant and His witness!
Soul food: 2 Tim 1-4; John 20:1-9; Ps 105:37-45; Prov 30:20-23
2021-12-15
Efesiërs 1:11 NLV
God kan die verkeerde besluite van die mense rondom jou in jou guns laat werk. In plaas daarvan om dus iemand te soek om te blameer, probeer om die hand van God aan die werk in jou situasie te soek.
Josef het drie dinge ontdek: 1) Wanneer God jou in ‘n paleis wil hê, kan niemand jou in die tronk hou nie. 2) Jou toekoms is nie in ander mense se hande nie; dis in God se hande. 3) Jou Godgegewe lewensopdrag het nie ander mense se samewerking of goedkeuring nodig nie, maar dit verg wel die samewerking van een persoon – jy.
Josef se broers het die verkeerde besluit geneem deur hom kwalik te neem. Potifar se vrou het die verkeerde besluit geneem deur hom vals te beskuldig. Die bakker het die verkeerde besluit geneem deur sy rug op hom te draai. God het dit egter nie gedoen nie! Hy het elke tree wat Josef geneem het bepaal, al die pad tot by die troon toe. Jare later het Josef van aangesig tot aangesig met diegene wat hom so sleg behandel het, gekom en gesê: ‘Wat my betref, het God die kwaad wat julle gedoen het, omgekeer in iets wat goed is…’ (Genesis 50:20 NLV).
God se doelwitte sal altyd mense se planne oorkom. Niemand kan God daarvan weerhou om jou te gebruik, te seën en vir jou sukses te gee nie, behalwe jyself. Maak dus seker dat jou hart en houding reg is! Paulus skryf: ‘Deur wat Christus gedoen het, het ons ook deel van God se eie volk geword. Ons was vooraf daartoe bestem! Dit was God se doel! Hy het alles laat uitwerk soos Hy dit beplan en wou gehad het’ (Efesiërs 1:11 NLV). Soek dus God se hand in alles.
Sielskos: Miga 5-7; Joh 19:30-42; Ps 105:23-36; Spr 30:15-19
Ephesians 1:11 NLT
When people around us make the wrong decisions, God can turn the situation around so things work in your favour and in accordance with His plan. So when things go wrong, instead of trying to find someone to blame, let’s turn our attention to looking for God’s hand at work.
Joseph’s brothers made a wrong decision by resenting him. Potiphar’s wife made a wrong decision by falsely accusing him. And the butler made a wrong decision by turning his back on him. But God arranged every step Joseph took, all the way to him becoming the pharaoh’s highest official. After years apart, Joseph stood face-to-face with the brothers who had treated him so badly, and said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV).
Joseph discovered three things through his experience, which we can also take on board: 1) When God wants you in a palace, nobody can keep you in a prison. 2) Your future isn’t in the hands of others; it’s in the hands of God. 3) Your God-given assignment in life doesn’t require the cooperation or approval of everyone, but it does need the cooperation of one person – you. God’s purposes will eventually overcome human plans. No one can stop God using us, blessing us, and giving us success – except ourselves. So let’s keep our hearts and our attitudes right.
The Message paraphrases Paul’s words, ‘Long before we first heard of Christ…he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone’ (Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG). So let’s look for the hand of God in everything – even when things look impossible or unfixable to us, He’ll make it work.
Micah 5-7; John 19:30-42; Ps 105:23-36; Prov 30:15-19
