2022-02-18
Psalm 119:18 NIV
The key to Bible study is to do it daily, systematically, and prayerfully. The psalmist prayed, ‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.’ This involves three things:
1) God will show you the truth about Himself. You’ll discover His nature, His opinions, and what He values. And you’ll discover that your heavenly Father is the best possible parent – full of love, compassion and care for every single one of His children.
2) God will show you the truth about others. You’ll begin to understand and appreciate their places in your life. You’ll also learn to recognise and anticipate their needs and the role God wants you to play in helping them. That’s because when God blesses us, we should do our best to pass that blessing on to others in some way.
3) God will show you the truth about yourself. You’ll start to grasp and appreciate how important you are to Him. Be prepared for Him to point out your problems and weaknesses. But that’s not all He’ll do. He’ll also show you the possibilities He sees in you and the plans He has for you (see Jeremiah 29:11).
So, set aside time each day to study your Bible. And spend part of it simply reading, without trying to delve into complex theological concepts. Read and absorb what God has to say, and let His Spirit speak to your heart. There’s so much to learn from His Word. Let’s make it a mission to gain every insight we can from it and get to know God and His wisdom more deeply than we’ve ever done before.
Isa 45-48; Luke 10:13-24; Ps 28; Pro 5:3-6
Psalm 119:18 NLV
Die sleutel tot Bybelstudie is om dit daagliks, sistematies en met gebed, te doen. Die Psalmdigter het geskryf: ‘Maak oop my oë sodat ek die wonders kan sien wat opgeskryf is in u gebooie.’
Dit behels drie dinge: 1) God sal jou die waarheid oor Homself wys. Jy sal sy aard, sy opinie en dit wat Hy waardeer, ontdek. As jy met ‘n afwesige ouer grootgeword het, sal jy ontdek dat jou hemelse Vader heeltemal anders is – liefdevol en anders!
2) God sal vir jou die waarheid oor ander mense wys. Jy sal begin om hulle plek in jou lewe te verstaan en te waardeer. Jy sal ook leer om hulle behoeftes en die rol wat God wil hê jy moet speel om hulle te help, te herken en te antisipeer. Jy sien, wanneer God jou seën, is dit altyd om jou ‘n seën vir ander mense te maak (sien Genesis 12:1-2).
3) God sal vir jou die waarheid oor jouself wys. Jy sal begin verstaan en waardeer hoe belangrik jy vir Hom is. Ja, Hy sal jou probleme en swakpunte uitwys. Hy sal egter meer as dit doen. Hy sal vir jou die potensiaal wat Hy in jou sien en die planne wat Hy vir jou het (sien Jeremia 29:11), openbaar.
Maak dus elke dag tyd om jou Bybel te bestudeer. Bestee ‘n gedeelte van die tyd om eenvoudig die Skrif te lees, sonder om in komplekse teologiese konsepte te probeer delf. Lees en absorbeer wat God te sê het en laat sy Gees toe om met jou hart te praat.
Hier is nog ‘n gedagte: Aangesien die Bybel die enigste boek is wat God ooit geskryf het en jy eendag voor die Skrywer self gaan staan, sal jy nie graag vir Hom wil sê dat jy sy boek gelees het nie?
Sielskos: Jes 45-48; Luk 10:13-24; Ps 28; Spr 5:3-6
Psalm 119:18 NIV
The key to Bible study is to do it daily, systematically, and prayerfully. The psalmist prayed, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” This involves three things:
(1) God will show you the truth about Himself. You will discover His nature, His opinions, and what He values. And if you grew up with an absent or abusive parent, you will discover that your heavenly Father is entirely different – lovingly different!
(2) God will show you the truth about others. You will begin to understand and appreciate their places in your life. You will also learn to recognize and anticipate their needs and the role God wants you to play in helping them. You see, when God blesses you, it’s always to make you a blessing to others (See Genesis 12:1-2).
(3) God will show you the truth about yourself. You will start to grasp and appreciate how important you are to Him. Yes, He will point out your problems and weaknesses. But He will do more than that. He will show you the possibilities He sees in you and the plans He has for you (See Jeremiah 29:11).
So, set aside time each day to study your Bible. And spend part of it simply reading, without trying to delve into complex theological concepts. Read and absorb what God has to say, and let His Spirit speak to your heart. And here is an additional thought: Since the Bible is the only book God ever wrote, and one day you’re going to stand before the author Himself, wouldn’t you like to be able to tell Him you have read His book?
Soul food: Isa 45-48; Luke 10:13-24; Ps 28; Pro 5:3-6
2022-02-17
Jakobus 3:16 NLV
Toe ‘n bekende pastoor deur ‘n skeptikus gevra is: ‘Glo jy dat daar ‘n ding soos ‘n regte duiwel is?’ het hy geglimlag en geantwoord: ‘Het jy al ooit ‘n jaarlikse kerkvergadering bygewoon?’ As jy al vir enige lengte van tyd ‘n kerkganger is, weet jy dat onmin sy lelike kop, net soos op enige ander plek, ook in die familie van God uitsteek. Paulus en Barnabas, ‘n briljante bedieningspan, het toegelaat dat hulle verskille oor Johannes Markus hulle uitmekaar dryf totdat hulle nie meer saam kon werk nie. Later het Paulus tot ander insigte gekom, maar die koeël was reeds deur die kerk. Hy het gesê: ‘Ek moedig sowel Euodia as Sintige aan om hulle meningsverskille op te los omdat hulle één is met die Here. En ek vra ook dat jy, getroue kollega, hulle daarmee help. Hulle het hard gewerk… om die Goeie Nuus uit te dra…’ (Filippense 4:2-3 NLV).
Onmin hinder ons gebede, neem ons fokus van verlore siele af en maak ons oneffektief in ons bediening. Ons moet leer om mekaar se talente, perspektiewe en posisies te respekteer, eerder as om afgunstig te wees. Met ander woorde, leer om te verskil sonder om onaangenaam te wees.
Die Bybel sê: ‘want waar jaloesie en selfsugtige ambisie is, dáár sal jy ook wanorde en allerhande gemene dade kry. Maar die wysheid wat van Bo kom, is in die eerste plek suiwer. Verder is dit vredeliewend, inskiklik, bedagsaam. Dit is bereid om deernis te bewys, en het goeie gevolge. Dit diskrimineer nooit en is altyd opreg. Die vredemakers saai saad van vrede; hulle oes omdat hulle reg lewe voor God’ (Jakobus 3:16-18 NLV). God seën die vredemakers (sien Matteus 5:9), so wanneer onmin sy kop in jou kerk uitsteek, maak dit jou missie om sade van vrede te saai!
Sielskos: Jes 42-44; Luk 10:1-12; Ps 5; Spr 5:1-2
James 3:16 NCV
When a well-known pastor was asked by a skeptic, “Do you believe there is such a thing as a real devil?” he smiled and replied, “Have you ever been to an annual church business meeting?” Seriously, if you have been a church member for any length of time, you know that strife rears its ugly head in the family of God just like it does everywhere else.
Paul and Barnabas, a brilliant ministry team, allowed their differences over John Mark to separate them to where they could no longer work together. Later Paul changed his mind, but the die was already cast. He appealed “to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News” (Philippians 4:2-3 NLT).
Strife hinders our prayers, takes our focus off lost souls, and makes us ineffective in our ministry. We must learn to respect each other’s talents, perspectives, and positions instead of envying them. In other words, learn to disagree without being disagreeable. The Bible says: “Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:16-18 KJV).
God blesses peacemakers (See Matthew 5:9), so when strife arises in your church, make it your mission to sow seeds of peace!
Soul food: Isa 42-44; Luke 10:1-12; Ps 5; Pro 5:1-2
