2022-03-13
John 4:23 CEV
Let’s talk about how to become a worshiper. First of all, there is no one-size-fits-all. The Bible doesn’t say you must worship God in a certain way. That’s because worship is such a powerful outpouring of our hearts toward the Lord that it can’t be limited to words or defined by a song, a shout, or silence. Jesus said, “True worshipers are… led by the Spirit… These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him” (v. 23 CEV).
Second, God created you to worship Him. Perhaps you have never thought of this – God created us to do the one thing He can’t do for Himself – worship! John the Apostle wrote, “Thou art worthy… to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11 KJV). Nothing brings pleasure to the heart of our heavenly Father more than the love and adoration of His redeemed children.
Third, worship can be expressed by anybody, anywhere, anytime. The Samaritan woman in Scripture grew up believing that true worship must be expressed at a sacred mountain called Gerizim, whereas the Jews believed it should be practiced in the temple at Jerusalem. But Jesus said it wasn’t to be confined to church or a particular day of the week. The psalmist, in his inimitable style, puts it like this: “Servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised” (Psalm 113:1-3 NKJV).
So, become a worshiper.
Soul food: 1 Sam 5:1-6:16; Rev 11:15-19
Johannes 4:23 ABA
Hoe word mens ‘n aanbidder? Eerstens, is daar nie net een regte manier nie. Die Bybel sê nie dat jy God op ‘n spesifieke manier moet aanbid nie. Aanbidding is so ‘n kragtige uitgieting van ons harte teenoor die Here, dat dit nie tot woorde beperk kan word of deur ‘n lied, ‘n uitroep of stilte gedefinieer kan word nie. Jesus het gesê: ‘…Nou sal die Heilige Gees die mense help om God reg te aanbid. Die Vader wil graag mense hê wat Hom so aanbid’ (vers 23 ABA).
Tweedens, God het jou geskep om Hom te aanbid. Miskien het jy nog nooit so daar aan gedink nie, maar God het ons geskep om die een ding wat Hy nie vir Homself kan doen nie, te doen – aanbidding! Johannes het geskryf: ‘U is waardig, Here ons God, om die hemelse heerlikheid en die eer en die mag te ontvang omdat U alle dinge geskape het; deur u wil is alles wat bestaan, geskape’ (Openbaring 4:11 NLV).
Derdens, aanbidding kan deur enigiemand, enige plek, enige tyd, plaasvind. Die Samaritaanse vrou in die Skrif het geglo dat ware aanbidding net by ‘n heilige berg genaamd Gerisim mag plaasvind, terwyl die Jode geglo het dat dit by die tempel in Jerusalem beoefen moet word. Jesus het egter gesê dat dit nie tot ‘n kerk of ‘n spesifieke dag van die week beperk hoef te word nie. Die Psalmdigter het dit as volg gestel: ‘Prys die Here! Ja, prys Hom, dienaars van die Here. Prys die Naam van die Here! Geseënd is die Naam van die Here, nou en vir altyd. Van waar die son opkom tot waar dit ondergaan, moet die Naam van die Here geprys word’ (Psalm 113:1-3 NLV). Word dus ‘n aanbidder.
Sielskos: 1 Sam 5:1-6:16; Op 11:15-19
2022-03-12
Luke 7:47 CEV
One day, Jesus was eating at the home of a Pharisee when a prostitute came in. ‘The woman kissed his feet and poured… perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If [Jesus] really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him!”‘ (v.38-39 CEV). But Simon the Pharisee got it wrong. It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t know, it’s that He could see beyond her sin. That day, He forgave her and sent her on her way redeemed, restored, and redirected.
This story confirms what we already know; Jesus came to save sinners. No one is beyond the reach of His grace. Let’s keep in mind these two things: 1) Never forget what God saved you from. Jesus told Simon the Pharisee: ‘Anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love’ (v.47 CEV). David remembered his past sins when he wrote: ‘He… brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay… set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth – praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD’ (Psalm 40:2-3 NKJV).
2) Remember that Jesus isn’t looking at your past but at your future. The crowd saw this woman as an ugly weed, but Jesus saw her as a beautiful flower, with so much potential that the crowd couldn’t see. So if you need forgiveness today, come to Jesus. And if you have been forgiven, pour out your heart to Him in praise.
Exo 39-40; Luke 16:1-18; Ps 135; Pro 7:21-23
Luke 7:47 CEV
One day, Jesus was eating at the home of a Pharisee when a prostitute came in. “The woman kissed his feet and poured… perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, ‘If [Jesus] really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him!'” (vv. 38-39 CEV). But Simon the Pharisee got it wrong. It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t know, it’s that He didn’t care! That day, He forgave her sin and sent her on her way redeemed, restored, and redirected.
This story confirms what we already know; Jesus came to save sinners on the street and hypocrites in the church. No one is beyond the reach of His grace. With that in mind, think this way: (1) Never forget what God saved you from! Note what Jesus told Simon the Pharisee: “Anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love” (v. 47 CEV). Remembering the sins of his past, David wrote: “He… brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay… set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth – praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:2-3 NKJV).
(2) Remember that Jesus isn’t looking at your past but at your future. The crowd saw this woman as a weed, but Jesus saw her as a rose, and He watered it. Bottom line: If you need forgiveness today, come to Jesus. And if you have been forgiven, pour out your heart to Him in praise.
Soul food: Exo 39-40; Luke 16:1-18; Ps 135; Pro 7:21-23
Lukas 7:47 NLV
Een dag was Jesus besig om by die huis van ‘n Fariseër te eet, toe ‘n prostituut binnekom. ‘…Toe het sy sy voete bly soen en aromatiese olie daaraan gesmeer. Toe die Fariseër wat die gasheer was, sien wat gebeur en wie die vrou is, het hy vir homself gesê: ‘Dit bewys dat Jesus geen profeet is nie. As God hom werklik gestuur het, sou hy geweet het watter soort vrou hom aanraak…’ (verse 38-39 NLV).
Simon die Fariseër was egter verkeerd. Dit was nie dat Jesus nie geweet het nie, dis net dat Hy nie omgegee het nie! Daardie dag het Hy haar sondes vergewe en haar verlos, herstel en herlei. Hierdie verhaal bevestig wat ons reeds weet; Jesus het gekom om sondaars op die straat en skynheiliges in die kerk te red. Niemand is buite sy genade se bereik nie.
Met dit ingedagte, onthou die volgende: 1) Moet nooit vergeet waarvan God jou gered het nie! Let op wat Jesus vir Simon die Fariseër gesê het: ‘…Maar iemand vir wie min sondes vergewe is, betoon maar min liefde!’ (vers 47 NLV). Toe hy die sondes van sy verlede onthou het, het Dawid geskryf: ‘…Hy het afgebuig… en my opgetel… uit die modder en die slym. Hy het my voete op ‘n rots laat staan… Hy het my ‘n nuwe lied gegee, ‘n lofsang om ons God te prys. Baie sal met eerbied toekyk. Hulle sal op die Here vertrou’ (Psalm 40:2-4 NLV).
2) Onthou dat Jesus nie na jou verlede kyk nie, maar na jou toekoms. Die skare het die vrou as onkruid gesien, maar Jesus het haar as ‘n roos gesien en vir haar water gegee. As jy vandag vergifnis nodig het, kom na Jesus toe. Wanneer Hy jou dan vergewe, stort jou hart in lof voor Hom uit.
Sielskos: Eks 39-40; Luk 16:1-18; Ps 135; Spr 7:21-23
