2022-05-23
Romeine 13:14 NLV
Aangesien eerste indrukke saak maak, word ons aangemoedig om stylvolle klere aan te trek om sodoende sukses te behaal. Dis ‘n goeie ding. As verloste kind van God moet jou eerste belang egter nie wees oor hoe jy vir ander mense lyk nie, maar vir God. Net soos ‘n spieël jou fisiese voorkoms reflekteer, so openbaar die Bybel jou geestelike toestand. Jakobus skryf: ‘…As jy altyd net die woord aanhoor en nooit doen wat dit sê nie, is dit so goed of jy kyk na jou gesig in die spieël sonder om iets aan jou voorkoms te doen. Jy bekyk jouself, gee pad, en vergeet wat jy gesien het. As jy jou egter verdiep in God se volmaakte wet – dié wet wat ‘n mens vrymaak – en jy dóén wat die wet sê en jy vergeet nie wat jy gehoor het nie, dan kan jy God se seën verwag op wat jy doen’ (Jakobus 1:23-25 NLV).
Jy moet elke dag tyd met die Skrif bestee; anders sal jou geestelike klere verslete word. Paulus skryf: ‘Nee, soos ‘n mens jou klere aantrek, moet julle die Here Jesus Christus ‘aantrek’, en nie ‘n duimbreedte toegee aan die begeertes van julle sondige natuur nie’ (Romeine 13:14 NLV).
Soos Chuck Swindoll opmerk: ‘Die grootste vyand van verandering is die selfvoldane sondige natuur binne jou. Soos ‘n bedorwe kind, het jy dit jare lank bevredig en daaraan toegegee, dus sal dit nie sonder ‘n woede-aanval tou opgooi nie. Die vlees sterf ‘n stadige, bittere, bloederige dood – skoppend en stoeiend al die pad af ondertoe.’
Blywende verandering vind nie maklik plaas nie. Verwag dus af en toe terugslae en moenie dat dit jou van stryk bring nie. Wanneer jy voel dat jy wil tou opgooi, gaan op jou knieë en vra God om jou weer op koers te bring. Hy sal dit doen.
Sielskos: Heb 1-4; Matt 11:20-30; Ps 88:9b-18; Spr 11:27-29
Romans 13:14 NIV
First impressions are important, so we’re often encouraged to ‘dress for success’. But as redeemed children of God, our first concern shouldn’t be how we look to others, but to God. Just like a mirror reflects our physical appearance so that we can make adjustments, the Bible reveals our spiritual condition and tells us what to do about it. James wrote: ‘Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do’ (James 1:23-25 NIV).
It’s important to spend time every day in the Scriptures; otherwise, we’ll run around spiritually threadbare. Paul wrote, ‘Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh’ (Romans 13:14 NIV).
Author Chuck Swindoll wrote: ‘The number one enemy of change is the hard-core, self-satisfied sin nature within you. Like a spoiled child, it has been gratified and indulged for years, so it will not give up without a violent temper tantrum… The flesh dies a slow, bitter, bloody death – kicking and struggling all the way down.’
Lasting change takes place in first gear, not overdrive. In the journey of lasting change, we should expect occasional setbacks and refuse to let them throw us off course. And if we feel like giving up, we should ask God to help us get back on track. He will do it, and give us all the help we need.
Heb 1-4; Matt 11:20-30; Ps 88:9b-18; Pro 11:27-29
2022-05-22
1 Timothy 2:1 NKJV
Paul writes: “I exhort… that… intercessions… be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (vv. 1-4 NKJV).
Intercession means “to mediate between parties with a view to reconciling those who differ or contend.” It happens every day in the court system when lawyers intercede on behalf of their clients. It also happened in Scripture.
When Israel made a golden calf and worshiped it, Moses interceded with God on their behalf, saying: “Oh, these people have committed a great sin… Yet now, if You will forgive their sin – but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written” (Exodus 32:31-32 NKJV). And it worked. God told Moses, “Go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you” (v. 34 NKJV).
Later when Israel turned again to worship false gods, Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray [intercede] to the Lord for you” (1 Samuel 7:5 NKJV). As a result, the Lord sent a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were defeated before Israel (See 1 Samuel 7:10 NKJV).
Interceding can be a lonely business, and it’s also hard work: “Always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12 NKJV). But when nothing else works, intercessory prayer does!
Soul food: Gen 24:1-51; 2 Cor 6:14-7:1
1 Timoteus 2:1 NLV
Paulus skryf: ‘Eerstens spoor ek jou aan om vir alle mense te bid… Bid só vir konings en alle ander in gesagsposisies sodat ons in vrede en rustigheid, toewyding en eerbaarheid kan lewe. So is dit goed en aanneemlik vir God, ons Verlosser, want Hy wil dat almal gered word en die waarheid verstaan’ (verse 1-4 NLV). Voorspraak beteken om tussen partye, met die oog op versoening van die strydende partye, te bemiddel. Dit gebeur elke dag in ons hofstelsel waar prokureurs namens hulle kliënte voorspraak maak.
Dit het ook in die Skrif gebeur. Toe Israel ‘n goue kalf gemaak en dit aanbid het, het Moses namens hulle by God voorspraak gemaak deur te sê: ‘…Ag tog, Here, hierdie volk het ‘n verskriklike sonde gedoen… Wil U nie maar asseblief hulle sonde vergewe nie? As U nie wil nie, moet U tog maar my naam uitvee uit die boek waarin U dit opgeteken het’ (Eksodus 32:31-32 NLV). Dit het gewerk. God het vir Moses gesê: ‘Gaan nou en gaan lei die volk na die plek wat Ek vir jou gesê het. My engel sal voor jou uitgaan…’ (vers 34 NLV).
Later, toe Israel weer vals gode begin aanbid het, het Samuel gesê: ‘…Die hele Israel moet na Mispa toe kom. Dan sal ek vir julle tot die Here bid’ (1 Samuel 7:5 NLV). Gevolglik het die Here daardie dag ‘n groot donderstorm oor die Filistyne laat losbars en hulle so verwar dat Israel hulle verslaan het (sien 1 Samuel 7:10).
Voorspraak kan ‘n eensame besighed wees, asook harde werk. ‘…Hy bid altyd ernstig vir julle dat julle as volwasse gelowiges met volle oortuiging in alles die wil van God sal bly doen’ (Kolossense 4:12 NLV). Wanneer niks anders egter werk nie, sal voorspraak werk!
Sielskos: Gen 24:1-51; 2 Kor 6:14-7:1
1 Timothy 2:1 NIV
Paul wrote: ‘I urge then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth’ (v.1-4 NIV).
Intercession means ‘to mediate between parties with a view to reconciling those who differ or contend’. It happens every day in the court system when lawyers intercede on behalf of their clients. It also happened in Scripture. When Israel made a golden calf and worshipped it, Moses interceded with God on their behalf, saying: ‘Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! …But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written’ (Exodus 32:31-32 NIV).
And it worked. God told Moses, ‘Go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you’ (v.34 NIV). Later when Israel turned again to worship false gods, Samuel said, ‘Assemble all Israel to Mizpah, and I will intercede with the LORD for you’ (1 Samuel 7:5 NKJV). So that day, God sent a loud thunder over the Philistines and confused them so much, they were defeated (see 1 Samuel 7:10).
Interceding for others can be lonely, and it’s also hard work. Epaphras was described as ‘wrestling in prayer’ for the people of the Colossian church (see Colossians 4:12 NIV). But there’s so much value in intercessory prayer. Could you be an intercessor for someone today?
Gen 24:1-51; 2 Cor 6:14-7:1
