2022-06-10
Daniel 3:29 NKJV
The story in Daniel 3 of the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace teaches us these four lessons: 1) Doing God’s will can attract opposition. We mustn’t expect everyone to appreciate what we’re doing. Look at Jesus: ‘In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it’ (John 1:4-5 NKJV).
2) God will be with us in times of trouble. When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fire, he said, ‘I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God’ (Daniel 3:25 NKJV). Instead of destroying them, the fire destroyed the ropes that bound them, setting them free. It may look like circumstances have got us locked in, but God will defend us and bring us out of it victoriously.
3) It’s our test that produces our testimony. People will be watching us. The things they’re trusting in don’t work, and they might be wondering if what we’re trusting in does. Our faithfulness to God and His intervention on our behalf will touch their lives in ways that preaching and theological arguments never will. Everyone in Babylon knew what the Hebrew children believed. But they wanted to know, ‘Does it work when you’re in the fire?’ It does!
4) Great trouble can lead to great blessing. ‘Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon’ (v.30 NKJV). When we prove that we’re faithful in times of trouble, God will bless us in so many ways.
Rev 10-14; Matt 16:1-12; Ps 48; Pro 13:2-3
Daniël 3:29 NLV
Die verhaal van die drie Hebreeuse kinders in die vlammende oond leer ons die volgende vier lesse: 1) Om God se wil te doen, kan jou in die moeilikheid laat beland. Moenie verwag dat die wêreld jou gaan waardeer nie. Kyk na Jesus: ‘In Hom was daar lewe, en dié lewe het gedien as lig vir die mense. Die lig verlig die duisternis en die duisternis kan dit nie uitdoof nie’ (Johannes 1:4-5 NLV).
2) God sal by jou in jou moeilikheid wees. Toe Nebukadneser in die vlamme gekyk het, het hy gesê: ‘…Ek sien dan vier mans in die oond rondloop. Hulle is nie vasgebind nie. Hulle makeer niks. Die vierde een lyk soos ‘n bo-aardse wese’ (Daniël 3:25 NLV). In plaas daarvan om hulle te verbrand, het die vuur die toue wat hulle vasgebind het, verbrand en hulle vry gemaak. Hou moed! Dit mag dalk lyk of omstandighede jou vasgebind het, maar God sal jou as oorwinnaar daaruit bring.
3) Dis jou moeiliheid wat jou getuienis voortbring. Mense hou jou dop. Die dinge waarop hulle vertrou werk nie en hulle wonder of dit waarop jy vertrou, dalk werk. Jou getrouheid aan God en sy ingryping namens jou sal hulle lewens aanraak soos jou teologie nooit kan nie. Almal in die provinsie van Babel het geweet wat die Hebreeuse kinders geglo het. Hulle wou egter ook weet: ‘Werk dit wanneer jy in die vlamme is?’ Dit doen!
4) Hoe groter jou moeilikheid, hoe groter jou seën. ‘Daarna het [die koning] Sadrag, Mesag en Abednego bevorder en nog hoër posisies aan hulle in die provinsie van Babel gegee’ (vers 30 NLV). Hier is ‘n Skriftuurlike beginsel waarop jy kan staat maak: As jy bewys dat jy in moeilike tye getrou is, sal God jou tot hoër vlakke van seën bevorder.
Sielskos: Op 10-14; Matt 16:1-12; Ps 48; Spr 13:2-3
Daniel 3:29 NKJV
The story of the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace teaches us these four lessons: (1) Doing God’s will can land you in trouble. Don’t expect the world to appreciate you. Look at Jesus: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4-5 NKJV).
(2) God will be with you in your trouble. When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fire, he said, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25 NKJV). Instead of destroying them, the fire destroyed the ropes that bound them, setting them free. Be encouraged! It may look like circumstances have you locked in, but God is going to vindicate you and bring you out victoriously.
(3) It’s your trouble that produces your testimony. People are watching you. The things they’re trusting in don’t work, and they’re wondering if what you’re trusting in does. Your faithfulness to God and His intervention on your behalf will touch their lives in ways your theology never will. Everyone in Babylon knew what the Hebrew children believed. But they wanted to know, “Does it work when you’re in the fire?” It does!
(4) The greater your trouble, the greater your blessing. “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon” (v. 30 NKJV). Here is a scriptural principle you can count on: When you prove yourself faithful in times of trouble, God will promote you to higher levels of blessing.
Soul food: Rev 10-14; Matt 16:1-12; Ps 48; Pro 13:2-3
2022-06-09
2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV
The movie Schindler’s List tells the story of one man’s efforts to make the most of a desperate situation. As the director of a munitions factory in Poland, Oskar Schindler decided to use his position to save Jewish lives. By employing them in his factory, Schindler rescued many condemned Jews from the gas chambers. But keeping them employed was costly, and little by little he liquidated his personal property to keep his business afloat. At the end of the story, the Nazis are defeated, and the full impact of Schindler’s efforts is revealed as the dead are counted and the living stagger back to freedom.
In one scene, kneeling by the railroad tracks that had carried thousands to their deaths, Schindler had a startling realization. He could have saved a few more! Overwhelmed with regret, he laments keeping the few personal assets he still owns. If only he had known when the war would end, he would have done more. Now it was too late. Oskar Schindler was a hero. He is credited with saving more Jews during World War II than any other single person. But interestingly, all he could think about was what he didn’t do. He wished he had done more.
A powerful lesson in Schindler’s story is this: Even joyful givers will look back on their lives and wish they had done more. There are also others who gave less than they could have given, or who never gave at all. Can you imagine their thoughts as they stand before God, giving an account of how they used their resources and to be rewarded accordingly? “God loves a cheerful giver,” so today look for opportunities to give.
Soul food: Rev 5-9; Matt 15:29-39; Ps 16; Pro 13:1
2 Korintiërs 9:7 NLV
Die rolprent, Schindler’s List, vertel die verhaal van een man se pogings om die beste van ‘n desperate situasie te maak. As die direkteur van ‘n ammunisiefabriek in Pole, het Oskar Schindler besluit om sy posisie te gebruik om Joodse lewens te red. Deur hulle in sy fabriek in diens te neem, het Schindler baie veroordeelde Jode van die gaskamers gered. Dit was egter duur om hulle in diens te hou, dus het hy bietjie vir bietjie sy persoonlike eiendom begin likwideer om sy besigheid aan die gang te hou. Aan die einde van die verhaal word die Nazi’s verslaan en die volle impak van Schindler se pogings word geopenbaar namate die dooies getel word en die lewendes terug na vryheid steier.
In een toneel, knielend by die spoorlyne wat duisende tot hul dood gedra het, het Schindler ‘n verbysterende besef gehad. Hy kon meer mense gered het! Oorweldig met spyt, betreur hy dat hy die paar persoonlike bates wat hy nog besit, behou het. As hy maar net geweet het wanneer die oorlog sou eindig, sou hy meer gedoen het. Nou was dit te laat. Oskar Schindler was ‘n held. Daar word gereken dat hy meer Jode as enige ander enkele persoon tydens die Tweede Wêreldoorlog gered het. Interessant genoeg het hy gewens dat hy meer gedoen het.
‘n Kragtige les uit Schindler se verhaal is die volgende: Selfs blymoedige gewers sal op hulle lewens terugkyk en wens dat hulle meer gedoen het. Daar is ook ander wat minder gegee het as wat hulle kon, of diegene wat nooit gegee het nie. Kan jy jou hul gedagtes indink as hulle voor God staan en rekenskap moet gee oor hoe hulle hul hulpbronne aangewend het om ooreenstemmend beloon te word? ‘God het die blymoedige gewer lief,’ kyk dus vandag uit vir geleenthede om te gee.
Sielskos: Op 5-9; Matt 15:29-39; Ps 16; Spr 13:1
