2022-09-07
Handelinge 16:31 NLV
Het jy al van die ‘Romeinse pad’ tot verlossing gehoor? Dit word op vier eenvoudige stappe wat in die boek Romeine gevind word, gebaseer.
Stap een: ‘Ons het immers almal gesondig. Ons almal het God beroof van die eer wat Hom toekom’ (Romeine 3:23 NLV). Ons almal is tot op ons kern sondaars, wat ‘n Verlosser desperaat nodig het.
Stap twee: ‘Want wat die sonde uitbetaal, is die dood. Maar God se genadegawe is die ewige lewe…’ (Romeine 6:23 NLV). Die evangelie beteken ‘goeie nuus.’ Hier is die goeie nuus: Al jou sondes, van die wieg tot die graf, is deur Jesus betaal.
Stap drie: ‘…Christus [het] vir ons kom sterf ten spyte daarvan dat ons nog sondaars was’ (Romeine 5:8 NLV). Jy kan nie verlossing deur goeie werke verdien nie; God gee dit vrylik aan jou. Al wat jy moet doen is om dit deur geloof te ontvang.
Stap vier: “Want as jy met jou mond bely dat Jesus die Here is en met jou hart glo dat God Hom uit die dood opgewek het, sal jy gered word. Want as ons glo met ons hart, word ons vrygespreek en as ons met ons mond bely, word ons gered… ‘Want elkeen wat die Naam van die Here aanroep, sal gered word'” (Romeine 10:9-13 NLV).
Voel jou lewe leeg? Verlang jy na vrede; om te weet dat jou sondes vergewe is en dat jy ‘n tuiste in die hemel het wanneer jy sterf? Plaas vandag jou vertroue in Jesus en maak Hom Heer oor jou lewe. Bid hierdie woorde: ‘Here, ek gee my lewe aan U oor. Kom my hart binne. Deur geloof ontvang ek die gawe van die ewige lewe. Dankie dat U alles tussen my en U reggestel het. In Jesus se naam. Amen.’
Sielskos: Eseg 10-13; Mark 10:35-52; Ps 20; Spr 19:24-29
Acts 16:31 NKJV
Have you heard of the “Romans Road” to salvation? It’s based on four simple steps found in the book of Romans. Step one: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NKJV). We are all sinners to the core, desperately in need of a Saviour.
Step two: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23 NKJV). The gospel means “good news.” And here it is: All of your sins from the cradle to the grave have been paid for by Jesus.
Step three: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NKJV). You can’t earn salvation by good works; God gives it to you freely. All you have to do is receive it by faith.
Step four: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For… ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved'” (Romans 10:9-13 NKJV).
Does your life feel empty? Do you long for peace; to know your sins are forgiven and you have a home in heaven when you die? Today, place your trust in Jesus, and make Him Lord of your life. Just pray these words: “Lord, I surrender my life to you. Come into my heart. By faith I receive the gift of eternal life. Thank you for setting everything right between you and me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Soul food: Ezek 10-13; Mark 10:35-52; Ps 20; Prov 19:24-29
2022-09-06
Hebrews 10:36 NLT
Satan studies you. He understands your strengths and weaknesses and knows how to push you to your limits. But when you keep standing, keep believing, and keep fighting, the Bible says, “Blessed is the man who endures… when he has been approved, he will receive the crown” (James 1:12 NKJV). The word “approved” means victory qualifies you for greater things. The word “endures” means your character and tenacity are being tested. You say, “How long will this trial last?” Only God knows. Goliath defied the armies of Israel for forty days (See 1 Samuel 17:16). Satan hindered Daniel’s prayers for twenty-one days (See Daniel 10:13).
Satan is relentless, so you must be too. When it comes to prayer, your persistence overcomes his resistance. “Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord… Patient endurance is what you need now… Then you will receive all that he has promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT). David didn’t get into trouble with Bathsheba until he left the battlefield (See 2 Samuel 11:1). So keep fighting, and God will come to your aid.
He did it for Joshua. When Joshua needed extra time to defeat his enemies, God made the sun stand still and time stop (See Joshua 10:12). It seemed God was saying to him, “As long as the sun doesn’t go down, you won’t either, for the same power that’s holding it up is holding you up!” When Jesus healed ten lepers, the Bible says, “As they went, they were cleansed” (Luke 17:14 KJV). They were probably wondering, “When will it happen, and how will it happen?” Faith doesn’t demand details and explanations; it just keeps moving forward, believing God for the right result.
Soul food: Ezek 5-9; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 142; Prov 19:21-23
Hebreërs 10:36 NLV
Satan bestudeer jou. Hy verstaan jou sterk- en swakpunte en weet hoe om jou tot by jou perke te druk. Wanneer jy egter staande bly, aanhou glo en aanhou veg, sê die Bybel: ‘Gelukkig is die mens wat in beproewing volhard! As die toets sy geloof as eg bewys, sal hy die lewe as oorwinningskroon ontvang…’ (Jakobus 1:12 NLV). Wanneer jou karakter en deursettingsvermoë getoets word, kwalifiseer oorwinning jou vir groter dinge.
Jy vra: ‘Hoe lank sal hierdie toets aanhou?’ Net God weet. God het die leër van Israel vir veertig dae lank teengestaan (sien 1 Samuel 17:16). Satan het Daniël se gebede vir een-en-twintig dae verhinder (sien Daniël 10:13). Satan is meedoënloos, dus moet jy ook wees.
Wanneer dit by gebed kom, moet jou volharding sy weerstand oorwin. ‘Moenie hierdie vertroue in God deur julle vingers laat glip nie… Wat julle nodig het, is om te volhard sodat julle kan voortgaan om God se wil te gehoorsaam. Dan sal julle ontvang wat God beloof het’ (Hebreërs 10:35-36 NLV).
Dawid het nie met Batseba in die moeilikheid gekom totdat hy die slagveld verlaat het nie (sien 2 Samuel 11:1). Hou dus aan veg en God sal jou te hulp snel. Hy het dit vir Josua gedoen. Toe Josua ekstra tyd nodig gehad het om sy vyande te verslaan, het God die son laat stilstaan en tyd gestop (sien Josua 10:12). Toe Jesus tien melaatses gesond gemaak het, sê die Bybel: ‘…Terwyl hulle soontoe op pad was, het hulle gesond geword’ (Lukas 17:14 NLV). Hulle het seker gewonder: ‘Wanneer gaan dit gebeur en hoe gaan dit gebeur?’
Geloof vereis nie details en verduideliking nie; dit hou net aan vorentoe beweeg terwyl dit God vir die regte resultaat glo.
Sielskos: Eseg 5-9; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 142; Spr 19:21-23
2022-09-05
2 Chronicles 34:1-2 NLT
When Josiah became king, he cleansed Israel of idolatry and began rebuilding the temple. That’s when a priest discovered some long-lost scrolls containing God’s Word. As Josiah heard what they said, he was deeply moved upon realising his people had drifted far from God. So he sent word to the prophetess Huldah asking what would become of the people. She told him that since he had repented when he heard God’s Word, his nation would be spared while he lived (See vv. 14-27).
An entire generation received grace because of the integrity of one man. And that one man had a lot to overcome. Josiah’s grandfather, Manasseh, was like the Hitler of the Old Testament. He filled Jerusalem “from one end to the other with… blood” (2 Kings 21:16 NLT). And Josiah’s father died at the hands of his own officers. “He did what was wrong,” most likely reads his epitaph. Josiah was only eight when he ascended the throne. Immediately he chose righteousness and didn’t stop doing what was right all his life.
What’s the point? You can’t pick your parents, but you can pick your role models. You can’t change your past, but you can rise above it. Your parents may have given you your DNA, but Jesus will give you a new beginning. “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children” (Ephesians 5:1 NIV). Your past doesn’t have to be your prison. You have a say in your life, you have a voice in your destiny, and you have a choice in the path you take. So choose well, and someday – generations from now – others will thank God for your legacy.
Soul food: Ezek 1-4; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 111; Prov 19:18-20
