2022-09-02
Matteus 18:18 NLV
God het vir Josua gesê: ‘…Steek die spies in jou hand na Ai toe uit. Ek gee die stad in jou mag oor…’ (Josua 8:18 NLV). Dis wonderbaarlik hoe dapper jy voel wanneer jy God se ondersteuning het. Wanneer jy weet dat Hy aan jou kant is, kan jy sê: ‘Geen wapen wat teen my gemik word, sal iets teen my kan uitrig nie’ (sien Jesaja 54:17).
Oormoed is egter selfvertroue wat nie op vertroue in God gebaseer is nie. Ons probleem is dat ons dinge beplan, sê en doen sonder om eers seker te maak dat God ons daarin ondersteun. Kan jy onthou wat die bose gees vir die mense wat nie deur God se Gees bekragtig is nie en Paulus se bediening probeer na-aap het, gesê het? ‘…Jesus ken ek, en van Paulus weet ek, maar wie’s júlle?’ (Handelinge 19:15 NLV).
Wanneer jy aangeval word, moet jy seker wees dat: 1) jy in die regte posisie met God is (sien 2 Korintiërs 5:21), 2) dat dit God se stryd, sowel as joune is (sien 2 Kronieke 20:15), en 3) ‘…wat julle ook al op aarde sou afwys, sal ook voor God verbode wees. Maar wat julle ook al in orde vind, sal ook voor God in orde wees’ (Matteus 18:18 NLV). As God dit nie goedkeur nie, moet jy ook nie. Jou selfvertroue kom deur die wete dat jy binne sy wil optree.
Die Bybel noem ons: ‘…Gód se werkspan…’ (1 Korintiërs 3:9 NLV), dus kan jy nie net sommer jou eie ding gaan doen nie. Moenie die berg probeer beweeg wat God nie wil hê moet beweeg nie. Ons doen op aarde slegs wat Hy in die hemel as sy wil verklaar het. Hy sal ons daarin ondersteun!
Sielskos: Amos 1:1-5:17; Mark 9:38-50; Ps 103:1-12; Spr 19:12-16
Matthew 18:18 NIV
God told Joshua, “Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand” (Joshua 8:18 NKJV). It’s amazing how courageous you feel when God is backing you up. When you know He is on your side, you can say, “No weapon that is formed against me will prevail” (See Isaiah 54:17). But overconfidence is self-confidence that’s not based on God-confidence. Our problem is, we plan, say, and do things without first checking to find out if God is behind us.
Do you remember what the evil spirit said to those trying to mimic Paul’s ministry when they weren’t empowered by God’s Spirit? “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” (Acts 19:15 NKJV). When you’re under attack, you need to know that (1) you’re in right standing with God (See 2 Corinthians 5:19), (2) it’s God’s fight as well as yours (See 2 Chronicles 20:15 CEV), and (3) “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18 NIV). There must be agreement in both realms. If it’s not approved where God is, it shouldn’t be approved where you are.
Your confidence comes from knowing you’re operating in His will. The Bible calls us “labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV), so you can’t go off and do your own thing. Don’t try moving any mountain the Lord doesn’t want moved or raising anybody from the dead except the Lazarus He calls forth. We do on earth only what He has declared to be His will in heaven. And He backs us up!
Soul food: Amos 1:1-5:17; Mark 9:38-50; Ps 103:1-12; Prov 19:12-16
2022-09-01
Spreuke 13:10 NLV
Hoekom wys ons insette wat ons kan help, af? Soms is dit om ons ego teen ‘n pynlike waarheid te beskerm. Wanneer ons ‘n ingeburgerde opinie het, neem ons ‘n afwysende benadering teenoor ander mense se denkwyses aan. Ons maak dan nie net hulle nie, maar ook onsself, seer. ‘Dis beter om ‘n jongmens te wees wat arm en verstandig is, as om ‘n koning te wees wat oud en dwaas is en van niemand raad aanvaar nie’ (Prediker 4:13 NLV). Ja, jy het areas van kundigheid. Jy het egter ook areas waar jy raad nodig het. Die dag wat jy besluit om op te hou luister, is die dag wat jy besluit om op te hou groei.
Thomas Carlyle het gesê: ‘Elke mens is my meerdere in die opsig dat ek van hulle kan leer.’ Selfs as dit wat jy leer negatief is, of ‘n les is in wat om nie te doen nie, is dit steeds waardevolle informasie wat jou kan beskerm en verryk.
Dr John Maxwell sê: ‘Wat is die een ding – meer as enigiets anders – wat die groei van ‘n organisasie sal bepaal? Die groei van mense in die organisasie. Wat bepaal die mense se groei? Die leier se groei! So lank as wat mense jou volg, sal hulle slegs in staat wees om so ver te gaan soos wat jy gaan. As jy nie groei nie, sal hulle nie groei nie – of hulle sal êrens anders gaan waar hulle kan groei.’
Daar is ‘n verhaal van ‘n boer wat sy donkie by die Kentucky Derby ingeskryf het. ‘Jou donkie staan nie ‘n kans teen al daardie volbloedperde nie,’ het ‘n resiesbeampte vir hom gesê. ‘Ek weet,’ het hy geantwoord, ‘maar ek het gedink die uitgelese geselskap sal hom bietjie goed doen.’ Jy het die regte geselskap en insette nodig om te kan groei.
Sielskos: Klaag 3:40-5:22; Mark 9:30-37; Ps 84; Spr 19:11
Proverbs 13:10 NKJV
Why do we dismiss input that could help us? Sometimes it’s to protect our ego against a painful truth. When we have an entrenched opinion, we adopt a dismissive approach toward the thinking of others. And not only do we hurt them, we hurt ourselves. “Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more” (Ecclesiastes 4:13 NKJV). Yes, you have areas of expertise. But you also have areas where you need advice.
The day you decide to stop listening is the day you decide to stop growing. Thomas Carlyle said, “Every man is my superior in that I can learn from him.” Even if what you learn is negative or a lesson in what not to do, it’s still valuable information that can protect and enrich you.
Dr. John Maxwell says: “What is the one thing – more than any other – that will determine the growth of an organisation? The growth of the people in the organisation. And what determines the people’s growth? The growth of the leader! As long as people are following you, they will be able to go only as far as you go. If you’re not growing, they won’t be growing – either that, or they will go somewhere else where they can grow.”
The story is told of an old farmer who entered his mule in the Kentucky Derby. “Your mule has no chance of winning against all those thoroughbreds,” a race official told him. “I know,” he replied, “but I thought the associations would do him some good.” To grow, you need the right associations and the right input.
Soul food: Lam 3:40-5:22; Mark 9:30-37; Ps 84; Prov 19:11
