2022-11-25
Revelation 2:4 NIV
Jesus told the church at Ephesus three things: (1) Remember. “Remember… from what heights you have fallen” (v. 5 AMPC). Instead of focusing on the depth to which you have fallen, think about the height you once knew. Not the worst of times, but the best. Recall when spending time in prayer and the Scriptures was the highlight of your day. What were you doing then that you’re not doing now?
(2) Repent. This word means to change your mind, your direction, and your actions. You can’t solve a problem with the same thinking and behaviours that caused it; new thinking and actions are required. When the Prodigal Son reached the pigpen, he realised he had hit the bottom. That’s when he said, “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you'” (Luke 15:18 NKJV). And his father forgave and restored him. How does his story end? He exchanged his rags for the robe of sonship and took his rightful place at the family table. And that can happen for you too.
(3) Repeat. “Do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:5 NIV). Make a list of the things you did when your relationship with the Lord was great, then prayerfully commit yourself to doing them again each day. And don’t wait until you feel like it. Do it until you feel it, until the joy of your first love re-ignites. Do you doubt that God will be gracious to you? Read this: “You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful… rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them” (Nehemiah 9:17 NLT).
Soul food: 2 Chron 9-12; John 11:28-37; Ps 102:18-28; Prov 27:13-16
Openbaring 2:4 NLV
Jesus het vir die kerk in Efese drie dinge gesê: 1) Dink terug. ‘Dink terug aan hoe ver jy uitgesak het…’ (vers 5 NLV). Dink aan die hoogtes wat jy eens op ‘n tyd geken het. Nie die slegte tye nie, maar die beste tye. Onthou toe dit die hoogtepunt van jou dag was om tyd in gebed en met die Skrif te bestee? Wat het jy toe gedoen wat jy nie nou meer doen nie?
2) Bekeer jouself. Dit beteken dat jy jou gedagtes, jou rigting en jou optrede verander. Jy kan nie ‘n probleem met dieselfde denke en optrede wat dit veroorsaak het, oplos nie. Toe die Verlore Seun by die varkhok gekom het, het hy besef dat hy sy laagste punt bereik het. Dis toe dat hy gesê het: ‘Ek sal huis toe gaan na my pa toe en sê: Pa, ek het gesondig teen sowel die hemel as teen Pa’ (Lukas 15:18 NLV). Sy pa het hom vergewe en hom herstel. Hoe het sy verhaal geëindig? Hy het weer sy regmatige plek by die familietafel ingeneem. Dit kan ook met jou gebeur.
3) Herhaal. ‘…doen weer wat jy aan die heel begin gedoen het…’ (Openbaring 2:5 NLV). Maak ‘n lys van die dinge wat jy gedoen het toe jou verhouding met die Here wonderlik was en wy jouself dan met gebed daaraan toe om dit weer elke dag te doen. Doen dit totdat die vreugde van jou eerste liefde weer aan die brand gesteek is.
Betwyfel jy dat God genadig teenoor jou sal wees? Lees dan die volgende: ‘…Maar U is ‘n God wat vergewe, genadig en vol deernis… U is liefdevol en getrou. U het hulle nie in die steek gelaat nie’ (Nehemia 9:17 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Kron 9-12; Joh 11:28-37; Ps 102:18-28; Spr 27:13-16
2022-11-24
Efesiërs 2:10 NLV
Toe God vir Moses geroep het om Israel uit Egipte te red, het Moses dit eers op sy eie manier probeer doen. Nadat hy ‘n Egiptenaar doodgemaak het om ‘n Israeliet se lewe te red, was hy vir vyf-en-veertig jaar voortvlugtig. Nadat hy in die woestyn geleef en sy les geleer het, het hy teruggekeer om God se wil – op God se manier – te doen. Almal van ons word geroep om God se wil op God se manier te doen. Jy vra: ‘Maar hoe kan ek weet wat my roeping is?’
Jy begin deur die volgende vrae te beantwoord: 1) Wat is jou geestelike gawes? ‘…God het aan elkeen van julle ‘n genadegawe gegee…’ (1 Petrus 4:10 NLV). Laat God jou, deur middel van jou diepste begeertes, daardie kernbevoegdhede wys waarmee jy die beste geskik is om Hom te dien.
2) Is daar iemand wat jou kan mentor en opbou? Dis deel van jou pastoor se werk: ‘om God se mense toe te rus vir die werk wat hulle in sy diens moet doen. Hulle werk is om Christus se liggaam op te bou’ (Efesiërs 4:12 NLV). Jy het hulp nodig; jy kan nie alleen daar kom nie!
3) Is jy by jou plaaslike kerk betrokke? ‘Ons besit elkeen een liggaam wat uit baie ledemate bestaan en wat elkeen sy eie spesiale funksie het. Net so is dit met Christus se liggaam. Al is ons baie, vorm ons saam een liggaam en as ledemate van hierdie één liggaam hoort ons saam en het ons mekaar nodig’ (Romeine 12:4-5 NLV).
4) Is jy gewillig om daar waar ‘n behoefte is, te dien? ‘…Met hierdie gawes moet julle mekaar dien…’ (1 Petrus 4:10 NLV). As jy wil weet wat jou roeping is, begin dien en God sal dit aan jou openbaar.
Sielskos: 2 Kron 6-8; Joh 11:17-27; Ps 102:12-17; Spr 27:10-12
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
When God called Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt, Moses first tried doing it his own way. Killing an Egyptian to save an Israelite’s life, he winds up a forty-year fugitive. After living in the wilderness and learning his lesson, he returns to do God’s will – God’s way. All of us, not just ministers, are called to do God’s will, God’s way. You say, “But how can I know what I’m called to do?”
You begin by answering these questions: (1) What are your spiritual gifts? “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT). Let God show you, through your deepest desires, those core competencies where you’re best suited to serve Him.
(2) Are you submitted to someone who can mentor and train you? That’s part of your pastor’s job: “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12 NLT). You need help; you can’t get there by yourself!
(3) Are you involved in your local church? “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other” (Romans 12:4-5 NLT).
(4) Are you willing to serve wherever there is a need? “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others” (1 Peter 4:10 NIV). If you want to know your calling, start serving and God will reveal it to you.
Soul food: 2 Chron 6-8; John 11:17-27; Ps 102:12-17; Prov 27:10-12
2022-11-23
Proverbs 29:18 KJV
God has a plan for your life; one that will help you see what’s truly important. It’s called a “vision.” Otherwise, things get blurred and you end up not knowing where you’re supposed to go. Athletes focus on one thing only: winning! To do it, they sacrifice relationships, pastimes, and pleasures. Eugene Peterson describes “vision” this way: “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed” (v. 18 MSG).
When God gives you a vision, you begin to see things as He sees them. Moses “saw” the promised land while everybody around him saw only wilderness and wanted to give up and return to Egypt (See Hebrews 11:24-27). And he understood that he would get there on God’s schedule, according to God’s plan, one step at a time. Sometimes your vision can feel overwhelming. That’s when you break it down into small steps and visualise yourself taking the next one. You will be surprised at your progress. But until you take the first step, a vision is just a daydream.
A British clergyman named Frederick Langbridge wrote, “Two men looked out from prison bars. One saw mud, the other stars.” What do you see in your future? Do you think God is just going to drop success into your lap? No, you must energise your vision with faith and give it momentum through hard work. After working all night and catching no fish, Jesus told His disciples, “Launch out into the deep” (Luke 5:4). When they obeyed, they caught their biggest catch ever. Bottom line: The world doesn’t control your supply, God does!
Soul food: 2 Chron 1-5; John 11:1-16; Ps 102:1-11; Prov 27:7-9
