2023-03-12
Job 42:2 NIV
Job lost his wealth, his health, and his children. The book he wrote is a conversation between himself and God. At the beginning of it, Job says, “Hear now my argument” (Job 13:6 NIV). He is asking, “Why has all this happened to me?” At this point he is totally self-focused. But by the middle of his book, Job has grown spiritually and now he takes a different approach.
Instead of reasoning, he decides to stand on God’s Word: “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:10-12 NIV).
By the last chapter in his book, Job has decided to trust God completely: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted… My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you” (Job 42:2, 5 NIV). Job has finally arrived at the place where he can say, “I trust God; there is no need to worry!” After nine months of worrying, questioning, and reasoning, he decides he doesn’t need answers to all his questions, he only needs to know that God cares for him. And his story ends in these words: “The Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (v. 10 NIV). There you have it; the steps to overcoming your worries!
Soul food: Acts 2:1-21; Joel 2:23-32
2023-03-11
Psalm 23:5 NLV
Dawid het gesê: ‘Wanneer ek loop in ‘n donker vallei, sal ek nie bang wees nie, wat U is naby my. U stok en u staf beskerm en ondersteun my. U berei vir my ‘n feesmaal voor die oë van al my vyande. U verwelkom my as ‘n eregas deur my kop te salf met olie en my beker vol te maak met seëninge’ (verse 4-5 NLV).
God het nie beloof dat jy nie met die dood, of vrees, of die bose, of vyande te doen sal kry nie. Hy het eenvoudig gesê dat ten spyte daarvan, of selfs soms te midde daarvan, jou beker vol seëninge sal wees. Paulus skryf: ‘En God is in staat om aan julle elke gawe in oorvloed te gee sodat julle in elke opsig altyd van alles genoeg kan hê én ook nog oorvloedig kan wees in elke goeie werk’ (2 Korintiërs 9:8 NLV). Hy deurweek jou met vreugde en vrede, sodat ‘…julle lewens tot oorlopens toe vol verwagting word deur die kragtige werking van die Heilige Gees’ (Romeine 15:13 NLV). Hy gee jou vreugde in oorvloed, sodat ‘…julle… die wonderlike blydskap wat julle in julle voel, eintlik nie onder woorde [kan] bring nie’ (1 Petrus 1:8 NLV). Hy gee jou oorvloedige vrede – Hy gee ‘…God se vrede… Hierdie vrede is wonderliker as wat ‘n mens ooit kan dink…’ (Filippense 4:7 NLV).
Wanneer jy dus sukkel om met jou salaris uit te kom, of die toekoms vrees, kyk in die spieël en sê: ‘God is my bron; ek het meer as genoeg, my beker is vol seëninge.’ Moet dit ook nie net in tye van nood of krisis doen nie; maak dit ‘n gewoonte wat jy elke dag uitoefen.
Sielskos: Eks 36-38; Luk 15:11-32; Ps 27; Spr 7:10-20
Psalm 23:5 NKJV
David said: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over” (vv. 4-5 NKJV). Notice, God didn’t promise that you wouldn’t have to deal with death, or fear, or evil, or enemies. He simply said that in spite of them, and sometimes in the midst of them, your cup will still overflow with His blessing. Next time you pour a cup of tea or coffee and it overflows onto the saucer, you have an “overflowing” or a “surplus.” Your God is a God of surplus.
Paul writes, “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT). He saturates you with joy and peace “so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV). He bestows a surplus of joy – He causes you to “rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8 NKJV). He also provides a surplus of peace – He gives “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 NKJV).
So when you’re struggling to make ends meet, or you fear the future, look in the mirror and say, “God is my source; I have more than enough, my cup overflows.” And don’t just do that in times of need or crisis; make it a habit you practice every day.
Soul food: Exo 36-38; Luke 15:11-32; Ps 27; Prov 7:10-20
2023-03-10
Psalm 23:5 NLV
Die volgende keer wat jy by die tafel aansit om ‘n heerlike maaltyd te geniet, stop en dink aan al die mense wat dit moontlik gemaak het. ‘n Boer het dit gekweek of grootgemaak; ‘n voedselverwerkingsmaatskappy het dit voorberei en verpak; ‘n vragmotormaatskappy het dit vervoer; ‘n kruidenierswinkel het dit verkoop; toe het iemand die prys betaal om dit te koop, dit gaar te maak en dit vir jou voorgesit om te eet.
Daar is baie skakels in hierdie ketting, maar die eerste skakel is God. Hy het die grond, die sade en die vee gemaak. Sonder Hom, sou jy verhonger het. Dis hoekom dit gepas is om elke keer wat jy by die tafel aansit, Hom te dank. Alles wat jy het, kom van God af (sien Jakobus 1:17). Miskien dink jy: ‘Maar ek het hard gewerk vir dit wat ek het.’ Dan moet jy vir jou werksetiek en jou moeite geloof word.
Dit is egter nie die einde van die storie nie: ‘Sê aan hulle wat ryk is in hierdie wêreld om nie trots te wees en op hulle geld te vertrou wat spoedig sal verdwyn nie. Maar hulle vertroue moet in die lewende God wees wat aan ons ryklik alles skenk wat ons nodig het om die lewe te geniet. Sê hulle moet hulle geld gebruik om goed te doen. Hulle moet ryk wees in die goeie dade en moet ruim gee aan dié in nood; hulle moet altyd gereed wees om wat God aan hulle gegee het, met ander te deel’ (1 Timoteus 6:17-18 NLV).
Wanneer God sê jy moet gereed en gewillig wees om te deel, sê Hy inderwaarheid: ‘Net soos Ek die voorsiener van al jou seëninge is, so moet jy uitgaan en daardie seëninge met ander deel.’
Sielskos: Eks 33-35; Luk 15:1-10; Ps 112; Spr 7:6-9
Psalm 23:5 NKJV
Next time you sit down at your table to eat a delicious meal, stop and think about all the people it took to make it possible. A farmer grew it or raised it; a food processing company prepared and packaged it; a trucking company shipped it; a grocery store sold it; then someone paid the price to buy it, cook it, and set it before you to eat.
There are many links in this chain, but the first link is God. He made the soil, the seeds, and the livestock. Without Him, you would go hungry. That’s why each time you come to your dining table, it’s proper to “say grace,” or offer thanks to Him. When someone sets food for your enjoyment and nourishment in front of you, common courtesy alone should require that you respond by saying, “Thank you.” Here is a memo from heaven: “Everything you have came from me. Signed: God.” (See James 1:17).
Perhaps you’re thinking, “But I worked hard for what I have.” Then you’re to be commended for your work ethic and your effort. But that’s not the end of the story; here is the rest of it: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-18 NKJV). When God says be “ready to give, willing to share,” He is simply saying, “Just as I have been the provider of all your blessings, now go out and share those blessings with others.”
Soul food: Exo 33-35; Luke 15:1-10; Ps 112; Prov 7:6-9
