2023-04-15
2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT
As the old saying goes, “You become like the company you keep.” Paul explains it this way: “All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit” (v. 18 NRS). J. B. Phillips’ translation puts it this way: “Christians… reflect like mirrors.” And the King James Bible translators say it like this: “Beholding as in a glass.” So which translation is right? All three!
The ancient Greek word Katoptris can be translated either way. Bottom line: The more you spend time in God’s presence, the more you will reflect His likeness and carry His presence with you. What does “beholding” your face in a mirror mean? It’s more than just a quick glance; “behold” means to study, stare at, and contemplate. The Bible tells us after Moses spent forty days on a mountain in God’s presence, the people of Israel couldn’t bear to look at his face because it was suffused with the glory of God (See Exodus 34:29). What Moses beheld was what Moses became!
The Bible says that “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV). That means “whatever you do,” you’re a reflector! Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV). In other words, people should be able to look at you and see the God who lives within you. And that should be the case at home, at play, in the workplace, and anywhere else you happen to be.
Soul food: Lev 26-27; Matt 1:1-6; Ps 32; Prov 10:4-7
2023-04-14
Psalm 44:4 NLV
Het jy gehoor van die padda wat nie water kon kry nie, dus het hy twee voëls gevra om hom na ‘n dam daar naby te neem? Hy het hulle oortuig om elkeen die punt van ‘n stokkie in hulle bekke te neem, terwyl hy die middel van die stokkie vasbyt, sodat hulle sodoende met hom tot by die dam kon vlieg. Dit was nogals ‘n vreemde verskynsel: twee voëls, een stokkie, met ‘n padda in die middel. Hulle het goed gevorder, totdat ‘n koei in die veld opgekyk het en gevra het: ‘Wie se idee was dit?’ Die padda kon dit nie weerstaan nie. Trots het oor omsigtigheid geseëvier en terwyl hy na die aarde toe geval het, het hy geskree: ‘Dit was my ideeeee…!’
Moenie dieselfde fout maak nie. ‘Hoogmoed lei tot ondergang. Hooghartigheid kom net voor die val’ (Spreuke 16:18 NLV).
Hoekom is jy goed met dit wat jy doen? Vir jou eie gemak? Om vir jou aftrede te spaar? Om jou selfvertroue te versterk? Nee, dis alles bonusse, maar nie die hoofrede nie. Jy is goed met dit wat jy doen – om God se onthalwe. Dit gaan oor Hom, nie oor jou nie! Lees hierdie woorde en oordink dit in jou hart: ‘Rykdom en eer kom van U alleen, want U heers oor alles. Krag en mag is in u hand, om te verhoog en te versterk’ (1 Kronieke 29:12 NLV).
Nadat hy al Israel se oorwinnings, seëninge en suksesse onthou het, herinner Dawid ons: ‘Hulle het nie die land met die swaard verower, of die oorwinning deur eie krag behaal nie. Maar deur u krag was hulle suksesvol, deur u teenwoordigheid en u goedheid’ (Psalm 44:4 NLV). Hou in gedagte dat die seëninge wat jy elke dag ervaar, slegs joune is omdat God jou begunstig. Dis die waarheid!
Sielskos: Lev 23:26-25:55; Luk 24:45-53; Ps 25:16-22; Spr 10:3
Psalm 44:3 NLT
Did you hear about the frog that was running out of water, so he asked two birds to transport him to a nearby pond? He convinced each of them to carry one end of a stick in their beak while he bit down on the center and held on. It was a sight to behold: two birds, one stick, and a frog in the middle. They were making progress until a cow in a pasture looked up, saw the trio passing overhead, and asked, “Who thought of that?” At that point the frog couldn’t resist. Pride prevailed over prudence, and as he plummeted to earth, he yelled, “It was meeee…!” Don’t make the same error. “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18 NLT).
Why are you good at doing what you do? For your own comfort? To save for your retirement? To bolster your self-esteem? No, these are all bonuses, not the main reason. You’re good at what you do – for God’s sake. It’s about Him, not you! Read and ponder these words in your heart: “Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand… at your discretion people are made great and given strength” (1 Chronicles 29:12 NLT).
Recalling the victories, blessings, and successes Israel had experienced, David reminds us: “They did not conquer… with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm… that helped them, for you loved them” (Psalm 44:3 NLT). Keep in mind that the blessings you enjoy every day are yours only because God favoured and smiled on you. That’s the truth!
Soul food: Lev 23:26-25:55; Luke 24:45-53; Ps 25:16-22; Prov 10:3
2023-04-13
Ephesians 3:19 CEV
Princess Alice was Queen Victoria’s daughter. When her son contracted an incurable disease called black diphtheria, the doctors quarantined the boy and warned his mother to stay away from him lest she get infected. Yet she couldn’t. One day she overheard her son whisper to his nurse, “Why doesn’t my mother kiss me anymore?” His words melted her heart and she ran to him, smothering him with kisses. Within a few days, she died and was buried. What would compel a mother to risk her life for her child? Love!
Now stand at the cross and ask what would lead Christ to do something even greater for us? Love! Writing to the believers at Ephesus, Paul says, “I want you to know… Christ’s love… is too wonderful to be measured.” You can trace the greatest action of Christ to his greatest attribute – love.
Perhaps the people who should have loved you, didn’t; and those who could have loved you, wouldn’t. Maybe you were left at the hospital, or left standing at the altar, or left with an empty bed and a broken heart. Regardless of the cause, you were left with the question, “Does anybody love me?” And today Christ answers unequivocally, “I do!”
The truth is, His love for you “is too wonderful to be measured.” Hymn writer Charles Gabriel wrote: “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, And wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be: How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Saviour’s love for me!” God couldn’t love you more than He does right now, and that will never change.
Soul food: Lev 21:1-23:25; Luke 24:36-44; Ps 25:8-15; Prov 10:2
Efesiërs 3:19 NLV
Prinses Alice was koningin Victoria se dogter. Toe haar seun ‘n ongeneeslike siekte genaamd swart difterie opgedoen het, het die dokters die seun in kwarantyn geplaas en sy ma gewaarsku om weg te bly van hom sodat sy nie ook geïnfekteer word nie. Een dag het sy gehoor hoe haar seun vir sy verpleegster fluister: ‘Hoekom wil my ma my nie meer soen nie?’ Sy woorde het haar hart diep getref en sy het na hom toe gehardloop en van kop tot tone gesoen. Binne ‘n paar dae het sy egter gesterf en is begrawe.
Wat sal ‘n ma noop om haar lewe vir haar kind te waag? Liefde! Staan nou by die kruis en vra wat sou Christus genoop het om iets selfs groters vir ons te doen? Liefde! Paulus het aan die gelowiges in Efese geskryf: ‘Dan sal julle Christus se liefde, wat alle verstand te bowe gaan, beleef…’
Miskien het die mense wat jou moes liefgehad het, dit nie gedoen nie; en diegene wat jou kon liefhê, wou nie. Miskien is jy by die hospitaal gelos, of by die altaar verlaat, of met ‘n leë bed en ‘n gebroke hart agtergelaat. Ongegag die rede, jy is met die volgende vraag gelaat: ‘Is daar enigiemand wat lief is vir my?’ Vandag antwoord Christus omonwonde: ‘Ek is!’ Die liefde wat Hy vir jou het, gaan alle verstand te bowe.
Die gesangeskrywer, Charles Gabriel, het geskryf: ‘I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, And wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be: How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Saviour’s love for me!’ God kan nie liewer vir jou wees as wat Hy op hierdie oomblik is nie en dit sal nooit verander nie.
Sielskos: Lev 21:1-23:25; Luk 24:36-44; Ps 25:8-15; Spr 10:2
