2023-10-29
Acts 26:19 KJV
Paul had a “heavenly vision.” But there are those who “speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:16 NKJV). So you must be sure you are operating according to God’s plan, not your own, or somebody else’s.
The story of the Tower of Babel teaches us two things: (1) When people make up their mind to do something, they often succeed. (2) Succeeding doesn’t mean that you’re in the will of God. The word babel (confusion) means others can think you’re right, yet you’re wrong. You ask, “But isn’t it okay to make plans and set goals?” Yes, but your plans and goals should come out of a vision that God has given you.
When Paul said, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision,” he meant that there’s only one acceptable response to God’s plan – obedience! Partial obedience, selective obedience, or delayed obedience are still disobedience.
William Carey, who is considered the father of modern missions, gave up comfort and fortune to go to India and introduce the gospel. One of his more memorable quotes is: “Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God!” But you can only say that with confidence when you know what God has called you to do. What He ordains, He sustains! When you set your own goals you lack a heart-deep confidence that God is doing the work, so you wear yourself out thinking it’s all up to you. However, when you know God has given you a vision for your life, you trust Him, even when you can’t see any way to bring it to pass.
Soul food: Ps 103; Mark 5:24-34
2023-10-28
2 Timoteus 1:7 NLV
Om gelukkig in die lewe te wees, moet jy die regte dinge begin doen en ophou om die verkeerde dinge te doen. Een van die eerste dinge wat jy moet doen, is om op te hou om te sê: ‘Ek het net nie enige selfbeheersing nie.’ Selfbeheersing is ‘n keuse en hoe meer jy dit kies, hoe sterker word dit. Die beste deel is dat die krag van selfbeheersing van God af kom, nie van jouself af nie. ‘Want God het ons nie ‘n gees van skugterheid gegee nie, maar van krag, liefde en selfbeheersing.’
Dit gebeur outomaties wanneer jy tyd in gebed met God en sy Woord bestee. ‘My seun, luister baie goed na wat ek vir jou sê… Hou dit altyd in gedagte. My woorde beteken lewe vir dié wat daarna luister; gesondheid vir die hele liggaam van die een wat hulle betekenis ken. Bo alles, wees versigtig met wat in jou hart aangaan. Wat jy dink, bepaal alles wat jy doen’ (Spreuke 4:20-23 NLV). God sal jou die krag gee om dit te doen, maar jy moet elke dag daardie krag uitoefen.
Daar is geen kortpaaie as dit by selfbeheersing kom nie. Onthou jy hoe baie jy op skool jou maaltafels moes herhaal voor dit deel van jou denke geword het? Nou doen jy dit outomaties. Soortgelyk, wanneer jy begin dink soos God wil hê jy moet dink, sal jy in staat wees om die Duiwel te oorwin en in oorwinning te wandel. Die eerste stap is om op te hou sê: ‘Ek het nie enige selfbeheersing nie.’ Solank as wat jy glo dat jy nie ‘n gedissiplineerde persoon is nie, sal jy nie wees nie. Kom dus vandag in ooreenstemming met God se Woord en begin sê: ‘Ek is gedissiplineerd en het selfbeheersing.’
Sielskos: 1 Tim 1-3; Joh 6:52-59; Ps 114; Spr 24:23-25
2 Timothy 1:7 CEV
In order to be happy in life, you must start doing the right things and stop doing the wrong things. And one of the first things you must do is stop saying, “I just don’t have any self-control.” Self-control is a choice, and the more you choose it, the stronger it becomes. And here is the best part: The power of self-control comes from God, not you. “The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.”
It happens automatically as you spend time with God in prayer and His Word. “Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:20-23 NLT). God will give you the power to do this, but you must exercise that power each day. There is no quick fix form of self-control.
Remember how many times in school you repeated your arithmetic tables before they became part of your thinking? Now you just do it automatically. Similarly, when you become educated to think as God wants you to think, you will be able to defeat the Devil and walk in victory. And the first step is to stop saying, “I just don’t have any self-control.” You will never rise above what you say! As long as you believe you’re not a disciplined person, you won’t be. So today, come into agreement with God’s Word and start saying, “I am disciplined and self-controlled.”
Soul food: 1 Tim 1-3; John 6:52-59; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
2023-10-27
Revelation 22:20 NKJV
The last promise in the Bible is, “Surely I am coming quickly” (v. 20 NKJV). The last prayer in the Bible is, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (v. 20 NKJV). And the last major prophecy concerning Christ’s return was fulfilled in 1948 when the nation of Israel was reborn (See Amos 9:14). Since then, the clock of Bible prophecy has been ticking and the countdown is on.
Cynics and critics sometimes say, “Christians have been telling us for hundreds of years that Jesus will return, but it hasn’t happened.” That is additional proof of Christ’s return. “In the last days scoffers… will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same’… But you must not forget… A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise… No, he is being patient… He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along… But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness” (2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-13 NLT).
Jesus is coming back again – be sure you’re ready.
Soul food: Hab 1-3; John 6:35-51; Ps 127; Prov 24:19-22
Openbaring 22:20 NLV
Die laaste groot profesie oor Jesus se wederkoms is in 1948 vervul toe die nasie van Israel weergebore is (sien Amos 9:14). Sedertdien tik die horlosie van Bybelse profesieë en die aftelling het begin. Sinici en kritici sê soms: ‘Christene sê al vir honderde jare dat Jesus gaan terugkeer, maar dit gebeur nie.’ Dis bykomende bewyse van Jesus se terugkeer. ‘…dat daar in die laaste dae mense op die toneel sal verskyn wat die waarheid bespotlik maak… ‘Jesus het belowe dat Hy sal terugkeer, nie waar nie? Nou maar wat het van daardie belofte geword? Julle weet self: So ver terug as wat mense kan onthou, van die skepping af, bly alles nog net soos dit was’…
Een ding moet julle egter nie vergeet nie, geliefdes: Vir die Here is een dag soos duisend jaar en duisend jaar soos een dag. Die Here stel nie die vervulling van sy beloofde terugkeer uit soos party mense dink nie. Nee, Hy wag geduldig ter wille van julle. Hy wil nie hê dat sommige verlore gaan nie, en daarom gee Hy meer tyd dat almal tot inkeer kan kom. Maar die Dag van die Here sal so onverwags kom soos ‘n dief. Dan sal die hemele met ‘n groot gedruis verdwyn, die hemelliggame in vuur opgaan en die aarde met alles wat daarop is, vergaan. Aangesien alles om ons só gaan wegbrand, moet julle leefstyl soveel meer aan God toegewy wees en moet julle naby Hom lewe! Sien uit na die Dag van God en maak dat dit nog gouer kom… ons sien uit na die nuwe hemele en ‘n nuwe aarde, soos God belowe het. Dáár sal almal voor God reg lewe’ (2 Petrus 3:3-4, 8-13 NLV).
Jesus kom weer – maak seker dat jy gereed is daarvoor.
Sielskos: Hab 1-3; Joh 6:35-51; Ps 127; Spr 24:19-22
