2023-12-21
Proverbs 11:25 MSG
One of the best ways to keep your life in balance and stay on track spiritually is to pass on what you know to others. The Bible says, “Those who help others are helped.” As you pass along your insights, you will get more insights from God. Paul challenges Timothy, “Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others” (2 Timothy 2:2 CEV).
If you know people who haven’t discovered their God-given purpose in life yet, it’s your job to share with them what has been shared with you. For example, don’t just read this devotional and keep it to yourself, share it with your friends. The more you know, the more God expects you to use that knowledge to help others. That’s how things are supposed to work in His kingdom. James writes, “Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning” (James 4:17 NCV). In other words, increased knowledge brings increased responsibility.
Passing along the purpose of life to others is more than just an obligation; it’s one of our greatest privileges. Imagine how different the world would be if everyone knew their calling. That’s why Paul writes, “If you teach these things to other followers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 4:6 CEV). Not only does God want us to live out His purposes, He wants us to help others do the same.
That is what assignment-centered living is all about. Regardless of your age, the rest of your life can be the best of your life if you will do this one thing – start living on purpose!
Soul food: Micah 1-4; John 19:1-16; Ps 12; Prov 31:1-5
Spreuke 11:25 DB
Een van die beste maniere om jou lewe in balans te hou en geestelik op die regte pad te bly, is om dit wat jy weet aan ander oor te dra. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Wie die nood van die gemeenskap raak sien, word deur almal geëer.’ Soos jy jou insigte oordra, sal jy meer insigte van God kry. Paulus het Timoteus uitgedaag: ‘…Leer hierdie groot waarhede aan betroubare mense wat bekwaam is om dit aan ander deur te gee’ (2 Timoteus 2:2 NLV).
As jy mense ken wat nog nie hulle Godgegewe doel in die lewe ontdek het nie, is dit jou werk om met hulle te deel wat met jou gedeel is. Moet byvoorbeeld nie net hierdie dagstukkie lees en dit vir jouself hou nie, deel dit met jou vriende. Hoe meer jy weet, hoe meer verwag God van jou om daardie kennis te gebruik om ander te help. Dis hoe dinge veronderstel is om in sy koninkryk te werk. Jakobus skryf: ‘Hou in gedagte: As ‘n mens weet wat reg is en dit nie doen nie, is dit sonde’ (Jakobus 4:17 NLV).
Om die doel van die lewe oor te dra is meer as net ‘n verpligting; dis een van ons grootste voorregte. Dink jou in hoe anders die wêreld sou wees as almal hulle roeping geken het. Dis hoekom Paulus skryf: ‘As jy dit aan die broers en susters voorhou, sal jy jou plig doen as ‘n waardige dienaar van Christus Jesus…’ (1 Timoteus 4:6 NLV). Nie net wil God hê dat ons sy doelwitte moet uitleef nie, Hy wil hê dat ons ander moet help om dieselfde te doen. Ongeag jou ouderdom, kan die res van jou lewe die beste van jou lewe wees as jy hierdie een ding doen – doelbewus begin lewe!
Sielskos: Miga 1-4; Joh 19:1-16; Ps 12; Spr 31:1-5
2023-12-20
Proverbs 4:3 NLT
In order for your child to thrive physically and emotionally in later life, you must nurture them with love during their earliest and formative years. Indeed, health experts are now saying that it’s essential to their survival.
One Christian leader writes: “A study conducted at Harvard University shows unmistakably that the quality of the bonding between a boy and his mother is related to his physical health and well-being forty or fifty years later. Remarkably, 91 percent of college men who said they had not enjoyed a close relationship with their mothers developed coronary artery disease, hypertension, duodenal ulcers, or alcoholism by the midlife years. Only 45 percent of the men who recalled maternal warmth and closeness had similar illnesses. The same was true of men and relationships with their fathers. And consider this: 100 percent of the participants in this study whose mothers and fathers were cold and distant suffered numerous diagnosed diseases in midlife. In short, the quality of early relationships between boys and their parents is a powerful predictor of lifelong health. And you can be sure, the same is true of girls and women. It comes down to this: Where early needs are not met, trouble looms down the road.”
Solomon, one of the wisest men who ever lived, said, “For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.” David and Bathsheba were Solomon’s parents, and the story of what they did wrong is recorded for us all to read. But when it came to raising their son Solomon, they got it right. And by God’s grace you can too.
Soul food: Neh 11-13; John 18:25-40; Ps 4; Prov 30:29-33
Spreuke 4:3 NLV
Vir jou kind om later in die lewe fisies en emosioneel te floreer, moet jy hulle gedurende hulle vroeë en formatiewe jare koester. Gesondheidskundiges sê deesdae dat dit inderwaarheid noodsaaklik vir hulle oorlewing is. Een Christelike leier skryf: “‘n Studie wat aan die Harvard Universiteit gedoen is, toon onmiskenbaar dat die kwaliteit van die band tussen ‘n seun en sy ma verband hou met sy fisiese gesondheid en welstand veertig of vyftig jaar later. Merkwaardig genoeg het 91 persent van mans wat gesê het dat hulle nie ‘n noue verhouding met hul moeders gehad het nie, teen hul middeljare hartsiektes, hipertensie, maagsere of alkoholisme ontwikkel. Slegs 45 persent van die mans wat moederlike warmte en nabyheid onthou het, het soortgelyke siektes gehad.
Dieselfde was waar van mans en hul verhoudings met hulle pa’s. Oorweeg ook die volgende: 100 persent van die deelnemers aan hierdie studie wie se moeders en vaders koud en afgetrokke was, is in hul middeljare met talle siektes gediagnoseer. Kortom, die kwaliteit van vroeë verhoudings tussen seuns en hul ouers is ‘n kragtige voorspeller van lewenslange gesondheid. Jy kan seker wees dat dieselfde vir meisies en vroue geld. Dit kom hierop neer: Waar daar nie aan vroeë behoeftes voorsien word nie, is moeilikheid die voorland.”
Salomo, een van die wysste mans wat ooit gelewe het, het gesê: ‘Ek was self ook ‘n kind van my pa, die enigste oogappel van my ma.’ Dawid en Batseba was Salomo se ouers en die verhaal van hulle verkeerde optrede is vir ons almal om te lees neergeskryf. Toe dit egter by die grootmaak van hulle seun Salomo gekom het, het hulle dinge reg gedoen. Deur God se genade kan jy dieselfde doen.
Sielskos: Neh 11-13; Joh 18:25-40;Ps 4; Spr 30:29-33
2023-12-19
James 1:12 NCV
Because he was handsome, Joseph attracted the unwanted attentions of his boss’s wife. Day after day, she tried to seduce him. Now fast-forward to later in his life: If Joseph encountered that level of temptation when he was just a household slave, can you imagine the level he was exposed to when he became Egypt’s prime minister?
Acting with integrity in small things equips you to act with integrity in big ones. In the hour of temptation, you will be called upon to choose one of two paths: character or compromise. And every time you choose character, you become stronger, even when your choice comes at a cost. Observe:
(1) Character is more than just talk. Do you remember the old show-and-tell method of teaching in school? If you’re all tell and no show, you lose credibility.
(2) Talent is a gift, but character is a choice. Generally speaking, talent is something you’re born with; you have little say in the matter. But character is a choice you get to make each day, and usually it’s made when only God and you know about it.
(3) Character brings lasting success. It’s said that early Stradivarius violins were made from wood taken from the side of trees that had faced the brunt of a storm. Why? Because weather-beaten wood produces the sweetest music. Are you getting the idea?
(4) Temporarily you may rise above your character limitations, but you won’t be able to sustain it. Eventually you will be seen for what you are. So, the word for you today is – don’t just work to build your career, work to build your character.
Soul food: Neh 8-10; John 18:12-24; Ps 57; Prov 30:24-28
