2024-02-12
Exodus 33:11 NLT
When you talk to a close friend, you’re relaxed, trusting, unguarded, and open. There is no need to watch your p’s and q’s; you can express how you feel without fearing you will be judged or rejected. That’s how Moses and God talked to each other – like two friends, trusting and transparent. They said what they felt and thought straightforwardly, not in churchy language or religious jargon.
The Israelites had made a golden calf to worship, and God was angry enough to disown them and choose a new people. Moses had a crisis on his hands, and he engaged with God in a serious discussion over the outcome. In essence, what he told God was, “You see it one way, Lord. I see it another – and your perspective is making me very uncomfortable!” Sounds like a candid exchange between friends. Moses wasn’t being disrespectful; he was being up front and honest with God. They knew each other well enough to speak “face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”
Do you pray like that? No posturing – just saying heart-to-heart what you want to say to your friend, God? That’s the kind of relationship God had with Moses, and it’s the kind He wants you to have with Him too! Religious clichés and “the usual” request lists miss the opportunity to connect deeply and personally with God. Instead, open up with Him. Get down to the nitty-gritty. Tell Him where you’re coming from, what you really feel, think, and desire; then listen to His perspective. In other words, be a friend with God!
Soul food: Num 34-36; Matt 13:1-9; Ps 138; Prov 4:14-17
2024-02-11
1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV
The Bible says we must love, honour, and work together. So, why don’t we do it? Ego! We like to think we can do everything ourselves – but that’s not reality! There are no supermen or superwomen. So, the question isn’t whether or not you can do everything on your own; it’s how soon are you going to realize you can’t? Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie declared, “It marks a big step in your development when you come to realize that other people can help you do a better job than you could do alone.”
After training His disciples for ministry, Jesus sent them out in twos; there were no solo acts! Why? For many reasons: to prevent one another from straying off the path, to hold each other accountable, to encourage one another when the going got tough, to offset a weakness with a corresponding strength. We each have “blind spots” and we need someone with 20/20 vision in those areas to help us see things the right way.
As recorded in Exodus 17, when Moses held up his hands (symbolizing reaching for God’s help), Israel’s armies prevailed against the Amalekites. But when Moses got tired and lowered his hands, the battle went against Israel. What was the solution? “When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone… put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army” (Exodus 17:12-13 NIV). A couple of questions to think about: Who is holding up your hands? Whose hands are you holding up?
Soul food: Exo 20:13; Gen 4:8-16; Prov 18:21; Matt 5:21-22
1 Korintiërs 3:9 NLV
Die Bybel sê ons moet mekaar liefhê, eer en saam met mekaar werk. Hoekom doen ons dit dan nie? As gevolg van ons ego’s! Ons dink ons kan alles self doen, maar dis nie die realiteit nie. Die vraag is dus nie of jy alles op jou eie kan doen nie; die vraag is wanneer jy gaan besef dat jy nie kan nie? Die filantroop Andrew Carnegie het verklaar: ‘Dit is ‘n groot stap in jou ontwikkeling wanneer jy besef dat ander mense jou kan help om ‘n beter werk te doen as wat jy alleen kan doen.’
Nadat Hy sy dissipels vir die bediening opgelei het, het Jesus hulle in pare uitgestuur. Hoekom het Jesus dit so gedoen? Om verskeie redes: om mekaar te keer om van die pad af te dwaal, om mekaar verantwoordbaar te hou, om mekaar moed in te praat wanneer dinge swaar gaan en om mekaar se swakpunte met sterkpunte aan te vul. Ons almal het ‘blinde kolle’ en ons het iemand met 20/20 visie in daardie areas nodig om ons te help om dinge op die regte manier te sien.
Toe Moses in Eksodus 17 sy hande opgehou het (wat gesimboliseer het om na God se hulp uit te reik), het Israel se leërs die Amalekiete oorwin. Toe Moses egter moeg word en sy hande laat sak, het die geveg teen Israel gedraai. Wat was die oplossing? ‘…Aäron en Hur het hom op ‘n klip laat sit. Hulle het weerskante van hom gaan staan en sy hande in die lug gehou totdat die son ondergegaan het. Josua kon toe Amalek en sy volk verpletterend verslaan’ (Eksodus 17:12-13 NLV). ‘n Paar vrae om oor na te dink: Wie hou jou hande op? Wie se hande hou jy op?
Sielskos: Eks 20:13; Gen 4:8-16; Spr 18:21; Matt 5:21-22
2024-02-10
Spreuke 23:7 AFR53
Wat onderskei die beste van die res? Het jy al ooit daaraan gedink? Wat onderskei ‘n goue medaljewenner van ‘n silwer medaljewenner by die Olimpiese Spele? Wat onderskei ‘n suksesvolle entrepreneur van iemand wat dit nie maak nie? Wat maak dit moontlik vir een persoon om na ‘n uitmergelende ongeluk te floreer, terwyl iemand anders opgee en sterf? Hulle houding! Die Bybel sê: ‘Want soos hy in sy siel bereken, so is hy…’ Jou houding kan jou grootste bate of jou grootste las wees. Dit kan jou maak of breek. Dit kan jou ophef of jou neervel. Die regte houding mag jou dalk nie in staat stel om alles te doen nie, maar dit sal jou help om enigiets beter te doen as hoe jy dit met ‘n verkeerde houding sou doen.
Die gelukkigste mense in die lewe het nie die beste van alles nie; hulle probeer eenvouding om die beste van alles te maak. Hulle is soos ‘n persoon in ‘n afgeleë dorpie wat daagliks by die put gaan water haal en sê: ‘Elke keer as ek by hierdie put kom, loop ek weer met ‘n vol emmer weg,’ in plaas daarvan om te sê: ‘Ek kan nie glo ek moet elke dag na hierdie put toe terugkom om my emmer vol te maak nie!’
Jou houding het ‘n diepgaande invloed op jou benadering tot die lewe. Vra ‘n chirurg of ‘n pasiënt se houding saak maak wanneer hy of sy daardie persoon se lewe probeer red. Vra ‘n onderwyser of ‘n student se houding ‘n impak het op die toets wat hulle aflê. Jesus het gesê: ‘…Soos julle geglo het, sal dit vir julle gebeur’ (Matteus 9:29 NLV). Geloof put soos ‘n magneet krag uit God se mag uit.
Sielskos: Num 32:25-33:56; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 134; Spr 4:5-13
Proverbs 23:7 NKJV
What separates the best from the rest? Have you ever given that some thought? What separates a gold medalist from a silver medalist in the Olympics? What separates a successful entrepreneur from someone who doesn’t make it? What makes it possible for one person to flourish after a debilitating accident while someone else gives up and dies?
It’s attitude! The Bible says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Your attitude can be your greatest asset or your greatest liability. It makes you or breaks you. It lifts you up or drags you down. The right attitude may not let you do everything, but it will help you to do anything better than you would when your attitude is wrong.
The happiest people in life don’t undoubtedly have the best of everything; they simply try to make the best of everything. They’re like a person in a remote village who daily goes to the well for water and says, “Every time I come to this well, I come away with my bucket full,” instead of saying, “I can’t believe I have to keep coming back to this well every day to fill up my bucket!”
Your attitude has a profound influence on your approach to life. Ask a surgeon if a patient’s attitude matters when he or she is trying to save that person’s life in an emergency room. Ask a teacher if a student’s attitude has an impact before they take a test. Jesus said, “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29 KJV). Like a magnet, faith draws on the strength which God offers.
Soul food: Num 32:25-33:56; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 134; Prov 4:5-13
