2024-03-24
Matthew 6:2 TLB
Jesus said: “Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, for then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to a beggar, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do – blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you…they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you do a kindness to someone, do it secretly – don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. And your Father who knows all secrets will reward you” (vv. 1-4 TLB).
Give generously and gladly but keep it to yourself. It’s nobody’s business but yours and God’s. And if you make it somebody’s business, you immediately have your reward and forfeit the opportunity to receive something even greater when you arrive in heaven. And you will receive it because, “God… will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people” (Hebrews 6:10 NIV). Others may not notice your generosity, or quickly forget it, but God won’t, and He will reward you for it.
The next time you’re sitting in church, realize there are faithful people all around you who have given and given again without ever letting it be known. You may even be one of them! Every Sunday you rub shoulders with some of the greatest givers of our day, and they do it “as to the Lord” (Colossians 3:23 KJV) by keeping it to themselves and waiting for His promised reward. Others may never know – but God will never forget.
Soul food: Matt 21:1-16; Ps 118:19-29
2024-03-23
Matteus 16:16 NLV
Een van die oortuigendste bewyse dat die Bybel waarlik die Woord van God is, lê in die aantal profesieë wat gedurende Christus se lewe vervul is. Daniël het die koms van die enigste Joodse Messias voor die tempel se ondergang geprofeteer. Die Ou-Testamentiese profete het verklaar dat Hy in Betlehem (sien Miga 5:1-2) uit ‘n maagd gebore sou word (sien Jesaja 7:14), verraai sou word vir dertig stukke silwer (sien Sagaria 11:12-13), aan die kruis sou sterf (sien Psalm 22), en in ‘n ryk man se graf begrawe sou word (sien Jesaja 53:9).
Jesus het self voorspel dat Hy gekruisig sou word en drie dae later uit die dood sou opstaan. ‘Die Jode het daarop gereageer: ‘Oor watter wonderteken beskik jy om te bewys dat jy hierdie dinge mag doen?’ Jesus het hulle geantwoord: ‘Sloop hierdie tempel en in drie dae sal Ek dit weer oprig.’ Die Jode kap toe heftig terug: ‘Daar is vir 46 jaar lank aan hierdie tempel gebou, en jy sal dit binne drie dae weer oprig?’ Hy het egter oor die tempel van sy liggaam gepraat. Toe Hy eers uit die dood opgewek is, het sy dissipels onthou dat Hy dit gesê het en hulle het die Skrif en die woorde geglo wat Jesus gesê het’ (Johannes 2:18-22 NLV).
Napoleon Bonaparte het gesê: ‘Ek ken mense en ek sê vir julle dat Jesus Christus nie bloot ‘n mens was nie. Tussen Hom en elke ander persoon in die wêreld is daar geen moontlike vergelyking nie. Alexander, Caesar, Karel die Grote en ek het ryke gevestig. Waarop het ons skeppings egter berus? Geweld. Jesus Christus het sy ryk op liefde gegrond; en miljoene mense sal vir Hom sterf.’
Sielskos: Hos 6-10; Matt 26:47-56; Ps 116:12-19; Spr 8:10-13
Matthew 16:16 MSG
One of the most convincing proofs that the Bible is truly the Word of God lies in the number of prophecies fulfilled during the life of Christ. Daniel prophesied the coming of the one and only Jewish Messiah prior to the temple’s demise. The Old Testament prophets declared He would be born in Bethlehem (See Micah 5:2) to a virgin (See Isaiah 7:14), be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (See Zechariah 11:12-13), die by crucifixion (See Psalm 22), and be buried in a rich man’s tomb (See Isaiah 53:9).
Jesus Himself predicted He would be crucified and rise bodily from the dead three days later. “The Jews then responded to him, ‘What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’ They replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?’ But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken” (John 2:18-22 NIV).
Napoleon Bonaparte said: “I know men, and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.”
Soul food: Hos 6-10; Matt 26:47-56; Ps 116:12-19; Prov 8:10-13
2024-03-22
Galatians 5:22 NKJV
You can enrich and strengthen any relationship by developing and demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible speaks about being filled with the Spirit (See Ephesians 5:18) and walking in the Spirit (See Galatians 5:16 AMPC). To be “filled” with God’s Spirit means you’re a receptacle, whereas “walking” in the Spirit means you’re a dispenser – a vessel God can fill and pour out into the lives of others.
“What’s this ‘fruit’ you’re talking about?” you ask. The Bible describes it this way: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV). Look carefully at these nine different character qualities.
The first three – “love, joy, peace” – are atmosphere-changing fruits. As you yield to the Holy Spirit, He will throw a wet blanket on the unkind words you may want to say. He will build a fire in your heart that will bring warmth to a cold atmosphere and love to a bitter, revengeful atmosphere.
The next three fruits – “longsuffering, kindness, goodness” – are attitude-changing fruits. Each of us has the potential to have a bad attitude. God sometimes lets us go through difficult situations to reveal what’s really inside us. When we see our own helplessness, weakness, and despair, it causes us to cry out, “God, I need you!”
The last three fruits – “faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” – are attribute-changing fruits. Through the Holy Spirit, you have strength and ability that you can’t attribute to anyone but God. And you have peace that transcends human understanding (See Philippians 4:7).
Soul food: Hos 1-5; Matt 26:26-46; Ps 116:1-11; Prov 8:8-9
Galasiërs 5:22 NLV
Jy kan enige verhouding verryk en versterk deur die vrugte van die Gees te ontwikkel en uit te leef. Die Bybel sê dat ons deur die Gees gevul moet wees (sien Efesiërs 5:18), en deur die Gees gelei moet word (sien Galasiërs 5:16). Om met die Gees gevul te wees, beteken dat jy ‘n houer is, terwyl jy ‘n uitdeler is wanneer jy deur die Gees gelei word – ‘n houer wat God kan vul en in ander se lewens kan uitstort. ‘Wat is hierdie vrugte waarvan jy praat?’ vra jy. Die Bybel beskryf dit as volg: ‘Maar as die Gees ons lewe beheer, is die gevolg: liefde, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedheid, getrouheid, sagmoedigheid en selfbeheersing…’ (Galasiërs 5:22-23 NLV).
Kom ons kyk noukeurig na hierdie nege verskillende karaktereienskappe. Die eerste drie – liefde, vreugde, vrede – is vrugte wat die atmosfeer verander. Soos jy jou aan die Heilige Gees oorgee, sal Hy ‘n nat kombers oor die onvriendelike woorde wat jy dalk wil sê, gooi. Hy sal ‘n vuur in jou hart bou wat warmte na ‘n koue atmosfeer en liefde na ‘n bitter, wraaksugtige atmosfeer, sal bring.
Die volgende drie vrugte – geduld, vriendelikheid, goedheid – is vrugte wat jou houding verander. Elkeen van ons het die potensiaal om ‘n slegte houding te hê. God laat ons soms deur moeilike situasies gaan om dit wat regtig binne ons is, te openbaar. Wanneer ons ons eie hulpeloosheid, swakheid en wanhoop sien, laat dit ons uitroep: ‘God, ek het U nodig!’
Die laaste drie vrugte – getrouheid, sagmoedigheid en selfbeheersing – is eienskap-veranderende vrugte. Deur die Heilige Gees het jy krag en vermoëns wat jy aan niemand behalwe God kan toeskryf nie. Jy het ook vrede wat menslike begrip te bowe gaan (sien Filippense 4:7).
Sielskos: Hos 1-5; Matt 26:26-46; Ps 116:1-11; Spr 8:8-9
