2024-06-25
Matthew 25:21 NKJV
Your small deeds of kindness may go unnoticed by others, but God sees them. And they can reward you in ways you never dreamed possible. Take the case of Joseph. Betrayed by his brothers and lied about by his boss’s wife, he ends up sentenced to a thirteen-year prison term. If ever a person had reason to turn sour on life and God, it was him. But instead of giving in to self-pity, he focused on the needs of others.
Joseph had two prison mates: a butler and a baker who had worked in Pharaoh’s palace, fallen into disfavour, and landed in a cell next to Joseph. Note what the Bible says: “Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad” (Genesis 40:6 NKJV). Before God allowed Joseph to care for the nation of Egypt, He observed his care toward his fellow inmates. As a result, when one of them was restored to favour, he recommended Joseph to Pharaoh as a man qualified to meet his need. Compassion is important to God.
When you see a need, try to meet it. If you dream of doing big things, start by doing small things with a good attitude. Arrive on time. Complete your work early. Don’t grumble. When you’re given a task, take it on and God will reward you for it: “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord'” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).
Soul food: 2 Cor 9:1-11:15; Luke 2:8-20; Ps 144:9-15; Prov 16:4-7
Matteus 25:21 NLV
Jou klein dade van goedhartigheid mag dalk ongesiens deur mense verbygaan, maar God sien dit raak. Dink aan Josef. Hy is deur sy broers verraai, sy baas se vrou het oor hom gelieg en hy is tot dertien jaar tronkstraf gevonnis. As daar al ooit iemand met ‘n rede was om suur teenoor God en die lewe te wees, was dit Josef. In plaas daarvan om homself egter te bejammer, het hy daarop gefokus om aan ander mense se behoeftes te voldoen. Josef het twee vriende in die tronk gehad: ‘n skinker en ‘n bakker wat in farao se paleis gewerk het, in onguns verval en in ‘n sel langs Josef beland het. Let op wat die Bybel sê: ‘Die volgende oggend sien Josef dat die twee baie neerslagtig lyk’ (Genesis 40:6 NLV).
Voor God vir Josef toegelaat het om na die nasie van Egipte om te sien, het Hy eers gekyk hoe hy sy medegevangenes versorg. As gevolg hiervan, toe een van Josef se vriende in guns herstel is, het hy Josef by farao as ‘n man wat bekwaam was om in sy behoeftes te voorsien, aanbeveel.
Deernis is vir God belangrik. Wanneer jy ‘n behoefte waarneem, probeer om daaraan te voldoen. As jy daarvan droom om groot dinge te doen, begin om die klein dinge met die regte houding te doen. Daag betyds op. Maak jou werk vroeg klaar. Moenie kla nie. Wanneer jy ‘n taak kry om te doen en dit goed doen, sal God jou daarvoor beloon: “Die eienaar het hom geprys en gesê: ‘Uitstekend! Jy is ‘n voortreflike slaaf; een op wie ek kan staatmaak. In die kleine het jy jou betroubaar bewys. Daarom gaan ek nog baie groter verantwoordelikhede aan jou toevertrou. Kom vier saam met my fees!'” (Matteus 25:21 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Kor 9:1-11:15; Luk 2:8-20; Ps 144:9-15; Spr 16:4-7
2024-06-24
Psalm 66:10 NIV
Have you tried to do right, yet things have gone wrong? When Joseph honored God by saying no to Potiphar’s wife, he landed in prison. While there he told a fellow prisoner, “I was kidnapped from my homeland… and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it” (Genesis 40:15 NLT). If that’s how you feel today, God has not turned His back on you. His plan for your life has not been derailed. “The Lord shall not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the thoughts and intents of His mind” (Jeremiah 30:24 AMPC).
You may be perplexed, but God is not. He is using every moment of this season and every element of this experience to prepare you. “They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character” (Psalm 105:18-19 NLT).
Do you remember how you felt about the tests you were given in school? At the time they felt like persecution but looking back you realize they were preparation. They revealed what you had learned. They qualified you to move to a higher grade. They equipped you for living in the real world. The psalmist wrote: “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance” (Psalm 66:10-12 NIV). God will use people, pain, and problems to test you. Why? So that He can bring you to “a place of abundance.”
Soul food: 2 Cor 5-8; Luke 2:1-7; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 16:1-3
Psalm 66:10 NLV
Het jy al ooit die regte ding probeer doen, net vir alles om verkeerd te loop? Toe Josef God geëer het deur vir Potifar se vrou nee te sê, het hy in die tronk beland. Daar het hy vir ‘n medegevangene gesê: ‘Want ek is ontvoer uit my geboorteland… Nou is ek in die tronk sonder dat ek iets verkeerds gedoen het’ (Genesis 40:15 NLV).
As dit is hoe jy vandag voel, het God nie sy rug op jou gedraai nie. Sy planne vir jou lewe het nie ontspoor nie. ‘Die Here… sal nie bedaar nie totdat Hy gedoen en bereik het wat Hy beplan het…’ (Jeremia 30:24 NLV). Jy mag dalk verward wees, maar God is nie. Hy gebruik elke oomblik van hierdie seisoen en elke deel van hierdie ervaring om jou voor te berei. ‘Hulle het Josef se voete met swaar boeie vasgemaak en hom agter ysterdeure toegesluit. Sy swaarkry het aangehou totdat God se plan waar geword het, totdat die Here besluit het hy is net die regte man vir die werk! Josef het die toets geslaag’ (Psalm 105:18-19 DB).
Onthou jy hoe jy oor jou skooltoetse gevoel het? Dit het destyds soos vervolging gevoel, maar as jy terugkyk besef jy dat dit voorbereiding was. Dit het jou tot ‘n hoër graad bevorder. Dit het jou toegerus om in die regte lewe te leef. Die Psalmdigter het geskryf: ‘U het ons beproef, o God, soos silwer ons gesuiwer. U het ons met ‘n net gevang, ‘n sware las op ons geplaas. U het mense oor ons laat ry, ons deur vuur en vloed laat gaan, en tog gebring waar daar oorvloed is ‘(Psalm 66:10-12 NLV). God sal mense, pyn en probleme gebruik om jou te toets. Hoekom? Sodat Hy jou kan bring na die plek ‘waar daar oorvloed is.’
Sielskos: 2 Kor 5-8; Luk 2:1-7; Ps 144:1-8; Spr 16:1-3
2024-06-23
Psalm 56:3 NIV
If you live long enough, life will bring you bad news. It may be the loss of a loved one, your health, your income, your marriage, your reputation, etc. The psalmist wrote, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” When bad times come, you need to hold on to everything you know about who God is. You must remind yourself that He is loving, caring, and worthy of your complete trust. Sometimes God will give you the answer; other times He will give you the assurance of His presence. In changing times, you must lay hold of the unchanging character of God. As the hymn says, “When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.”
Does that mean denying your feelings and emotions? No. David said, “I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles” (Psalm 142:2 NLT). God is not asking you to deny the pain, the loss, and the reality of your circumstances. Even Jesus offered up prayers with “fervent cries and tears” (Hebrews 5:7 NIV). If you don’t pour out your heart before God, you risk hardening your heart toward Him. Saint Augustine said, “For they are very deep in the deep, who do not even cry from the deep.” It’s when you hit the bottom and turn to God that you discover He is there. It’s by being shaken to the core that you develop an unshakable faith in God. When that happens, you can stand on His Word which says, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go” (Genesis 28:15 NIV).
Soul food: Matt 5:5; Num 12:1-15; Ps 37:1-11; Phil 2:5-11
