2024-07-21
1 Timoteus 1:19 NLV
Soms wil ons dit wat ons doen regverdig deur te sê: ‘Dit voel reg, so dit kan nie verkeerd wees nie.’ As God se Woord egter sê dat iets verkeerd is, is dit verkeerd, maak nie saak hoe reg dit voel nie. Die ou spreekwoord: “‘n Goeie gewete is ‘n sagte kussing,” is ‘n halwe waarheid. Die ander helfte moet lees: ‘solank as wat jou gewete in die duidelike beginsels van God se Woord gegrond is en daardeur gerig word.’
As verloste kind van God is jy geroep om volgens sy gebooie, eerder as jou gevoelens, impulse, emosies en populêre denke, te leef. Wanneer hierdie dinge jou lei, kan die winde van versoeking jou van koers af waai en jou op die rotse laat beland. Paulus skryf: ‘Timoteus, my kind, hiermee gee ek my opdragte aan jou, gegrond op die profetiese woorde wat voorheen oor jou uitgespreek is. Mag hulle jou die selfvertroue gee om goed te veg in die Here se veldslae. Hou styf vas aan jou geloof in Christus, en hou altyd jou gewete skoon. Want sommige mense het opsetlik hulle gewete onderdruk, en as gevolg daarvan het hulle geloof skipbreuk gely. Himeneus en Aleksander is twee voorbeelde hiervan. Ek het hulle aan Satan oorgegee sodat hulle sal leer om God nie te belaster nie’ (verse 18-20 NLV).
Ons weet nie veel van Himeneus en Aleksander nie, maar wat ons wel weet is ontnugterend en leersaam. Hulle het nie daarin geslaag om ‘n gewete wat in God se Woord gegrond is te ontwikkel, te beskerm en daarvolgens te leef nie en het op die ou einde geestelik skipbreuk gely. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – jou gewete moet op God se Woord gebaseer wees en jy moet dit altyd skoon hou!
Sielskos: Matt 5:9; Rom 12:17-21; Jak 3:17-18; Rom 14:19
1 Timothy 1:19 CEV
Sometimes we want to justify what we are doing and say, “It feels right, so it can’t be wrong.” However, if God’s Word says something is wrong, it’s wrong, no matter how right it feels. The old adage, “Let your conscience be your guide,” is only half the truth. The other half should read, “as long as your conscience is grounded in and guided by the clear teachings of God’s Word.”
As a redeemed child of God, you are called to live by His commandments instead of your feelings, impulses, emotions, or popular thinking. When those things guide you, the winds of temptation can sweep you off course and shipwreck you. Paul writes: “Timothy, my son, the instructions I am giving you are based on what some prophets once said about you. If you follow these instructions, you will fight like a good soldier. You will be faithful and have a clear conscience. Some people have made a mess of their faith because they didn’t listen to their consciences. Two of them are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I have given these men over to the power of Satan, so they will learn not to oppose God” (vv. 18-20 CEV).
We don’t know much about Hymenaeus and Alexander, but what we do know is sobering and instructive. They failed to develop, protect, and live by a conscience that was grounded in God’s Word and ended up spiritually shipwrecked. What a graphic image: a ship broken to pieces on the rocks because it got off course. So the word for you today is – your conscience must be based on God’s Word, and you must always keep it clear!
Soul food: Matt 5:9; Rom 12:17-21; Jam 3:17-18; Rom 14:19
2024-07-20
Efesiërs 2:10 NLV
Watter tipe omgewing bring die beste in jou na vore? Floreer jy op roetine? Geniet jy dit om uitdagings wat ander mense dalk kan ontmoedig, aan te pak? Wat van jou verhoudings? Geniet jy dit om deel van ‘n span te wees, of werk jy beter op jou eie? Wat is jou sterkpunte? God het van Besaleël die bouer gesê: ‘My Gees gee vir hom kennis en begrip en vaardigheid om verskillende dinge te kan doen. Hy kan kunstige voorwerpe uit goud, silwer en brons maak. Hy kan edelstene sny en monteer en houtsnywerk doen. Hy kan enige kunswerk maak’ (Eksodus 31:3-5 NLV).
Wat laat jou oë blink en jou hart vinniger klop? Geniet jy dit om met rekenaars, karre of diere te werk? Miskien is jy ‘n bedrewe bestuurder, of jy hou daarvan om dinge reg te maak, of jy is goed met finansies. Die Bybel sê: ‘Hy het ons in ons verhouding met Jesus Christus só gemaak dat ons die goeie werke wat Hy vir ons bestem het, kan uitlewe.’ God het ‘n doel vir jou lewe en jy sal die hoogste vlakke van geluk en vervulling ervaar wanneer jy hierdie doelwit ontdek en dit begin vervul.
God het jou gevorm en gemaak (sien Jesaja 43:7). Jy is die enigste ‘jy’ wat Hy geskep het en as jy versuim om te wees wie jy is, sal sy koninkryk nie by jou unieke bydrae baatvind nie. Dis hoekom Paulus geskryf het: ‘Gaan kyk ‘n slag goed na julle eie lewe. Wees tevrede met die goeie dinge wat God in julle lewe tot stand gebring het sonder om julle gedurig met ander gelowiges te vergelyk’ (Galasiërs 6:4 DB). Dis die geheim tot geluk.
Sielskos: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; Luk 8:16-25; Ps 133; Spr 18:17-20
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
What kind of work environment brings out the best in you? Do you thrive on routine? Are you motivated by people’s needs? Do you enjoy tackling challenges that might discourage others? How about your relationships? Do you enjoy being part of a team, or do you work better alone? If you only come to life when you’re around people, you will probably be miserable sitting in front of a computer all day. What are your strengths? God said of Bezalel the builder, “I have filled him with… wisdom… He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze… skilled in engraving… mounting gemstones…c arving wood” (Exodus 31:3-5 NLT).
What makes your eyes sparkle and your pulse race? Do you enjoy working with computers, cars, or animals? Maybe you’re an adept people manager, or you like fixing things, or you’re good with finances. The Bible says, “We are God’s masterpiece… created… anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” God has a purpose for your life, and you will experience your highest levels of happiness and fulfillment when you discover and begin to fulfill that purpose. You’re not just another brick in the wall or another nail in the carpenter’s toolbox!
God “personally formed and made you” (See Isaiah 43:7 MSG). You’re the only “you” He created, and if you fail to be who you are, His kingdom won’t benefit from your unique contribution. That’s why Paul wrote, “Don’t compare yourself… take responsibility for doing the… best you can with your… life” (Galatians 6:4-5 MSG). That’s the secret of happiness.
Soul food: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; Luke 8:16-25; Ps 133; Prov 18:17-20
2024-07-19
Psalm 84:10 NLT
Jesus attended church regularly. “He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath” (Luke 4:16 NLT). The apostles also went to church on a regular basis: “They worshiped together at the Temple each day” (Acts 2:46 NLT). And David loved God’s house. He said, “A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked” (Psalm 84:10 NLT).
So, do you love God’s house? You should, because there you will hear His Word explained, find strategies for living, discover your spiritual gifts, and form relationships that will sustain you in the hard times. Where else can you find all that?
Yale University conducted a study confirming that people who go to church regularly are happier, healthier, and live longer than those who don’t. The survey found that church attendees had lower blood pressure, less stress, and greater immunity to disease, whereas nonchurchgoers in the group had a shortened life span roughly equal to that of cigarette smokers. One of the interviewers asked an eighty-year-old woman, who happened to be running on a treadmill at the time, what her secret was. She said, “When you walk with God you have purpose, so you live longer. And you have peace with God, so you live better.”
Think: If you could find all that in a pill, how much would you pay for it? And would anybody have to force you to take it? No? Okay – then make sure you’re in church on Sunday!
Soul food: 2 Sam 17:14-19:43; Luke 8:1-15; Ps 123; Prov 18:13-16
