2024-08-26
Luke 10:40 NIV
Mary and Martha were similar in that they both loved Jesus. But the difference showed up when He visited their home. “Martha opened her home to him… Mary… sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed… Mary has chosen what is better'” (vv. 38-42 NIV).
Jesus didn’t say that what Martha was doing was not good. He said that what Mary was doing was better. What was Mary doing? Sitting at His feet, listening to His words, loving and adoring Him.
There is a lesson here, particularly for those involved in church work and ministry. Don’t get so involved in the work of the Lord that you fail to get involved with the Lord of the work. E. M. Bounds said, “To be much alone with God is the secret of knowing Him and of influence with Him.” Question: If you are not being influenced by God, who or what is influencing you? People? Pressures? Circumstances? If Jesus had come for dinner, He may well have commended Martha and told Mary to get busy in the kitchen. But His priority, before going to the cross, was to spend time with those He loved. Here is a thought that will change your attitude toward prayer: Jesus wants to spend time with you!
Soul food: 2 Chr 22-24; Luke 17:1-10; Ps 119:121-128; Prov 22:4-7
Lukas 10:40 NLV
Maria en Marta was dieselfde in die sin dat hulle altwee vir Jesus lief was. Die verskil tussen hulle het egter te voorskyn gekom toe Jesus hulle huis besoek het. ‘… ‘n vrou, Marta, [het] hulle in haar huis verwelkom… Haar suster, Maria, het aan die Here se voete gesit en luister na wat Hy hulle leer. Maar Marta was bekommerd oor die groot ete wat sy besig was om voor te berei. Sy kom toe na Jesus en sê: ‘Here, lyk dit darem nie vir U onregverdig dat my suster net hier sit terwyl ek al die werk doen nie? Sê sy moet my kom help.’ Maar die Here het geantwoord: ‘My liewe Marta, jy kwel jou tog oor so baie dinge! Daar is regtig net een ding wat die moeite werd is om oor besorg te wees. Maria het dit ontdek – en Ek gaan dit nie van haar af wegneem nie’ (verse 38-42 NLV).
Jesus het nie gesê dat dit wat Marta doen nie goed was nie, maar dat wat Maria doen, beter was. Wat het Maria gedoen? By sy voete gesit, na sy woorde geluister en Hom liefgehad en aanbid.
Daar is ‘n les hier te leer, veral vir diegene wat by die kerk en die bediening betrokke is. Moenie so betrokke by die werk van die Here raak, dat jy nie betrokke by die Here van die werk raak nie. As Jesus vir aandete gekom het, sou Hy dalk vir Marta geprys het en vir Maria gesê het om in die kombuis besig te raak. Sy prioriteit voordat Hy na die kruis gegaan het, was egter om tyd met diegene wat Hy liefgehad het deur te bring. Hier is ‘n gedagte wat jou gesindheid teenoor gebed sal verander: Jesus wil tyd saam met jou deurbring!
Sielskos: 2 Kro 22-24; Luk 17:1-10; Ps 119:121-128; Spr 22:4-7
2024-08-25
Job 22:27 NKJV
When God makes a promise to us, we have every right to expect Him to keep it. And when we make God a promise, He has every right to expect us to keep it. “You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways” (vv. 27-28 NKJV). This Scripture could be your doorway to blessing and a key to the breakthrough you have been praying for.
Go back and revisit the promises you have made to God. Why? Because He wants you to feel confident toward Him. “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:21-22 NKJV). No more excuses. Accept responsibility for what you are and what you can become.
Dare to pray: “Disturb me, Lord, when my dreams come true, only because I dreamed too small. Disturb me when I arrive safely, only because I sailed too close to the shore. Disturb me when the things I have gained cause me to lose my thirst for more of you. Disturb me when I have acquired success, only to lose my desire for excellence. Disturb me when I give up too soon and settle too far short of the goals you have set for my life” (Author Unknown).
In order to go forward, you may have to go back and make things right between you and the Lord. If so, do it!
Soul food: John 10:1-18; Rev 7:13-17; Ps 23; Luke 15:1-7
Job 22:27 NLV
Wanneer God ‘n belofte aan ons maak, het ons alle reg om te verwag dat Hy sy belofte sal hou. Wanneer ons ‘n belofte aan God maak, het Hy ook alle reg om van ons te verwag om ons beloftes na te kom. ‘Jy sal tot Hom bid, en Hy sal jou hoor. Jy sal doen wat jy Hom belowe het. Wat jy besluit om te doen, sal gebeur. Dit sal lig wees op die pad voor jou’ (verse 27-28 NLV). Hierdie Skrifgedeelte kan jou deurgang tot seën en die sleutel tot die deurbraak waarvoor jy gebid het, wees.
Gaan terug en kyk weer na die beloftes wat jy aan God gemaak het. Hy wil hê dat jy selfvertroue voor Hom moet hê. ‘Geliefdes, as ons gewete ons nie veroordeel nie, het ons vrymoedigheid om na God toe te gaan. Wat ons ook al bid, kry ons van Hom omdat ons sy opdragte gehoorsaam en dié dinge in sy teenwoordigheid doen wat Hom bly maak’ (1 Johannes 3:21-22 NLV). Geen verskonings meer nie. Aanvaar verantwoordelikheid vir wie jy is en wat jy kan word.
Waag dit om die volgende te bid: ‘Verontrus my Here, wanneer my drome waar word, omdat ek te klein gedroom het. Verontrus my as ek veilig met my boot arriveer, omdat ek te na aan die kus gevaar het. Verontrus my wanneer die dinge wat ek gekry het, veroorsaak dat ek my dors na U verloor. Verontrus my wanneer ek sukses behaal, net om my begeerte na uitnemendheid te verloor. Verontrus my wanneer ek te gou tou opgooi en te ver te kort kom aan die doelwitte wat U vir my lewe gestel het’ (Skrywer Onbekend).
Om vorentoe te beweeg, sal jy dalk moet teruggaan om dinge tussen jou en die Here reg te maak. As dit die geval is, doen dit!
Sielskos: Joh 10:1-18; Op 7:13-17; Ps 23; Luk 15:1-7
2024-08-24
Isaiah 43:19 NKJV
Don’t allow the pain of your past to blur your vision and steal the blessing God has in store for you in the future. God says, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing” (vv. 18-19 NKJV). If you have been wounded by old relationships, God has new ones waiting for you. “The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons'” (1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV).
Grieving your losses is healthy. But when you get stuck in the past, it’s always at the expense of the future. There comes a time when you must stop talking about what cannot be changed. Plus, if you keep treating your friends to a history lesson, you will lose them, because your words are creating a climate that’s uncomfortable for them to be in. God’s solution to pain is purpose. God’s solution to old wounds is a commitment to walk in love.
C. M. Parkes said, “Grief is… the price we pay for love.” Those we love most can hurt us most. “Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him… ‘seventy times seven'” (Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV). To recover your peace and joy, you must forgive and keep on forgiving until the past loses its hold on you. When that happens, it’s a new day for you!
Soul food: 2 Chr 19-21; Luke 16:19-31; Ps 119:113-120; Prov 22:1-3
