2024-12-24
Matthew 1:19 NLT
Joseph’s life of silent action gives us three keys to living in God’s promises. Today, let’s look at the first key: mercy. We are introduced to Joseph in the middle of a personal crisis. He is in love with Mary. And he believed that she loved him… until he heard she was pregnant. How should he respond? Openly shame her? Or surrender her to a public stoning as the law of Moses required? No, he chose mercy over malice and anger and revenge. The mercy of Joseph preserved the life of Mary and protected the unborn child Jesus so that He could fulfill His destiny and become our Saviour.
And this understanding, forgiving, and merciful carpenter helped to raise an understanding, forgiving, and merciful Son. A Son who would confront prejudice and hatred; who would rise above the discrimination of His culture and treat a Samaritan woman as an equal; who would release “the woman at the well” from a lifetime of failure and emptiness, and also bring hope and salvation to an entire city; who would tell a guilty woman caught in adultery and about to be stoned by a religious mob, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11 NKJV). A Son who would accept sinners not as bad, but as lost.
One of Joseph’s other sons, James, would one day grow up to believe in Jesus and write one of the books of the Bible in which he said, “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds” (James 3:17 NLT). Has someone hurt you? Follow the example of Joseph and show mercy.
Soul food: Job 21-23; Luke 1:67-80; Ps 128; Ecc 10:5-9
2024-12-23
Matthew 1:24 NKJV
You can search the Gospels and you won’t discover a single word spoken by Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph. But he is irreplaceable in the story of Jesus’ birth. Here is why: God used Joseph to protect and preserve the life of the Saviour.
So today, let’s look at the lesson we draw from the life of Joseph: You are responsible to protect God’s unborn purposes and promises in your life. Right now, there is a part of God’s will that is yet unknown and to be experienced in your life. A promise yet to be fulfilled. A word yet to be realized. A ministry yet to be launched. A family member yet to be saved. They are divine purposes that are presently unseen and unborn, and they must be watched over and protected so that they can come to pass.
Just as Herod ordered the death of every Hebrew baby boy under two years of age in order to eliminate Jesus, Satan will do everything he can to stop God’s plan and purpose from being accomplished in your life and in the lives of your loved ones. This will help you to understand that the battle is not over your past or your present – but over your future. What should you do?
First, be on guard. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV). Second, put a prayer covering over your life and your loved ones: “I looked for someone… who would… stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land” (Ezekiel 22:30 NIV).
Soul food: Job 18-20; Luke 1:57-66; Ps 47; Ecc 10:1-4
Matteus 1:24 NLV
Jy kan die evangelies deursoek en nie ‘n enkele woord wat deur Jesus se aardse vader, Josef, gespreek is, vind nie. Hy is egter onvervangbaar in die verhaal van Jesus se geboorte. God het Josef gebruik om die lewe van die Redder te beskerm en te bewaar.
Kom ons kyk vandag na die les wat ons uit Josef se lewe kan leer: Jy is verantwoordelik om God se ongebore doelwitte en beloftes in jou lewe te beskerm. Tans is daar ‘n deel van God se wil wat nog onbekend in jou lewe is. ‘n Belofte wat nog vervul moet word. ‘n Woord wat nog gerealiseer moet word. ‘n Bediening wat nog bekendgestel moet word. ‘n Familielid wat nog gered moet word. Dit is goddelike doeleindes wat tans onsigbaar en ongebore is, wat dopgehou en beskerm moet word sodat hulle kan plaasvind.
Net soos Herodes beveel het dat elke Hebreeuse babaseuntjie onder twee jaar doodgemaak moes word om Jesus te elimineer, net so sal Satan alles doen wat hy kan om te keer dat God se plan en doelwit in jou lewe en die lewens van jou geliefdes vervul word. Dit sal jou help verstaan dat die stryd nie oor jou verlede of jou hede gaan nie – maar oor jou toekoms. Wat staan jou dus te doen?
Wees eerstens op jou hoede. ‘Wees versigtig! Pas op vir die duiwel se aanvalle. Hy is julle groot vyand. Hy loop rond soos ‘n brullende leeu, op soek na iemand om te verslind’ (1 Petrus 5:8 NLV). Tweedens moet jy oor jou lewe en jou geliefdes se lewens bid: ‘Ek het gesoek… na iemand wat voor My in die gaping in die muur kon staan…’ (Esegiël 22:30 NLV).
Sielskos: Job 18-20; Luk 1:57-66; Ps 47; Pred 10:1-4
2024-12-22
2 Timothy 4:2 AMPC
In training Timothy for ministry, Paul says, “Preach the Word!… [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient… you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong].” Most hotels have a sign you can put on your bedroom door that says “Do Not Disturb.” That sign on your door means you want to relax, sleep, or not be bothered. Hanging that sign on your hotel room door is acceptable, but putting it on your life isn’t.
Have you ever noticed that God doesn’t always do things on our timetable or in ways that are convenient for us? Paul told Timothy that when it came to serving the Lord, he was called to do it “whether the time is favourable or not” (NLT) and “whether it is convenient or inconvenient.” We need to remember that whatever God asks us to do, it’s always worth any inconvenience or difficulty we face in the process. And He will always make a way for us to accomplish His will when we are obedient to Him.
The Bible says, “So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him” (Romans 8:8 AMPC). Notice, this “life of the flesh” doesn’t please God. This doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love us. What it does mean is that He is not satisfied, nor will He accept behavior “catering to the appetites and impulses of their [our] carnal nature.” So take down your “Do Not Disturb” sign and commit to walking in obedience, for it’s the pathway of blessing.
Soul food: Matt 4:18-20; Matt 16:13-23; Matt 26:69-75; John 21:15-19
2 Timoteus 4:2 NLV
Paulus het vir Timoteus in sy opleiding vir die bediening gesê: ‘Verkonding die woord van God. Hou daarmee vol, of die tyd daarvoor geleë is of nie. Jy moet jou mense met geduld reghelp, weerlê en bemoedig met gesonde onderrig.’ Die meeste hotelle het ‘n bord wat jy op jou kamerdeur kan sit wat sê: ‘Moenie steur nie.’ Daardie bord op jou deur beteken jy wil ontspan, slaap of nie gepla word nie. Om daardie bordjie aan jou hotelkamer se deur te hang is aanvaarbaar, maar om dit aan jou lewe te hang is nie.
Het jy al agtergekom dat God nie altyd dinge volgens ons rooster of op maniere wat vir ons gerieflik is, doen nie? Paulus het vir Timoteus gesê dat hy geroep is om die Here te dien, ‘of die tyd daarvoor geleë is of nie.’ Ons moet onthou dat dit wat God ons vra om te doen, altyd die moeite werd is, maak nie saak wat se ongerief of moeilikheid ons in die proses teëkom nie. Hy sal altyd ook vir ons ‘n manier gee om sy wil uit te voer wanneer ons aan Hom gehoorsaam is.
Die Bybel sê: ‘Dit is waarom die mense wat deur hulle sondige natuur beheer word, God nooit gelukkig kan maak nie’ (Romeine 8:8 NLV). Die sondige natuur van die vlees behaag God nie. Dit beteken nie dat God nie lief is vir ons nie. Wat dit wel beteken is dat Hy nie tevrede sal wees met gedrag wat deur ons sondige natuur beheer word of dit ooit sal aanvaar nie. Verwyder dus jou ‘Moenie steur nie’ bord en wy jouself daaraan toe om in geloof te wandel, want dit is die pad na seën.
Sielskos: Matt 4:18-20; Matt 16:13-23; Matt 26:69-75; Joh 21:15-19
