2024-12-11
Psalm 145:4 NKJV
Fanny became blind at six weeks old at the hands of a fake doctor. But her grandmother Eunice resolved that Fanny would never grow up feeling disabled or deprived. Eunice devoted years to training Fanny in all kinds of things – teaching her the Bible, assisting her in exploring nature, and enabling her to develop incredible powers of memory. Fanny memorized large sections of the Bible. From that treasury of Scripture, she later produced some of the best-loved hymns we sing today. “Blessed Assurance,” “To God Be the Glory,” “All the Way My Saviour Leads Me,” and “He Hideth My Soul.”
In the Bible, Timothy had a grandmother named Lois, whose prayers and example helped mold him into none other than the apostle Paul’s successor. Paul writes, “I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother” (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV).
Never underestimate the influence you have as a grandparent. As you pour yourself into your grandchildren, you may be molding servants of the Lord. If you are a grandparent, claim this promise from the Scriptures: “One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” Perhaps your children have disappointed you and failed to raise your grandchildren in the ways of the Lord. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t give up. “I sought for a man among them who would… stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land” (Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV). Your prayers are God’s invitation and entry point into the lives of both your children and your grandchildren. So, “stand in the gap,” and believe God for the salvation of your family.
Soul food: Gen 44-46; John 19:1-24; Ps 148:7-14; Ecc 5:4-6
Psalm 145:4 NLV
Fanny het op ses weke oud aan die hand van ‘n onbekwame dokter blind geword. Haar ouma Eunice het egter besluit dat Fanny nooit gestremd of ontneem sou voel nie. Eunice het jare daaraan toegewy om Fanny in allerhande dinge op te lei – sy het haar uit die Bybel geleer, haar gehelp om die natuur te verken en haar bygestaan om ‘n ongelooflike geheue te ontwikkel. Fanny het groot gedeeltes van die Bybel gememoriseer. Uit daardie skatkis van die Skrif het sy later van die mees geliefde gesange wat ons vandag sing, gekomponeer. ‘Blessed Assurance,’ ‘To God Be the Glory,’ ‘All the Way My Saviour Leads Me,’ en ‘He Hideth My Soul.’
Timoteus het ‘n ouma, genaamd Loïs, gehad, wie se gebede en voorbeeld gehelp het om hom te vorm om as die apostel Paulus se opvolger op te tree. Paulus skryf: ‘Ek weet dat jy die Here opreg vertrou, want jy het dieselfde geloof as jou ma, Eunice, en jou ouma Loïs’ (2 Timoteus 1:5 NLV).
Moet nooit die invloed wat jy as grootouer het, onderskat nie. Soos jy jouself aan jou kleinkinders toewy, mag jy dalk besig wees om dienaars van die Here te vorm. Indien jy ‘n grootouer is, eis hierdie belofte uit die Skrif op: ‘Geslag na geslag sal u dade prys en van u magtige werke vertel.’ Miskien het jou kinders jou teleurgestel en maak nie jou kleinkinders in die Here se weë groot nie. Moenie moedeloos word nie en moenie tou opgooi nie. ‘Ek het gesoek na iemand… wat voor My in die gaping in die muur kon staan…’ (Esegiël 22:30 NLV). Jou gebede is God se uitnodiging en ingangspunt in beide jou kinders en jou kleinkinders se lewens. Staan dus in die gaping en glo God vir jou familie se verlossing.
Sielskos: Gen 44-46; Joh 19:1-24; Ps 148:7-14; Pred 5:4-6
2024-12-10
1 Peter 5:8 NLT
Peter writes, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith” (vv. 8-9 NLT). The word Christ means “the Anointed One.” So as a Christian, you are anointed by the same Spirit that rested upon Christ. Satan tempted Christ, and he will tempt you. Satan targeted Christ because he feared His destiny; likewise, Satan has discerned your destiny, and he’s out to stop you from reaching it. When he reminds you of the failures in your past, it’s to discourage you and keep you from reaching for the future God has in mind for you.
Paul wrote, “He chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan” (Ephesians 1:11 NLT). This means God has chosen you to fulfill a certain purpose, He has a specific plan for your life, and He is making everything work according to that plan. Satan also knows this, and that’s why his attack against you will never let up.
C. S. Lewis said, “There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God, and counter-claimed by Satan.” There is no middle ground. It is only a matter of time before you must join one side or another. And it is preferable to predetermine your position with a decisive intention than have it selected for you by passive default. So each day, when you awake, dress for battle and prepare for attack knowing that in God’s strength you will win.
Soul food: Gen 42-43; John 18:19-40; Ps 148:1-6; Ecc 5:1-3
1 Petrus 5:8 NLV
Petrus skryf: ‘Wees versigtig! Pas op vir die duiwel se aanvalle. Hy is julle groot vyand. Hy loop rond soos ‘n brullende leeu, op soek na iets om te verslind. Hóm moet julle teenstaan deur standvastig in julle geloof te bly…’ (verse 8-9 NLV). Die woord Christus beteken: ‘die Gesalfde Een.’ As Christen, is jy deur dieselfde Gees wat op Christus gerus het, gesalf. Satan het vir Christus versoek en hy sal jou ook versoek. Wanneer hy jou aan die mislukkings in jou verlede herinner, is dit om jou te ontmoedig en jou te keer om na die toekoms wat God vir jou ingedagte het, uit te reik.
Paulus het geskryf: ‘Deur wat Christus gedoen het, het ons ook deel van God se eie volk geword. Ons was vooraf daartoe bestem! Dit was God se doel! Hy het alles laat uitwerk soos Hy dit beplan en wou gehad het’ (Efesiërs 1:11 NLV). Dit beteken dat God jou gekies het om ‘n sekere doel te vervul, dat Hy ‘n spesifieke plan vir jou lewe het en dat Hy alles volgens daardie plan laat saamwerk. Satan weet dit ook; dis hoekom sy aanvalle nooit sal ophou nie.
C.S. Lewis het gesê: ‘Daar is geen neutrale grond in die heelal nie; elke vierkante duim, elke breukdeel van ‘n sekonde, word deur God geëis en deur Satan teengeëis.’ Daar is nie ‘n middeweg nie. Dis net ‘n kwessie van tyd voor jy kant moet kies. Dis verkieslik dat jy vooraf jou posisie beslissend bepaal, eerder as wat jou posisie by verstek vir jou gekies word. Dus, wanneer jy elke dag wakker word, trek vir oorlog aan en berei jou vir die geveg voor, met die wete dat jy in God se krag sal wen.
Sielskos: Gen 42-43; Joh 18:19-40; Ps 148:1-6; Pred 5:1-3
2024-12-09
John 2:25 NLT
In Scripture, we are commanded to love everyone, not trust everyone. Jesus is our example in this. “Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did… many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because… he knew human nature… what mankind is really like” (vv. 23-25 NLT). These words were not spoken concerning the crowd that followed Jesus but those who claimed to be His disciples. While Jesus gave Himself to them relationally and lived life with them, He knew that they were not perfect. He understood human nature, and He did not trust Himself to them in an unbalanced way.
When you place in people the trust that should only be placed in God, you set yourself up for disappointment. We can only go so far in any human relationship; beyond that, we will likely be hurt. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that some people will never hurt us, only to be disappointed when they don’t live up to those standards. There are basically two types of people. The first are users. As long as your interests line up with theirs, they are trustworthy. The second are true friends. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17 NKJV).
But because of human weakness, even true friends will let you down. So here are two good rules to live by: (1) When it comes to people, “trust but verify.” (2) When it comes to God, “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
Soul food: Gen 40-41; John 18:1-18; Ps 147:12-20; Ecc 4:9-12
