2025-03-06
1 Kings 18:19 NKJV
The greatest chapter in the story of Elijah’s life took place on Mount Carmel. That’s when he called down fire from heaven, defeated the prophets of Baal, and turned the hearts of the Israelites back to God. The word “Carmel” means “fruitful ground.” But before Elijah could get to Mount Carmel, he had to go through two places:
First, God led him to the brook called Cherith. The word “Cherith” means “to make covenant with.” It was here that Elijah discovered that God is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God who can sustain you through the hardest of times. It was here during a drought and famine that ravens brought food to him each day and he drank from the refreshing waters of the brook. But the Bible says, “After a while… the brook dried up” (1 Kings 17:7 NKJV). Now, when God allows your brook to dry up, it’s in order to drive you back to your true source, which is Himself, that you may get further instructions.
Second, God led him to a widow in Zarephath. The word “Zarephath” means “to refine as in a melting pot.” Gold is not pure in its original form. It must be refined, and this is accomplished by heating it to the boiling point. The heat separates the raw substance from its impurities, which surface and are skimmed off. And God will do the same for you by using the heat of trials to separate the gold from the dross in your life. He knows the experiences you need to reach Mount Carmel, the place of fruitfulness, so trust Him. He knows what He is doing.
Soul food: Exo 33-35; Luke 14:25-35; Ps 112; Prov 7:6-9
1 Konings 18:19 NLV
Die grootste hoofstuk in Elia se lewensverhaal het op Karmelberg plaasgevind. Dis toe hy vuur uit die hemel laat afkom het, die profete van Baäl verslaan het en die harte van die Israeliete na God teruggedraai het. Die woord ‘Karmel’ beteken ‘vrugbare grond.’ Voor Elia egter by Karmelberg kon uitkom, moes hy eers na twee ander plekke toe gaan:
Eerstens het God hom na die Kritspruit toe gestuur. Die woord ‘Krit’ beteken ‘om ‘n verbond te sluit met.’ Dit was hier waar Elia besef het dat God ‘n verbond maak en sy Woord hou, wat jou deur die moeilikste tye kan bring. Dit was hier waar die kraaie vir Elia tydens ‘n droogte en hongersnood daagliks kos gebring het en waar hy die verfrissende water uit die spruit kon drink. Die Bybel sê egter: ‘Na ‘n tyd het die spruit egter opgedroog…’ (1 Konings 17:7 NLV). Wanneer God toelaat dat jou spruit opdroog, is dit om jou sodoende na die ware bron, Homself, terug te dryf waar jy verdere instruksies kan ontvang.
Tweedens, het God hom na ‘n weduwee in Sarfat gelei. Die woord ‘Sarfat’ beteken ‘om in ‘n smeltkroes te suiwer.’ Goud, in sy oorspronklike vorm, is nie suiwer nie. Dit moet gesuiwer word deur dit tot kookpunt te verhit. Die hitte skei die onsuiwerhede van die goud, wat dan na die oppervlak kom en afgeskep kan word. God sal dieselfde vir jou deur die hitte van beproewinge doen om die goud in jou lewe van die skuim te skei. Hy weet watter ervarings jy nodig het om jou na Karmelberg, die plek van vrugbare grond, te bring. Vertrou dus op Hom. Hy weet wat Hy doen.
Sielskos: Eks 33-35; Luk 14:25-35; Ps 112; Spr 7:6-9
2025-03-05
Isaiah 55:8 NLT
A part of us feels as if something is spiritually wrong with us when we experience uncertainty. But that is precisely what Jesus promised us when we are born of the Spirit and start following Him. “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit” (John 3:8 NLT).
When it comes to being led by God’s Spirit, the operative phrase is “You can’t explain how.” Even when you have given your best thinking to the problem, the Bible says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:8 NLT). So, when you follow God, anything can happen. You never know who you will meet, where you will go, or what you will do. And the sooner you come to terms with that spiritual reality, the more you will enjoy the journey. To do otherwise is to end up with a self-absorbed spirituality that leaves you feeling empty.
Instead of following the Spirit, you’re inviting the Spirit to follow you. Instead of serving God’s purposes, you want Him to serve your purposes. While this may seem like a subtle distinction, it makes an ocean of difference.
Here are your choices: (1) Follow the path of certainty, which keeps you in control but robs you of the adventure God has in mind. (2) Accept the uncertainty of the “how” and “when” that comes from following God, and stand on this promise: “Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23 NKJV).
Soul food: Exo 30-32; Luke 14:15-24; Ps 106:24-48; Prov 7:3-5
Jesaja 55:8 NLV
‘n Deel van ons voel asof daar iets geestelik met ons verkeerd is wanneer ons onsekerheid ervaar. Dit is egter presies wat Jesus ons beloof het wanneer ons uit die Gees gebore word en Hom begin volg: ‘Die wind waai waar hy wil. Jy hoor sy suising, maar jy weet nie waarvandaan hy kom en waarheen hy op pad is nie. Só is dit met elkeen wat uit die Gees gebore is’ (Johannes 3:8 NLV).
Wanneer jy deur die Gees van God gelei word, kan jy dikwels nie beskryf hoe dit gebeur nie. Selfs wanneer jy dag en nag daaroor nagedink het, sê God: ‘My gedagtes is anders as julle s’n, en julle paaie is nie my paaie nie.’ Enigiets kan dus gebeur wanneer jy God volg. Jy weet nooit wie jy gaan ontmoet, waarheen jy gaan of wat jy gaan doen nie. Hoe vinniger jy vrede met hierdie geestelike waarheid maak, hoe meer sal jy die reis geniet. Andersins sal jy met ‘n selfbehepte geestelikheid wat jou leeg laat voel, opeindig.
In plaas daarvan om die Gees te volg, nooi jy dan die Gees uit om jou te volg. In plaas daarvan om God se doelwitte te dien, wil jy hê dat Hy jou doelwitte moet dien. Alhoewel dit na ‘n subtiele onderskeid mag lyk, maak dit ‘n massiewe verskil.
Hier is dus jou opsies: 1) Volg die pad van sekerheid, wat jou in beheer hou, maar die avontuur wat God vir jou in gedagte het, by jou steel. 2) Aanvaar die onsekerheid van die ‘hoe’ en ‘waar’ wanneer jy besluit om God te volg en staan op hierdie belofte: ‘Op u ontferming kan mens altyd vertrou. Dit is elke oggend nuut’ (Klaagliedere 3:23 NLV).
Sielskos: Eks 30-32; Luk 14:15-24; Ps 106:24-48; Spr 7:3-5
2025-03-04
1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Charles Weigle was an itinerant evangelist who enjoyed traveling and preaching, despite the rigors of the road. His wife, however, grew disillusioned with her frequently absent husband. One day Charles returned home to find this note: “Charlie, I’ve been a fool. I’ve done without a lot of things… from here on out, I’m getting all I can out of what the world owes me. I know you will continue to be a fool for Jesus, but for me, it’s goodbye!”
He was stunned, and depression swept over him like a tidal wave. One day, sitting on the porch of his cottage, he contemplated suicide. A voice within him whispered, “Your ministry is finished. No one cares.” But another voice pierced through the gloom: “Charlie, I haven’t forgotten you; I care for you.” Instantly Charles was on his knees, rededicating his life to Christ.
Later he wrote the words of one of the most beloved of all gospel songs: “I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus, since I found in Him a friend so strong and true; I would tell you how He changed my life completely, He did something that no other friend could do. No one ever cared for me like Jesus, there’s no other friend so kind as He; no one else could take the sin and darkness from me, o how much He cared for me.”
Have the responsibilities you carry brought you to a breaking point? Is the heartache more than you can bear? The word for you today is – “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”
Soul food: Exo 28-29; Luke 14:1-14; Ps 106:1-23; Prov 7:1-2
