2025-03-19
Matthew 6:33 NIV
The first step to getting what you want in life is knowing what you want. Jesus said, in essence, “The key to getting what you want out of life is to focus on what I want for your life.” Note the words “seek first.” This word “seek” means “to strive for diligently” or “to desire strongly.” The action is continuous. It says, “Keep on striving for, keep on seeking, keep on desiring daily.”
When Jesus says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” it means you don’t have to pray about what your top priority in life ought to be; everything you do will be ordered by those two things. Where you work, how you spend your time, the person you marry, how you manage your money, the relationships you form, the pastimes you enjoy, the purchases you make – all of these will be sifted and sorted through one filter: “Is this for His kingdom? Does it relate to His righteousness?”
Can’t you see how living this way would transform your marriage, your work, your family, your finances, and every other area of your life? But in order to pursue the priorities of the kingdom, you must first have a relationship with the King. You won’t even know where the kingdom is, or what it looks like, until you know the King. And you can know Him. How? As you open the pages of His Word and open your heart, there He will reveal Himself to you. And as you spend time with Him in prayer, He will respond to you.
Soul food: Job 29-31; Luke 19:1-10; Ps 55:1-11; Prov 8:17-18
2025-03-18
John 20:21 NIV
In order to identify God’s will for your life, you must be clear about two things:
(1) Your purpose. Facing the cross, Jesus said, “For this cause came I into the world” (John 18:37 KJV). Your passion is that area of your life that fires you up. It might be world hunger, or neglected veterans, or education. You see little kids growing up in under resourced school districts, and they’re never going to have a chance to learn, and it just kills you. Or unwed moms, or the gospel being proclaimed unclearly. Instead of finding your passion in the area of your opportunities and your skills, sometimes you will find it in the area of your hurts and scars. From people who struggle with addictions, to those who have spent time in prison, to those who contend with emotional disorders – there are so many areas. God won’t waste a hurt.
(2) Your partners. Jesus called twelve disciples, then He dispatched them on a brief mission two at a time so they could go together. So along with your passions and strengths and scars, you need people in your life who will encourage you, applaud you, and take part in what you are doing. Paul spells out his passion: “The longing of my heart… is for the people of Israel to be saved” (Romans 10:1 NLT). Paul also knew his partners: “Every time I think of you, I give thanks…for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ” (Philippians 1:3, 5 NLT).
So, the word for you today is – know your purpose, know your partners.
Soul food: Job 24-28; Luke 18:31-43; Ps 13; Prov 8:14-16
Johannes 20:21 NLV
Om God se wil in jou lewe te identifiseer, moet jy oor twee dinge duidelikheid hê:
1) Jou doel. In die aanloop na sy kruisiging het Jesus gesê: ‘…Hiervoor is Ek gebore en hiervoor het Ek na die wêreld toe gekom…’ (Johannes 18:37 NLV). Jou passie is die area in jou lewe wat die vuur in jou aansteek. Dit kan wêreldhonger, of verwaarloosde bejaardes, of onderwys wees. Jy sien dalk hoe klein kindertjies in skooldistrikte wat nie genoeg hulpbronne het nie grootword en dit breek jou hart. Of dalk raak ongehude moeders jou hart aan. In plaas daarvan om jou passie in jou geleenthede en jou vaardighede te vind, sal jy dit soms in die area van jou seerkry en letsels vind. Van mense wat met verslawings sukkel, tot diegene wat tyd in die tronk deurgebring het, tot diegene wat met emosionele versteurings worstel – daar is soveel areas. God sal nie ‘n seer mors nie.
2) Jou medewerkers. Jesus het die twaalf dissipels geroep en hulle toe twee-twee uitgestuur om die evangelie te gaan verkondig. Tesame met jou passie, jou sterkpunte en jou letsels, het jy mense in jou lewe nodig wat jou sal aanmoedig, jou sal vier en by dit wat jy besig is om te doen, betrokke sal raak. Paulus spel sy passie uit: ‘…die intense verlange van my hart… is dat my volk gered sal word’ (Romeine 10:1 NLV). Paulus het ook sy medewerkers geken: ‘Elke keer as ek aan julle dink, dank ek God… omdat julle, van die eerste dag wat julle die Goeie Nuus gehoor het, tot vandag toe saamgewerk het om dit verder uit te dra’ (Filippense 1:3, 5 NLV).
Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – ken jou doel, ken jou medewerkers.
Sielskos: Job 24-28; Luk 18:31-43; Ps 13; Spr 8:14-16
2025-03-17
Eksodus 33:11 NLV
Moses het ‘n spesiale plek gehad waar hy God ontmoet het. Dit is die ‘ontmoetingstent’ genoem (vers 7 NLV). Waaroor het hulle gepraat? “Op ‘n keer het Moses vir die Here gesê: ‘U het vir my gesê om hierdie volk te lei na die land wat U aan hulle beloof het. U het egter nooit vir my gesê wie U saam met my gaan stuur nie… sê asseblief wat u planne is sodat ek kan weet wat U van my verwag…’ Hy vra toe vir Moses: ‘Moet Ek dan self saamgaan sodat jou hart kan rus?'” (verse 12-14 NLV). Let die drie dinge op waaroor Moses vir God uitgevra het:
1) ‘U het egter nooit vir my gesê wie U saam met my gaan stuur nie.’ Dit was wys, want mense kan jou opbou of afbreek. Jy moet weet wie in jou lewe hoort en wie nie en God is die enigste een wat dit vir jou kan sê.
2) ‘Sê asseblief wat u planne is.’ God se wil, wat op God se manier, volgens God se tydsberekening gedoen word, bring altyd sukses mee. As jy egter jou eie wil, op jou manier, volgens jou eie tydsberekening doen, bring dit net moeilikheid en hartseer mee.
3) ‘Sodat ek kan weet wat U van my verwag.’ Op jou eie kan jy nie die uitdaging baasraak nie, maar deur die krag van God se inwonende Gees kan jy groot dinge vermag, Wat God vir Moses belowe het, beloof Hy ook vir jou: ‘Moet Ek dan self saamgaan sodat jou hart kan rus?’
Sielskos: Job 21-23; Luk 18:18-30; Ps 116:12-19; Spr 8:10-13
Exodus 33:11 NKJV
Moses had a special place where he met with God. It was called “the tabernacle of meeting” (v. 7 NKJV). What did they talk about? “Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, You say to me, “Bring up this people.” But You have not let me know whom You will send with me… Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight…’ And He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest'” (vv. 12-14 NKJV). Note the three things Moses asked God about:
(1) “Let me know whom You will send with me.” That was wise, because people either add to you or take from you, build you up or tear you down. You need to know who belongs in your life and who doesn’t, and God is the only one who can tell you that.
(2) “Show me now Your way.” God’s will, done God’s way, according to God’s timetable, always brings success. But your will, done your way, according to your timetable, can bring you trouble and heartache.
(3) “That I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.” Here the word “grace” means “divine enablement.” By yourself you are not equal to the challenge, but through the power of God’s indwelling Spirit, you can accomplish great things. What God promised to Moses, He also promises to you: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Soul food: Job 21-23; Luke 18:18-30; Ps 116:12-19; Prov 8:10-13
