2025-04-28
Romans 10:20 NLT
The Bible says, “I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.” You say, “What does this Scripture mean?” That even though you’re looking for answers in the wrong places, asking the wrong questions, and heading in the wrong direction, Jesus will intercept you, redirect you, and meet your deepest needs.
When the woman at the well met Jesus, she was looking for the answer in relationships. She had been through five failed marriages and was living with man number six (See John 4:18). When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he was looking for the answer in material things. “Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was” (Luke 19:2-3 NKJV). When Paul met Jesus, he was looking for the answer in religion. Here is his résumé: “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:5-6 NKJV).
Multiple relationships didn’t satisfy the woman at the well, riches didn’t satisfy Zacchaeus, and religion didn’t satisfy Paul. And these things won’t satisfy you either. What will? A relationship with Jesus! Today He is saying to you: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). Today, Jesus is the answer.
Soul food: Num 14-15; Mark 3:1-6; Ps 37:1-7; Prov 11:1-2
2025-04-27
1 Kronieke 4:9 NLV
Die naam Jabes beteken ‘ongemak of pyn.’ Miskien is dit hoekom geen ander ouer in die Skrif hul kind so genoem het nie. Dis egter ‘n etiket wat Jabes geweier het om te dra en ‘n naam wat hy geweier het om hom te definieer. ‘n Etiket vertel jou gewoonlik wat in ‘n bottel is; die inhoud en selfs die waarde daarvan. Wanneer jy die etikette wat mense op jou probeer plaas aanvaar, begin jy glo dat dit is wie jy is en dat jy nooit meer as dit sal word nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘Want soos hy in sy siel bereken, so is hy…’ (Spreuke 23:7 AFR53). Mense sal ervarings uit die verlede gebruik om jou te etiketteer en jou te beperk. Hulle sal ook jou fisiese, geestelike en emosionele karaktereienskappe gebruik om jou te etiketteer en jou te beperk.
Wat staan jou dus te doen? Doen wat Jabes gedoen het – gaan na God toe! Op die ou einde is dit God se opinie oor jou verlede, hede en toekoms wat die meeste saak maak. Hy is lief vir jou en het ‘n plan vir jou lewe. Jabes het ‘n gebed gebid wat sy lewe verander het en dit sal ook jou lewe verander. ‘…’Laat u seën op my rus en vergroot my grond! Wees asseblief met my in alles wat ek doen, en bewaar my van moeilikheid en pyn!’ En God het sy versoek gehoor en dit gedoen’ (1 Kronieke 4:10 NLV).
Jabes het God vir vier dinge gevra: seën, invloed, krag en beskerming. God het dit vir hom gegee. Vandag het jy dus ‘n keuse: glo wat ander mense oor jou sê, of glo wat God oor jou sê. As jy so daarna kyk, is die keuse duidelik.
Sielskos: Eks 20:8-11; Eks 16:1-31; Mark 3:1-6; Luk 13:10-17
1 Chronicles 4:9 NKJV
The name Jabez means “pain and trouble.” Perhaps that’s why no other parent in Scripture gave their child that name. But it’s a label he refused to wear and a name he refused to be defined by. A label usually tells you what is in a bottle; its contents and even its value. And when you accept the labels people try to put on you, you start to believe that’s who you really are and that you will never become anything more than that. The Bible says, “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). People will use past experiences to label and limit you. They will also use your physical, mental, and emotional characteristics to label and limit you.
What should you do? Do what Jabez did – go to God! In the final analysis, His opinion about your past, present, and future is the one that matters most. Plus, He loves you and has a plan for your life. Jabez prayed a prayer that changed his life, and it will change your life too. “‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV).
Jabez asked God for four things: blessing, influence, power, and protection. And God gave them to him. So, today you have a choice; believe what others say about you, or believe what God says about you. When you look at it that way, the choice is clear.
Soul food: Exo 20:8-11; Exo 16:1-31; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 13:10-17
2025-04-26
Hebreërs 10:36 NLV
Hoe lank moet jy aanhou bid en God vir die antwoord vertrou? Die volgende Skrifgedeelte spreek hierdie vraag aan: ‘Moenie hierdie vertroue in God deur julle vingers laat glip nie. Dit hou vir julle ‘n groot beloning in. Wat julle nodig het, is om te volhard sodat julle kan voortgaan om God se wil te gehoorsaam. Dan sal julle ontvang wat God beloof het’ (verse 35-36 NLV). Baie van God se beloftes het spesifieke tydslyne en jy het langtermyn geloof nodig om dit te ontvang.
Sien jouself as iemand wat ‘n marathon hardloop en vasbeslote is om die wedloop te voltooi en die prys te ontvang. Jy sê: ‘Ek is nie seker wat God se wil in hierdie saak is nie.’ Wat sê God se Woord? Dis wat jy moet gehoorsaam, waarop jy moet staan en oor jou situasie moet spreek. Vir twintig jaar lank het Abraham na die naghemel gekyk en geglo: ‘Here, U het gesê dat my kinders so baie soos die sterre in die hemel sal wees. Ek weet nie hoe U dit gaan doen nie, want ek is ‘n honderd jaar oud en my vrou Sara is negentig jaar oud. Ek gaan U egter in elk geval glo’ (sien Genesis 15:5-6).
Wanneer jy so bid, loop jy die risiko om dwaas in ander mense se oë te lyk. Die ontvangs van wonderdade kan behels dat jy dwaas mag lyk, soos Jesus wat vir diensknegte gesê het om potte met water te vul, terwyl hulle wyn nodig gehad het. Of om klei op ‘n blinde man se oë te vryf sodat hy kan sien. Die bruilofsgaste het egter die beste wyn gedrink, en die blinde het sy sig teruggekry. Hoekom? Omdat hulle op die woord wat Jesus vir hulle gegee het, gestaan het. Jy moet dieselfde doen.
Sielskos: Num 11-13; Mark 2:18-28; Ps 2; Spr 10:30-32
Hebrews 10:36 NKJV
How long should you keep praying and believing God for the answer? This Scripture addresses your question: “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (vv. 35-36 NKJV). Many of God’s promises have timelines, and you need long-distance faith to receive them.
Note the word “endurance,” and picture yourself as a marathon runner determined to finish the race and receive the prize. Note the words “after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” You say, “I’m not sure what God’s will in this matter is.” What does God’s Word say? That’s what you must obey, stand on, and speak over your situation. For twenty years Abraham looked up into the night sky believing: “Lord, you said my children would be as numerous as the stars. I don’t know how you’re going to do it because I’m a hundred years old and my wife Sarah is ninety. But I’m going to believe you anyway” (See Genesis 15:5-6).
When you pray that way, you risk looking foolish in the eyes of others. But receiving the miraculous can involve looking ridiculous, like Jesus telling servants to fill pots with water when what they needed was wine. Or rubbing clay on a blind man’s eyes so that he would receive his sight. But the wedding guests drank the finest wine, and the blind man went home seeing. Why? Because they stood on the word Jesus gave them. And you must do that too.
Soul food: Num 11-13; Mark 2:18-28; Ps 2; Prov 10:30-32
