2025-04-18
Romans 5:1 NKJV
In the legal system, there is something known as “the law of double jeopardy.” It means you can’t be tried twice for the same crime. Now, let’s apply this principle to your salvation. Jesus has already been tried and punished for your sins – all of them! So don’t let Satan, the accuser, convince you that God will also punish you for them and send you to hell. Christ’s last words on the cross, “It is finished,” are translated in the Greek text as “paid in full.” All your sins – past, present, and future – were atoned for at Calvary.
Think of the word “finished.” Imagine a master carpenter putting the finishing touches to a beautiful table. Would you take a wood plane and say, “I think I can make this look a little better and give it a little more value?” The carpenter would say, “Stop; if you touch it, you will ruin it!” And he would be right. The same goes for your salvation. You can add nothing to it, but by trying to merit it by your performance and good works, you can definitely take something away from it.
The word justified simply means declared or made righteous in the sight of God. The moment you place your trust in Christ as your Saviour, that’s how God sees you. “Therefore, having been justified by faith [not works, human effort, or performance], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand” (vv. 1-2). How can you stand before God clothed in grace? By faith in Christ alone and nothing else.
Soul food: Gen 22:1-18; Luke 23:26-49; Ps 22; Isa 53
2025-04-17
Johannes 4:4 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘Dus het [Jesus] Judea verlaat en weer na Galilea toe vertrek. Hy moes deur Samaria reis’ (verse 3-4 NLV). Samaria is nie op die pad na Galilea toe nie. Dit is inderwaarheid myle uit die pad uit. Tog sê die Bybel dat Jesus deur Samaria moes reis. Dink daaroor: Dit was ‘n lang reis en Hy was te voet. Dit was warm. As Jood sou Hy nie in Samaria verwelkom word nie, as gevolg van ‘n vyandigheid wat al lank tussen Jode en Samaritane bestaan het. Wat die vrou wat Hy by die put gaan ontmoet het betref, is vroue in daardie kultuur verbied om met mans buite hul eie familie te praat. Die mense op die dorp het ook vreeslik oor hierdie vrou geskinder, omdat sy al deur vyf egskeidings was.
Hoekom het Jesus dan gevoel dat Hy soontoe moes gaan? Omdat Hy hierdie vrou as ‘n ruwe diamant gesien het. Terwyl die mense rondom haar oor haar verlede en probleme gepraat het, het Jesus haar potensiaal vir sy koninkryk raakgesien. ‘Uit daardie dorp het baie van die Samaritane in Jesus begin glo op grond van die woorde van die vrou…’ (vers 39 NLV).
Om Galilea volgens God se skedule te bereik, moes Jesus die menslike skedule by die venster uitgooi. Sy skedule het Hom egter nie beheer nie. Wat het dan? Die wil van God en die behoeftes van mense wat seer het. Hy was gewillig om uit sy pad te gaan, tradisie op sy kop te keer en nuwe grond te breek om dit te doen. Wat van jou? Kan God jou planne onderbreek? As Hy kan, kan Hy jou gebruik. Bid die volgende: ‘Here, wys my wat ek vandag moet doen om U te behaag.’
Sielskos: Jak 3-5; Luk 23:13-25; Ps 7:10-17; Deut 21:22-23
John 4:4 NKJV
The Bible says that Jesus “left Judea and departed again to Galilee. But He needed to go through Samaria” (vv. 3-4 NKJV). In case you may not be aware of it, Samaria was not on the way to Galilee. Actually, it was miles out of the way. Yet, the Bible says Jesus “needed to go.” Think about it: It was a long journey, and He was on foot. It was hot. As a Jew, He wouldn’t be welcomed there because of a long-standing animosity between Jews and Samaritans. As for the woman at the well that He went to meet, women in that culture were forbidden to talk to men outside of their own family. Furthermore, this woman was the talk of the town because she had been through five divorces.
So, why did Jesus feel like He “needed to go”? Because He saw this woman as a diamond in the rough. While those around her talked about her past and her problems, Jesus saw her potential for His kingdom. “Many of the Samaritans… believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified” (v. 39 NKJV).
To reach Galilee on God’s schedule, Jesus had to throw man’s schedule out the window. But the schedule didn’t control Him. What did? The will of God and the unmet needs of hurting people. And He was willing to go out of His way, turn tradition on its head, and break new ground in order to do it. How about you? Can God interrupt your plans? If He can, then He can use you. Pray, “Lord, show me what I must do today in order to please you.”
Soul food: Jam 3-5; Luke 23:13-25; Ps 7:10-17; Deut 21:22-23
2025-04-16
Jesaja 42:16 NLV
Soos die wet van vereiste verskeidenheid getuig, vereis die voortbestaan van enige sisteem die vermoë om verskeidenheid in sy interne strukture te kweek. In fisiese oefening, byvoorbeeld, word roetines uiteindelik nutteloos. As jy elke keer op dieselfde manier oefen, begin jou spiere aanpas en ophou ontwikkel. Jy moet jou roetine verander.
Dit is ook geestelik waar. Een skrywer merk op: ‘Nege uit die tien keer wanneer ek ‘n geestelike insinking beleef, het iets heiligs roetine geword. Ek is seker dit verskil volgens persoonlikheid, maar een van die maniere waarop ek uit ‘n geestelike insinking ontsnap, is deur my roetine te verander en met geestelike dissiplines te begin eksperimenteer. Soms is al wat nodig is ‘n klein verandering in roetine. Gaan wees ‘n vrywilliger by ‘n plaaslike hawelose skuiling. Begin om ‘n dankbaarheidsjoernaal te hou. Raak by ‘n selgroep of Bybelstudiegroep betrokke. Neem ‘n dag af en neem introspeksie. Of staan net ‘n bietjie vroeër in die oggend op en bestee ‘n bietjie ekstra tyd saam met God. Een van die klein veranderinge in roetine wat my gehelp het om my geestelike lewe te verryk, is om ‘n nuwe vertaling van die Skrif te begin lees. Nuwe woorde help my om nuwe gedagtes te dink.’
Om geestelik te groei, het jy konsekwentheid, struktuur en dissipline nodig. Wanneer jy egter deur ‘n geestelike droogte gaan, probeer om jou geestelike roetine te verander. In plaas daarvan om dinge te doen soos jy dit nog altyd gedoen het, probeer dinge anders doen. ‘…Ek lei hulle op paaie wat vir hulle onbekend is…’ God verander nie, maar Hy beweeg! Om te kom waarheen God jou wil neem, moet jy bereid wees om saam met Hom te beweeg.
Sielskos: Jak 1-2; Luk 23:1-12; Ps 7:1-9; Spr 10:16
Isaiah 42:16 NKJV
As attested by the law of requisite variety, the continued existence of any system requires the ability to cultivate variety in its internal structures. In physical exercise, for example, routines eventually become useless. If you exercise the same way each time you work out, your muscles begin adapting and stop developing. You have to change your routine. You have to disorient them.
This is true spiritually. One author writes: “When I’m in a spiritual slump, nine times out of ten, something sacred has become routine. I’m sure it differs by personality, but one of the ways I snap out of a spiritual slump is by disturbing my routine and experimenting with spiritual disciplines. Sometimes all it takes is a small change in routine. Volunteer at a local homeless shelter. Start keeping a gratitude journal. Get plugged into a small group or Bible study. Take a day off and do a personal retreat. Or just get up a little earlier in the morning and spend a little extra time with God. One of the small changes in routine that has helped me rejuvenate my devotional times is picking up a new translation of Scripture. New words help me think new thoughts.”
In order to grow spiritually, you need consistency, structure, and discipline. But when you go through a spiritual dry spell, try changing your spiritual routine. Instead of doing things the way you have always done them, try doing things differently. “I will lead them in paths they have not known.” God doesn’t change, but He moves! And in order to get to where God wants to take you, you must be willing to move with Him.
Soul food: Jam 1-2; Luke 23:1-12; Ps 7:1-9; Prov 10:16
