2025-05-16
Isaiah 8:20 NLT
When asked if they believed that the Bible was the inspired and the infallible Word of God, a majority of sixteen-to-twenty-nine-year-olds in America said, “Yes. Give it to me straight. And if you don’t live it, don’t give it!” It’s an honest response! Think about it: Who told the first lie ever recorded? Satan. In the garden of Eden, he convinced Eve it was okay to eat the forbidden fruit and that God didn’t really mean what He said. And he is still peddling the same old lie! You hear it in comments like these:
(1) “You can interpret the Bible many different ways.” That sounds reasonable until you read this: “Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT). Isaiah said, “People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.” Two and two must make four; otherwise, we’re all open to each other’s interpretations and value judgments – and somebody is going to get the short end of the stick.
(2) “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere.” What if you’re sincerely wrong? If a doctor prescribes the wrong medication, it could kill you rather than cure you.
(3) “Rather than offend someone, you should say nothing.” If that person’s house were on fire, wouldn’t you warn them in order to save their life?
Before He was betrayed, Jesus said, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night” (Mark 14:27 KJV). The truth hurts, but it heals, so let’s be true to the Scriptures.
Soul food: 1 Ki 3-5; Mark 7:24-37; Ps 93; Prov 11:30-31
Jesaja 8:20 AFR83
Toe hulle gevra is of hulle glo dat die Bybel die geïnspireerde en onfeilbare Woord van God is, het die meerderheid van sestien- tot nege-en-twintig-jariges in Amerika geantwoord: ‘Ja. Maar as jy nie die Woord uitleef nie, het jy nie die reg om dit aan my te verkondig nie.’ Dit is ‘n eerlike reaksie! Dink daaraan: Wie het die eerste leuen wat ooit opgeteken is vertel? Satan. In die tuin van Eden het hy vir Eva oortuig dat dit reg is om van die verbode vrugte te eet en dat God nie regtig dit wat Hy gesê het, bedoel het nie. Hy smous steeds met dieselfde ou leuen! Jy hoor dit in opmerkings soos die volgende:
1) ‘Jy kan die Bybel op baie verskillende maniere interpreteer.’ Dit klink redelik, totdat jy die volgende lees: ‘Julle moet veral weet dat geen profesie van die Skrif ontstaan het deur die profeet se eie insig nie… Inteendeel, dit was die Heilige Gees wat die profete God se woorde laat verkondig het’ (2 Petrus 1:20-21 NLV).
2) ‘Dit maak nie saak wat jy glo nie, solank jy net opreg is.’ Wat as jy opreg verkeerd is? As ‘n dokter vir iemand die verkeerde medisyne sou voorskryf, kan dit daardie persoon doodmaak, eerder as genees.
3) ‘Jy moet eerder niks sê as om iemand aanstoot te gee nie.’ As daardie persoon se huis aan die brand was, sou jy hulle nie waarsku om sodoende hulle lewe te red nie?
Voor Hy verraai is, het Jesus gesê: ‘…Julle vertroue in My gaan geskok word, en julle gaan almal julle rug op My draai…’ (Markus 14:27 NLV). Die waarheid maak seer, maar dit genees, so laat ons getrou aan die Skrif wees.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 3-5; Mark 7:24-37; Ps 93; Spr 11:30-31
2025-05-15
Luke 23:34 KJV
Some societies in history punished those who committed adultery by making them wear a big scarlet letter A, publicly identifying with their behaviour. And if you were caught stealing, they made you drag a ball and chain around. Maybe you’re thinking, “Well, they deserved it.” Really?
Jesus said if you simply lust after someone, you have committed adultery in your heart (See Matthew 5:28). Then He went on to say the standard of judgment you impose on others is the same standard you will be judged by (See Matthew 7:1-2). God is not soft on sin; notice two things: (1) He won’t just overlook your sin. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves” (Hebrews 12:6 NIV). (2) He won’t turn His back on you. Nothing can separate us from the love of God (See Romans 8:38-39). We don’t use scarlet letters or balls and chains today, but we use computers.
So, when someone hurts you, God says we must forgive them and delete it! Otherwise, it will influence the way we think, act, and talk. Plus, it will keep us tied to old, painful memories. “But forgiving them is hard,” you say. That’s why Jesus said to pray for those who mistreat you (See Matthew 5:44). Forgiving someone begins with praying for them. You say, “But I need to understand why they did it.” Wise people do foolish stuff, good people do bad stuff, and misguided people don’t know what they’re doing. Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Someday you may understand what motivated your offender. But even if you don’t, forgive them and delete it.
Soul food: 1 Ki 1-2; Mark 7:14-23; Ps 88:9b-18; Prov 11:27-29
Lukas 23:34 NLV
Sommige gemeenskappe in die geskiedenis het diegene wat egbreuk gepleeg het, gestraf deur hulle ‘n groot bloedrooi letter A te laat dra wat hulle in die openbaar as egbrekers geïdentifiseer het. As jy betrap is dat jy gesteel het, het hulle jou ‘n bal en ketting laat rondsleep. Miskien dink jy: ‘Wel, hulle het dit verdien.’ Regtig?
Jesus het gesê as jy bloot wellustig na iemand kyk, het jy reeds in jou hart egbreuk gepleeg (sien Matteus 5:28). Hy het ook verder gesê dat die manier waarop jy ander mense oordeel, dieselfde manier is waarvolgens jy geoordeel sal word (sien Matteus 7:1-2). Let twee dinge op: 1) God sal nie jou sonde net oorsien nie. ‘Die Here dissiplineer juis die mense vir wie Hy lief is…’ (Hebreërs 12:6 NLV). 2) Hy sal nie sy rug op jou draai nie. Niks kan ons van God se liefde skei nie (sien Romeine 8:38-39).
Wanneer iemand jou dus seermaak, sê God dat ons hulle moet vergewe en dit dan moet uitwis! Indien ons dit nie doen nie, sal dit aanhou om die manier wat ons dink, optree en praat, te beïnvloed. Dit sal ons ook aan ou, pynlike herinneringe vasgebind hou. Om iemand te vergewe begin deur vir hulle te bid. Jy sê: ‘Maar ek het nodig om te verstaan hoekom hulle dit gedoen het.’ Wyse mense doen dwase dinge, goeie mense doen slegte dinge en misleide mense weet nie wat hulle doen nie. Jesus het vir die mense wat Hom gekruisig het, gebid: ‘Vader, vergewe hulle, want hulle besef nie wat hulle doen nie!’ Eendag mag jy dalk dit wat jou oortreder gemotiveer het, verstaan. Selfs al verstaan jy dit egter nie, moet jy hulle vergewe en dit uitwis.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 1-2; Mark 7:14-23; Ps 88:9b-18; Spr 11:27-29
2025-05-14
2 Chronicles 14:11 ESV
Faced with an enemy he couldn’t conquer on his own, King Asa prayed, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us…we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.’ The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah” (vv. 11-12 NIV).
F. B. Meyer writes: “Remind God of his entire responsibility. ‘There is none like thee to help.’ The odds against Asa were enormous. There were a million men in arms… beside three hundred chariots. It seemed impossible to hold his own against that vast multitude. There were no allies who would come to his help: his only hope therefore was in God. There was none beside to help. It may be that your difficulties have been allowed to come to so alarming a pitch that you may be compelled to renounce all creature aid, to which in lesser trials you have had recourse, and cast yourself back on your Almighty friend. Put God between yourself and the foe.
To Asa’s faith, Jehovah seemed to stand between the might of Zerah and himself, as one who had no strength. Nor was he mistaken… the Ethiopians were destroyed before the Lord, and before His host, as though celestial combatants flung themselves against the foe on Israel’s behalf… Our God is Jehovah of Hosts, who can summon unexpected reinforcements at any moment to the aid of his people. Believe that he is there between you and your difficulty, and what baffles you will flee before him as clouds before the gale.”
Soul food: Heb 11:17-13:25; Mark 7:1-13; Ps 88:1-9a; Prov 11:24-26
