2026-06-05
Joshua 5:2 NKJV
Before conquering Jericho, God told Joshua to “circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.” Six hundred years earlier, God had inaugurated the practice of male circumcision. He told Abraham that it would be “a sign of the covenant between Me and you” (Genesis 17:11 NKJV). What was the message here? Remember whose you are!
In a sense, all believers have been circumcised. Paul wrote, “When you came to Christ, he set you free from your evil desires, not by a bodily operation of circumcision but by a spiritual operation” (Colossians 2:11 TLB). That means you are now God’s child (John 1:12); Christ’s friend (John 15:15); a member of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:27); a saint (Ephesians 1:1); redeemed and forgiven of all your sins (Colossians 1:14); complete in Christ, lacking in nothing (Colossians 2:10); free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2); God’s co-worker (2 Corinthians 6:1); seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6); God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10); a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20); adopted into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5); born of God, and the evil one cannot touch you (1 John 5:18).
Again, Paul wrote: “Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God” (Romans 6:11 NLT). So when the devil draws near, stand up to him and say: “What are you doing here? I am dead to you!” Don’t stand for his accusations, and don’t cower at his attacks. When he dredges up your past mistakes, tell him who you are “in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17). He has no recourse to this truth. He knows who you are. He just hopes you don’t or that you’ll forget.
Soul food: Eze 10-13; Matt 15:29-39; Ps 129; Prov 14:25-28
Josua 5:2 NLV
Voordat die Israeliete Jerigo verower het, het God vir Josua gesê om die Israeliete vir ‘n tweede keer te besny. Seshonderd jaar tevore het God die praktyk van manlike besnydenis ingestel. Hy het vir Abraham gesê dat dit ‘…’n teken dat julle my verbond nakom’ (Genesis 17:11 NLV), sou wees. Wat was God se bedoeling met die tweede besnydenis? Jy moet onthou aan wie jy behoort!
In ‘n sekere sin is alle gelowiges besny. Paulus het geskryf: ‘Omdat julle één is met Christus is julle ook besny, nie met ‘n besnydenis deur mense nie, maar met die besnydenis wat Christus bewerk. Hierdie besnydenis bestaan uit die wegneem van jou sondige geaardheid’ (Kolossense 2:11 NLV). Dit beteken dat jy nou God se kind (Johannes 1:12); Christus se vriend (Johannes 15:15); ‘n lid van Christus se liggaam (1 Korintiërs 12:27); verlos en vergewe van al jou sondes (Kolossense 1:14); een met Christus (Kolossense 2:10); vry van veroordeling (Romeine 8:1-2); God se medewerker (2 Korintiërs 6:1); saam met Christus in die hemel gesetel (Efesiërs 2:6); God se handewerk (Efesiërs 2:10); ‘n burger van die hemel (Filippense 3:20); aangeneem in God se familie (Efesiërs 1:5); en uit God gebore en bewaar van die bose (1 Johannes 5:18), is.
Weer eens skryf Paulus: ‘Julle moet dus ook verseker weet dat julle vir die sonde dood is, en nou vir God lewe deurdat julle één is met Christus’ (Romeine 6:11 NLV). Wanneer die duiwel dus naby jou kom, moenie sy beskuldigings verduur nie en moenie vir sy aanvalle terugdeins nie. Wanneer hy jou vorige foute ophaal, vertel hom wie jy in Christus is (sien 2 Korintiërs 5:17). Hy het geen verweer teen hierdie waarheid nie. Hy weet wie jy is. Hy hoop net dat jy dit nie weet nie, of dat jy dit sal vergeet.
Sielskos: Eseg 10-13; Matt 15:29-39; Ps 129; Spr 14:25-28
2026-06-04
Josua 4:7 NLV
Jerigo was die sterkste stad in die Beloofde Land en die eerste stad wat Josua se leër moes verower. Omdat Jerigo se mure ondeurdringbaar gelyk het, sou dit intimiderend vir enige voornemende indringer voorgekom het. Daarom het God vir sy mense gesê om te onthou en op te teken wat Hy in die verlede vir hulle gedoen het. Hy het gesê: ‘Kies twaalf mans uit die volk, een uit elke stam en sê vir hulle: ‘Kry twaalf klippe uit die middel van die Jordaan’… by Gilgal het Josua die twaalf klippe… opmekaargestapel’ (Josua 4:2-3, 20 NLV). Josua het dit ter herinnering toe God die water van die Jordaan geskei het, opgerig.
Een van jou beste wapens teen Satan se aanvalle is ‘n goeie geheue. Moenie een van God se seëninge vergeet nie! Die psalmdigter sê: ‘Dit is Hy wat my vergewe as ek verkeerde dinge doen. Hy maak my gesond. Hy red my uit die kloue van die dood… Die Here oorlaai my met al die goeie dinge in die lewe… Die Here help almal wat onderdruk word. Hy is goed’ (Psalm 103:3-6 DB).
Skep ‘n trofeekamer in jou hart. Elke keer as jy ‘n oorwinning ervaar, plaas daardie herinnering op ‘n rak. Voordat jy ‘n uitdaging in die gesig staar, neem ‘n vinnige toer van die prestasies wat God namens jou bereik het. Kyk na al die salarisstrokies wat Hy voorsien het, die seëninge wat Hy gegee het en die gebede wat Hy verhoor het. ‘Maar dít sal ek ter harte neem en om dié rede bly ek hoop: deur die liefde van die Here het ons nie vergaan nie; daar is geen einde aan sy ontferming nie, dit is elke môre nuut. U trou is groot’ (Klaagliedere 3:21-23 AFR83).
Sielskos: Eseg 5-9; Matt 15:15-28; Ps 124; Spr 14:21-24
Joshua 4:7 NKJV
Jericho was the strongest city in the Promised Land and the first Joshua’s army had to conquer. You could say it represents the biggest challenge you’re facing right now. Because the towering walls of Jericho looked impregnable, it would have been intimidating to any would-be invader. So God told His people to remember and record what He’d done for them in the past. In essence He told them, “Before you look forward to Jericho, look backward to Jordan and what God accomplished for you there.” He said, “Take… twelve men… one man from every tribe, and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones… out of the midst of the Jordan… And those twelve stones… Joshua set up in Gilgal [as a memorial to the parting of its waters]'” (Joshua 4:2-3, 20 NKJV).
One of your best weapons against Satan’s attacks is a good memory. Don’t forget a single one of God’s blessings! The psalmist says: “He forgives your sins – every one. He heals your diseases – every one. He redeems you from hell – saves your life! God makes everything come out right” (Psalm 103:3-6 MSG).
Create a trophy room in your heart. Each time you experience a victory, place a memory on the shelf. Before you face a challenge, take a quick tour of God’s accomplishments on your behalf. Look at all the paychecks He has provided, the blessings He has given, and the prayers He has answered. “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23 NKJV).
Soul food: Eze 5-9; Matt 15:15-28; Ps 124; Prov 14:21-24
2026-06-03
Romans 8:16-17 NKJV
We share the same inheritance as Christ! Whatever He has, we have! “Our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s” (1 John 4:17 MSG). So, if we are co-heirs with Christ, why do we struggle through life? For two reasons:
(1) We don’t know about our inheritance – “The exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19 NKJV). No one ever told us that instead of fighting for victory, we fight from a position of victory. If you have given your heart to Christ, He “has blessed [you] with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3 NKJV). Notice the word “has.” You already possess everything you need to be everything God desires. You have access to “every spiritual blessing.” That also means God will “equip you with all you need for doing his will” (Hebrews 13:21 NLT).
(2) We don’t believe in our inheritance. Imagine what would happen if a generation of Christians lived out of their inheritance. They would turn off internet porn. The lonely would find comfort in God, not in the arms of strangers. Struggling couples would spend more time in prayer and less time in anger. Children would consider it a blessing to take care of their aging parents.
“God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19-20 NCV). The same indwelling Spirit that raised Christ from the dead will turn every one of your “I can’ts” into an “I can.” “I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NCV).
Soul food: Eze 1-4; Matt 15:1-14; Ps 4; Prov 14:17-20
