2026-06-10
Filippense 3:13-14 NLV
Iemand het gesê: ‘Die geheim van sukses is om soos ‘n eend te wees – glad en onverstoord bo die water, en woes besig om onder die oppervlak te swem.’ Niccolò Paganini, die bekende negentiende-eeuse violis, het die waarheid hiervan geïllustreer. Sy onvergeetlikste konsert was nie ‘n maklike uitvoering nie. Hy moes woes onder die oppervlak spartel om die konsert uit te voer. Die konsert is met ‘n volle orkes voor ‘n stampvol gehoor in Italië uitgevoer. Diegene wat hom hoor speel het, sê dat sy tegniek ongelooflik en sy toon fantasties was.
Teen die einde van die konsert was hy besig om sy gehoor met ‘n baie moeilike komposisie te verstom, toe een snaar op sy viool skielik breek en slap van sy instrument afhang. Paganini het net gefrons, sy kop geskud en aanhou speel deur pragtig te improviseer. Toe, tot almal se verbasing, insluitend Paganini s’n, breek ‘n tweede snaar. Kort daarna breek ‘n derde snaar. Dit het soos ‘n komedie gelyk waar Paganini voor die ontsaglike skare met drie snare wat aan sy Stradivarius-viool hang, staan. In plaas daarvan om egter die verhoog te verlaat om sy instrument te herstel, het hy ferm bly staan. Hy het die moeilike stuk kalm op die een oorblywende snaar voltooi – ‘n vertoning wat hom applous, bewondering en blywende roem besorg het.
Paulus was ook so ‘n man: ‘…ek vergeet dit wat agter my lê, en strek my uit na dit wat voorlê. Ek jaag wenpaal toe, na die hemelse prys wat God aan my wil gee omdat Christus Jesus dit vir my verdien het.’ Ons almal wat geestelik volwasse is, moet ook so dink. Moet dus nie opgee nie; hou aan!
Sielskos: Eseg 22-23; Matt 17:14-27; Ps 132:11-18; Spr 15:5-7
Philippians 3:13-14 NCV
Someone said: “The secret of success is to be like a duck – smooth and unruffled on top, and paddling furiously underneath.” Niccolò Paganini, the well-known nineteenth-century violinist, illustrated the truth of this. His most memorable concert was marked by “furious paddling under the surface” rather than easy success. The concert was performed with a full orchestra before a packed house in Italy. Those who heard him play say his technique was incredible and his tone fantastic.
Toward the end of the concert, he was astounding his audience with a very difficult composition, when one string on his violin suddenly snapped and hung limply from his instrument. Paganini frowned only briefly, shook his head, and continued to play, improvising beautifully. Then, to everyone’s surprise, including Paganini’s, a second string broke. Shortly thereafter, a third string snapped. It seemed like a slapstick comedy routine as Paganini stood before the awed crowd with three strings dangling from his Stradivarius violin. But instead of leaving the stage to repair his instrument, he stood firm. He calmly completed the difficult number on the one remaining string – a performance that won him applause, admiration, and enduring fame. Here’s another saying: “It’s when the going gets tough, that the tough get going!”
Paul was such a man: “Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.” All of us who are spiritually mature should think this way too. So don’t quit; keep going!
Soul food: Eze 22-23; Matt 17:14-27; Ps 132:11-18; Prov 15:5-7
2026-06-09
1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT
Pride promotes self-reliance. It tells us we can indeed do things on our own. In our attempt to walk in self-confidence, we slam the door in God’s face and shut out the work of the Holy Spirit, our Helper. Paul was educated, sophisticated, and consecrated, yet he humbly declared, “I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favour on me – and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace” (vv. 9-10 NLT).
No matter how much ability you possess, without God, it will only take you so far. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV). So the source of our confidence should be God and not ourselves.
When the plans of those walking in God-confidence go awry, they are wise enough to subordinate their desires to the sovereign will of God. They quickly remind themselves, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21 NIV). They are convinced that God has a higher purpose for their lives, and that no man can thwart it. So, practice God-confidence rather than self-confidence.
Soul food: Eze 20-21; Matt 17:1-13; Ps 132:1-10; Prov 15:1-4
1 Korintiërs 15:10 NLV
Trots bevorder selfstandigheid. Dit sê vir ons dat ons inderdaad dinge op ons eie kan doen. In ons poging om in selfvertroue te wandel, slaan ons die deur in God se gesig toe en sluit die werk van die Heilige Gees, ons Helper, uit. Paulus was geleerd, gesofistikeerd en toegewyd, maar hy het nederig verklaar: ‘Ek is werklikwaar die geringste van al die apostels, een wat die naam van ‘n apostel nie werd is nie omdat ek God se kerk vervolg het. Maar deur God se onverdiende goedheid is ek vandag wat ek is. Hy het sy goedheid nie tevergeefs aan my bewys nie. Ek het harder gewerk as al die ander – en tog was dit ook weer nie ek nie, maar God se goedheid wat my gedra het’ (verse 9-10 NLV).
Dit maak nie saak hoeveel talente en vermoëns jy besit nie, sonder God sal dit jou net tot by ‘n sekere punt bring. Jesus het gesê: ‘Ek is die druiwestok, julle is die lote. Wie aan my verbonde bly en Ek aan hulle, dra baie vrugte, want sonder My kan julle niks doen nie’ (Johannes 15:5 NLV). Die bron van ons vertroue moet dus God en nie onsself wees nie.
Wanneer mense wat in Godvertroue wandel se planne skeefloop, is hulle wys genoeg om hul begeertes ondergeskik aan die soewereine wil van God te stel. Hulle herinner hulself vinnig: “‘n Mens kan hoeveel planne maak, maar op die ou einde gebeur wat die Here besluit het” (Spreuke 19:21 NLV). Hulle is oortuig dat God ‘n hoër doel vir hul lewe het en dat geen mens dit kan dwarsboom nie. Oefen dus Godvertroue eerder as selfvertroue uit.
Sielskos: Eseg 20-21; Matt 17:1-13; Ps 132:1-10; Spr 15:1-4
2026-06-08
Proverbs 2:6 NIV
Bill Gates predicted: “There will be ‘two societies’ in the future; high-paid knowledge workers and low-paid service workers.” The saying “knowledge is power” is true. And it’s even more dynamic in the spiritual realm. The more you know about God, the more confident you’ll be. Knowledge of God’s Word can give clarity to the puzzling issues of life.
When a certain religious sect tried to pull Jesus into one of their debates on a particular issue, He replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God” (Matthew 22:29 NLT).
There are some truths you need to settle in your heart and let them bring peace to your spirit. For example, no one else can thwart God’s purpose for your life. “The Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:27 NIV). You also need to settle in your mind that no matter what happens, things are working out for your good. Therefore, you can resist anxiety and worry. “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NKJV).
Daniel reminds us that God “gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him” (Daniel 2:21-22 NKJV). The “light” you need belongs to God. And you never have to feel insecure regarding any aspect of your knowledge when you know Him, for He knows everything.
Soul food: Eze 16:53-19:14; Matt 16:13-28; Ps 48; Prov 14:33-35
