2026-08-16
Luke 17:21 NKJV
In one sense, the kingdom of God is future, eternal, and heavenly. When Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth, the prophecy will be fulfilled: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15 NKJV). What a glorious day that will be for all of God’s redeemed children. But until then, Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” That means as a born-again believer living in this world, you’re called to demonstrate what it means to live under the rule of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Winston Churchill famously quipped: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried.” All human government is flawed and ultimately destined to fail because it’s made up of flawed human beings. So as citizens of the kingdom of God, we are called to be “light” that illuminates darkness and dispels ignorance, and “salt” that flavours, cleanses, heals, and enriches the lives of those we come in contact with (see Matthew 5:13-14).
We are called to practice the principles of God’s kingdom in the marketplace of life. Whether you work in education, transportation, medicine, politics, agriculture, IT, sales, manufacturing, etc., you are called to demonstrate the benefits of living under the rule of Christ and by the guidance of His indwelling Holy Spirit. “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord.” When Christ returns, that promise will be totally fulfilled. Until then, Jesus said, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13 KJV).
Soul food: Exo 15:26; Ps 103:1-5; 1 Pet 2:24
Lukas 17:21 NLV
God se koningsheerskappy is toekomstig, ewig en hemels. Wanneer Christus terugkeer om sy koninkryk op aarde te vestig, sal die volgende profesie vervul word: ‘…Die koninklike heerskappy oor die wêreld behoort nou aan ons Here en sy Christus, en Hy sal as koning heers vir altyd’ (Openbaring 11:15 NLV). Wat ‘n glorieryke dag sal dit nie vir al God se verloste kinders wees nie. Tot dit egter plaasvind, sê Jesus: ‘…die koningsheerskappy van God is hier by julle.’ Dit beteken dat jy as ‘n wedergebore gelowige wat in hierdie wêreld leef, geroep is om te demonstreer wat dit beteken om onder die heerskappy van die Koning van konings en die Here van heersers te leef.
Winston Churchill het geskerts: ‘Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried.’ Alle menslike regerings is gebrekkig en uiteindelik bestem om te misluk, omdat dit uit gebrekkige mense bestaan. Dus, as burgers van die koninkryk van God, word ons geroep om die ‘lig’ te wees wat die duisternis verlig en onkunde verdryf, en die ‘sout’ te wees wat die lewens van diegene met wie ons in aanraking kom, geurig maak, reinig, genees en verryk (sien Matteus 5:13-14).
Ons word geroep om die beginsels van God se koninkryk op die markplein van die lewe uit te oefen. Of jy nou in die onderwys, vervoer, medisyne, politiek, landbou, verkope, of vervaardiging werk, jy word geroep om die voordele van ‘n lewe onder die heerskappy van Christus en deur die leiding van sy inwonende Heilige Gees, te demonstreer. ‘…Die koninklike heerskappy oor die wêreld behoort nou aan ons Here en sy Christus…’ Wanneer Christus terugkeer, sal hierdie belofte ten volle vervul word. Tot dan, het Jesus gesê: ‘…Gaan doen besigheid daarmee totdat ek terugkom’ (Lukas 19:13 NLV).
Sielskos: Eks 15:26; Ps 103:1-5; 1 Pet 2:24
2026-08-15
1 Chronicles 29:14 NKJV
Many of the heroes in the Bible were wealthy individuals. “Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2 NKJV). King David “died in a good old age, full of days and riches and honour” (1 Chronicles 29:28 NKJV). Barnabas, a wealthy landowner, made possible the expansion of the early church when he sold a piece of real estate and gave the money to the apostles (see Acts 4:36-37). There is nothing wrong with wealth in and of itself. The things that matter are:
(1) How you get it. “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord” (James 5:1, 4 NKJV). The God who records and rewards also observes how you do business.
(2) How you give it. David said, “All things come from You, and of Your own [hand] we have given You.” So, when God speaks to you to give, try to remember these two things: (a) He is asking for a portion of what already belongs to Him. You don’t own it; you manage it for Him. (b) You always reap what you sow. “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7 NKJV). And in God’s economy, you reap more than you sow. If you plant a single grain of corn, you reap a cornstalk with hundreds of grains like itself. So give and God will give back to you.
Soul food: 2 Chr 19-21; Mark 6:14-29; Ps 119:73-80; Pro 21:14-16
1 Kronieke 29:14 NLV
Baie van die helde in die Bybel was welgestelde individue. ‘Abram was baie ryk aan lewende hawe, silwer en goud’ (Genesis 13:2 NLV). Koning Dawid ‘…is op ‘n ryp ouderdom dood nadat hy ‘n lang lewe, rykdom en eer geniet het…’ (1 Kronieke 29:28 NLV). Barnabas, ‘n welgestelde grondeienaar, het die uitbreiding van die vroeë kerk moontlik gemaak toe hy ‘n stuk grond verkoop en die geld aan die apostels gegee het (sien Handelinge 4:36-37). Daar is niks met rykdom op sigself verkeerd nie. Die dinge wat egter saak maak, is:
1) Hoe jy dit kry. ‘Kom nou, julle ryk mense, huil en treur oor al die swaar wat vir julle voorlê… Die betaling wat julle teruggehou het van die mense wat oes, is baie duidelike getuienis teen julle…’ (Jakobus 5:1, 4 NLV). Die God wat aanteken en beloon, let ook op hoe jy sake doen.
2) Hoe jy dit gee. Dawid het gesê: ‘…Alles wat ons het, kom van U af, en ons gee vir U net dit wat U reeds vir ons gegee het!’ Wanneer God dus vir jou sê om te gee, probeer om hierdie twee dinge te onthou: a) Hy vra vir ‘n gedeelte van dit wat reeds aan Hom behoort. Jy besit dit nie; jy bestuur dit net vir Hom. b) Jy oes altyd wat jy saai. ‘…Wat mense saai sal hulle ook maai!’ (Galasiërs 6:7 NLV). In God se ekonomie maai jy meer as wat jy saai. Wanneer jy ‘n enkele mieliepit plant, oes jy ‘n mielierank met honderde mieliepitte. Gee dus en God sal aan jou teruggee.
Sielskos: 2 Kro 19-21; Mark 6:14-29; Ps 119:73-80; Spr 21:14-16
2026-08-14
Isaiah 6:8 NKJV
One of the greatest disasters of history took place in 1271. That year, Niccolo and Matteo Polo, the father and uncle of Marco Polo, visited Kublai Khan, who was considered the world ruler – with authority over all China, India, and the entire East. Kublai Khan was attracted to the story of Christianity as Niccolo and Matteo told it to him. He said to them, “You shall go to your high priest and tell him on my behalf to send me a hundred men skilled in your religion and I shall be baptized. And when I am baptized, all my barons and great men will be baptized and their subjects will receive baptism, too. And so there will be more Christians here than there are in your parts of the world.”
But amazingly, nothing was done in response to what Kublai Khan requested. Only after thirty years was a handful of missionaries sent. Too few, too late! Christian leaders in the West apparently didn’t have the vision to see the East won to Christ. The mind boggles at the possible ways the world might be different today if thirteenth-century China, India, and the other areas of Asia had become Christian. Now it’s up to us!
You say, “What can I do? I’m only one person.” You can do three things: (1) “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38 NKJV). (2) Give, so that the unsaved can be reached with the gospel (see 2 Corinthians 9:7). (3) If God calls you, go! “Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.'”
Soul food: 2 Chr 16-18; Mark 6:1-13; Ps 119:65-72; Pro 21:10-13
