2026-09-03
Job 34:4 NKJV
When you make a mistake or a bad decision, if you’re wise, you’ll learn from it by asking, “Where have I gone wrong?” Here are three ways to avoid making a bad decision:
(1) Don’t get involved where you don’t belong. “Helping” without an invitation is called “meddling.” No matter how well qualified you are, no matter how badly other people may be messing things up, stepping in where God hasn’t called you to go never turns out well. Ask yourself, “What am I trying to avoid in my own life that makes me want to take over somebody else’s life?”
(2) Stop, think, and pray before you decide. “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him” (Proverbs 18:13 NKJV). If you’re an achievement junkie – someone who thinks that doing something, anything, feels better than waiting – you can make kneejerk choices that make things worse rather than better. Include key people in your decision-making and listen to the counsel of the Holy Spirit before taking action (see John 16:13).
(3) Don’t wait too long to decide. If you’re a perfectionist, you’re at risk here. You become so concerned about making the wrong choice that you make none at all. Making no choice is actually a choice. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5 NKJV).
Best case? You’ll show courage and concern for others and improve things. Worst case? You’ll make a mistake and grow wiser because of it.
Soul food: Josh 22-24; Mark 10:35-52; Ps 142; Pro 23:7-9
2026-09-02
Efesiërs 4:7 NLV
Paulus het gesê dat toe Jesus ‘…in die hoogte opgevaar het, het Hy krygsgevangenes meegevoer en geskenke aan die mense gegee’ (vers 8 NLV). Hy het die metafoor van ‘n seëvierende koning gebruik. Dit was algemeen in Paulus se tyd dat die verowerende monarg sy prestasie gevier het deur geskenke aan sy mense te gee. Jesus het dit ook gedoen. Nadat Hy die sonde en die dood aan die kruis verslaan het, het Hy na die hemel opgevaar, sy regmatige plek aan die regterhand van God ingeneem en ‘…geskenke aan die mense gegee.’
Wat ‘n heerlike gedagte! Jesus, wat vir ewig die kroon dra, deel vermoëns en vaardighede uit: ‘Pieter, neem jou plek in die veld van medisyne in. Maria, jou gebied is rekeningkunde.’ Almal kry ‘n gawe en hierdie gawes kom in verskillende dosisse en kombinasies voor. ‘Die Gees wys vir elkeen wat hy moet doen, want die Gees weet wat is goed vir die gemeente’ (1 Korintiërs 12:7 ABA).
Ons erfenis is op genade en gelykheid gebaseer, maar ons lewensopdragte is volgens maat gemaak. Geen twee sneeuvlokkies is dieselfde nie. Geen twee vingerafdrukke is dieselfde nie. Waarom sou twee vaardighede dieselfde wees? Geen wonder dat Paulus gesê het: ‘Moenie ondeurdag optree nie, maar probeer uitvind wat God se wil is’ (Efesiërs 5:17 NLV).
As jy nie weet wat jou lewensdoel is nie, sal jy nooit die lied sing wat God vir jou stem geskryf het nie en nooit die wenstreep met arms wat hemelwaarts gestrek is oorsteek en verklaar: ‘Ek is gemaak om dit te doen!’ nie. Daarom sê die Bybel: ‘Laat elkeen sy eie doen en late ondersoek: as dit goed is, kan hy daarop trots wees sonder om dit met dié van ‘n ander te vergelyk’ (Galasiërs 6:4 AFR83).
Sielskos: Josua 19:24-21:45; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 111; Spr 23:4-6
Ephesians 4:7 NLT
Paul said that when Jesus “ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people” (v. 8 NLT). He used the metaphor of a victorious king. It was common in Paul’s day for the conquering monarch to return to his palace with prisoners and treasures in tow. He celebrated his conquest by giving gifts to his people. So did Jesus. Having defeated sin and death on the cross, He ascended to heaven, took His rightful place at the right hand of God, and “gave gifts to his people.”
What a delightful thought! Jesus, eternally crowned, distributing abilities and skills: “Joe, take your place in the domain of medicine. Mary, your territory is accounting.” Everybody gets a gift. And these gifts come in different doses and combinations. “Each person is given something to do that shows who God is” (1 Corinthians 12:7 MSG).
Our inheritance is grace-based and equal, but our assignments are tailor-made. No two snowflakes are the same. No two fingerprints are the same. Why would two skill sets be the same? No wonder Paul said, “Make sure you understand what the Master wants” (Ephesians 5:17 MSG).
Do you understand what the Master wants? If not, you’ll lead a dull, joyless, and fruitless life. You’ll never sing the song God wrote for your voice and never cross the finish line with heavenward stretched arms and declare, “I was made to do this!” That’s why the Bible says: “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that” (Galatians 6:4 MSG).
Soul food: Josh 19:24-21:45; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 111; Pro 23:4-6
2026-09-01
Psalm 103:2 NLT
It’s the bad days that help us to appreciate the good days. Without them, we’d have no comparison point. David was talking to himself one day, and he recorded his thoughts for us: “May I never forget the good things he does for me.” Here are six “good things” worth thinking about:
(1) If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week.
(2) If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are better off than five hundred million people in the world.
(3) If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.
(4) If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of the world.
(5) If you have money in the bank or in your wallet, or spare change in a dish someplace, you rank among the top 8 percent of the world’s wealthy.
(6) If you can read this devotion, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.
There is always someone who is worse off. That doesn’t mean you revel in other people’s misery. But it ought to heighten your Christ-like compassion and give you a sense of gratitude that spills over into thanksgiving each day.
Soul food: Josh 16:1-19:23; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 103:13-22; Pro 23:1-3
Psalm 103:2 NLV
Dis die slegte dae wat ons help om die goeie dae te waardeer. Sonder slegte dae sou ons geen vergelykingspunt hê nie. Dawid het eendag met homself gepraat en sy gedagtes vir ons opgeteken: ‘Ek wil die Here prys en nie sy goeie dade vergeet nie.’ Hier is ses ‘goeie dade’ wat die moeite werd is om oor na te dink:
1) As jy vanoggend redelik gesond wakker geword het, is jy meer geseënd as die miljoen mense wat hierdie week nie sal oorleef nie.
2) As jy nog nooit die gevaar van oorlog, die eensaamheid van gevangenskap, die pyn van marteling of die pyn van hongersnood ervaar het nie, is jy beter as vyfhonderd miljoen ander mense in die wêreld daaraan toe.
3) As jy ‘n kerkdiens sonder vrees vir teistering, arrestasie, marteling of die dood kan bywoon, is jy meer geseënd as drie miljard mense in die wêreld.
4) As jy kos in die yskas, klere aan jou rug, ‘n dak oor jou kop en ‘n plek om te slaap het, is jy ryker as 75 persent van die wêreld.
5) As jy geld in die bank of in jou beursie, of kleingeld in ‘n laai iewers het, tel jy onder die top 8 persent van die wêreld se rykes.
6) As jy hierdie dagstukkie kan lees, is jy meer geseënd as meer as twee miljard mense in die wêreld wat glad nie kan lees nie.
Daar is altyd iemand wat slegter daaraan toe is. Dit beteken nie dat jy jouself in ander mense se ellende verlustig nie. Dit behoort egter jou Christus-gelyke deernis te verhoog en jou ‘n gevoel van dankbaarheid te gee waarvoor jy elke dag dankie moet sê.
Sielskos: Josua 16:1-19:23; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 103:13-22; Spr 23:1-3
