2025-07-27
Exodus 18:17-18 NIV
The Bible says: “The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?’ Moses answered him, ‘Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.’ Moses’ father-in-law replied, ‘What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out'” (vv. 13-18 NIV).
Moses was stressed to the breaking point. The Latin word for “stress” means “to be drawn tight.” Doctors say it’s a precursor to heart attacks and strokes. There is a reason why highways have weigh stations – to ensure that trucks aren’t carrying more weight than they are constructed to haul. Moses’ father-in-law told him that he was wearing himself out. The Hebrew word for “wearing out” literally means “to become old.” Moses was growing old before his time. If that’s happening to you, (1) shift gears and start to share the load with others, and (2) spend more time in God’s presence. “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength… they shall… not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV).
Soul food: Lev 24:17-22; Deut 15:7-11; Matt 5:38-48
Eksodus 18:17-18 NLV
Die Bybel sê: “Die volgende dag moes Moses weer as regter vir die volk optree. Hulle het van vroegoggend tot laataand by Moses se tent tou gestaan. Toe Moses se skoonpa sien hoe Moses met die volk werk, vra hy vir hom: ‘Hoekom doen jy alles self? Die mense staan die ganse dag vir jou en wag!’ Moses het sy skoonpa geantwoord: ‘Die volk kom na my toe om te hoor wat die Here sê. As daar ‘n geskil is tussen twee partye, gee ek uitspraak. Ek sê vir die volk wat God besluit het en wat God wil hê.’ Sy skoonpa sê toe vir Moses: ‘Jy hanteer die saak nie reg nie. Jy en die volk sal die pas nie kan volhou nie…'” (verse 13-18 NLV).
Moses was tot op breekpunt gestres. Die Latynse woord vir ‘stres’ beteken om ‘styf getrek te word.’ Dokters sê dat dit ‘n voorloper tot beroerte en hartaanvalle is. Daar is ‘n rede waarom snelweë weegstasies het – om te verseker dat vragmotors nie meer gewig as waarvoor hulle gebou is om te vervoer, dra nie. Moses se skoonpa het vir hom gesê dat hy besig was om homself uit te put. Die Hebreeuse woord vir ‘uitput’ beteken letterlik ‘om oud te word.’ Moses was besig om voor sy tyd oud te word.
As dit tans met jou gebeur: (1) verwissel ratte en begin om die vrag met ander te deel, en (2) bestee meer tyd in God se teenwoordigheid. ‘Maar dié wat hulle hoop op die Here stel, sal hulle krag terugkry… Hulle sal hardloop en nie moeg word nie. Hulle sal loop en nooit vermoeid word nie’ (Jesaja 40:31 NLV).
Sielskos: Lev 24:17-22; Deut 15:7-11; Matt 5:38-48
2025-07-26
Efesiërs 6:8 NLV
Wanneer God jou vra om iets namens iemand anders op te offer, doen dit. Dis soos om geld in ‘n hemelse spaarrekening te belê. Jy mag dit dalk nie vandag of môre nodig kry nie, maar wanneer jy doen, sal God sorg dat jy dit vermenigvuldig terugkry.
Die Indiese Christelike sendeling, Sadhu Sundar Singh, en ‘n metgesel was besig om deur ‘n bergpas hoog in die Himalajas te reis toe hulle ‘n liggaam in die sneeu vind. Hulle het die liggaam ondersoek en ontdek dat die man nog net-net lewe. Terwyl Sundar begin het om die ongelukkige reisiger te help, het sy metgesel beswaar gemaak en gesê: ‘Ons sal ons lewens verloor as ons onsself met hom belas.’ Sundar kon hom egter nie indink om die man in die sneeu agter te laat, sonder om ‘n poging aan te wend om hom te red nie. Sy metgesel het hom gegroet en verder geloop. Sundar het die reisiger op sy rug gelaai en met groot inspanning – wat deur die hoë hoogte en sneeutoestande vererger is – verder gedra.
Terwyl hy geloop het, het die hitte van sy liggaam die bevrore man begin warm maak. Hy het weer bygekom, en gou het hulle langs mekaar geloop, mekaar ondersteun en liggaamshitte gedeel. Nie lank daarna nie, het hulle op ‘n ander reisiger se liggaam in die sneeu afgekom en by nadere ondersoek het hulle besef dat hy reeds dood was. Jy het reg geraai. Dit was Sundar se oorspronklike reisgenoot!
Wat is die les hieruit te leer? Wat jy vir ander mense laat gebeur, sal God vir jou laat gebeur! Die Bybel sê: ‘Doen julle werk entoesiasties… Julle weet mos dat die Here elke mens wat sy werk goed doen, sal beloon…’ (verse 7-8 NLV).
Sielskos: Deut 11-13; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 78:17-31; Spr 16:26-30
Ephesians 6:8 NIV
When God asks you to sacrifice on behalf of somebody else, do it. It’s like putting money in a heavenly account. You may not need it today or tomorrow, but when you do, God will ensure it comes back to you in multiplied form.
Indian Christian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh and a companion were traveling through a pass high in the Himalayas when they found a body lying in the snow. They checked for vital signs and discovered the man was still alive, but barely. As Sundar prepared to stop and help this unfortunate traveller, his companion objected, saying, “We shall lose our lives if we burden ourselves with him.” Sundar, however, couldn’t comprehend leaving the man to die in the snow without an attempt at rescue. His companion bade him farewell and walked on. Sundar lifted the traveller on his back and, with great exertion – made greater by the high altitude and snowy conditions – carried him onward.
As he walked, the heat from his body began to warm the frozen man. He revived, and soon they were walking together side by side, holding each other up and sharing body heat. Before long, they came upon another traveller’s body lying in the snow, and on closer inspection, they discovered he was dead. You guessed it. It was Sundar’s original traveling companion!
So, what’s the lesson in all this? What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you! The Bible says, “Serve wholeheartedly… because… the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do” (vv. 7-8 NIV).
Soul food: Deut 11-13; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 78:17-31; Pro 16:26-30
2025-07-25
Genesis 40:6 NLT
Joseph was serving a prison sentence for a crime he didn’t commit, which makes it remarkable that he had the time and energy to care about anybody else. “Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and chief baker offended their royal master… and he put them in prison… Joseph… noticed that they both looked upset. ‘Why do you look so worried today?’ he asked them. And they replied, ‘We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean'” (vv. 1, 3, 6-8 NLT). Joseph interpreted their dreams, and as a result, the cupbearer got his job back in Pharaoh’s palace.
When Pharaoh had a dream no one could interpret, the cupbearer introduced him to Joseph, who interpreted his dream. As a result, Joseph became prime minister of Egypt and was positioned to save his family from extinction. But there is more to the story. From the family Joseph saved came the Redeemer of the world who saved you. This amazing chain of events begins with two words, “Joseph noticed.”
Remember the dying man on the Jericho Road? “A certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side… But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So, he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:31, 33-34 NKJV). Jesus ends His parable with these words: “Go and do likewise” (v. 37 NKJV). So, ask God to help you “notice” and for the grace to respond.
Soul food: Deut 8-10; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 78:9-16; Pro 16:25
