2025-06-17
Efesiërs 6:17 NLV
Paulus het sy geestelike seun en opvolger, Timoteus, gewaarsku: ‘Jy moet ook dít weet, Timoteus, dat daar gedurende die laaste dae moeilike tye sal kom. Want mense sal net hulleself en hulle geld liefhê. Hulle sal grootpraterig en arrogant wees, met God spot, ongehoorsaam wees aan hulle ouers en ondankbaar. Hulle sal niks as heilig beskou nie. Hulle sal liefdeloos en onvergewensgesind wees; hulle sal ander mense belaster en geen selfbeheersing hê nie; hulle sal wreed wees en geen belangstelling hê in wat goed is nie. Hulle sal vriende verraai, roekeloos wees, hooghartig, en hulle sal plesier liewer hê as vir God. Hulle sal optree asof hulle godsdienstig is, maar dit wat aan die Christelike godsdiens sy innerlike krag gee, ignoreer. Jy moet wegbly van sulke mense af’ (2 Timoteus 3:1-5 NLV).
Soos jy hierdie lys lees, besef jy dat Paulus netsowel die samelewing waarin ons vandag leef, kon beskryf. Wat is dan die antwoord? Mans en vrouens van God wat weet hoe om die swaard van sy Woord vaardig te gebruik. As jy een van hulle is, kan jy vir seker weet dat Satan jou geteiken het. Hy wil die skerp kant van jou swaard afstomp, sodat jou boodskap oneffektief is. Dis ‘n ou truuk wat die Filistyne, Israel se aartsvyande, gebruik het om hulle in ballingskap te hou. Hulle het van al die smede in die land ontslae geraak (sien 1 Samuel 13:19). Gevolglik het die Israeliete geen manier gehad om hul swaarde te slyp, hulself te verdedig en die juk van onderdrukking af te gooi nie.
Pastoor, as geestelike smid, is dit jou roeping om hulle op te skerp. Leef dus op jou knieë en leef in God se Woord. Die uur is laat en die nood is groot. Pastoor, God vertrou op jou om jou swaard skerp te hou.
Sielskos: Jer 1-3; Mark 14:66-72; Ps 144:1-8; Spr 14:1-4
Ephesians 6:17 NKJV
Paul warned his spiritual son and successor, Timothy: “Know this… in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV).
As you read this list, you realize Paul could easily have been describing the generation we live in today. So, what’s the answer? Men and women of God who know how to skilfully wield the sword of His Word. And if you are one of them, rest assured Satan has targeted you. He wants to blunt the sharp edge of your sword so that your message is ineffective. It’s an old trick that the Philistines, Israel’s archenemies, used to keep them in captivity. They got rid of all the blacksmiths in the land (See 1 Samuel 13:19). Consequently, the Israelites had no way to sharpen their swords, defend themselves, and throw off the yoke of oppression.
Are you getting the message? God’s people tend to grow dull and need to be sharpened spiritually. And pastor, as a spiritual blacksmith, it’s your calling to sharpen them. And it’s Satan’s job to try and stop you any way he can (See 1 Peter 5:8). So, live on your knees and live in God’s Word. The hour is late, and the need is great. Pastor, God is counting on you to keep your sword sharp.
Soul food: Jer 1-3; Mark 14:66-72; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 14:1-4
2025-06-16
Luke 4:2 NIV
In Scripture, the number forty denotes testing, trials, and temptation. God told Noah, “I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights… I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made” (Genesis 7:4 NIV). Goliath defied the armies of Israel for forty days: “For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand” (1 Samuel 17:16 NIV). On the threshold of His ministry, Jesus was attacked by Satan for forty days: “Jesus… was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil” (Luke 4:1-2 NIV).
But day forty-one was coming! After forty days of rain, God gave mankind a new beginning. After forty days of Goliath’s threats, God gave David a spectacular victory. After forty days of temptation, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside” (v. 14 NIV). So, the word for you today is – hang in there; day forty-one is coming!
Don’t give in to fear and despair. Don’t quit, and don’t run. God has ordained victory for you. You may have taken a few hits and carry a few scars, but God will bring you through and make you stronger and wiser if you trust Him and stand on His Word. The Bible says, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4 KJV). The power at work within you is greater than the circumstances that surround you and the foes that oppose you. So, the word for you today is – rejoice – day forty-one is coming!
Soul food: Hosea 11-14; Mark 14:53-65; Ps 139:13-24; Prov 13:25
Lukas 4:2 NLV
Die getal veertig in die Skrif verwys na toetsing, beproewing en versoeking. God het vir Noag gesê: ‘Oor sewe dae sal Ek dit vir 40 dae en 40 nagte aanmekaar laat reën sodat alles wat Ek geskep het, uitgewis word’ (Genesis 7:4 NLV). Goliat het Israel se leër veertig dae lank uitgedaag: ’40 dae lank, elke oggend en aand, het die Filistyn uitgekom en sy uitdaging aan die Israeliete gerig’ (1 Sameul 17:16 NLV). Jesus is op die drumpel van sy bediening vir veertig dae lank deur Satan aangeval: ‘Jesus… is deur die Gees na die woestyn toe gelei, waar die duiwel hom vir 40 dae lank versoek het…’ (Lukas 4:1-2 NLV).
Dag een-en-veertig was egter op pad! Na veertig dae van reën, het God vir die mensdom ‘n nuwe begin gegee. Na veertig dae van Goliat se dreigemente, het God vir Dawid ‘n skouspelagtige oorwinning gegee. Na veertig dae van versoeking, ‘…het Jesus, gevul met die krag van die Heilige Gees, na Galilea teruggegaan. Hy het deur die hele omgewing bekend geword’ (Lukas 4:14 NLV).
Moenie aan vrees en wanhoop toegee nie. Moenie tou opgooi nie en moenie weghardloop nie. God het jou oorwinning bepaal. Jy het dalk ‘n paar houe en letsels gekry, maar God sal jou daardeur bring en jou sterker en wyser maak, as jy Hom vertrou en op sy Woord staan. Die Bybel sê: ‘…die Gees wat in julle woon, [is] magtiger as die gees wat in die wêreld woon’ (1 Johannes 4:4 NLV). Die krag wat in jou aan die werk is, is magtiger as die omstandighede waarin jy jou bevind en die vyande wat jou teenstaan. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – wees bly, want dag een-en-veertig is op pad!
Sielskos: Hosea 11-14; Mark 14:53-65; Ps 139:13-24; Spr 13:25
2025-06-15
Ephesians 6:4 NIV
The story is told of a man in a supermarket pushing a cart with a screaming baby. He kept repeating softly, “Keep calm, George. Everything’s going to be okay, George.” A lady watching with admiration said to the man, “You are to be commended for your patience in trying to quiet little George.” The man replied, “Lady, you’ve got it wrong; I’m George!”
If you’re a parent, you can relate. Instead of saying, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children,” doesn’t it sometimes seem like the Scripture should read, “Children, don’t annoy your fathers”? But it doesn’t. That’s because parents are called to be an example of God’s love, and children learn best from observation. Shopping at the grocery store is an opportunity to show your children the proper way to behave. There is no greater role model for children than a parent. And there has never been a greater need for godly parents than today. Colossians 3:21 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (NKJV). That means being a model of patience and love to your children.
From potty training to education – parents are put in place by God to be a tool that transforms the teachings of the Bible into a living witness to their children. In a time when we’re paying a high price for the lack of real fathers in the home, Scripture reminds us, “The father shall make known Your truth to the children” (Isaiah 38:19 NKJV). Father, commit yourself to following the Lord, and leaving footprints for your children to walk in.
Soul food: Matt 28:16-20; 2 Cor 13:14; John 1:18; John 15:18-26
