2025-06-10
Acts 6:2 NIV
The New Testament church grew so fast that the apostles became overwhelmed with the challenge of administering it. What did they do? “So, the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word'” (vv. 2-4 NIV). And the result? “The word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly” (v. 7 NIV).
You can improve the quality of your life by learning to delegate. Here is how you do it:
(1) Start with a task you currently perform that could be handed off to another.
(2) Identify a person with the capability (not just the willingness) to do it.
(3) Take time to write the steps and to go over them with the person.
(4) Describe why the task is essential and its importance in the whole scheme of things.
(5) If the task is time sensitive, then set definite dates.
(6) State your expectations.
(7) Evaluate the person’s progress on a recurring basis until you’re assured they can handle the job without your involvement. Assist them for a while and check in with them to make sure they’re doing the job right. The saying is true: You don’t get what you expect; you get what you inspect.
Soul food: 2 Ki 18:17-20:21; Mark 13:24-37; Ps 80:12-19; Prov 13:13-16
2025-06-09
2 Korintiërs 10:5 NLV
Wanneer ons die vers: ‘…Ons neem ook elke gedagte gevange om dit aan Christus gehoorsaam te maak’ lees, is ons geneig om te dink dat ons sondige gedagtes gevange moet neem en hulle uit ons gedagtes moet kry. Dit ís wat ons moet doen. Ons moet egter ook kreatiewe gedagtes gevange neem en hulle in ons gedagtes hou. Hierdie vers beteken ook om elke woord, elke gedagte, elke indruk en elke openbaring wat deur God se Gees geïnspireer is, gevange te neem.
Een pastoor skryf: ‘Die Aramese woord vir ‘gebed’ beteken ‘om ‘n lokval te stel.’ Ons dink dikwels aan gebed as slegs woorde wat tot God gespreek word, maar miskien is dit meer as dit. Gebed is ook wanneer God met ons deur drome, begeertes, aansporings, indrukke en idees, praat. Gebed is die meganisme waardeur God se idees bedink en vasgelê word. Dit is ons kapasiteit vir gebed wat uiteindelik ons kreatiewe potensiaal sal bepaal. Een manier om gebedslokvalle te stel, is deur ‘n gebedsjoernaal te hou.’
Jou joernaal vang jou reis vas. Dit wys jou hoe ver jy gekom het en hoe ver jy nog moet gaan. Dit herinner jou aan God se genade toe jy gestruikel het en sy getrouheid wat jou na die regte pad teruggebring het. Wanneer jy ‘n gebedslokval stel, vang jy elke ervaring vas en wring die wysheid daaruit om beter en sterker te word. Jy moet ‘…my antwoord, die visioen, in groot duidelike letters…’ (Habakuk 2:2 NLV), neerskryf. Sommige van ons doen dit digitaal, ander weer met pen en papier. Wat egter saak maak, is dat jy opteken wat God in jou kop, in jou hart en in jou lewe doen.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 16:1-18:16; Mark 13:12-23; Ps 80:1-11; Spr 13:11-12
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
When we read the verse, “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,” we tend to think it’s about capturing sinful thoughts and getting them out of our minds. And it is. But it’s also about capturing creative thoughts and keeping them in our minds. This Scripture also means stewarding every word, every thought, every impression, and every revelation inspired by God’s Spirit.
A pastor writes: “The Aramaic word for ‘prayer’ means ‘to set a trap.’ We often think of prayer as nothing more than words spoken to God, but maybe it’s more than that. Prayer is also when God speaks to us through dreams and desires and promptings and impressions and ideas. Prayer is the mechanism whereby God ideas are conceived and captured. And it’s our capacity for prayer that will ultimately determine our creative potential. One way to set prayer traps is by keeping a prayer journal… Journaling is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated spiritual disciplines in our multitasking culture.”
Your journal captures your journey. It shows you how far you have come and how far you still have to go. It reminds you of God’s grace when you stumbled and His faithfulness that brought you back to the right road after you had taken the wrong one. When you set a prayer trap, you capture each experience and wring the wisdom out of it to be better and stronger. You need to “write down the revelation” (Habakkuk 2:2 NIV). Some of us do this digitally, and others with pen and paper. What matters is that you are recording what God is doing in your head, in your heart, and in your life.
Soul food: 2 Ki 16:1-18:16; Mark 13:12-23; Ps 80:1-11; Prov 13:11-12
2025-06-08
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Every day, people “read” you. The question is: What kind of message are they getting? Here is what they’re supposed to get: “We… are being transformed into his image” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV). “We have renounced secret and shameful ways” (2 Corinthians 4:2 NIV). “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV). In other words, your letter should make it clear that you’re no longer the person you once were because:
(1) Christ has changed you spiritually. Once you didn’t enjoy God’s Word or obey His commands. Now you hear, receive, love, and obey His Word and revel in it. (See Psalm 119:97-106 AMPC).
(2) Christ has changed you morally. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul lists many of the sins that once characterized our lives. He mentions those who are immoral, thieves, greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers, etc. Then comes this wonderful verse: “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed… sanctified [set apart for God’s use]… justified [just-if-I’d never sinned]” (v. 11 NIV). In other words, God has transformed your character qualities.
(3) Christ has changed you mentally. “Be… transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2 KJV). Now you look at life, yourself, others, your challenges, your options, and opportunities in the light of God’s thoughts instead of your own. You see possibilities where before you saw only problems. Your mind, which was once frazzled by worry, is now filled with confidence and peace. In essence, your letter should transmit this message to the people you meet: “Christ has changed my life for the better, and if you let Him, He will change yours too!”
Soul food: Lev 23:15-22; Acts 2:1-18
2 Korintiërs 5:17 NLV
Mense is veronderstel om die volgende boodskap te kry wanneer hulle na jou kyk: ‘…Ons word al hoe meer verander om soos die Here te lyk…’ (2 Korintiërs 3:18 NLV). ‘Maar ons het afstand gedoen van die geheime dinge wat ‘n mens skaam maak…’ (2 Korintiërs 4:2 NLV). ‘Daarom – iemand wat één is met Christus, is ‘n nuwe skepping. Die ou dinge is verby, kyk, die nuwe is hier!’ (2 Korintiërs 5:17 NLV). Met ander woorde, jou brief moet dit duidelik maak dat jy nie die persoon is wat jy eers was nie, want:
1) God het jou geestelik verander. Vroeër het jy nie God se Woord geniet of sy opdragte gehoorsaam nie. Nou hoor, ontvang en gehoorsaam jy sy Woord en verlustig jouself daarin (sien Psalm 119:97-106).
2) Christus het jou moreel verander. Paulus verskaf in 1 Korintiërs 6 ‘n lys van die baie sondes wat eens op ‘n tyd ons lewens gekenmerk het. Hy noem diegene wat onsedelik is, diewe, hebsugtiges, dronkaards, lasteraars, swendelaars, ensovoorts, op. Dan volg hierdie wonderlike vers: ‘Daar was ‘n tyd toe party van julle presies so was, maar nou is julle sonde afgewas en God het julle aan Homself toegewy. Julle is vrygespreekte mense…’ (vers 11 NLV).
3) Christus het jou denkpatrone verander. ‘…laat God julle omvorm deurdat Hy julle denkpatrone vernuwe…’ (Romeine 12:2 NLV). Jy kan nou na jouself, ander mense, jou uitdagings, jou opsies en geleenthede in die lig van God se gedagtes kyk. Jy sien nou moontlikhede waar jy voorheen net probleme gesien het. Jou gedagtes, wat eens deur bekommernis oorheers was, word nou met vertroue en vrede gevul. In wese moet jou brief hierdie boodskap aan die mense wat jy ontmoet, oordra: ‘Christus het my lewe ten goede verander en as jy Hom toelaat, sal Hy joune ook verander!’
Sielskos: Lev 23:15-22; Hand 2:1-18
