2022-12-23
Isaiah 61:1 MSG
At this time of year, it’s tempting to buy into the myth that everybody else is enjoying a picture-perfect Christmas. The truth is, there are thousands out there whose lives have been forever altered by death, divorce, sickness, and financial problems.
Tammy Hanson Maltby writes: “It was December 20. There was no hint of Christmas around our house… Most years, our tree was up the day after Thanksgiving… Christmas music… and luscious aromas filled the air… Our house had been Christmas central. Not this year… My 20-year marriage had just dissolved… My budget was stretched… and my spirit was strained even further. Some days I could barely manage to get out of bed… All four of my kids were home on Christmas break. And there was still no tree. ‘This is really depressing,’ I heard one of them grumble, and my heart broke again. ‘I’ll get a tree tomorrow,’ I repeated. Even I didn’t believe my words. That evening… I heard voices… in the… basement… There, near the piano, stood the scruffy little artificial conifer… I’d bought… years before, and I used it to hang [the kids’] school ornaments… creations that just didn’t look right on my majestic, fragrant, decorated, upstairs tree… The kids had… set it up, draped it with lights, and hung their childhood ornaments… It was still scruffy, but it was beautiful… I was happy… And overcome with gratitude that they had gotten together to make it happen for me.”
If you’re having a tough Christmas, don’t beat yourself up. Remember, you can get through anything for one day (See Deuteronomy 33:25). Jesus understands. He came to “heal the heartbroken,” so turn to Him this Christmas and ask Him to restore your peace and joy.
Soul food: Micah 5-7; John 19:17-30; Ps 47; Prov 31:6-9
2022-12-22
2 Korintiërs 9:15 NLV
Een middag het ‘n dogtertjie buite Pete Richardson se antiekwinkel gestaan en die skatte in die venster bestudeer. Toe het sy ingegaan en gevra om ‘n string blou krale te sien. Toe Pete dit op die toonbank neersit, het sy gesê: ‘Dis perfek. Sal Oom dit asseblief toedraai? Dis vir my suster. Sy sorg vir my. Dit sal ons eerste Kersfees wees vandat Mamma oorlede is en ek soek al lank na die perfekte geskenk vir haar.’ ‘Hoeveel geld het jy?’ het Pete versigtig gevra. Sy het ‘n klomp munte op die toonbank uitgegooi en gesê: ‘Ek het my spaarvarkie leeggemaak.’ Pete het die halssnoer opgetel, met die prys na hom toe gedraai. ‘Wat is jou naam?’ het hy gevra. ‘Jean Grace,’ het sy geantwoord. Pete het die krale mooi toegedraai, die dogtertjie het hom bedank en sy winkel verlaat.
Op Oukersaand, toe die laaste klant weg is en hy besig was om die winkel te sluit, het ‘n jong vrou die winkel binnegehardloop en ‘n bekende pakkie vir hom gegee. ‘Kan jy onthou aan wie jy hierdie verkoop het?’ het sy gevra. “‘n Dogtertjie genaamd Jean het dit vir haar ousus gekoop.” ‘Hoeveel is die halssnoer werd?’ het sy gevra. ‘Die prys,’ het Pete geantwoord, ‘is altyd vertroulik tussen die verkoper en sy kliënt.’ Haar suster het gevra: ‘Maar hoe het sy daarvoor betaal?’ Pete het die pakkie versigtig weer toegemaak, vir haar teruggegee en gesê: ‘Sy het die grootste prys wat mens kan betaal, gegee. Sy het alles wat sy het, gegee.’
Toe God sy Seun gestuur het om ons te verlos (sien Galasiërs 4:4 NLV), het Hy alles gegee wat Hy gehad het. ‘Dank aan God vir sy onbeskryflike gawe!’
Sielskos: Miga 1-4; Joh 19:1-16; Ps 12; Spr 31:1-5
2 Corinthians 9:15 CEV
One afternoon a little girl stood outside Pete Richardson’s antique shop studying the treasures in the window. Then she went in and asked to see a string of blue beads. When Pete set them on the counter, she said: “They’re perfect. Will you gift wrap them, please? They’re for my sister. She takes care of me. This will be our first Christmas since Mom died, and I’ve been looking for the perfect present.” “How much do you have?” asked Pete cautiously. Pouring a stack of coins on the counter, she said, “I emptied my bank.” Pete picked up the necklace, the price tag visible to him and not her. “What’s your name?” he asked, walking into the back room. “Jean Grace,” she replied. Pete returned with a beautifully wrapped package, and the little girl thanked him and left.
On Christmas Eve when the last customer had left and he was locking up, a young woman rushed into the store and handed him a familiar package. “Do you remember who you sold this to?” she asked. “A girl called Jean bought them for her big sister,” he replied. “How much are they worth?” she inquired. “The price,” Pete replied, “is always confidential between the seller and his customer.” Her sister asked, “But how could she pay for them?” Carefully rewrapping the present, Pete handed it back to her and said, “She paid the biggest price anyone can ever pay. She gave everything she had.”
When “God sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4:4 KJV) to redeem us, He gave everything He had. “Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!”
Soul food: Micah 1-4; John 19:1-16; Ps 12; Prov 31:1-5
2022-12-21
Efesiërs 6:12 NLV
In sy boek, War on the Saints, skryf Jessie Penn-Lewis: ‘Die hoof oorsaak vir die werking van bose geeste in mense, afgesien van sonde, is passiwiteit.’ Dis hoekom die apostel Petrus ons aanmoedig: ‘Wees versigtig! Pas op vir die duiwel se aanvalle. Hy is julle groot vyand. Hy loop rond soos ‘n brullende leeu, op soek na iemand om te verslind’ (1 Petrus 5:8 NLV). Het jy al ooit gesien hoe ‘n honger leeu sy prooi verslind? Dis wat Satan aan jou wil doen. Hy sal dinge soos plesier, mag, druk, besittings, passies en mense gebruik om dit te doen. Paulus sê vir ons om te pasop: ‘Die bedoeling is dat ons nie deur die Satan uitoorlê word nie! Sy planne is mos nie aan ons onbekend nie!’ (2 Korintiërs 2:11 NLV).
Hoe kan jy jouself verdedig? Neil Anderson sê: Ons verdediging teen direkte aanvalle van die bose is om God se waarheid hardop te spreek.’ Hoekom moet jy hardop met Satan praat? Omdat God die gedagtes en bedoelings van jou hart ken – maar Satan doen nie (sien Jeremia 17:9-10 en Psalm 139:1, 23-24). Wanneer jy onder Satan se kruisvuur kom, onthou Jakobus 4:7: ‘Wys dat julle van God afhanklik is deur na Hom te luister. Weerstaan die duiwel en hy sal van julle af wegvlug’ (NLV).
Neem hierdie twee kragtige stappe: Praat eerstens met God voordat jy die Vyand betrek. ‘Roep na My in die dag van nood. Ek sal jou verlos en jy sal My eer’ (Psalm 50:15 NLV). Tweedens, praat met die Vyand. Hou dit kort en gesaghebbend! ‘Satan, in die onweerstaanbare naam van Jesus, staak nou alle aktiwiteite teen my. Gaan weg en moenie terugkeer nie!’ Sal hy gehoorsaam? Jy het jouself afhanklik van God gemaak en die duiwel weerstaan – hy het nie ‘n ander opsie nie.
Sielskos: Neh 11-13; Joh 18:25-40; Ps 67; Spr 30:29-33
Ephesians 6:12 GW
In his classic book, War on the Saints, Jessie Penn-Lewis writes, “The chief condition… for the working of evil spirits in human beings, apart from sin, is passivity.” That’s why the apostle Peter urges us, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT). Have you ever seen a hungry lion devour its prey? That’s a picture of what Satan is out to do to you. And he will use things like pleasure, power, pressures, possessions, passions, and people to do it. Paul tells us to be on guard “so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11 NLT).
How can you defend yourself? Neil Anderson says, “Our defense against direct attacks by the evil one is to speak aloud God’s truth.” Why speak aloud to Satan? Because God knows the thoughts and intents of your heart – Satan doesn’t (See Jeremiah 17:9-10 and Psalm 139:1, 23-24). When you’re in Satan’s crosshairs, remember James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Take these two powerful steps: First, talk to God before engaging the Enemy. “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee” (Psalm 50:15 KJV). Second, talk to the Enemy. And keep it short and authoritative! “Satan, in the irresistible name of Jesus, cease all activity against me now. Leave and don’t return!” Will he obey? You have submitted and resisted – he has no option.
Soul food: Neh 11-13; John 18:25-40; Ps 67; Prov 30:29-33
