Lees 1 Samuel 21:1-22:5.
Die lewe kan soms snaakse draaie met jou maak en jy kan in onaangename en selfs vernederende situasies beland wat jy nooit voorsien het nie. Tog bly die beheer van jou lewe in die hande van God. Dawid moes vir sy lewe vlug voor Saul en sy manne. In sy angs en verwarring het hy hom blind gestaar teen sy probleme en vergeet om met God rekening te hou. In sy koorsagtige vlug kom hy in Nob aan waar hy vir die priester Agimelek leuens vertel om padkos en ‘n wapen te kry (1 Sam 21:2-9). Dan vlug hy met die swaard van die Filistyn Goliat oor sy skouer na die Filistyne toe. Hy wat met die geheime wapen, die Naam van God, Goliat kon doodmaak, gaan soek beskerming by die Filistyne wat Israel se vyande was. Hulle herken hom dadelik as die voortreflike krygsheld wat sy tienduisende verslaan het (1 Sam 21:11). Nou is hy die patetiese vlugteling wat sy bas probeer red deur voor te gee dat hy waansinnig is. Die Gees van die Here het kragtig in hom gewerk, maar in dié noodsituasie maak hy asof ‘n bose gees in hom werk (1 Sam 16:13 en 21:13). Hy het hom soos ‘n mal mens gedra en aan die poortdeure gekrap en sy spoeg in sy baard laat afloop. En as hy uit Akis wegkom, beland hy en sy familie in die Adullamgrot vanwaar hy na Moab toe vlug en sy ouers aan die sorg van die koning van Moab toevertrou. Die getroue Verbondsgod het egter die vlammetjie van geloof en hoop in Dawid se hart aan die brand gehou. Daarom kon hy teenoor die Moabitiese koning bely dat hy wag op die Here om te sien wat Hy met hom wil doen (1 Sam 22:3). Dawid word teruggestuur na Juda, want die Here het nog ‘n doel met sy lewe gehad. Hy moes die koningskap van die volk van God gaan oorneem (1 Sam 22:5). Omdat die lewe ons in ‘n koers kan dwing wat ons nie verwag nie, moet ons versigtig wees, maar veral afhanklik van God bly. Wanneer ons lewenspad deur donker dieptes gaan, moet ons nie radeloos word nie, maar steeds op die Here wag. Al sou ons troueloos handel en die Vaderhart bedroef, verander dit niks aan die getrouheid van God en sy beloftes nie (Rom 3:3). Hy gee uitkoms op die regte tyd en wyse, want Hy het met elke gelowige ‘n plan waardeur Hy sy koninkryk wil uitbrei. Gebed: Dankie, o Here, omdat U my lewe in u sorg en troue liefde beheer!
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The story is told of a group of women that met for Bible study. While studying in the book of Malachi, chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered how this statement applied to the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out more about the process of refining silver, and to get back to the group at their next Bible study.
The following week, the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him while at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest, beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith work, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire, where the flames were the hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot, then she thought again about the verse, that "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the entire time the silver was being refined. The man answered yes, that not only did he have to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on it the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "But how do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that’s easy--when I see my image in it." "The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, but the LORD tests hearts." (Proverbs 17:3) "I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." (Isaiah 48:10) It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
― Theodore Roosevelt As we spoke before, your sin and brokenness cannot surprise God. He gave His Son so that no one of us needs to be pitiful, second-class Christian. Our Father gave us a Mediator and a High priest, Jesus Christ the Righteous One, who delivers us from sin and has compassion for our weaknesses. God knows that we are made of dust…He made us this way.
But God is greater than our sins and weaknesses, they do not embarrass Him; He does not stand there wringing His hands because He does not know what to do with us. No! He is a strong Redeemer, He is our Helper, He provided a Paschal Lamb for us.. He is like the shadow of a massive rock in a barren landscape, a Father who has mercy on us. He is the Balm of Gilead, the healer of every wound and illness…His wounds made this possible. He came for murderers, thieves, rapists, the immoral, idolaters and adulterers; he came for the outcasts and deceivers… “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11) Friends, God is well aware of you, your rejection, contempt, derision, defamation, scorn, failures and despair. Jesus experienced it all on the cross when His own people crucified Him. So cheer up, put that smile back on your face and rejoice because SOMEONE HAS GONE TO THE CROSS FOR YOU AND HAS TAKEN YOUR PLACE THERE. Psalm 92:12
'But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.' - The palm tree is one of the most beautiful trees. - It is associated with life and is usually depicted at an oasis. - God's desire is that you would flourish like a great palm tree. - May He cause you to grow and may you grow in strength. PRAYER: Lord, cause my life to flourish and grow in strength as I follow You and apply Your principles to my life. Amen. “Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain...”(Zechariah 10:1, NKJV)
In scripture, rain represents God’s favor. This verse is telling us to “ask for rain even though it’s raining.” What does that mean? You might think, “If it’s raining, it doesn’t seem like you’d need to ask for it.” But God is saying, “My favor is available to you, but you’re not going to receive it unless you ask.” Right now, God is showering down blessings, healing, promotion and good ideas. It’s raining favor. But, we have to do our part to get our words in line with what God wants to do. We have to ask for that favor. We have to call it in if we are going to experience it. We have to release our faith with our words. This is a great day to be alive! God is pouring out His favor like no other time in history. Right now, it’s raining increase. It’s raining new ideas. It’s raining promotion. Don’t let it pass you by. Start declaring it for yourself, “I am blessed. I am prosperous. I am favored. I am healthy. I am free.” Ask for rain in this time of rain and see His blessing and provision in every area of your life! Father, thank You for Your grace, mercy and favor. Right now, I ask for rain in the time of rain. I ask for increase of Your favor and blessing. Use me to be a blessing to others everywhere I go in Jesus’ name. Amen. “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”(Genesis 1:3, KJV)
When God created the worlds, He didn’t just think them into being. He didn’t just believe there would be light and land and oceans and animals. He had it in His heart, but nothing happened until He spoke. He said, “Let there be light,” and light came. His thoughts didn’t set it into motion; His words set it into motion. It’s the same principle today. You can believe all day long and not see anything happen. You can have faith in your heart, big dreams, stand on God’s promises and never see anything change. What’s the problem? Nothing happens until you speak God’s Word. Instead of just believing you’re going to get out of debt, you’ve got to say so. Declare every day, “God is my provider. I’m coming out of debt. God is faithful to His Word, and He is faithful to me!” Today, make sure you are speaking what God speaks about you, your family and your future. Declare His Word and meditate on it day and night. Believe what God believes, say what He says, and see what He sees for every area of your life! Father, today I choose to speak what You speak. I choose to believe what You believe about me. Help me to know Your ways, help me to know Your love so that I may walk with You a One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart.
She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry the pastor's son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this: "My fiancée's past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?" The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! End of case!!!! "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:23 "Father, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives and email buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask you to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace. In Jesus' precious name. Amen! |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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