The Lord is just a prayer call away

 Ps. 138 v 3 HCSB

On the day I called, You answered me;

You increased strength within me.

 Hierdie dagstukkie is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

Last night, the president announced an extension of the current lockdown measures. Many believers are unhappy because the church doors have been locked again. However, we must remember that the "church" is not closed. The world cannot lock up the church.

 It is true that we must once again act differently from what we are accustomed to, but that does not mean that the church is closed. The current restraining measures are not directed against the church.

 Now more than ever before we, MUST be church! Remember, our church building is not the church. We ARE the church and we have a very important calling. Love God and your neighbor. We as a church must grow in faith and move closer to God. We must live out our faith by entering the world and showing the world what God's love looks like.

 And in this time we must remember that God does not leave us to do it alone. He's just a prayer call away. Just think again about what God has done to enable us to be a church. He became man and came to live among us. He took our transgressions upon Himself so that we would not have to go into eternal death.

 Become part of the church. Acknowledge and confess your sins to Him and believe that Jesus Christ came to save you from it so that you can be a church. Now go out and BE the church!

Amen

The following video gives in a nutshell a good description of what church is (with recognition Lifekids)

My grace is sufficient for you

 Hierdie oordenking is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

My grace is sufficient for you

2 Cor. 12 v 7 – 9 - HCSB

Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

 Sometimes the Lord says NO to us! Paul was here in a situation that was very difficult for him and he prayed that the Lord would take it away, but the Lord's answer to his prayer was "NO", but He also added: "My grace is sufficient for you.”

 Sometimes we have problems in life and then our solution is for the Lord to take away the problems. I am sure that the Christians who were thrown to the lions by Nero also prayed that the Lord would take them out of that situation.

 “Lord please take this incurable disease away from me. Make my circumstances easier, take away this problem.”

 The Lord sometimes works miracles and heals people of incurable diseases, but sometimes His answer is, "NO, My grace is sufficient for you." It is the Lord's grace that carries us through life, not the lack of problems.

 What is the Lord's grace? His grace is Jesus who died on a cursed cross so that everyone who believes in the gospel of Jesus Christ* can be reconciled to God again.

 The Lord's grace is that He does not leave you alone, especially when you have to go through difficult times in life. His grace is that He makes even what is bad work for your good.

 Do not pray that the Lord will take away your problems. Pray for his grace. Sometimes His grace means that He will indeed take away the problem, but sometimes it means He does not take away the problem because He carries you through it. His power comes into full effect when you cling to Him in faith.

Amen

* Faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ involves that (1) you humble yourself before God by admitting you are a sinner, (2) have faith that you will be saved through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, his resurrection, (3) and a life of gratitude.

My genade is vir jou genoeg

This devotion is also available in English 

My genade is vir jou genoeg

2 Kor. 12 v 7 – 9

Daarom, sodat ek nie hoogmoedig sou wees nie, is daar vir my ’n doring in die vlees gegee, ’n boodskapper van Satan om my met vuiste te slaan. Drie maal het ek die Here gebid dat dit van my af weggeneem moet word. Sy antwoord was: “My genade is vir jou genoeg. My krag kom juis tot volle werking wanneer jy swak is.” Daarom sal ek baie liewer oor my swakhede roem, sodat die krag van Christus my beskutting kan wees.

 Soms sê die Here vir ons NEE! Paulus was hier in 'n situasie wat vir hom baie moeilik was en hy het gebid dat die Here dit moet wegneem, maar die Here se antwoord op sy gebed was “NEE”, maar Hy het ook bygevoeg: “My genade is vir jou genoeg.”

 Soms sit ons met probleme in die lewe en dan is ons oplossing daarvoor dat die Here die probleme moet weg neem. Ek is seker dat die Christene wat deur Nero vir die leeus gevoer was ook gebid het dat die Here hulle uit daardie situasie moes wegneem.

 “Here neem asseblief hierdie ongeneeslike siekte van my af weg. Maak my omstandighede makliker, neem hierdie probleem weg.”

 Die Here doen soms wonderwerke en genees mense van ongeneeslike siektes, maar soms is sy antwoord: “NEE, My genade is vir jou genoeg.” Dis die Here se genade wat ons deur die lewe dra, nie die gebrek aan probleme nie.

 Wat is die Here se genade? Sy genade is Jesus wat aan 'n vervloekte kruishout gesterf het sodat elkeen wat in die evangelie van Jesus Christus glo* weer met God versoen kan wees.

 Die Here se genade is dat Hy jou nie alleen laat nie, veral nie wanneer jy deur moeilike tye in die lewe moet gaan nie. Sy genade is dat Hy selfs dit wat sleg is vir jou ten goede laat meewerk.

 Moenie bid dat die Here jou probleme moet wegneem nie. Bid vir sy genade. Soms beteken sy genade dat Hy inderdaad die probleem sal wegneem, maar soms beteken dit Hy nie die probleem wegneem nie omdat Hy jou daardeur dra. Sy krag kom tot volle werking wanneer jy in geloofsvertroue aan Hom vashou.

Amen

* Geloof in die evangelie van Jesus Christus behels (1) verootmoediging voor God, (2) geloof dat jy gered word deur Jesus se offer aan die kruis, sy opstanding en (3) 'n dankbaarheidslewe.

Die HERE sluit jou toe binne sy ark van veiligheid teen die storms van die lewe

 This medetation is also available in English

Die HERE sluit jou toe binne sy ark van veiligheid teen die storms van die lewe

Gen. 7 v 13 – 16

'Dit was die dag waarop Noag en sy seuns, Sem, Gam en Jafet, en sy vrou en sy drie skoondogters almal saam in die ark ingegaan het. Hulle, en elke soort wilde dier en mak dier, en al die soorte diere wat kruip, en elke soort voël, alles wat vlieg, het ingegaan. Van al wat leef, het daar pare-pare na Noag toe in die ark gekom. Hulle het ingekom, manlik en vroulik, soos God vir Noag gesê het. En toe het die HERE die ark agter Noag toegesluit.' (eie beklemtoning)

 Noag het die ergste storm in die geskiedenis van die mensdom in die gesig gestaar. Daar was net een moontlike uitkoms vir oorlewing. Hy moes 'n ark bou presies volgens die voorskrifte wat die HERE vir hom gegee het. En hy het dit gedoen soos ons hoor in Gen. 6 v 22: 'Noag het alles gedoen presies soos God hom beveel het.'

 Is dit omdat Noag alles gedoen het presies soos God hom beveel het, wat verseker het dat hy, sy gesin en al die diere veilig oorleef het? Nee. Die rede hoekom Noag en almal wat saam met hom op die ark oorleef het was omdat die HERE die ark agter Noag toegesluit het.

 Ons het 'n verantwoordelikheid wat ons nie mag nalaat nie, maar dit is die HERE wat ons veilig toesluit binne sy ark van veiligheid teen die storms van die lewe.

 Jy moet verantwoordelik lewe, maar onthou altyd, dit is nie die feit dat jy jou huis toegesluit het, wat jou snags veilig hou nie. Dit is nie jou goeie bestuursvernuf wat jou veilig op die pad hou nie en ook nie jou gesonde eetgewoontes wat jou gesond hou nie. Dit is net die HERE wat ons veilig toesluit binne sy ark van veiligheid teen die storms en gevare van die lewe.

 Hou vas aan die troos dat dit jou Vader in die hemel is wat jou veilig hou. Maar onthou ook dat jy Hom net Vader mag noem indien jy die evangelie glo dat Jesus Christus vir jou sondes gesterf het sodat jy met God versoen kan word.

 Kyk terug na hierdie jaar en besef hoeveel keer God jou gedra en gehelp het deur soveel dinge wat jy nie op jou eie sou kon doen nie. Onthou, dit is die HERE wat jou toesluit binne sy ark van veiligheid teen die storms van die lewe.

Amen

The LORD locks you in His ark of safety against the storms of life

 Hierdie oordenking is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

The LORD locks you in His ark of safety against the storms of life

Gen. 7 v 13 – 16 - HCSB

On that same day Noah along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, Noah’s wife, and his three sons’ wives entered the ark with him. They entered it with all the wildlife according to their kinds, all livestock according to their kinds, the creatures that crawl on the earth according to their kinds, all birds, every fowl, and everything with wings according to their kinds. Two of all flesh that has the breath of life in it entered the ark with Noah. Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered just as God had commanded him. Then the LORD shut him in. (own emphasis)

 Noah faced the worst storm in the history of mankind. There was only one possible outcome for survival. He had to build an ark exactly according to the instructions that the LORD had given him. And he did it, as we hear in Gen. 6 v 22. Noah did exactly as God commanded him.

 Is it because Noah did everything exactly as God commanded him, which ensured that he, his family and all the animals survived safely? No. The reason why Noah and all who survived with him on the ark was because the LORD locked the ark behind Noah.

 We have a responsibility that we may not neglect, but it is the LORD who locks us safely in his ark of safety against the storms of life.

 You have to live responsibly, but always remember, it is not the fact that you have locked your house that keeps you safe at night. It is not your good driving skills that keep you safe on the road nor your healthy eating habits that keep you healthy. It is only the LORD who locks us in his ark of safety against the storms and dangers of life that keeps us safe.

 Hold on to the comfort that it is your Father in heaven who keeps you safe. But also remember that you may only call Him Father if you believe the gospel that Jesus Christ died for your sins so that you can be reconciled to God.

 Look back on this year and realize how many times God has carried you and helped you through so many things you could not do on your own. Remember, it is the LORD who locks you in His ark of safety against the storms of life.

 

Amen

Waar sal my hulp vandaan kom?

 This devotional is also available in English

Waar sal my hulp vandaan kom?

Psalm 121 v 1 & 2

’n Pelgrimslied. Ek kyk op na die berge: waarvandaan sal daar vir my hulp kom? My hulp kom van die HERE wat hemel en aarde gemaak het.

Waar gaan soek jy hulp wanneer die lewe te moeilik word?

 Die pelgrims wat op pad was na Jerusalem was bang vir die gevare langs die pad. Hierdie Psalm is 'n gebed wat uiting gee aan die vaste hoop en vertroue dat God hulle dag en nag sal beskerm.

 Hulle kyk hemelwaarts na God vir hulp in hul benoudheid en dan verklaar hulle met vaste sekerheid: “My hulp kom van die HERE wat hemel en aarde gemaak het.”

 Die pelgrims vestig hulle hoop op die HERE. Die Naam “HERE” is 'n persoonlike naam van God wat beteken “EK IS” soos ons in Eks. 3 v 14 hoor: Toe sê God vir Moses: “EK IS WAT EK IS. Jy moet vir die Israeliete sê: ‘EK IS’ het my na julle toe gestuur.”

 Die Naam van God “EK IS” (YHWH in Hebreeus, uitgespreek as Yaweh) beteken:

1. Hy is die ewige God wat van altyd af bestaan.
Hy is die begin en die einde, die Alfa en die Omega.

2. Hy is 'n God van verhoudings.
Hierdie Naam van God word net in die Bybel gebruik wanneer God se persoonlike verhouding met sy mense ter sprake is

3. Hy is altyd met ons.
God is persoonlik betrokke in mense se lewens. Hy is nie 'n veraf God nie.

4. Hy is die onveranderlike God wat altyd dieselfde is.

5. Hy is volkome heilig en verhewe bo die mensdom.

6. Hy is getrou aan sy ewige verbond.
Toe God sy verbond (Ek sal vir jou 'n God wees en jy en jou nageslag moet my volk wees) met Abraham gesluit het, het Hy homself as Yahweh voorgestel en daarmee het Hy beloof dat Hy altyd getrou sal wees aan sy beloftes.

7. Hy is vol misterie wat nooit te volle geken kan word nie.
Ons kan God nooit ten volle ken nie, maar wat ons nodig het om van Hom te weet, openbaar Hy deur sy Gees in sy Woord vir ons. Alhoewel ons Hom nooit ten volle kan ken nie, kan ons groei in ons verhouding met Hom.

In die Nuwe Testament hoor ons nog verder wat “EK IS” beteken. Jesus stel Homself voor as “EK IS”.

Die sewe “EK IS” uitsprake van Jesus:

1.  Ek is die brood van die lewe. Joh. 6 v 35
Net soos wat brood jou liggaam voed, is Jesus die Brood wat jou geestelik voed.

2.  Ek is die lig vir die wêreld. Joh. 8 v 12
Jesus is die Lig wat die duisternis van die sonde verdryf. Hy bring hoop en ewige lewe vir elkeen wat in Hom glo.

3.  Ek is die deur vir die skape. Joh. 10 v 7
Jesus is die enigste weg na God toe.

4.  Ek is die goeie herder. Joh. 10 v 11
Jesus is die herder van sy skape, sy eiendom. Hy sorg vir sy skape en maak seker dat hulle alles kry wat hulle nodig het. Hy dra die belange van sy kudde op die hart en Hy dra die volle verantwoordelikheid van hulle. Hy lê sy lewe vir sy skape af. Christus het sy lewe opgeoffer sodat elkeen wat in Hom glo kan lewe.

5.  Ek is die opstanding en die lewe. Joh. 11 v 25
Jesus het die mag van die dood met sy opstanding gebreek. Met ander woorde Hy is magtig om ook aan elke sondaar lewe uit die dood te gee.

6.  Ek is die weg, die waarheid en die lewe. Joh. 14 v 6
Jesus is die weg na die ware ewige lewe. Werklik lewe kan net by Jesus gevind word.

7.  Ek is die ware wingerdstok. Joh. 15 v 1
Ons is die lote wat voortspruit uit hierdie wynstok en word gesnoei sodat ons vrug kan dra. Deur die swaarkry in die lewe waar jy deur die skerp lem van die snoeiskêr gesnoei word laat Hy dit wat seer is ook ten goede meewerk in jou lewe.

Waar gaan soek jy hulp wanneer die lewe te moeilik word? Gaan soek jou hulp by “EK IS” wat jou oneindig liefhet.

Hy het sy Seun, (die waaragtige God wat ter wille van jou mens geword het) gestuur, sodat jy kan lewe omdat Hy jou so lief het

Amen

Where will my help come from?

Hierdie oordenking is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

 

Where will my help come from?

 

Matt. 16 v 13 - 16 - HCSB

I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Where do you go for help when life gets too difficult?

 The pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem were afraid of the dangers along the way. This Psalm is a prayer that expresses the firm hope and confidence that God will protect them day and night.

 They look to heaven for help in their distress and then declare with firm certainty: "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."

 The pilgrims place their hope in the LORD. The Name "LORD" is a personal name of God which means "I AM" as we hear in Ex. 3 v 14: God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

 The Name of God "I AM" (YHWH in Hebrew, pronounced as Yaweh) means:

1.  He is the eternal God who has always existed.
He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega.

2.  He is a God of relationships.
This Name of God is used only in the Bible when it comes to God's personal relationship with his people.

3.  He is always with us.
God is personally involved in people's lives. He is not a distant God.

4.  He is the unchanging God who is always the same.

5.  He is completely holy and exalted above mankind.

6.  He is faithful to his eternal covenant.
When God made His covenant (I will be a God to you and you and your descendants must be my people) with Abraham, He introduced Himself as Yahweh and with that He promised that He would always be faithful to His promises.

7.  He is full of mystery that can never be known too fully.
We can never fully know God, but what we need to know about Him, He reveals to us through His Spirit in His Word. Although we can never fully know Him, we can grow in our relationship with Him.

 In the New Testament we hear even further what "I AM" means. Jesus introduces Himself as "I AM".

The seven "I AM" statements of Jesus:

1.  I am the bread of life. Joh. 6 v 35
Just as bread nourishes your body, Jesus is the Bread that nourishes you spiritually.

2.  I am the light of the world. Joh. 8 v 12
Jesus is the Light that dispels the darkness of sin. He brings hope and eternal life to everyone who believes in Him.

3.  I am the door to the sheep. Joh. 10 v 7
Jesus is the only way to God.

4.  I am the good shepherd. Joh. 10 v 11
Jesus is the shepherd of his sheep, his property. He takes care of his sheep and makes sure they get everything they need. He bears the interests of His flock at heart and He bears the full responsibility for them. He lays down his life for his sheep. Christ sacrificed his life so that everyone who believes in him can live.

5.  I am the resurrection and the life. Joh. 11 v 25
Jesus broke the power of death with his resurrection. In other words, He is also able to give life to every sinner from the death of their sin.

6.  I am the way, the truth, and the life. Joh. 14 v 6
Jesus is the way to true eternal life. Real life can only be found in Jesus.

7.  I am the true vine. Joh. 15 v 1
We are the shoots that sprout from this vine and are pruned so that we can bear fruit. Through the hardships in life where you are pruned by the sharp blade of the pruning shears, He also lets what hurts work together for good in your life.

 Where do you go for help when life gets too difficult? Seek your help from "I AM" who loves you infinitely.

 He sent His Son (the true God who became a man for your sake) so that you can live because He loves you so much 

Amen