June 2018 - The Word for Today
John 18:37 NIV
When you know what your God-given assignment in life is, and that God is on your side, you become virtually unstoppable. Will you make mistakes? Sure, but God loves you enough to correct you, redirect you, and get you back on track. “How do I go about discovering my assignment?” you ask. Here are fourteen helpful questions to ask yourself: (1) What desires have been living in me most of my life? (2) What motivates me to work hard and be productive? (3) What keeps me going forward when I’m worn out? (4) What makes me refuse to quit when I meet with resistance? (5) What do I do that doesn’t seem like work? (6) What do I do that brings a positive response and support from people? (7) What am I doing or what’s happening in my life when doors seem to open automatically and effortlessly? (8) What do wise leaders and godly counselors think about my work? (9) What makes me feel good about being who I am? (10) What makes my creative juices flow? (11) What am I willing to sacrifice in order to accomplish it? (12) What am I doing that I’d be proud to offer for God’s approval? (13) What would I do without being paid for it if I could afford to? (14) What would I be willing to withstand Satan on in order to accomplish? Prayerfully consider these fourteen questions, and they will shed light on your God-given assignment in life.
Soul food: 1 Sam 4-7; Luke 3:11-20; Ps 59:9-17; Prov 16:23-26
Discover your assignment
John 18:37 ESV
Finding our God-given assignment is an exciting, and maybe even daunting experience. It might involve stepping out of our comfort zone and into something unfamiliar, but God loves us and wants us to succeed in the task He’s given us. But how do we discover our own assignment in the first place? Here are some questions to ask yourself which can help you discover yours: 1) What dreams and desires have been living in me for most of my life? 2) What motivates me to work hard and be productive? 3) What keeps me going when I’m worn out? 4) What makes me refuse to give up when I face resistance? 5) What work do I enjoy doing? 6) What do I do now that brings a positive response from people? 7) What was I doing when opportunities seemed to come along with no effort from me? 8) What do my leaders and mentors think about my work? 9) What makes me feel good about being who I am? 10) When am I most creative? 11) What would I be willing to give up to complete my God-given assignment? 12) What am I doing that I’d be proud to offer for God’s approval? 13) What would I do without being paid for it if I could afford to? 14) What am I prepared to put up with in order to finish my assignment? People laughing at me? Low income? Have a think and pray about these questions, and they’ll help to guide you towards discovering your God-given assignment in life.
1 Sam 4-7; Luke 3:11-20; Ps 59:9-17; Prov 16:23-26
Veertien vrae oor jou taak
Johannes 18:37 NLV
Wanneer jy weet wat jou God-gegewe taak in die lewe is en dat God aan jou kant is, word jy feitlik onstuitbaar. Sal jy foute maak? Ja, maar God het jou lief genoeg om jou te korrigeer en jou terug op jou pad te lei. ‘Hoe ontdek ek my taak?’ vra jy. Hier is veertien insiggewende vrae om jouself af te vra: 1) Watter begeertes lewe al die meeste van my lewe binne-in my? 2) Wat motiveer my om hard te werk en produktief te wees? 3) Wat laat my voortgaan wanneer ek moeg is? 4) Wat laat my weier om tou op te gooi selfs wanneer ek weerstand kry? 5) Wat doen ek wat nie soos werk voel nie? 6) Wat doen ek wat ‘n positiewe reaksie en ondersteuning by mense ontlok? 7) Wat doen ek of wat gebeur in my lewe wanneer dit voorkom of deure outomaties en moeiteloos vir my oopgaan? 8) Wat dink wyse leiers en goddelike raadgewers oor my werk? 9) Wat laat my goed voel oor wie ek is? 10) Wat laat my kreatiwiteit vloei? 11) Wat is ek bereid om op te offer om dit te bereik? 12) Wat doen ek wat ek trots sal wees om voor God vir sy goedkeuring te bring? 13) Wat sal ek sonder betaling doen as ek dit kon bekostig? 14) Waarvoor sal ek gewillig wees om Satan teen te staan om dit te bereik? Oorweeg met gebed hierdie veertien vrae, en hulle sal lig op jou God-gegewe lewenstaak werp.
Sielskos: 1 Sam 4-7; Luk 3:11-20; Ps 59:9-17; Spr 16:23-26
Christ brings progress to all
Proverbs 14:34 NKJV
The well-known atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair once said, “Nothing good has ever come from Christianity. And if Christianity hasn’t, in fact, done good and produced good we must reject it.” Even Christ Himself said, “You shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16 NKJV). But with every word of Christ that’s been preached, lives have been transformed and incredible good done for society. Take science, for example. As one expert pointed out, science could never have originated in any other culture. It couldn’t possibly have originated in the Muslim culture because of its belief in fatalism, which absolutely prevents any concept of scientific progress. Nor could it have originated among the Buddhists, or the Hindus of Asia, because of their belief that the physical world isn’t real, that nothing exists but God, and that all this is merely imagination. Only through Christianity could science have come to be! Think about those who have gone into the slums to rescue the derelict, like the Salvation Army, the City Mission, and the YMCA. Christians have given themselves to such people as these. Today with the removal of Scripture from much of our culture, we’re seeing decay and corruption set in. So what’s the answer? Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13 NKJV). So get your saltshaker out and start spreading the life-changing truth of God’s Word! Jesus also said, “You are the light of the world” (v. 14 NKJV). There’s not enough darkness in the whole world to extinguish the light of one small candle. So let your light shine.
Soul food: 1 Sam 1-3; Luke 3:1-10; Ps 59:1-8; Prov 16:20-22
God gee vooruitgang aan almal
Spreuke 14:34 NLV
Die bekende ateïs Madalyn Murray O’Hair het eenmaal gesê, ‘Niks goeds het al ooit uit Christenskap gekom nie. As die Christendom dan niks goed gedoen het of iets goeds geproduseer het nie, moet ons dit verwerp.’ Selfs Christus het gesê, ‘Julle sal hulle aan hulle optrede uitken, net soos ‘n mens ‘n boom aan sy vrugte uitken…’ (Matteus 7:16 NLV). Met elke woord wat Christus egter gepreek het, is lewens verander en is daar wonderbaarlike dinge vir die samelewing gedoen. Neem die wetenskap as voorbeeld. Soos een kundige uitgewys het, kon die wetenskap in geen ander kultuur sy oorsprong gehad het nie. Dit kon nie uit die Moslemse kultuur ontstaan het nie as gevolg van hulle fatalistiese geloof, wat enige konsep van wetenskaplike vooruitgang verhoed. Dit kon ook nie vanuit die Boeddhiste of die Hindoes ontstaan het nie, omdat hulle glo dat die fisiese wêreld nie bestaan nie, dat niks behalwe God bestaan nie en dat hierdie alles net verbeelding is. Net deur Christenskap kon die wetenskap tot stand gekom het! Dink ook aan organisasies en mense wat die krotbuurte binnegaan om die verlatenes te red. Christene gee hulself aan hierdie mense. Vandag, met die verwydering van die Skrif uit groot dele van ons kultuur, sien ons hoe verval en korrupsie aan die orde van die dag is. Wat is dus die antwoord? Jesus het gesê, ‘Julle is die sout wat die aarde ‘n beter plek moet maak…’ (Matteus 5:13 NLV). Kry dus jou soutpot uit en begin om die lewensveranderende waarheid van God se Woord te versprei! Jesus het ook gesê, ‘Julle is die lig wat die wêreld moet verlig…’ (vers 14 NLV). Daar is nie genoeg duisternis in die wêreld om die lig van een klein kersie uit te doof nie. Laat jou lig dus skyn.
Sielskos: 1 Sam 1-3; Luk 3:1-10; Ps 59:1-8; Spr 16:20-22