Vers n dag - 18 Mei 2012
Op pad huis toe – Deel II
Neville Turley
Terwyl Hy weggaan en hulle nog stip na die hemel kyk, het daar skielik twee mans in wit klere by hulle gestaan. Dié sê toe vir hulle: “Galileërs, waarom staan julle so na die hemel en kyk? Hierdie Jesus wat van julle af na die hemel toe opgeneem is, sal net so terugkom soos julle Hom na die hemel toe sien opgaan het.” Handelinge 1:10-11
Daardie boodskap geld vandag steeds vir ons. Jesus sal terugkom. Die dissipels het besef daar is werk om te doen. Die Bybel vertel ons dat hulle toe terug is Jerusalem toe. In die stad aangekom, is hulle na die bovertrek toe waar hulle gewoonlik vertoef het. Handelinge 1:12-13
Die Bybel sê nie onomwonde dat dit dieselfde bovertrek was as die een waar hulle die laaste keer die paasmaaltyd saam met Jeus geëet het nie en waar hulle hulleself na sy dood uit vrees vir die Jode toegesluit het nie. Indien dit was, moes hulle nou mooi herinneringe gehad het. In hierdie bovertrek het die opgestane Jesus aan hulle verskyn en gesë: "Vrede vir julle" en dit is waar Tomas Jesus se wonde gesien en gevoel het en toe gesê het: “My Here en my God!”
Die plek is egter nie belangrik nie, maar dit wat die dissipels gedoen het, wel. Hulle het almal eensgesind saam met 'n aantal vroue, onder andere saam met Maria, die moeder van Jesus asook saam met sy broers volhard in die gebed en bly wag vir die krag van die Heilige Gees.
Dit is belangrik dat ons hulle voorbeeld volg en bid dat deur die krag van die Heilige Gees ons ook getuienisse vir ons Here Jesus Christus sal wees. Jesus het uit die dood opgestaan en Hy sal weer kom. Intussen het sy volgelinge, ek en jy, werk om te doen.
Gebed: Almagtige God, gee dat die krag van u Gees ons in staat sal stel om u wonderlike liefde met ander te kan deel. Ons bid dit in die Naam van u Seun, ons Verlosser. Amen.
Verse-a-day 21 May 2012
Know Your Enemy
Neville Turley
Put on all the armour that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil’s evil tricks. For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers of this dark age. Ephesians 6:11-12 (GNB)
When the late Hansie Cronje, captain of the South African National Cricket team, was involved in a match-fixing scandal, he admitted his complicity. His excuse that it was the devil that made him do it, was met with scorn and ridicule.
How delighted Satan must have been by that reaction. The more people scoff at the belief that Satan exists and is active in the lives of men, the better he can go about his godless activities, tempting men to rebel against God.
The Bible reveals Satan as the greatest enemy of God and man. In Ephesians 2:2 he is described as the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God.
It is a mistake to ignore his existence and an even bigger mistake to under-estimate the influence and impact he can have on those you love.
Jesus was well prepared for his encounter with Satan (Matthew 4:1-11) He had just been baptised and received his Father’s seal of approval, when the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert where he fasted for forty days.
There the devil tempted the hungry Jesus to turn stones into bread, to test God’s love for him and finally he offered Jesus all the worlds’ kingdoms if he would but worship him. The Bible tells us that after Jesus rejected the devil, angels came and ministered to him.
Satan comes to us with his devilish tricks in our most vulnerable moments. He can leave us emotionally battered and bruised, but he can be effectively resisted. For Satan is a conquered enemy. His power and dominion over believers was broken at the cross. (John 12:31)
If we submit to God and resist the devil he will be powerless to harm us. He will run away. (James 4:7)
Prayer: Almighty God, Thank you that Jesus’ sacrifice has made it possible for us to oppose the devil and spurn his temptations. Strengthen us in our faith, Father. For Jesus sake Amen.
Verse-a-day 18 May 2012
Going Home - Part II
Neville Turley
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way as you have seen him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:10-11 (NIV)
That message still applies to us today. Jesus is coming back. The disciples realized there was work to do. The Bible tells us they returned to Jerusalem and went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Acts 1:12-13
The Bible does not say for certain whether this was the same upper room where they had eaten the last supper and where the disciples had locked themselves in for fear of the Jews, after the death of Jesus. If it was the room, it must have conjured up beautiful memories. For that was where the resurrected Jesus had said to them; “Peace be with you” and where doubting Thomas had felt the wounds on Jesus and said. “My Lord and my God.”
The venue is not important, what is vital is what the disciples did. They prayed harmoniously and constantly, together with the women, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
It is important that we should follow their example and pray that we too receive the gift of God and be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus has risen from the dead and he will return to earth again. Meanwhile his followers, you and me, have work to do.
Prayer: Almighty God, may we, unworthy as we are, be empowered by the Holy Spirit to share with others the story of your wondrous love. For Jesus sake. Amen
