Benescke Janse van Rensburg
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5b, NIV
Recently, a traveller at a Chinese airport caused quite a stir among security officers when they discovered 14 live snakes hidden in his pants! As he passed through customs, officers noticed strange movements in his clothing.
Upon closer inspection, they found small pouches tied around his legs, each containing live snakes, some of them venomous. When questioned, the man confessed that he intended to start a reptile farm without following the legal process. The authorities seized the snakes, and the man now faces heavy fines and the difficult task of explaining his actions to his family.
Much like this traveller, we sometimes choose shortcuts or engage in actions that do not align with God’s will, believing we won’t be caught. It might be a dubious business deal, an inappropriate friendship outside of marriage, or taking shortcuts hoping that the truth will remain hidden.
God’s Word, however, reminds us otherwise. In 1 John 1:5, it is written, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” And Luke 8:17 says, “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”
God embodies light, free from sin and deception. As his children, we are called to live in such a way that his light shines through us for all to see.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for your unwavering love and mercy. Help me to walk in your light at all times and to live in a way that reflects your truth. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Benescke Janse van Rensburg
God is lig, en geen duisternis is in Hom nie. 1 Johannes 1:5b, 1983-vertaling
’n Man by ’n Chinese lughawe het onlangs sekuriteitsbeamptes die skrik op die lyf gejaag toe hulle 14 lewende slange in sy broek ontdek het! Die reisiger was besig om deur doeane te gaan toe beamptes iets in sy broek sien beweeg.
By nadere ondersoek het hulle klein sakkies om sy bene vasgebind gevind – gevul met lewende slange, sommige daarvan giftig! Toe hulle hom vra hoekom hy die slange smokkel, het die man glo gesê hy wou ’n reptielplaas begin, maar wou nie deur die amptelike (en wettige) roetes gaan nie. Owerhede het die slange gekonfiskeer, en die man staar nou boetes én ’n baie ongemaklike verduideliking aan sy familie in die gesig.
Soms neem ons, soos hierdie man met die slange, ook kortpaaie of doen iets wat ons weet nie God se goedkeuring wegdra nie – ’n duistere werkstransaksie, ’n vriendskap met iemand buite ons huwelik wat net eenvoudig “te” vriendelik is of sonde wat ons dink ons mee kan wegkom.
In 1 Johannes 1:5 lees ons: “God is lig, en geen duisternis is in Hom nie.” Ook in Lukas 8:17 lees ons: “Daar is niks geheim wat nie openbaar sal word nie, of weggesteek wat nie bekend sal word en aan die lig sal kom nie.”
God is lig en in Hom is geen duisternis nie. Kom ons maak seker ons leef só dat die wêreld Hom in ons kan raaksien.
Gebed: Vader God, baie dankie vir u liefde en genade. Help my asseblief om te alle tye in die lig te leef. Ek vra dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus. Amen.
Benescke Janse van Rensburg
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:7, NIV
Recently, during a radio programme that I’m part of, we discussed what it means to be a Good Samaritan in today’s world. When should we step in to help and when is it better to step back?
One listener’s WhatsApp message touched me deeply. She shared how, throughout her high school years, she asked her mother to pack an extra lunchbox for a specific girl at school. Although she didn’t know the girl’s full situation, she felt led to help her in this small way.
Years later, they reconnected on Facebook. The girl revealed something heart-breaking – that lunchbox had meant more than anyone could have imagined. At home, her father struggled with alcoholism and her brother abused her sexually at night. During the darkest season of her life, that daily lunchbox at school became a beacon of hope, reminding her of Jesus’ light and love. Today, she is happily married and passionate about showing Jesus’ love to others.
Proverbs 3:27-28 reminds us: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’ – when you already have it with you.” And Proverbs 19:17 says: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
God desires to show his love through us. Today, let’s be reminded that we are called to be his hands and feet – to act in kindness and obedience, even when we don’t fully understand someone else’s circumstances.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for your love and care. Forgive me for the times I’ve ignored your call to be your hands and feet on earth. Help me to sense your Holy Spirit’s guidance clearly and respond in obedience. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Om God se hande en voete op aarde te wees - 19 Maart 2025
Benescke Janse van Rensburg
Wie hom oor 'n arm mens ontferm, gee 'n lening aan die Here, en Hy sal hom ten volle vergoed. Spreuke 19:17, 1983-vertaling
'n Paar dae gelede gesels ons tydens die radioprogram waarby ek betrokke is oor wat dit beteken om in ons moderne lewe 'n barmhartige Samaritaan te wees. Wanneer help jy en wanneer stap jy liewer weg?
Een van die WhatsApp-boodskappe wat ons gekry het, het my diep getref. 'n Luisteraar vertel hoe sy regdeur haar hoërskooljare vir haar ma gevra het om vir haar 'n ekstra kosblik vir een spesifieke meisie by haar skool te pak. Alhoewel sy nie al die meisie se omstandighede geken het nie, het sy ervaar dat sy haar moes help.
Jare ná skool, het hulle mekaar weer op Facebook gevind. Hier het die meisie haar vertel dat sy nooit sal besef wat daardie kosblik op 'n dag vir haar beteken het nie. By die huis was haar pa 'n alkoholis en haar broer het haar saans seksueel misbruik. Deur die moeilikste tyd van haar lewe, het daardie kosblik elke dag by die skool vir haar iets van Jesus se lig en liefde gewys. Vandag is hierdie vrou gelukkig getroud en streef sy daarna om ook Jesus vir ander te wys.
In Spreuke 3:27-29 lees ons: “Moenie 'n weldaad weerhou van iemand aan wie dit toekom, terwyl dit in jou mag is om dit te bewys nie. Moenie vir iemand sê: "Gaan eers terug en kom môre weer, dan help ek jou," as jy nou reeds kan help nie.” Ook in Spreuke 19:17 lees ons: “Wie hom oor 'n arm mens ontferm, gee 'n lening aan die Here, en Hy sal hom ten volle vergoed.”
God wil sy liefde aan ons demonstreer. Mag ons vandag onthou dat ons sy hande en voete moet wees vir mekaar deur gehoorsaam te wees en goed te wees vir mekaar – selfs al verstaan ons nie noodwendig 'n ander se situasie nie.
Gebed: Vader God, baie dankie dat U vir ons omgee. Vergewe my asseblief vir tye wat ek nie gehoorsaam was vir u roepstem om u hande en voete op aarde te wees nie. Help my asseblief om duidelik u Heilige Gees se leiding te ervaar. Ek vra dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus. Amen.