Today's thought - 02 October 2026 (Do you not know)

 

How are you, my friend? It is a beautiful day here in Pretoria. Nice and warm and everything is so green after all the rain we received. What a blessing. Our power is back so I am doing laundry. Jip, you can only wear those underpants so many times – hahahaha.

This morning the Holy Spirit took me back to Matthew 11 and 12. My verse is from Matthew 12:6, “Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple (NKLV)”. They were basically arguing about what you may or may not do on the Sabath and Jesus referred them to the Old Testament where David went into the temple and took the bread to feed his men.

Jesus makes this statement that He is greater than the temple. In other words, He is greater than the law. Jesus was indeed greater than the temple. Considering how highly the temple was regarded in the days of Jesus, this was a shocking statement. Yet the temple as it stood in Jesus’ day did not have the ark of the covenant, that important demonstration of the throne and presence of God. Yet Jesus was a much greater demonstration of the presence of God - He was God made flesh! The temple also lacked the Shekinah, the Urim and Thummim, and the sacred fire from heaven. Yet Jesus is all these things to us; He is surely greater than the temple.

Now why this verse? Well, I am as always glad you asked. You see when we are faced with difficult times and hardships and storms and battles and pain and suffering, we tend to forget that God is God and He is greater than our tribulations. That is why Jesus said that in this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for He overcome the world. Jesus plainly said that He is bigger, stronger and more powerful than the biggest storm you can face.

Jesus rebuked the wind and calmed the storm. Jesus spoke Lazurus into life. Jesus healed and fed many people but more important is that Jesus saved many. He continues to do so through us every day.

The thing that we often forget is that Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth”. Because He has this authority, He can send whomever He wills to do whatever He pleases. He can change your situation in a blink of an eye. Why do we have tribulation? Well Paul said in Romans 5:3-5, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (NLT)”.

God prepares us for what awaits us in the outcome of our obedience so that we will be able to handle the blessing without a fall. So, in essence God is saying that you and I must remember that He is greater than anything we can face or go through. He is greater than what the enemy can muster up against us and He is life and life in abundance. He is the way and the only way. Through Him and with Him we can do anything and if we ask it and believe it, God will change our circumstances. We must remain faithful and obedient and go when He calls.

So, be strong and courageous and please do not give up.

Have an awesome day, my friend.

Today's thought - 01 October 2026 (It can make your or break you)

 

How are you, my friend? Firstly, I have to say it is October and the year is nearing its end. Soon we will see Christmas decorations hit the malls and shops as we enter into the festive season.

My verse is from Psalm 131:2, “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me (NKJV)”.

Last night Pastor Russel said that your attitude determines your altitude. A humble attitude is far more powerful than a strong defensive attitude. If we come back to what David writes here: Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul: Instead of proud pursuits, David determined to find satisfaction and serenity of soul, content with God and His works. Those who feel constantly driven to do and achieve more in their relationship with God should learn some of what David here learned. David phrased this with an emphasis on what he did. Of course it was ultimately the work of God within him, but it was vitally connected to his own will and choices. God didn’t do this for him; God used the operation of David’s choice. We must choose to calm and quiet our soul (David Guzik notes).

Jesus gave up His divine privileges and took the humble position of a slave and was born in human form and when He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself to God and died a criminal’s death. Therefore, God elevated Him to the place if highest honor.

Philippians 2:3 says, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves (NLT)”.  Humility forms unity and unity carries the flow and there God commands a blessing.

You see humility will allow progress where there is division. Humility will remove division and cause unity. Unity is ultimately the one thing that can make us or break us. You see, for years we were misguided by fear to fight against unity. You see pride is the problem here. Pride separates but humility connects. Pride turns our focus inward and humility turns our focus and our strength outwards. Fear formulates ideas based on assumptions and lies. If all the people (all the Christians) unite we can change this country. In fact, if all Christians unite, we can change the world. The problem remains in pride and fear and the lack of humility.

The world’s biggest problem lies in me, myself and I. Jesus showed us a different way when He said that He gives us a new commandment to love each other as He loved us. How did Jesus love. He loved all the way to the cross and beyond. He became a servant to display what love really looks like. He showed us how important it is to love God and to show that love to the world around you.

Jesus set the standard and we should work towards that standard. That is why we should become more like Him and less of ourselves. In that we must embrace the love of Jesus and allowing it to flow from within us. God is love and to live a life of love it means taking up your cross and follow Jesus so that our lives will reflect that love.

Christians should invade the world with love, because love defeats the enemy in all areas of life.

So today I just want you to think about this: You attitude will determine your altitude. You can be either for Jesus or not. You can be humble or not. You can start the change or remain part of the problem. Come with me as we love or try to love as Jesus did.

Have an awesome day.