NAC Melkbosstrand Congregation

28/05/2026

The Word for Today
Acts 3:6

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

This man had been lame since birth. He was placed at the gates to the temple so that he could beg for alms from those who entered there to pray. It was his greatest opportunity for success. When Peter and John walked by him, he asked them for money. But Peter gave him something much better - the use of his legs - ‘And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength’. We often ask God to solve our small problems, but He wants to give us a whole new life and help for *all* our problems. God may say, “I’ve got something even better for you.” Ask God for what you want, but don’t be surprised when He gives you what you really need. Why limit God? He is the Creator of everything that exists, and is capable of doing the impossible. Don’t let your human mind limit what He is able to do for you. Jabez prayed and asked God to bless *him* - ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested’. He was bold in his request, believed what he prayed, and asked out of a desire to best serve God. And God gave him all that he asked. The lame man was completely healed, something he would never have imagined possible. But in the name and power of Jesus Christ, by His authority, this man was healed. God has so much more that He wants to give us, if only we would ask. We battle with our problems, our challenges, our illnesses, our financial worries, and so much more. We pray and ask for help, and then we pick up where we left off, not really surrendering and believing that He will help. In the middle of the drought that we experienced in Cape Town a few years back, many prayed for rain, but how many took their umbrellas with them? Ask for what you want with a pure heart, with a pure desire, believe that He will give it to you, and then trust in His timing. God is saying to us today, “Stand up and walk!” Don’t overthink it, don’t question it - *STAND UP!* God will give you all that you need.

Have a blessed day in Christ. 🙏🏻🦋

27/05/2026

The Word for Today
1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

The church is a living community inspired by the Spirit in which the Spirit of God dwells. Paul had issue with the church he had established in Corinth. The members had split into factions, pledging loyalty to different teachers. Paul taught them that he had laid the foundation of the church in Corinth, and others built on top of that foundation. There are those who plant the seeds, and there are those who water, and then those who prune, and those who pull out the weeds. All have a role to play in the work of God, none more or less important than the other. It is when we work together in unity with Christ that we build that which is sustainable and built for eternity. It is when we allow the Spirt to inspire what we build that it stands strong against the evil of our time. Nothing can shake it and cause it to collapse. Egos and pride need to be put aside, acknowledging that it is by the grace of God that we are able to build and to grow strong in our faith, not of our own merit. All gifts are needed, and none are more important than the other. All are equal in the eyes of God, and all play a valuable role in building His church. No one’s place is ever questioned, and no one is ever pushed off to the side. We celebrate with those who use their gifts to there fullest in the work of God, and acknowledge that we also need to make full use of our own gifts in service to God’s community, without competing or comparing with the gifts of others. God’s Spirit dwells within us, and if we give Him room, and allow Him free rein to guide our decisions and direct our path, we will always be exactly where God desires us to be, and never question His decisions. He will nurture the Spirit within us, revealing His will for our lives more and more as we grow in Him. Just like an Olympic athlete competing in the 100m, who trains for hours and hours to run a race of just under 10 seconds, so too must we hone our spiritual gifts and talents to be spiritually fit to walk the path God lays before us with confidence and trust, knowing what comes from Him versus what does not. The Spirit discerns, and we need to trust the Spirit of God that dwells within us. It dwells in all of us! The Spirit of God who dwells within us brings about steadfast love for God and our neighbour, no matter what happens in life. This brings about unity. There is no judgement, no condemnation, and no competition. Only oneness. It takes ALL of the members working together to build in the work of God. When building a house, there is the architect who drafts the plans, those who lay the foundation, others build the base, there are plumbers, electricians, bricklayers, roofers, plasterers, tilers, all with their special skills and talents. It takes all of them, working together, to complete the build. None more or less important than the other. We need to use our God-given gifts to build God’s community, to build His church, and to stand together in oneness. He will take care of the rest, and crown our work with His glory.

Have a blessed day in Christ. 🙏🏻🦋

26/05/2026

The Word for Today
Colossians 3:14-15

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

The body of Christ. We are all part of this body and no one is unimportant or of less value than the other. We all add value and we all contribute to the striving for perfection in Christ. It is the Spirit that unites and the Spirit that brings about growth. Paul admonishes all to be acutely aware of their behaviour, and that we put on the nature of Christ in all our dealings with one another - ‘Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do’. This is what it means to be part of the unified body of Christ. It is not only our interactions with believers, but with all whom He brings into our path and wants to show His grace. No one is beyond His reach. Paul confirms that above all these things, we are to put on love, and to let peace *rule* in our hearts. Love and peace go perfectly together. One cannot exist without the other. Our hearts are the centre of conflict because there our feelings and desires clash - our fears and hopes, distrust and trust, jealousy and love. How can we deal with these types of conflicts and live as God wants? By using the *rule of peace*. At all times, make choices that will promote peace in your soul, in your relationships, amongst the believers, and with all whom you share your testimony. Living in peace does not mean that all differences of opinion are eliminated. But it does mean that we work together despite them. Such love is a decision, not a feeling. Putting on love leads to peace between individuals and among members of the body of Christ, building oneness. Problems in relationships can cause open conflicts and uncomfortable silences. But when we put on the love of Christ, and let peace rule in our hearts, we will always look for solutions that best serve all parties, and bring out the nature of Christ that is within us. Live in love, and let peace rule your heart.

Have a blessed day in Christ. 🙏🏻🦋

14/05/2026

14/05/2026

The Word for Today
Acts 16:6

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

Jesus Christ lived the will of God. He was so connected with His Father that He always knew the right decision to make and the right path to follow. It might seem that He had an unfair advantage, being the Son of God, and that He was connected to the source of all that He needed to know and could not make a mistake. It might seem at times that we have heard incorrectly, that we were following our own free will and not God’s will, that we did not hear correctly or that we allowed our emotions to cloud our judgement and influence our decisions. But we have that same power within us, that same connection to God - the Holy Spirit. This is the source of all the power we need to hear, follow, and do His will. We need to be connected in the Spirit. We don’t know how the Holy Spirit told Paul that he and his companions should not go to Asia. It may have been through a prophet, a vision, an inner conviction, or some other influence. Regardless, they heeded the inspiration of the Spirit. To know God’s will does not mean we must hear His audible voice. He leads in different ways. When you are seeking God’s will, make sure your plan is in harmony with God’s Word. Ask mature Christians for their advice and counsel. Check your own motives to see if you are seeking to do what you want or what you know God wants. Pray for God to open and close doors as He desires. There is no flashing neon sign telling you what to do. That takes faith out of the equation. God wants us to feel and hear the Spirit speak, to eliminate emotion and personal influence, and to let go of our own wants and desires, and to trust in His will completely. The Holy Spirit guides us to the right places and people, but He also guides us away from the wrong places and people. It is vital that we understand the difference, and follow in obedience. Don’t let your emotions dictate, let the Spirit rule. When seeking God’s direction, ask Him to clearly shut and open doors, and then pay attention to changes in circumstances or your own convictions about the situation. Then trust the journey and the process. This is how Jesus did it, and so can we. We have that same power within us. Use it! Don’t let your emotions pull you in a direction that was never meant for you. Trust the direction in which God takes you. Do not be afraid, only trust and believe.

Have a blessed day in Christ. 🙏🏻🦋

09/05/2026

Onse See’n Melkbosstrand May edition

05/05/2026

The Word for Today
Matthew 24:44

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

We pray and ask God for many things. In times of challenges, trials, tribulations, and when dealing with difficult situations, we ask for His help and intervention. We pray for wisdom and discernment, to be able to decide on the right path at all times. We pray and we ask a lot. And when we don’t get an answer, we become exasperated, frustrated, and we even try to help push things along, to assist God. But God would never hold back that which serves us best. What He would do, is wait until we are ready for the blessings He wants to give us. Preparing, growing, learning, and being patient while we wait is part of God’s process. Be ready! Don’t sit idly by and passively wait. Do everything in your power to bring about change and growth, and only then leave the impossible to God. David was annointed king at a young age, but had to wait a long time before taking over as king. In the interim, he learned from those sent by God to teach him. He grew in wisdom, he became a man, and he strengthened his relationship with God. When he was ready, God gave him what He had promised him. What stands out are 2 things - being patient in waiting, and being teachable. We need to possess these attributes in order to follow God’s will. It is so important to ‘be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for Him to act’. Sometimes, He will give us something completely different to what we asked, but we need to trust in His redirection. He knows best. Jesus, in saying these words, was speaking of His return to come and fetch His own, so that we could spend eternity with Him in God’s kingdom, the fulfilment of His promise to return. Don’t despair while we wait. He is coming, and we need to be ready. Knowing that His return will be sudden and unexpected, we should not live irresponsibly, doing nothing or seeking selfish pleasure. We have plenty to do! We need to be constantly vigilant and spiritually prepared for His return. Be ready for everything the Lord has in store for you, the answer to your prayers, and make sure you are spiritually ready for His return.

Have a blessed day in Christ. 🙏🏻🦋

30/04/2026

The Word for Today
Acts 4:12

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Salvation is in Christ alone - let us remain on the path of salvation. Standing for what you believe in can sometimes be challenging, especially when everyone around you believes differently. There is a saying - ‘I would rather be right with no one than wrong with the crowd’, and another, ‘It’s better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction’. Peter and John defended their faith. They had healed a man who had been lame for more than 40 years, and then the Sanhedrin, the religious high council, demanded to know by whose authority they were doing this. Their answer was simple, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” The One who was crucified, died, and was buried, and after 3 days arose from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, from where He will return again to fetch the faithful, to spend eternity with Him in His Father’s kingdom. This is our belief, this is our salvation, this is our promise and our hope. It is unshakeable, it is truth, even if it is not popular in the world’s opinion. Many people react negatively to the fact that there is no other name than that of Jesus to call on for salvation. Yet this is not something the church decided; it is the very specific teaching of Jesus Himself - “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me!” If God designated Jesus to be the Saviour of the world, no one else can be His equal. As Christians, we are to be open minded about many things, but not on how people are saved from sin. Jesus Christ saves! No other has died for our sins, no other has risen from the dead, no other is the true Son of God. Our focus should be on Jesus, the One whom God provided as the way to have an eternal relationship with Himself. There is *NO* other name or way! Don’t let the populist opinion of our time cause you to change your belief in Him. Don’t let the attitude of religious diversity cause you to question your faith. Stand firm in His teachings, and in His Word, and even if you stand alone, stand up for Jesus. Be a consistent witness for the truth of the Gospel. Boldly profess the gospel and bear witness to the Lord Jesus through words and actions, just as Peter and John did despite opposition. And you will get a lot of it! Ridiculing and mocking, challenging and questioning. Let them! God alone saves, and all He ask is that you plant the seeds, and leave the rest to Him. He will make the spiritually blind see, and the spiritually lame walk. Salvation is in Christ alone!

Have a blessed day in Christ. 🙏🏻🦋

22/04/2026

The Word for Today
Isaiah 40:1

“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God.

Judah still had 100 years of trouble before Jerusalem would fall and then 70 years of exile. So God told Isaiah to speak tenderly and to comfort Jerusalem. He knew what still lie ahead of them and wanted them to know that, in spite of it all, He stood with them. The seeds of comfort may take root in the soil of adversity. God will never waste your pain. He is acutely aware of all you go through, always. When your life seems to be falling apart, ask God to comfort you. You may not escape adversity, but you may find God’s comfort as you face it. In some cases, the only comfort we have is in the knowledge that someday we will be with Him. Appreciate the comfort and encouragement found in His Word, His presence, and His people. God knows how and when to comfort His people. Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles go away. But if that were true, people would turn to God out of a desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for Him. We would use God as a painkiller, a quick fix, rather than making Him the centre of our lives and the core of our existence. We must understand that being comforted can also mean receiving strength, encouragement, and hope from God and others to deal with our troubles. The more we suffer for the cause of Christ, the more comfort God gives us. If you are feeling overwhelmed by ridicule, rejection, or abuse for following Christ, allow God to comfort you. Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort others who are suffering from similar troubles. What you have been through will one day become someone else’s survival guide. Speak kindly, speak with gentleness, pray, and comfort those who are fighting a battle you know nothing of. Your prayers of faith could bring about the change they are waiting for.

Have a blessed day in Christ. 🙏🏻🦋