2017-07-04
Matthew 12:20 NIV
Aren’t you glad that God is a mender and not a discarder? With Him, broken lives don’t have to be the end of the story. He’s often been called the God of the “second chance.” How short-sighted is that? If we got only two chances we’d all be miserably, hopelessly lost. But instead He’s the God of the “seventy times seven”! (See Matthew 18:22). In Greek, seven represents infinity. So He’s the God of unlimited grace. As long as you humbly acknowledge your failure and desire to start again, He will enable you. The “reed” referred to in today’s verse is a shepherd’s makeshift flute that had withered, cracked, and become worthless. The smouldering “wick” no longer gave light and was considered useless. Both represent people set aside as damaged goods and rejected by others. But Jesus is committed to mend and heal, not break or quench those who have failed. He desires to give us a fresh start regardless of our failures. The truth is that we all fail! As Adam’s descendants, messing things up comes naturally and effortlessly to us. Abraham lied and put Sarah at risk. Jacob was a cheat and self-promoting con artist. Moses determined to do things his own way and ended up a fugitive. David was an adulterer and a conspiratorial assassin who betrayed a faithful friend. Peter turned his back on Christ. Yet God used each of them to accomplish His will. And He will use you too, because “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5:20 NKJV). So you can start again.
Soul food: 1 Sam 18:1-20:29; Mat 23:13-22; Ps 102:18-28; Prov 17:11-14
2017-07-03
Colossians 3:14 CEV
If you’re the kind of person who harbours grudges and holds on to past mistakes, even your own, you know what it feels like to be weighed down by mental junk. It’s hard for a relationship to survive when neither party has processed what happened in the past. Like blame, mental junk keeps you stuck. For example, if an old beau has hurt you and you’ve never let go of it, every time your mate does something similar it’s likely you’ll react with unwarranted fervour, as if he or she was the original person who hurt you. When this happens, your mate is left feeling upset and confused by your over-the-top reaction to a minor infraction that on the surface appears insignificant. Just as you clean house to get rid of physical junk, you need to keep your mental, emotional, and spiritual house clean and in order. Praying, reading, counselling, journaling, meditation, and exercise are all good ways to help ensure that past issues don’t seep into your current relationships. And when they do come up from time to time, it’s best to talk to the people you’re in relationship with. Just be sure to do it in kindness, truth, and honesty. The old adage – “Love means never having to say ‘I’m sorry'” – is wrong! A more scriptural motto for keeping mental and emotional junk in the trash where it belongs, is: “Don’t go to bed angry” (Ephesians 4:26 GWT). The Bible says, “Be gentle, kind…meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love… ties everything completely together” (Colossians 3:12-14 CEV).
Soul food: 1 Sam 16-17; Mat 23:1-12; Ps 102:12-17; Prov 17:7-10
Kolossense 3:14 NLV
As jy die tipe persoon is wat wrokke koester en aan foute van die verlede vashou – selfs jou eie – weet jy hoe dit voel om deur geestelike gemors afgerem te word. Dit is moeilik vir verhoudings om te oorleef wanneer die partye dit wat in die verlede gebeur het, nie verwerk het nie. Soos blaam, bind geestelike gemors jou vas. As ‘n ou geliefde jou byvoorbeeld seergemaak het en jy dit nooit laat gaan het nie, sal jy elke keer wanneer jou huidige maat soortgelyk optree, verwoed reageer, asof hy of sy die oorspronklike persoon is wat jou seergemaak het. Wanneer dit gebeur, kan jou buitensporige reaksie op ‘n oënskynlike klein foutjie jou maat ontstel en verwar. Net soos jy jou huis van ongewensde gemors skoonmaak, moet jy jou geestelike en emosionele huis skoon en in orde hou. Gebed, leesstof, berading, meditasie en oefening is goeie maniere om te help dat kwessies van die verlede nie na jou huidige verhouding oorloop nie. Wanneer hierdie kwessies egter van tyd tot tyd opduik, is dit die beste dat jy met jou maat daaroor praat. Maak net seker dat jy dit met deernis, waarheid en eerlikheid doen. Liefde beteken nie dat jy nooit jammer hoef te sê nie! ‘n Skriftuurlike motto om geestelike en emosionele gemors in die asblik, waar dit hoort, te hou, is die volgende: ‘…Moenie tot die aand toe kwaad bly… nie’ (Efesiërs 4:26 NLV). Die Bybel sê, ‘…Daarom moet julle die volgende soos klere aantrek: deernis, vriendelikheid, nederigheid, sagmoedigheid, geduld. Verdra mekaar… Vergewe mekaar soos die Here julle vergewe het…Die liefde bind alles volmaak saam’ (Kolossense 3:12-14 NLV).
Sielskos: 1 Sam 16-17; Mat 23:1-12; Ps 102:12-17; Spr 17:7-10
2017-07-02
2 Timoteus 1:6 NLV
Moenie dat vrees jou jou talente en vaardighede laat wegsteek nie. ‘n Christelike skrywer het gesê: ‘God verwag van ons om die meeste te maak van dit wat Hy ons gee… om ons harte aan die brand te hou, ons karakter en persoonlikheid te laat groei en ons ervaringe te verbreed sodat ons meer effektief sal wees. Paulus het aan die mense in Filippi gesê, ‘Ek bid dat julle liefde vir mekaar meer en meer sal word deurdat julle ‘n al beter begrip en ‘n fyn aanvoeling ontwikkel’ (Filippense 1:9 NLV). Hy het ook vir Timoteus gesê, ‘Moenie die geestelike gawe verwaarloos wat jy ontvang het [nie]… Werp jouself in jou werksaamhede…’ (1 Timoteus 4:14-15 NLV). Blaas jou geestelike gawe soos ‘n vuur aan. Wanneer jy nie jou spiere oefen nie, verswak en kwyn hulle weg. Wanneer jy nie die vaardighede wat God jou gegee het gebruik nie, gebeur dieselfde. Met verwysing na die slaaf wat as gevolg van sy vrees sy muntstuk begrawe het, het Jesus gesê, ‘…Vat die muntstuk by hom en gee dit vir die een wat tien muntstukke het’ (Matteus 25:28 NLV). Moenie bang wees nie. Wanneer jy jou gawes en vaardighede aan die werk sit, word hulle deur oefening ontwikkel. Deur studie, terugvoer en oefening, kan ‘n goeie onderwyser ‘n beter onderwyser, en met tyd selfs ‘n puik onderwyser word. Daag jouself uit. Leer soveel as wat jy kan. ‘Werk hard sodat God jou kan goedkeur…’ (2 Timoteus 2:15 NLV). Gryp elke geleentheid aan om jou vaardighede te ontwikkel en op te skerp. Onthou, in die hemel gaan ons God vir ewig dien en ons berei onsself daarvoor voor deur hier op aarde te oefen. Soos atlete wat vir die Olimpiese Spele voorberei, oefen ons vir die groot dag.’
Sielskos: Eks 34:29-35; Mark 9:2-27; 2 Kor 3:7-18
2 Timothy 1:6 NAS
Don’t let fear make you hide your talents and abilities. One Christian author says: “God expects us to make the most of what He gives us…to keep our hearts aflame, grow our character and personality, and broaden our experiences so we’ll be increasingly more effective. Paul told the Philippians, ‘Keep on growing in knowledge and understanding’ (Philippians 1:9 NLT). And he told Timothy, ‘Be sure to use the abilities God has given you…Put [them] to work’ (1 Timothy 4:14-15 TLB); ‘Kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you.’ When you don’t exercise your muscles, they weaken and atrophy, and when you don’t utilize the skills God gave you, the same thing happens. Referring to the servant who because of fear hid his talent in the ground, Jesus said, ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents’ (Matthew 25:28 NIV). Don’t be afraid. Put your gifts and abilities to work and they’ll become enlarged and developed through practice. No one reaches full development all at once. But with study, feedback, and practice, a good teacher can become a better teacher, and in time grow to be a great teacher. Stretch yourself. Learn all you can. ‘Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of’ (2 Timothy 2:15 TM). Take advantage of every opportunity to develop and sharpen your skills. Remember, in heaven we’re going to serve God forever, and we prepare by practicing here on earth. Like athletes getting ready for the Olympics, we’re training for the big day.”
Soul food: Ex 34:29-35; Mark 9:2-27; 2 Cor 3:7-18
