Jy is vir ‘n spesiale werk geroep

2017-07-01
Efesiërs 4:16 NLV

Paulus skryf: ‘…Al die ondersteunende ligamente hou die liggaam bymekaar. Elke liggaamsdeel vervul sy bestemde funksie, en so, deur liefde te bewys, bou die liggaam homself op.’ Daar is twee tipes groei – simbiotiese groei en parasitiese groei. Simbiotiese groei is ‘n gee-en-neem verhouding wat beide kante bevoordeel. Parasitiese groei gebeur wanneer een kant op die ander een teer, sonder om iets terug te gee. Wanneer jy dus uit die kerk stap en sê, ‘Ek het niks uit hierdie diens gekry nie,’ mag jy besig wees om parasitiese groei te beoefen. Parasitiese groei word deur woorde soos ‘bid vir my, preek vir my, gee my raad, help my, maar moet niks van my verwag nie,’ gekenmerk. Simbiotiese groei word deur woorde soos ‘ja, ek het behoeftes, maar ek is ook gewillig om te gee omdat almal bevoordeel moet word,’ gekarakteriseer. Jou liggaam bestaan uit stelsels. Daar is die senuweestelsel, die asemhalingstelsel, die spierstelsel, die limfstelsel, die immuunstelsel, ens. Hierdie stelsels maak op mekaar staat. Hulle is interafhanklik. Wanneer een van hulle nie optimaal werk nie, word die res van die liggaam daardeur beïnvloed. In plaas van om te sê, ‘Ek gaan kerk toe,’ herinner jouself, ‘Ek is die kerk.’ Paulus skryf: ‘Die menslike liggaam het baie ledemate, maar hierdie baie ledemate vorm almal saam net een liggaam. So is dit ook met Christus se liggaam… Maar nou het God dit so beskik… dat elkeen van hulle sy eie plek in die liggaam sal hê, soos Hy dit goedvind’ (1 Korintiërs 12:12, 18 NLV). God wil hê dat jy ‘n funksionerende deel van sy kerk moet wees. As jy nie seker is watter ‘deel’ jy is nie, vra Hom en Hy sal jou wys.

Sielskos: 1 Sam 14-15; Mat 22:34-46; Ps 102:1-11; Spr 17:4-6

You’re called to a “special work”


Ephesians 4:16 NLT

Paul writes: “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body [church] is healthy and growing and full of love.” There are two kinds of growth – symbiotic growth and parasitic growth. Symbiotic growth is a give-and-take relationship in which both sides benefit. Parasitic growth is when one side feeds off another but gives nothing back. So when you come out of church and say, “I didn’t get anything out of that service,” you may be practicing parasitic growth. Parasitic growth is characterized by such words as “pray for me, preach to me, counsel me, help me, but expect nothing from me.” Symbiotic growth is characterized by such words as “yes, I have needs, but I’m willing to give too because everyone needs to benefit.” Your body is made up of systems. These include the nervous system, circulatory system, muscular system, lymphatic system, skeletal system, immune system, etc. These systems rely on one another. They are interdependent. So when one of them goes down, the rest of the body is negatively impacted by it. Instead of saying, “I’m going to church,” remind yourself, “I am the church.” Paul writes: “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ…and God has put each part just where he wants it” (1 Corinthians 12:12, 18 NLT). God wants you to be a fully functioning part of His church. And if you’re not sure what your “part” is, ask Him and He will show you.

Soul food: 1 Sam 14-15; Mat 22:34-46; Ps 102:1-11; Prov 17:4-6