Wees ‘n vredemaker

2017-12-01
Matteus 5:9 NLV

Die motiveringspreker Zig Ziglar vertel van ‘n klein outjie wat deur drie boelies gekonfronteer is, waarvan enigeen van hulle groot genoeg was om hom plat te slaan. Dit was ook duidelik wat hulle in gedagte gehad het. Die klein outjie was egter baie slim. Hy het teruggestaan, ‘n lyn in die stof getrek, nog ‘n paar treë teruggestaan, die grootste boelie reg in die oë gekyk en gesê, ‘Ek daag jou uit om oor hierdie lyn te tree!’ Die boelie het dit gedoen. Toe het die klein outjie geglimlag en gesê, ‘Wonderlik, nou is ons twee aan dieselfde kant!’ Wanneer jy jouself in die middel van konflik bevind, kan jy besluit om een van twee dinge te doen: om ‘n moeilikheidmaker of ‘n vredemaker te wees. Jy kan tot die stres bydra of ‘n oplossing probeer vind. Vredemakers se doel is om ‘n wen-wen situasie te vind. Barnabas, wie se naam ‘Seun van Vertroosting’ beteken, het vir die nuut-bekeerde Saulus van Tarsus in die bres getree. Die leiers van die kerk het deur hom bedreig gevoel, waarvoor jy hulle nie kwalik kan neem nie. Barnabas het egter nie aan Paulus se gewelddadige agtergrond gedink nie; hy het sy waarde vir God oorweeg. Hy het inderwaarheid gedink, ‘As ons hierdie man kan inspan en lei, kan hy die wedloop vir ons wen.’ Hy is reg bewys. Saulus die vervolger het Paulus die apostel geword, maar nie voordat Barnabas sy eie geloofwaardigheid op die spel geplaas het nie (sien Handelinge 9:26-30). Om vrede te maak beteken dat jy risiko’s moet neem. Dit beteken dat jy mense volgens hulle beste kwaliteite en oomblikke moet evalueer. Vredemakers kyk na die groter prentjie en word deur genade, nie deur beuselagtige opinies en tydelike omstandighede, gelei nie. Wees dus ‘n vredemaker.

Sielskos: Gen 25:19-27:46; Joh 12:37-50; Ps 65; Spr 31:25-27

Be a peacemaker


Matthew 5:9 NIV

Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar told of a little guy who was confronted by three big bullies, any one of whom could have flattened him. And clearly, that’s what they had in mind. But the little guy was very bright. He backed away, drew a line in the dirt, backed up a few more steps, looked into the eyes of the biggest bully and said, “I dare you to step across that line!” The guy did. Then the little boy grinned and said, “Good, now we’re both on the same side!” When you find yourself in the midst of conflict, you can decide to do one of two things: become a troublemaker or a peacemaker. You can add to the stress or try to bring a solution. Peacemakers look for common ground and try to get everyone onto it. Their goal is to find a win-win solution. Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Consolation,” stood up for the newly-converted Saul of Tarsus. The leaders of the church felt threatened by him, and you could hardly blame them. But Barnabas wasn’t thinking about Paul’s violent background; he was considering his value to God. In essence, he was thinking, “If we can harness and direct this guy, he can win the race for us.” And he was proved right. Saul the persecutor became Paul the apostle. But not until Barnabas put his credibility on the line (See Acts 9:26-30). Peace-making calls for taking risks. It means evaluating people by their best moments and qualities. Peacemakers are “big picture” thinkers who are governed by grace, not petty opinions and temporary conditions. So be a peacemaker.

Soul food: Gen 25:19-27:46; John 12:37-50; Ps 65; Prov 31:25-27