2018-06-13
2 Chronicles 26:4 NIV
The punch line in a cartoon reads, “No matter what we teach our children, they insist on behaving just like us!” We smile, but it’s a very serious matter. One expert says, “We teach what we know, but we reproduce what we are.” Your children may sometimes doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do. So: (1) If you want them to have a quiet time with God, you have one. (2) If you want your children to be in church, take them, don’t send them. (3) If you don’t want your children using foul language, watch what comes out of your mouth. (4) If you don’t want your children to smoke, drink, or do drugs, you leave them alone. When you say one thing but do another your children may still love you, but eventually they’ll lose respect for you. And what’s worse, they’ll think, “If the principles you preach don’t work for you, why should I try them?” Your example will have more impact than all your exhortations. Read these two Scriptures carefully. The first is found in the Old Testament: “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father…had done.” The second is found in the New Testament: “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5 NIV). Thousands of years separate those two Scriptures, but the truth they teach is timeless: so set the right example!
Soul food: Ezek 24:1-27:24; Mark 15:21-32; Ps 132:11-18; Prov 15:5-7
2018-06-12
Isaiah 40:29 NKJV
We say things like “As long as there’s life there’s hope,” or “Hope is tying a knot in the rope and holding on,” believing that things will get better. But when hope seems delayed or denied, mental and emotional illness can cause some people to look for a way out. Is suicide wrong? Yes. It’s wrong because it excludes God. When you take your life there’s nothing more He can do for you. It’s wrong because it leaves a legacy of unresolved pain that will live on in the hearts of your loved ones. For generations Christian leaders have debated and disagreed on the question of suicide. But every one of them believes these words: “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression” (Proverbs 12:25 NKJV). And depression, left undealt with, can end in self-destruction. It may not be the result of a bullet or a drug overdose; it may be a decision to stop eating, or overeat, or stop reaching for help because the help they’ve received has not worked. But the end result is the same. A national mental health organization estimates that women are twice as likely to get depressed as men. People in low-income families are reportedly less likely to be treated for this disorder because they cannot afford to get help. Does the Bible have an answer? Yes. “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV).
Soul food: Ezek 22-23; Mark 15:1-20; Ps 132:1-10; Prov 15:1-4
Jesaja 40:29 NLV
Ons sê dinge soos, ‘Solank as wat daar lewe is, is daar hoop,’ of ‘Hoop is om ‘n knoop in ‘n tou te maak en vas te hou,’ en glo dat dinge sal beter raak. Wanneer hoop egter verminder of uitgewis word, kan geestelike en emosionele siektes mense vir ‘n uitkoms uit hulle omstandighede laat soek. Is selfdood verkeerd? Ja. Dis verkeerd omdat dit God uitsluit. Wanneer jy jou lewe neem is daar niks meer wat Hy vir jou kan doen nie. Dis verkeerd omdat jy ‘n nalatenskap van onopgeloste pyn in die harte van jou geliefdes agterlaat. Vir generasies al het Christelike leiers oor die vraagstuk van selfdood gedebatteer en van mekaar verskil. Elkeen van hulle glo egter hierdie woorde: ‘Bekommernis rem ‘n mens af…’ (Spreuke 12:25 NLV). As depressie nie bestuur word nie, kan dit tot self-vernietiging lei. Dit mag dalk nie die resultaat van ‘n koeël of ‘n oordosis dwelms wees nie; dit kan die besluit wees om op te hou eet, of om op te hou om na hulp uit te reik omdat die hulp wat hulle reeds ontvang het nie gehelp het nie. Die eindresultaat is egter dieselfde. ‘n Nasionale geestesgesondheidsorganisasie skat dat vroue twee keer meer geneig is om aan depressie te lei as mans. Mense in lae-inkomste groepe is minder geneig om vir hierdie siekte behandel te word, omdat hulle nie kan bekostig om hulp te kry nie. Het die Bybel die antwoord? Ja. ‘Hy gee krag aan dié wat moeg is. Hy maak die magteloses sterk. Selfs jongmense raak uitgeput en afgemat. Baie jongmense struikel en val. Maar dié wat hulle hoop op die Here stel, sal hulle krag terugkry…’ (Jesaja 40:29-31 NLV).
Sielskos: Eseg 22-23; Mark 15:1-20; Ps 132:1-10; Spr 15:1-4
2018-06-11
Proverbs 13:12 NKJV
Depression can cause you to give up on life. When the job got too big for Moses, he told God, “Kill me here and now…and do not let me see my wretchedness!” (Numbers 11:15 NKJV). Certain that Jezebel would make good on her threats to kill him, Elijah asked God to take his life. It’s said the book of Job covers a span of only nine months, but Job’s losses were so devastating that he said, “My soul loathes my life” (Job 10:1 NKJV). Solomon said, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” Instead of arguing over the question, “Will a Christian who takes their own life go to heaven?” we need to ask God for wisdom to know when a loved one has become so hopeless or emotionally ill that they can’t take another day of it. Who are these people? Young people who cut themselves as a cry for help. War veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who can’t escape the demons of war, and can’t expel them. Sexual abuse victims who overeat, drink, and drug themselves to death. Good people who struggle with sexual issues but are terrified to talk about it. Fifty-eight million Americans battle depression every day. They sleep in mansions and under bridges. Some of them are Christians with thoughts of suicide, who dread hearing that they’re weak and don’t have enough faith. A quick Scripture, a brief prayer, and sending them away with a “God bless you” only throws them to the wolves. Jesus said, “I am sending you,” because you have the Word, the Spirit, and the power to help them.
Soul food: Ezek 20-21; Mark 14:66-72; Ps 48; Prov 14:33-35
Spreuke 13:12 NLV
Depressie kan jou laat opgee. Toe die werk te groot vir Moses geword het, het hy vir God gesê, ‘As U dit van my verwag, maak my dan asseblief maar liewer dood as wat ek na hierdie ellende moet sit en kyk’ (Numeri 11:15 NLV). Elia was seker dat Isebel haar dreigemente teen hom sou uitvoer en het vir God gevra om sy lewe te neem. Daar word gesê dat die boek Job oor ‘n tydperk van slegs nege maande strek, maar Job se verliese was so verwoestend dat hy gesê het, ‘Ek haat my lewe!..’ (Job 10:1 NLV). In plaas daarvan om te stry of ‘n Christen wat sy of haar eie lewe neem hemel toe gaan of nie, moet ons eerder vir God vir wysheid vra om te weet wanneer ‘n geliefde so hooploos of emosioneel siek geword het dat hulle dit nie meer langer kan verduur nie. Wie is hierdie mense? Jong mense wat hulself sny as ‘n uitroep om hulp. Oorlogsveterane wat aan post-traumatiese stres ly en nie van die demone van oorlog kan ontsnap nie. Slagoffers van seksuele mishandeling wat hulself tot die dood toe ooreet, drink en dwelms gebruik. Goeie mense wat met seksuele kwessies sukkel maar te vreesbevange is om daaroor te praat. Agt-en-vyftig miljoen Amerikaners stry daagliks met depressie. Hulle slaap in herehuise en onder brûe. Sommige van hulle is Christene met selfdoodgedagtes, wat dit vrees om te hoor dat hulle swak is en nie genoeg geloof het nie. As jy hulle met ‘n vinnige Skrifgedeelte, ‘n kort gebed en ‘n ‘God seën jou’ op hulle pad stuur, gooi jy hulle vir die wolwe. Jesus het jou gestuur, want jy het die Woord, die Gees en die krag om hulle te help.
Sielskos: Eseg 20-21; Mark 14:66-72; Ps 48; Spr 14:33-35
