2019-01-26
Matteus 28:19 NLV
Tensy jy daar toe verbind is om Christus in elke area van jou lewe te volg, beteken die doop net dat jy droog in die water ingaan en nat en onveranderd weer uitkom. Let noukeurig op wat Jesus gesê het: ‘Gaan dan, maak al die nasies my dissipels, en doop hulle… Leer hulle om alles te gehoorsaam wat Ek aan julle opgedra het. En weet verseker: Ek is vir altyd by julle, tot aan die einde van die wêreldgeskiedenis’ (verse 19-20 NLV). Met die doop verklaar jy in die openbaar dat jy op die dood en opstanding van Christus, vir jou verlossing vertrou. Dit beteken egter meer as om net in water gedompel te word. Dit beteken dat jy: 1) In die beginsels van Christus verdiep moet wees. ‘…Leer hulle om alles te gehoorsaam wat Ek aan julle opgedra het…’ Let wel: ‘alles.’ Dis nie ‘n à la carte spyskaart waarvan jy kan kies wat vir jou lekker lyk en die res kan los nie. Onvolledige gehoorsaamheid – is ongehoorsaamheid. 2) In die doelwitte van Christus verdiep moet wees. ‘Gaan dan, maak al die nasies my dissipels…’ Die doop kan in ‘n oomblik plaasvind, maar dissipelskap verg dat jy Jesus vier-en-twintig uur ‘n dag, sewe dae ‘n week, twee-en-vyftig weke ‘n jaar moet volg. 3) In die teenwoordigheid van Christus verdiep moet wees. ‘…En weet verseker: Ek is altyd by julle…’ Dit beteken dat jy in alles wat jy doen ‘n aanvoeling vir sy teenwoordigheid moet ontwikkel. Sy inwonende teenwoordigheid moet jou bestuur, jou motiveer en jou daarop fokus om sy wil uit te voer.
Sielskos: Rom 15-16; Luk 6:17-26; Ps 104:24-35; Spr 3:11-12
Matthew 28:19 NKJV
Unless you are committed to following Christ in every area of your life, baptism just means you go down into the water dry and come up wet and unchanged. Note carefully what Jesus said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (vv. 19-20 NKJV). In baptism you publicly declare that you are trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for your salvation. But it means more than just being immersed in water. It calls for: (1) Being immersed in the principles of Christ. “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Note the words “all things.” This is not an à la carte menu where you pick what’s palatable to you and leave the rest. Incomplete obedience – is disobedience. (2) Being immersed in the purposes of Christ. “Go…and make disciples.” The new birth can take place in an instant, but discipleship requires that you follow Jesus twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year. (3) Being immersed in the presence of Christ. “Lo, I am with you always.” This calls for cultivating a sense of His presence in all you do. His abiding presence should govern you, motivate you, and focus you on doing His will.
Soul food: Rom 15-16; Luke 6:17-26; Ps 104:24-35; Prov 3:11-12
2019-01-25
Eksodus 4:12 NLV
Soms verskoon ons iemand se kritiese houding deur te sê, ‘Ag, sy blaf is erger as sy byt.’ Ja, ‘n hond se byt kan seermaak, maar so ook ‘n hond se blaf. Dit kan ‘n kind traumatiseer en hulle met vrees vul. Dink daaraan – wil jy met ‘n hond vergelyk word? Soms is dit nodig om iemand te konfronteer om sodoende gesonde grense vir jouself daar te stel, of om hulle veilig te hou. Jesus het egter meer kere met deernis gepraat as wat Hy gekonfronteer of veroordeel het. Karen Casey Arneson vertel van haar vroeë ervarings as ‘n gelowige: ‘Ek het die koninkryk vol littekens en bloeiend binne gegaan, met die hoop om genesing vir my wonde te vind. Ek het iemand gevind wat my bytmerke skoongemaak het en my ou wonde versorg het. Ek het ook uitgevind dat daar kannibale in die Christendom is. Dis die susters met die soet glimlagte wat jou rug byt wanneer jy wegdraai. Die nuuskierige Nellies wat om jou kom snuffel vir ‘n lekker skinderstorie. God waarsku ons: ‘Maar julle byt en verskeur mekaar. Pas op dat julle mekaar nie heeltemal verslind nie!’ (Galasiërs 5:15 NLV). Om krag te kry om ons natuurlike aptyt teë te werk, beteken dat ons ons honger by ‘n ander bron moet versadig. Die Psalmdigter sê: ‘Smaak en sien dat die Here goed is…’ (Psalm 34:9 AFR53) Sonder waaksaamheid kan ons maklik weer in ou gewoontes terugval. ‘n Bietjie peusel aan hierdie een, ‘n bietjie proe aan daardie een… en voor ons besef het ons weer die kannibaal binne-in ons losgelaat. Terwyl ons geroepe is om ons broers en susters te help wat in sonde vasgevang is, word ons ook gewaarsku om versigtig te wees om nie self versoek te word nie (sien Galasiërs 6:1 NLV).
Sielskos: Rom 12-14; Luk 6:1-16; Ps 104:1-23; Spr 3:9-10
Exodus 4:12 NIV
Sometimes we excuse someone’s critical attitude by saying, “Oh, his bark is worse than his bite.” True, a dog’s bite can hurt, but so can a dog’s bark. It can traumatize a child and leave them filled with fear. Think about the comparison; do you want to be likened to a dog? Sometimes it’s necessary to confront someone in order to set healthy boundaries for your own good, or to keep them out of harm’s way. But Jesus spoke with compassion much more often than He spoke with confrontation or condemnation. Writing about her early experience as a believer, Karen Casey Arneson says: “I reentered the kingdom scarred and bleeding, hoping to find healing for my wounds. And I did find some who bathed my bite marks and bound up my old wounds. I also found out there were cannibals in Christendom…though you mightn’t recognize us…we’re the sweetly smiling sisters who bite your back when you turn away…The nosy Nancys who come sniffing around for the scent of some juicy morsel of gossip…God warns, ‘If you bite and devour one another…you [will] be consumed by one another’…Strength to resist our natural appetites comes through satisfying our hunger at another source…The Psalmist says, ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good’ (Psalm 34:8). The nature we feed is the nature that grows strong…and without vigilance we can easily fall into old habits. A little snacking on this one, a little taste of that one…and before we know it – we’ve unleashed the cannibal within. While we’re called to help our brothers and sisters caught in sin, we’re also cautioned to ‘watch…or you also may be tempted’ (See Galatians 6:1 NLT).”
Soul food: Rom 12-14; Luke 6:1-16; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 3:9-10
2019-01-24
Proverbs 29:17 NKJV
If a corrected child gives you rest, an uncorrected one will give you no rest. You can’t take them anywhere, or leave them anywhere. Solomon says, “He who loves [his son] is careful to discipline him” (Proverbs 13:24 NIV). Child abuse is reprehensible – and so is child neglect. Without discipline, you condition your child for a life of heartache. When they’re stopped by the police for speeding or contacted by the bank for defaulting on a loan, throwing a tantrum won’t get them off the hook. Please think of their future! God disciplines His children; are you wiser than He is? The Bible says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but…Later…it produces…righteousness and peace” (Hebrews 12:11 NIV). A two-year-old shouting “No!” may seem cute today, but wait until he’s seventeen and cursing you out like a drunken sailor. The Bible says, “A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away” (Proverbs 22:15 NLT). Rebellion is part of their DNA, and it’s your job to drive it out. When a parent says, “This is hurting me more than you,” what does a rebellious child think? “Then let’s change places!” Yes, it’s hard to discipline them when your time with them is so limited; but their future is in your hands. A child without boundaries is like a house without walls. It’s like living in a carport; there’s no protection from outside influences. Nobody feels safe. So talk to God today. He’s a father – He has children of His own and He will help you to raise yours right.
Soul food: Rom 9:17-11:36; Luke 5:27-39; Ps 100; Prov 3:7-8
