2020-01-16
2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV
We don’t have to watch or read the news for long before we see how much darkness and suffering there is in the world. But God is light, and His light shines brighter than any darkness. The Bible says: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’ (John 1:5 NIV). However much darkness we see around us, we can still have hope because we know Jesus’ light has overcome. And we can be part of bringing His light into the world. As His children, we’re children of the light. ‘You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness’ (1 Thessalonians 5:5 NIV). By living in this world, we’re going to come into contact with darkness regularly, and we can counteract this with light. We’re supposed to shine. The Bible says: ‘You are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world’ (Philippians 2:15 NCV). As children of the light, we don’t need to be intimidated by the darkness around us. Instead, we need to hold on to the fact that through God, we can shine brighter. Shining in a dark world can feel scary because we’re on show. It might even make us a little unpopular with others. But we can know that we’re doing exactly what God wants us to be doing, and by shining we’re glorifying Him. Jesus said: ‘You are the light that gives light to the world…Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5:14-16 NCV). Are we prepared to shine today?
Exo 22-24; Matt 7:15-29; Ps 79; Prov 2:9-10
2 Korintiërs 6:14 NLV
‘n Os en ‘n donkie het altwee ‘n stert, twee oë en vier bene. Wanneer jy hulle egter saam inspan, sal hulle nie oor die weg kom of goed saamwerk nie. Hulle sal inderwaarheid in twee verskillende rigtings trek, omdat God hulle met baie verskillende geaardhede en eienskappe gemaak het! Met hierdie prentjie in jou gedagtes, is hier raad oor hoe om ‘n goeie lewensmaat te soek. Skoonheid vergaan gou, kies dus iemand wat ander, minder opsigtelike eienskappe het. Byvoorbeeld: 1) Dink na oor hulle maniere en die manier wat hulle die kelner by die restaurant behandel. 2) Watter belangstellings het hulle? 3) Deel hulle jou geestelike waardes en oortuigings? 4) Is hulle waarlik geïnteresseerd in dit wat jy te sê het? 5) Hoe behandel hulle mense wat hulle nie probeer beïndruk nie? Sodra die nuutheid van die aanvanklike aantrekkingskrag getaan het, moet daar iets meer wees, anders is die verhouding gedoem. Maak ook seker dat jy die kieser en nie die gekose een is nie. Dink wat jy regtig wil hê en moenie jou hart aan iemand toevertrou voor jy eers hulle geskiktheid bepaal het nie. Die enigste manier om dit te doen is om hulle vrae te vra en X-straal visie te ontwikkel, sodat jy hulle motiewe deur hulle optrede kan lees. As jy ‘n ingeligte besluit gaan maak om jou lewe en die mees intieme, weerloosste dele van jouself (letterlik en figuurlik) met hom of haar te deel, moet jy jou oë en al jou ander sintuie oopmaak en regtig na die ander persoon kyk. Stop. Kyk. Luister. Bid. Dis die Bybelse formule om ‘n wyse besluit te neem wanneer jy ‘n lewensmaat kies.
Sielskos: Eks 22-24; Matt 7:15-29; Ps 79; Spr 2:9-10
2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV
An ox and a donkey each have a tail, two eyes, and four legs. But if you harness them together, they won’t get along or work well together. Actually, they will pull in different directions. That’s because God made them with very different natures and attributes! With that picture in your mind, here’s some advice on dating you’d be wise to heed. Looks soon fade, so choose someone who has other, less obvious attributes. For example: (1) Consider their manners and how they treat the waiter at the restaurant. (2) What type of interests do they have? (3) Do they share your spiritual values and beliefs? (4) Do they show genuine interest in what you have to say? (5) How do they treat people they’re not trying to impress? Once the newness of the initial attraction wears off, there must be something more, or the relationship is doomed. And make sure you’re the chooser, and not the chosen. Think about what you really want, and don’t entrust your heart to someone without first ascertaining their suitability. The only way to do that is to ask questions and develop X-ray vision so you can learn to read their motives through their mannerisms. If you’re going to make an informed decision about sharing your life with this person, and share the most intimate, vulnerable parts of yourself literally and figuratively, you must open your eyes, along with all your senses, and really see the other person. Stop. Look. Listen. Pray. That’s the Bible’s formula for making a wise decision when it comes to choosing a mate for life.
Soul food: Exo 22-24; Matt 7:15-29; Ps 79; Prov 2:9-10
2020-01-15
Psalm 127:3 NLV
Kinders is nie ‘n manier om aandag op jouself te fokus nie. Redes soos: ‘Ek wil iemand hê wat lief is vir my,’ of ‘Ek het ingestem om kinders te kry omdat my eggenoot kinders wil hê,’ is onvolwasse ten beste en ‘n resep tot rampspoed ten slegste. As jy dit oorweeg om kinders te kry, is dit noodsaaklik om die tyd te neem om jouself af te vra of jy emosioneel, finansieel en geestelik vir die werk gereed is. Wanneer jy ‘n ouer word, neem jy die enorme taak op jou skouers om vir ‘n ander mens verantwoordelik te wees – vir die res van jou lewe! Jy kan hulle nie inruil, teruggee of van hulle skei wanneer dinge nie goedgaan nie. Dis ‘n lewenslange verbintenis en dis ‘n realiteit wat jy sal moet aanvaar. Moenie sterre in jou oë oor die babas in stootwaentjies wat jy by die winkelsentrum sien, kry nie. Moenie jouself oor ouerskap mislei en dink dat jy daaraan gewoond sal raak wanneer die baba eers daar is nie. Jy sal vir die volgende twintig jaar of so in gereedheid moet wees! Maak dus seker dat jy gereed is vir die sprong van geloof wat dit verg om iemand kragtiger as ooit tevore lief te hê. Jy is dit aan hulle, sowel as aan jouself, verskuldig. Benader ouerskap dus met gebed, oorweging en die belangrikste van alles, ‘n sin vir humor, voordat jy die sprong neem. Een verkeerde besluit van jou kant af en jy kan jou familie lewenslange hartseer besorg. Dit kan vermy word deur te bid en ‘n bietjie langer te wag, om dinge sodoende reg te doen! As jy nie gereed is om ‘n totaal ander lewenstyl vir die volgende paar dekades te volg nie, moet jy stadiger beweeg. Dink daaroor en praat met God daaroor.
Sielskos: Eks 19-21; Matt 7:1-14; Ps 74:12-23; Spr 2:7-8
Philippians 1:6 NIV
When we don’t see God working in our situations, we can be tempted to take matters into our hands and manipulate the situation. But if we want God’s will to be done in our lives, we shouldn’t try to rush things. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, tried to rush God’s plan. Sarah was old and childless, but God said to Abraham ‘I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her’ (Genesis 17:16 NIV). But Sarah tried to take things into her own hands, and gave her servant to Abraham so that he could have a son. As a result Ishmael was born, and that brought all sorts of trouble and family complications. But God said, ‘my covenant I will establish with Isaac’ (Genesis 17:21 NIV). Isaac was born as a result of God’s will, done God’s way, in God’s time. It might seem like nothing is happening, but God is always working. The Bible tells us that ‘He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.’ If God’s started something in our lives, He will certainly finish it. We don’t need to try to force things ourselves. We need to trust His timing. Waiting can feel uncomfortable, but it’s far better for us to wait for God to work things out in our lives than try to make things work ourselves. We might not understand why He’s not moving quickly, but He can see the bigger picture. The Bible says: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5 NIV). And that’s exactly what we need to do while we’re waiting.
Exo 19-21; Matt 7:1-14; Ps 74:12-23; Prov 2:7-8
