2020-02-13
Jona 1:12 NLV
Dis ‘n fout om aan iemand vas te klou as God sê dat jy hulle moet laat gaan. Totdat jy God gehoorsaam, sal die storm waarin jy jouself bevind, aanhou erger word. Dit was die geval met Jona. Die Bybel sê: ‘Die storm het al hoe hewiger geword; daarom het hulle hom gevra: ‘Wat moet ons met jou doen sodat die see kan bedaar?’ Jona het hulle geantwoord: ‘Gooi my in die see en dit sal kalm word. Ek weet ék is die oorsaak van hierdie groot storm.’ Die matrose het egter nog harder geroei en die land probeer bereik. Hulle was nie suksesvol nie, want die see het net al hoe onstuimiger geword. Hulle het die Here aangeroep en gesê: ‘Ag, Here, moet tog nie dat ons weens hierdie man vergaan nie. Moet ons nie verantwoordelik hou vir sy dood nie. Here, U het gedoen soos U wou.’ Toe het die matrose Jona opgetel en in die see gegooi. Die onstuimige see het dadelik kalm geword’ (verse 11-15 NLV). God het ‘n plan vir die ‘Jonasse’ in jou lewe en hulle mag dalk eers die bodem moet tref voor hulle weer kan begin styg. So lank as wat jy hulle probeer red, word God se plan gedwarsboom en vertraag. Jona se probleem was nie dat Hy God nie liefgehad het nie, maar dat hy nie God se wil wou doen nie. Dus het God tot die uiterstes gegaan om sy aandag te kry, om sodoende die stad Nineve te red. Jy het geen idee wat God vir die persoon wat Hy jou vra om te laat gaan, in gedagte het nie. As hulle een van sy verloste kinders is, wil Hy hulle voorspoedig maak (sien Jeremia 29:11). Dis hoekom Hy hulle wil red – so laat hulle gaan!
Sielskos: Rom 3:21-6:23; Matt 14:1-12; Ps 145:1-13; Spr 4:20-22
2020-02-12
1 Johannes 2:20 NLV
Het jy al ooit ‘n gesprek met iemand in jou gedagtes gevoer? Eers bespreek jy die een kant van die kwessie en dan die ander. Dink dus hieroor: As jy ‘n gesprek met jouself in jou gedagtes kan hê, dink jy nie God kan ook ‘n gesprek met jou in jou gedagtes hê nie? Die probleem is dat ons gedagtes dikwels onbetroubaar is omdat ons dit met soveel gemors besoedel; daarom twyfel ons aan sy vermoë om met ons deur ons gedagtes te praat. Sodra God jou verlos, begin Hy om jou denke te vernuwe (sien Romeine 12:2). Paulus skryf: ‘…’Wie kan verstaan wat die Here dink? Wie kan Hom raad gee?’ Óns kan hierdie dinge egter verstaan, want ons is ingestel om soos Christus te dink’ (1 Korintiërs 2:16 NLV). Wanneer God jou red, begin Hy om sy gedagtes deur jou te dink. Hy praat deur verskeie kanale – jou gedagtes is net een daarvan. Die Bybel sê: ‘Dis mos God wat julle gewillig maak om te doen waarvan Hy hou, en Hy gee julle ook die vermoë om dit te kán doen!’ (Filippense 2:13 NLV). God sal jou wil rig en in jou ‘n begeerte skep om die dinge te doen wat Hom behaag. Hy volhard ook in sy leiding. Wanneer ‘n begeerte om iets te doen aanhoudend terugkeer, mag dit dalk God wees wat jou lei. Dis hoekom dit noodsaaklik is om jou gedagtes te monitor en te beskerm. Jesus het gesê: ‘Julle is reeds skoon gesnoei deur die boodskap wat Ek met julle gedeel het’ (Johannes 15:3 NLV). Reinig jou gedagtes elke dag met God se Woord en stel jouself in om te hoor wat Hy vir jou sê.
Sielskos: Rom 1:1-3:20; Matt 13:47-58; Ps 141; Spr 4:18-19
Romans 12:2 NIV
Ever had a thought and you weren’t sure where it came from? God can speak to us through our thoughts, and guide us in the way He wants us to go. But there’s a problem. We often fill our minds with so many unhelpful things that we struggle to discern where our thoughts are coming from. We doubt that we can hear Him through our thoughts, and we’d rather He did something more obvious such as speak in an audible voice. When we become Christians, God starts the process of renewing our minds. Paul writes that ‘we have the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:16). When God saves us, He starts thinking His thoughts through us. But it can be challenging to work out whether some of our thoughts are ours, God’s, or lies from the enemy. We need to test each thought to make sure it lines up with God’s truth. We need to be careful about what we’re letting ourselves read, watch, and listen to. And we need to spend time listening to God and learning more about His character through reading the Bible. The deeper our relationship is with Him, the easier we’ll find it to recognise His voice. This is what Romans 12:2 is talking about. Our minds need to be renewed so that they’re aware of God’s truth, and so that we ‘will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.’ If we’re struggling to know whether it’s a God-given thought, we can go to Him for wisdom. The Bible says: ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you’ (James 1:5 NIV). Let’s get into the habit of testing our thoughts to see if they’re from God.
Rom 1:1-3:20; Matt 13:47-58; Ps 141; Prov 4:18-19
1 John 2:20 NKJV
Have you ever held a conversation with someone in your mind? You took one side of the issue and then the other. So think about this: If you can have a conversation with yourself in your mind, don’t you think God can have a conversation with you in your mind too? The trouble is, our minds often prove to be unreliable because we’ve polluted them with so much junk; therefore, we doubt His ability to speak through our thoughts. Once God redeems you, He starts renewing your mind (See Romans 12:2). Paul writes, “Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV). Did you get that? When God saves you, He starts thinking His thoughts through you. He speaks through many different channels – your mind is just one of them. The Bible says, “God…works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). Note the phrase “to will and to act.” God will actually direct your will and create a desire in you to do the thing that pleases Him. And there’s persistence in His leading. When you have a desire to do something that keeps recurring, it may be God directing you. That’s why it’s crucial to monitor your mind and screen the thoughts you entertain. Jesus said, “You are already clean because of the word…I have spoken to you” (John 15:3 NKJV). Bathe your mind every day with God’s Word, and fine-tune your “receiver” to hear what He’s saying to you.
Soul food: Rom 1:1-3:20; Matt 13:47-58; Ps 141; Prov 4:18-19
2020-02-11
Romans 12:15 NKJV
To show compassion we need to recognise and understand other people’s emotions. The Bible says, ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.’ In other words, if someone is hurting, hurt with them, and if they’re happy, be happy for them. If our colleague has just been promoted, we can either let ourselves become jealous and resentful or we can rejoice with them. Or if someone we know just lost a loved one and we don’t know what to say, we just need to be there for them. We can enter a part of the grieving process with them. Showing compassion goes beyond words. It’s about recognising the emotions of others, and then allowing ourselves to feel those emotions too. The Bible tells us about a time when Jesus’ friend died (you can read about this in John 11). When Jesus arrived at the scene, Lazarus had been dead for a few days and everyone was mourning. He knew He could raise Lazarus from the dead, and He did. But before that, we’re told that ‘Jesus wept’ (John 11:35 NIV). He allowed himself to enter into the emotions of those around Him. And that’s what we need to do too. Paul said: ‘Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves…clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience’ (Colossians 3:12 NLTUK). In our interactions with others, we need to be wearing all these things. If we’re frustrated with someone because of their struggles, or we’re impatient because of the things we’re personally going through, we can sometimes come across as insensitive. But we’re called to be gentle, kind, and patient with people. We’re called to walk alongside people, whatever they’re going through.
Isa 63-66; Matt 13:36-46; Ps 138; Prov 4:14-17
