2020-02-09
Philippians 2:4 NCV
Many dictionaries define compassion as sympathy, pity, or concern – all emotional responses. But the compassion of Jesus goes beyond emotion and translates into action. The Bible says: ‘When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honour to others than to yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others’ (Philippians 2:3-4 NCV). Putting other people before ourselves can be really tricky, especially when those people frustrate us. Sometimes other people have been hurt, and they have messy lives, which can make them challenging to love. In Luke 23:43, Jesus showed compassion to a convicted criminal on the cross and saved him. The criminal said: ‘”Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”‘ (vv.42-43 NIV). We shouldn’t pick and choose who we’ll show compassion to. God cares about the needs of every single person, and we should care about their needs too. If we only care about our own needs, or the needs of those who are easy to love, we’re not acting like Jesus. We need to see beyond ourselves, even when we’re going through a tough time. There are always people around us who need support. The Bible asks: ‘If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?’ (1 John 3:17 NIV). Showing God’s love to people means being concerned about the needs of others, and being willing to step up and help.
Luke 19:11-26; Ps 36:5-9;Heb 10:19-23
Lukas 10:33 NLV
Baie woordeboeke definieer medelye as simpatie, jammerte of kommer – almal emosionele reaksies. Die medelye van Jesus oorskrei emosie en word ‘n aksie. Christelike medelye: 1) Herken die behoeftes van ander. ‘Moet niks uit selfsug doen of om daarmee te spog nie. Wees eerder nederig deur van medegelowiges meer te dink as van jouself. Julle moenie net elkeen na sy eie belange omsien nie, maar ook na mekaar se belange’ (Filippense 2:3-4 NLV). Let op dat jy meer van ander as van jouself moet dink. As jy selfgesentreerd is, sal dit tyd neem vir hierdie konsep om in te sink. Let ook op dat jy na ander mense se belange moet omsien. Soms is daardie ander mense in ‘n gemors vasgevang en nie maklik om lief te hê nie. Wat, byvoorbeeld, van die mense in die tronk? Jy sê: ‘Wel, hulle het gekry wat hulle verdien.’ Dit mag dalk die geval wees, maar het jy altyd gekry wat jy verdien, of is jy net nie uitgevang nie? Dink daaroor! Wanneer jy iemand wat siek is of in die tronk is besoek, sê Jesus: ‘…het julle dit vir Mý gedoen’ (Matteus 25:40 NLV). In Lukas 23:43, het Hy medelye aan ‘n veroordeelde krimineel aan die kruis bewys en hom gered. Jy moet nie kies en keur aan wie jy medelye bewys nie! Die Bybel sê: “‘n Mens sou medelye hê met ‘n vriend in nood. Maar julle beskuldig my sonder enige vrees vir die Almagtige” (Job 6:14 NLV). Moeder Teresa het gebid: “Laat my toe dat ek, selfs al is jy onder die onaansienlike kleed van woede, misdaad of kranksinningheid vermom, jou mag herken en sê: ‘Jesus, U wat ly, hoe soet is dit om U te dien.'”
Sielskos: Luk 19:11-26; Ps 36:5-9; Heb 10:19-23
Luke 10:33 NKJV
Many dictionaries define compassion as sympathy, pity, or concern – all emotional responses. But the compassion of Jesus transcends emotion and translates into action. Christlike compassion: (1) Recognizes the needs of others. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4 NKJV). Note the phrase “better than himself,” and then look around you at the people in your life and say to yourself, “Better than myself.” If you tend to be self-centered, it will take a while for this concept to sink in. Note also the words, “look out…for the interests of others.” Sometimes those “others” are badly messed up and not easy to love. For example, how about people in prison? You say, “Well, they got what they deserved.” Maybe – but did you always get what you deserved or did you just not get caught? Think about it! When you visit someone sick or in prison, Jesus said you’re “doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:40 NLT). In Luke 23:43, He showed compassion to a convicted criminal on the cross and saved him. You shouldn’t pick and choose to whom you’ll show compassion! The Bible says, “To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty” (Job 6:14 NKJV). Mother Teresa prayed, “Grant that, even if you are hidden under the unattractive disguise of anger, crime, or madness, I may recognize you and say, ‘Jesus, You who suffer, how sweet it is to serve You.'”
Soul food: Luke 19:11-26; Ps 36:5-9; Heb 10:19-23
2020-02-08
Colossians 3:12 NIV
We all know that we should be kind to others, but it’s not always easy, especially when people are ungrateful or unkind towards us. The Bible tells us that we should ‘clothe’ ourselves with kindness. This suggests it’s something we need to put on each day, rather than something that comes naturally to us. So it’s normal for us to struggle to be kind sometimes. But as Christians, we have to choose kindness, no matter what. The Bible tells us about a Samaritan man who chose kindness. When a Jewish man was attacked and beaten on the road to Jericho, a number of other Jewish people walked straight past. But the Samaritan man stopped and helped. Not only did he choose to be kind to another man, but he chose to be kind to someone who was culturally his ‘enemy’. The Samaritan and Jewish people didn’t mix, but this man ignored that, and helped the injured man. He chose to be kind by cleaning his wounds, taking him to an inn, and paying the expenses. He went above and beyond what was necessary. He put kindness first (you can read the full story in Luke 10). We need to be like that Samaritan man. We need to choose to respond to those around us with kindness, even when we don’t get along with them. When other people aren’t kind to us, we need to decide whether we’re going to let bitterness or kindness win in our hearts. It might feel like a massive challenge to show kindness to them, but the Holy Spirit is there to help us develop it in our lives. Kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit, and will be produced in our lives when we let the Spirit lead. Will you choose kindness today?
Isa 53-57; Matt 13:10-23; Ps 125; Prov 4:3-4
Kolossense 3:12 NLV
Omdat die mense wat ons elke dag teëkom oplet wat se klere ons dra, sê die Bybel: ‘Daarom moet julle die volgende soos klere aantrek: …vriendelikheid…’ Soms is vriendelikheid egter die laaste ding in ons gedagtes. Dink hoe dikwels jy al verby ‘n motoris wat langs die pad gestrand is gery het sonder om te stop of selfs aan te bied om vir hulp te skakel. Of jy het toegelaat dat die besigheid en druk van werk veroorsaak dat jy kortaf met ander is. Ons moet soos die jong man wees wat in die groente en vrugte afdeling in ‘n supermark gewerk het. Op sy eerste dag by die werk, het ‘n vrou na hom toe gekom en gevra om ‘n halwe kop blaarslaai te koop. Hy het probeer om haar daarvan te laat afsien, maar sy het daarop aangedring. Uiteindelik het hy gesê: ‘Ek moet met my bestuurder gaan praat.’ Hy het na die agterkant van die winkel geloop en nie agtergekom dat die vrou hom volg nie. Toe hy die bestuurder opspoor, het hy vir hom gesê: ‘Daar is ‘n simpel ou vrou wat net ‘n halwe kop blaarslaai wil koop. Wat moet ek vir haar sê?’ Toe hy die geskokte uitdrukking op sy bestuurder se gesig sien, het hy besef dat die vrou agter hom staan. Hy het toe omgedraai en in sy galantste stem gesê: ‘En hierdie oulike dame wil die ander helfte koop.’ Nadat generaal Robert E. Lee uit die militêre diens uitgetree het, het hy die president van Washington Kollege in Lexington, Virginia, geword. Een dag het ‘n nuwe student na sy kantoor toe gekom en vir ‘n afskrif van die kollege se reëls en regulasies gevra. Die ou generaal het geantwoord: ‘Seun, ons het nie ‘n reëlboek nie. Ons enigste reël is vriendelikheid.’ Oefen vandag dus om vriendelik te wees.
Sielskos: Jes 53-57; Matt 13:10-23; Ps 125; Spr 4:3-4
