2020-02-06
Ephesians 5:2 NKJV
In America you will sometimes see cars with bumper stickers announcing that their child is an “honor student” at a particular school. And while we all feel good about the successes of our children, two potential problems can arise. First, there’s a natural irritation on the part of parents whose kids struggle or are less gifted. One mother put this bumper sticker on her car: “My kid can beat up your honor student.” A second problem arises when the pride of the family is riding on the shoulders of an immature child. Your child is not designed to handle that level of pressure! They need to know that they are loved and accepted because of their own unique worth. John McKay, the great football coach at the University of Southern California, had a son who was also a successful football player on the USC team. When an interviewer asked Coach McKay to comment on the pride he felt over his son’s accomplishments, this is what he said: “Yes, I’m pleased that John Jr. had a good season this year. He does a fine job, and I’m proud of him. But I would be just as proud if he had never played the game at all.” Great answer! His son would not lose his father’s respect if the next year brought failure and disappointment, because his place in his father’s heart was secure and independent of his performance. That’s the kind of love your children need from you. “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us.” Christ’s love is not performance based; it’s unconditional, unbreakable, and unending. Yours must be too!
Soul food: Isa 45-48; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 120; Prov 3:33-35
Efesiërs 5:2 NLV
In Amerika sal jy soms motors sien met ‘n plakker wat aandui dat hulle kind ‘n ‘erestudent’ by ‘n spesifieke skool is. Terwyl ons almal goed oor die suksesse van ons kinders voel, kan twee potensiële probleme voorkom. Eerstens, is daar die natuurlike irritasie van die ouers wie se kinders sukkel of minder talentvol is. Een ma het ‘n plakker op haar kar geplak wat gelui het: ‘My kind kan jou erestudent opdons.’ ‘n Tweede probleem kom voor wanneer die trots van die familie op die skouers van ‘n onvolwasse kind rus. Jou kind is nie ontwerp om daardie vlak van druk te hanteer nie! Hulle moet weet dat hulle as gevolg van hulle eie unieke waarde geliefd is en aanvaar word. John McKay, die groot voetbalafrigter by die Universiteit van Suid-Kalifornië, het ‘n seun gehad wat ook ‘n suksesvolle voetbalspeler in die universiteit se span was. Toe iemand in ‘n onderhoud vir McKay vra om kommentaar oor sy seun se prestasies te lewer, het hy die volgende gesê: ‘Ja, ek is tevrede dat John Jr ‘n goeie seisoen hierdie jaar gehad het. Hy het hom goed van sy taak gekwyt en ek is trots op hom. Ek sou egter net so trots op hom gewees het indien hy glad nie gespeel het nie.’ Wonderlike antwoord! Sy seun sou nie sy pa se respek verloor as die volgende jaar mislukking en teleurstelling meebring nie, want sy plek in sy pa se hart was veilig en onafhanklik van sy prestasie. Dis die tipe liefde wat jou kinders van jou nodig het. ‘Ja, leef ‘n lewe van liefde. Christus het julle mos ook so liefgehad…’ Christus se liefde word nie op prestasies gebaseer nie; dis onvoorwaardelik, onbreekbaar en nimmereindigend. Joune moet ook so wees!
Sielskos: Jes 45-48; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 120; Spr 3:33-35
2020-02-05
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
When we’re having to walk into a new situation, we can feel anxious because of the unknowns that lie ahead of us. Israel had just come out of 430 years of slavery. Now they were free to own their own homes, raise their own families, work at jobs they liked, and be well paid for it. But the Promised Land wasn’t problem-free. There were enemies who had to be conquered one by one, which would take time. ‘The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you’ (Deuteronomy 7:22 NIV). This can feel quite similar to some of the situations we find ourselves in. Sometimes we’re about to embark on a new relationship, a new job, or an unfamiliar area where we don’t have all the answers, and because we don’t know exactly what’s involved, we feel anxious about it. But God not only promises to be with us every step of the way, He also promises that He’s already gone ahead of us. He knows the things we’ll have to face. He knows the way we need to walk. The Bible says: ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you…The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you’ (Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NIV). That’s an amazing promise. We’ll never be left on our own, and we never have to fear the unknown because God knows everything about our futures. It may feel new and scary, but we can walk forwards confidently because we know it’s the same, faithful God guiding us.
Isa 42-44; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 108; Prov 3:31-32
Deuteronomium 31:8 NLV
Voel jy vandag angstig omdat jy nie weet wat op jou wag nie? Israel was op pad na ‘n goeie situasie, die Beloofde Land, toe. Hulle het nou net uit ‘n slegte situasie gekom: 430 jaar van sielsvernietigende, rugbrekende, hooplose slawerny. Nou sou hulle vry wees om hulle eie huise te besit, hulle families groot te maak, werk te doen waarvan hulle hou en goed daarvoor betaal te word. Die Beloofde Land was egter nie sonder probleme nie. Daar was vestings van vyande wat een vir een verower moes word, wat tyd sou neem. ‘Die Here jou God sal daardie nasies een vir een voor jou uit verdryf. Jy sal hulle nie sommer almal eensklaps kan verdryf nie, want as jy dit doen, sal die wilde diere te vinnig vir jou vermeerder’ (Deuteronomium 7:22 NLV). Bevind jy jouself vandag in ‘n soortgelyke situasie? Begin jy met ‘n nuwe verhouding, ‘n nuwe werk, ‘n nuwe bediening of ‘n onbekende area waar jy nie al die antwoorde het nie? Is jy angstig omdat jy nie presies weet wat dit alles sal behels nie? Moenie wees nie! Hier is die woord vir jou vandag: ‘Wees sterk en hou moed! Moenie vir hulle bang wees nie! Die Here julle God sal met julle wees. Hy sal julle nie in die steek laat nie en julle nie verlaat nie… Moenie bang of mismoedig wees nie, want die Here is die Een wat voor jou uitgaan. Hy sal by jou wees. Hy sal jou nie in die steek laat nie en jou nie verlaat nie’ (Deuteronomium 31:6-8 NLV). Dra hierdie beloftes saam met jou. Wanneer jou selfvertroue en geloof begin wankel, lees hulle, staan op hulle en maak staat op God om sy Woord te eer.
Sielskos: Jes 42-44; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 108; Spr 3:31-32
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
Are you feeling anxious today because you don’t know what you’re walking into? Israel was going into a good situation, the Promised Land. They had just come out of a bad one: a back-breaking, soul-destroying, hope-extinguishing 430 years of slavery. Now they were going to be free to own their own homes, raise their own families, work at jobs they liked, and be well paid for it. But the Promised Land wasn’t problem-free. There were enemy strongholds that had to be conquered one by one, and it would take time. “The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you” (Deuteronomy 7:22 NIV). Question: Is this a similar situation to the one you find yourself in today? You’re embarking on a new relationship, a new job, a new ministry, or an unfamiliar area where you don’t have all the answers? And because you don’t know exactly what’s involved, you’re anxious? Don’t be! Here’s the word for you today: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you…The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NIV). Carry these promises with you. And when your confidence starts to falter and your faith fluctuates, read them, stand on them, and count on God to honor His Word.
Soul food: Isa 42-44; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 108; Prov 3:31-32
