2020-03-11
Johannes 13:1 NLV
Kom ons kyk weer hoe Jesus sy dissipels liefgehad het en hoe jy jou vrou moet lief hê. Hy het nooit opgehou om hulle lief te hê nie. Die Bybel sê vir ons dat Jesus ‘…was lief vir sy eie mense wat in die wêreld gewoon het. Hy het hulle enduit liefgehad.’ As die betowering uit jou huwelik verdwyn het en jy voel dat jy nie meer vir jou maat lief is nie, bid die volgende: ‘Vader, die liefde vir my eggenoot is op ‘n laagtepunt. Ek weet u Woord sê dat onfeilbare liefde geduldig, vriendelik, nederig, waardig en nie kort van draad is nie en nie boekhou van die kwaad nie (sien 1 Korintiërs 13:4-5 NLV). Ek bely dat ek boek gehou het van die kwaad en min geduld vir my maat se tekortkominge gehad het. Vergewe my vir my geestelike onvolwassenheid. Ek vra U om my hart te deurdring en my eggenoot deur my lief te hê. Help my om my wrokkigheid te laat gaan en maak ons huwelik ‘n model van hoe U die kerk liefgehad het en Uself daarvoor gegee het. Werk in ons, Here, om te doen wat vir U aanneemlik is (sien Filippense 2:13). Genees en herstel ons verhouding tot u verheerliking. Lei ons om ons liefde te herstel volgens die patroon wat in u Woord gegee word: deur die dinge te onthou wat ons saam gedoen het, om ons mislukkings te bely en om die vuur van liefde wat ons aan die begin gehad het, weer aan te blaas (sien Openbaring 2:5). Net U kan ‘n persoon se hart verander en ek gee my hart en emosies aan U oor. ‘…Bring ons terug en herstel ons, want U is die Here ons God’ (Jeremia 31:18 NLV). In die Naam van Jesus bid ek dit, Amen.’
Sielskos: Gen 40-41; Matt 22:1-14; Ps 27; Spr 7:10-20
John 8:19 NLT
Jesus also showed the disciples love by demonstrating God’s love to them. The best way we can love someone is to point them to the One who loves them more than any other human ever could. God’s love for us is above any other experience of love we will ever have. It’s unconditional and unending. Nothing can separate us from this love. The Bible says: ‘Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8:39 NLT). Jesus always pointed people back to God. He glorified God when miracles occurred, and said that ‘the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does’ (John 5:19 NLT). He also told people that they would know God if they knew Him. ‘Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.’ Jesus always pointed people to His Father. And we need to be pointing people to God too. How can we say we love someone if we don’t tell them that Jesus died to save them? How can we keep God’s amazing love to ourselves? The people around us need to know that there’s a God who loves them. We’re called to share the Good News, and it’s a great way of loving others. Sometimes we can tell people with words, other times they can watch our lifestyle. We need to be passionate about living in a way that leads other people to question what’s different about us. We need to let God’s love shine out of us.
Gen 40-41; Matt 22:1-14; Ps 27; Prov 7:10-20
John 13:1 NLT
Let’s look again at how Jesus loved His disciples and how you should love your wife. He never stopped loving them. The Bible tells us that Jesus “had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth…and now he loved them to the very end.” Do you remember the marriage vows you took? “For better, for worse…for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death us do part”? If the magic has left your marriage and you feel like you’ve fallen out of love with your mate, pray: “Father, my love for my spouse is at an all-time low. I know Your Word says unfailing love is patient, kind, humble, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs (See 1 Corinthians 13:4-5). I confess that I’ve kept records of offenses and had little patience with my mate’s shortcomings. Forgive me for my spiritual immaturity. I ask You to permeate my heart and love my spouse through me. Help me to let go of resentment and make our marriage a model of how You loved the church and gave Yourself for it. Work in us, Lord, both to will and to do Your good pleasure (See Philippians 2:13). Heal and restore our relationship for Your glory. Guide us as we follow the pattern established in Your Word for regenerating and restoring lost love: remembering the things we used to do together, repenting of our failings, and rekindling the fire of love we had in the beginning (See Revelation 2:5). Only You can change a person’s heart, and I submit my heart and emotions to You now. ‘Turn…me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God’ (Jeremiah 31:18). In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.”
Soul food: Gen 40-41; Matt 22:1-14; Ps 27; Prov 7:10-20
2020-03-10
Matthew 10:1 NCV
Let’s take another look at how Jesus loved the founders of the church, His twelve disciples. He recognised their gifts. He rejoiced in their successes. He supported and encouraged them to grow to their full potential. Jesus took the time to affirm people’s identity and encouraged them to do the things they’d been created to do. For example, He said to Peter: ‘So I tell you, you are Peter. On this rock I will build my church, and the power of death will not be able to defeat it’ (Matthew 16:18 NCV). He often pushed the disciples out of their comfort zones. He sent them out to do kingdom work and gave them the authority to heal and help people. The Bible says: ‘Jesus called his twelve followers together and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and sickness.’ Jesus didn’t need their help, but He wanted to get them involved. Are we willing to love others like that? Sometimes we want to do everything ourselves because we want to remain in control. Other times, we think it would just be much quicker to sort things out ourselves rather than involve other people. But if we want to love people well, we need to encourage them and give them opportunities to develop their God-given gifts. When we truly love someone, we won’t try to hold them back or try to control them because of our insecurities. We’ll recognise their gifting, help them become everything God called them to be, release them, and celebrate their successes with them. That’s how Jesus loved, so that’s how we should love too.
Gen 37-39; Matt 21:33-46; Ps 112; Prov 7:6-9
Proverbs 5:18 NKJV
The Bible says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ…loved the church” (Ephesians 5:25 NKJV), so let’s take another look at how Christ loved the founders of the church, His twelve disciples. He recognized their gifts. He rejoiced in their successes. He supported and encouraged them to grow to their full potential. Are you willing to do that? When you truly love someone, you won’t try to hold them back or seek to control them because of your insecurities. You’ll recognize their gifting, help them become everything God called them to be, release them, and celebrate their successes. And should their light shine brighter than yours, become their biggest cheerleader. If this wasn’t modeled in your family of origin, chances are, you’ll have to work at it. And if you had an unfaithful partner in a previous relationship, you may need to ask God to heal your heart and give you a new level of trust. Building this kind of relationship calls for a level of humility and honesty you’re probably not used to. It may require overcoming your male ego, admitting your fears, and saying to your wife, “I love you and I really want to trust you. Will you please help me?” Until you get through this stage and feel more secure about your relationship, a marriage partner who truly loves you will go the extra mile when it comes to telling you where they’ve been and who they spent time with during the day. The truth is, sometimes you have to fight for your marriage – but it’s worth it, because in the end, you both win!
Soul food: Gen 37-39; Matt 21:33-46; Ps 112; Prov 7:6-9
