2020-08-11
Filippense 3:13-14 NLV
Hoe groter die oortreding, hoe moeiliker is dit om te vergewe – maar jy moet. Dit wat jy weier om te vergewe en te laat gaan, dra jy met jou saam. Dit sal soos ‘n albatros om jou nek wees. Het iemand jou misbruik, jou verkul, oor jou gelieg, jou afgedank of op ‘n ander wyse sleg behandel? Het jy jouself gefaal? Wat jou spesifieke seer ook al mag wees, die oplossing is nie om dit te voed of dit te ontken nie. Jy moet dit vergewe en laat gaan, andersins sal jy aanhou om jouself seer te maak. Iemand het gesê deur te kies om nie ‘n ander persoon te vergewe nie, is soos om gif te eet en te verwag dat die ander persoon sal doodgaan. Om vorentoe te beweeg, moet jy ‘laat gaan’ en vrede met die verlede maak. Paulus kon maklik toegelaat het dat die herinnering aan die Christene wat hy vervolg het voor hy Christus begin volg het, hom vernietig en sy lewensdoel by hom steel. In plaas daarvan het hy geskryf: ‘Broers en susters, moenie my verkeerd verstaan nie. Ek wil nie maak asof ek die een is wat volmaak is nie. Alles behalwe dit; maar ek gee alles om so te probeer wees. Daarom steur ek my nie meer aan my verlede en al die dinge wat toe skeefgeloop het nie. Soos ‘n atleet wat sy oë net op die wenpaal hou, so span ek alles in my in: ek wíl die prys aan die einde kry. God self sal die prys uitdeel en my dan na Hom toe roep omdat ek aan Jesus behoort’ (verse 13-14 DB). Hier is nog ‘n Skrifgedeelte: ‘…vergewe eers enigeen teenoor wie julle ‘n grief het. Dan sal julle hemelse Vader ook julle oortredings vergewe’ (Markus 11:25 NLV). Vergewe dus en beweeg aan.
Sielskos: Deut 28-29; Luk 12:35-48; Ps 119:41-48; Spr 17:17
Philippians 3:13-14 NIVUK
The more someone has hurt us, the harder it is to forgive them. But we must choose forgiveness, because whatever we refuse to forgive and let go of, we carry with us like a weight. Sometimes we may even need to forgive ourselves for something we’ve done. Whatever our particular hurt, the solution isn’t feeding it by feeling sorry for ourselves, or denying it by pretending it never happened. We have to face the hurt, then forgive and let it go, or we’ll continue to hurt ourselves. Someone once said that choosing not to forgive somebody is like eating poison and expecting the other person to die. In order to move forward, we have to let go and be at peace with the past. Paul put many Christians to death before he met Christ. He could easily have allowed that memory to destroy him and rob him of his destiny. But he refused to let it. Instead he wrote: ‘Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:13-14 NIVUK). Paul hadn’t forgotten his past, but knowing that God had forgiven him, he wasn’t going to let his past hold him back. Mark 11:25 says: ‘If you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins’ (NIV). Starting today, choose forgiveness.
Deut 28-29; Luke 12:35-48; Ps 119:41-48; Prov 17:17
Philippians 3:13-14 NIV
The greater the offense, the harder it is to forgive – but you must. Because whatever you refuse to forgive and let go of, you carry with you. And it will be like an albatross around your neck. Has someone abused you, cheated on you, lied about you, fired you, or otherwise mistreated you? Have you failed yourself? Are you asking, “How can I get beyond my past mistakes and become successful again?” Whatever your particular hurt, the solution isn’t feeding it or denying it. You have to forgive and let it go, or you will continue to hurt yourself. Someone said that choosing not to forgive somebody is like eating poison and expecting the other person to die. In order to move forward, you have to “let go” and be at peace with the past. Paul could easily have allowed the memory of the Christians he put to death before meeting Christ to destroy him and rob him of his destiny. But he refused to do it. Instead he wrote: “Dear brothers [and sisters], I am still not all that I should be but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us” (vv.13-14 TLB). And here’s one more Scripture: “If you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25 NIV). So the word for you today is – “Forgive and move on.”
Soul food: Deut 28-29; Luke 12:35-48; Ps 119:41-48; Prov 17:17
2020-08-10
Ephesians 2:8 NKJV
In a sense there were two prodigal sons, and both grew up in a religious culture that praised rule keepers and punished rule breakers. Notice how this chapter begins: “All the tax collectors and sinners drew near to Him…And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners…So He spoke this parable to them” (Luke 15:1-3 NKJV). Here Jesus is talking to two different groups: (1) Rule breakers like the Prodigal Son, who know it’s only through God’s grace that we are saved. (2) Rule keepers like the older brother, who think they can earn or contribute to salvation by doing good works. And that makes rule keepers judgmental toward rule breakers. The older brother refused to attend his brother’s homecoming party. Why? Listen: “Father, unlike him, I have served you and kept your commandments. This is not right or fair” (See Luke 15:29). Sound familiar? Here’s what the father told him: “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours” (v. 31 NKJV). Observe the word “son.” Jesus was teaching that we’re saved by “relationship,” not “rule keeping.” The older brother thought his father’s acceptance depended on his performance. Yes, there’s a place in God’s kingdom for performance. Your rewards in heaven are based upon your performance on earth. But your redemption depends on Christ’s performance only: “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV). Yes, God will challenge, chastise, and cleanse you in order to change you into the person He wants you to be. But you are saved by grace alone.
Soul food: Deut 25-27; Luke 12:22-34; Ps 119:33-40; Prov 17:16
Efesiërs 2:8 AFR83
In ‘n gelykenis was daar twee verlore seuns en beide het in ‘n godsdienstige kultuur wat reëls hoog op prys gestel het, grootgeword. ‘Tollenaars en ander berugte sondaars het dikwels na Jesus se onderrig kom luister. Fariseërs en wetskenners het beswaar gemaak dat Hy met veragtelike mense geassosieer het… Jesus het toe hierdie illustrasie gebruik…’ (Lukas 15:1-3 NLV). Hier praat Jesus met twee verskillende groepe: 1) Mense wat die reëls verbreek – soos die Verlore Seun – wat weet dat ons net deur God se genade gered kan word. 2) Mense wat die reëls nakom – soos die ouer broer – wat dink hulle kan hulle verlossing verdien of deur goeie werke daartoe bydra. Die ouer broer het geweier om die fees vir sy broer se tuiskoms by te woon. ‘Vader, anders as hy, het ek jou gedien en jou gebooie nagekom. Dis nie regverdig nie’ (sien Lukas 15:29). Klink dit bekend? Sy vader het hom geantwoord: ‘…Kyk, my liewe seun, ek en jy is nog altyd hier bymekaar en alles wat ek het, is tog joune’ (vers 31 NLV). Ja, daar is ‘n plek in God se koninkryk vir goeie dade. Jou beloning in die hemel hang van jou dade hier op aarde af. Jou redding hang egter net van Christus se optrede af: ‘Julle is inderdaad uit genade gered, deur geloof. Hierdie redding kom nie uit julleself nie; dit is ‘n gawe van God. Dit kom nie deur julle eie verdienste nie, en daarom het niemand enige rede om op homself trots te wees nie’ (Efesiërss 2:8-9 AFR83). Ja, God sal jou uitdaag, berispe en reinig sodat jy in die persoon wat Hy wil hê jy moet wees, sal verander. Jy is egter net deur genade alleenlik gered.
Sielskos: Deut 25-27; Luk 12:22-34; Ps 119:33-40; Spr 17:16
