2020-08-18
Jesaja 43:4 NLV
Jesus het verwerping ervaar: ‘Hy het na sy eiendom toe gekom, en tog het sy eie mense Hom nie aanvaar nie’ (Johannes 1:11 NLV). Hy het egter nie rondgesit en sy wonde gelek nie; Hy het aanbeweeg na waar mense Hom met vreugde ontvang het. Hy het ook vir sy dissipels gesê: ‘As hulle julle nie wil ontvang of wil luister na wat julle sê nie, gaan uit daardie huis of dorp en skud die stof van julle voete af’ (Matteus 10:14 NLV). Herhaalde verwerping is geneig om die vrees dat ons nie genoeg is nie, te bekragtig. Dis veral so wanneer dit by die opinies van diegene wat vir ons van waarde is, kom. Die ironie is egter dat optrede uit vrees vir verwerping, dikwels die presiese verwerping wat jy probeer vermy, tot gevolg het. Wanneer mense besef dat jy jouself nie baie hoog ag nie, behandel hulle jou daarvolgens. Jy leer mense hoe om jou te waardeer, deur die manier wat jy jouself waardeer. Selfs al is Jesus verwerp, het Hy nooit op ‘n manier opgetree wat aanhoudende verwerping aangemoedig het nie. Hy het nie op plekke gebly waar Hy verdra is nie; Hy het na plekke gegaan waar Hy gevier is. Met ander woorde, Hy het na plekke gegaan waar mense sy persoon, sy doel en sy krag herken en ontvang het. Hy het God se volle aanvaarding gehad, dus het Hy nie mense se verwerping gevrees nie. Jy het ook God se volle aanvaarding. ‘Omdat jy vir My kosbaar en belangrik is, omdat Ek jou liefhet…’ Die eerste stap om verwerping te oorkom, is om God se opinie van jou te alle tye in jou gedagtes te hou.
Sielskos: Rig 1-3; Luk 14:25-35; Ps 119:89-96; Spr 18:6-8
Isaiah 43:4 NIVUK
Jesus experienced rejection. The Bible says: ‘He came to his own people, and even they rejected him’ (John 1:11 NLT). But instead of letting their rejection hurt Him, He moved on to where people happily received Him. And He told His disciples, ‘If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave’ (Matthew 10:14 NLT). When we’re rejected, it can make us believe the fear that we’re inadequate in some way, or not good enough. And we’re especially vulnerable when we’re rejected by someone whose opinion we value. The problem is that when we start to act on that fear by lowering our opinion of ourselves, others can pick up on that and may begin to think of us as low value. When we don’t set boundaries, or express preferences, or set any other limitations on how we’ll allow others to treat us, they’ll assume we don’t mind how they behave towards us. So let’s look at Jesus’ example: even though He was rejected, He never responded in a way that encouraged that rejection to carry on. He didn’t stay where He wasn’t wanted; He went to where He was welcomed. He went to where people recognised and received Him, His purpose, and His power. He knew he had God’s full acceptance, so He understood His value and didn’t fear others’ rejection. And we have God’s full acceptance too. ‘You are precious and honoured in my sight, and…I love you.’ The first step to overcoming rejection is to keep God’s opinion of you in your mind at all times.
Judg 1-3; Luke 14:25-35; Ps 119:89-96; Prov 18:6-8
2020-08-17
Numbers 12:6 NKJV
If you ask God, He will give you a vision for your life – one that will enable you to see the end goal, get excited, and move progressively toward it. When parents are exhausted with potty training, poor grades, teenage tantrums and fender benders, and you remind them that it’s only a temporary season – you are practicing visionary thinking. Visions aren’t limited to pastors, politicians, business tycoons, and presidents – they are for everybody. Visionary thinking gives you a bigger perspective. It’s like enlarging a picture; it expands not only what you can see, but what you believe you are able to do. Visionary thinking calls for three things: (1) Learning. Be sure of what you know and value it – but never settle for it. Form new relationships, read new books, and learn new skills. Become a lifelong learner. (2) Listening. Seek out those who have expertise in areas where you don’t. Partner with people who can do things you can’t. Ask questions that enlarge your understanding and thinking, and then listen carefully and record what you hear. (3) Looking. It’s hard to see the picture while you’re inside the frame. There’s a world outside your own, so you must get outside of yourself and see it through the eyes of others. To meet people’s needs, you must first find out how they think. That calls for humility, getting over your personal agenda, and trying to understand the other person’s point of view. The Bible puts it this way: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4 NKJV).
Soul food: Ruth 2-4; Luke 14:15-24; Ps 119:81-88; Prov 18:1-5
Numeri 12:6 AFR83
As jy God vra, sal Hy vir jou ‘n visie vir jou lewe gee – een wat jou in staat sal stel om die einddoel te sien, opgewonde te raak en progressief daarnatoe te beweeg. Wanneer ouers uitgeput deur besige kleuters, slegte punte en balhorige tieners raak en jy hulle daaraan herinner dat dit net ‘n tydelike seisoen is – beoefen jy visioenêre denke. Visies word nie tot pastore, politici, sakemanne en presidente beperk nie – hulle is vir almal. Visioenêre denke gee jou ‘n groter perspektief. Dis soos om die prentjie te vergroot; dit brei nie net dit wat jy kan sien uit nie, maar ook wat jy glo jy in staat is om te doen. Visioenêre denke benodig drie dinge: 1) Leer. Wees seker van dit wat jy weet en waardeer dit – maar moet nooit op jou louere rus nie. Vorm nuwe verhoudings, lees nuwe boeke en leer nuwe vaardighede aan. Word ‘n lewenslange leerder. 2) Luister. Soek diegene uit wat kundigheid het in areas waar jy te kort skiet. Vra vrae wat jou begrip en denkwyse vergroot en luister en onthou versigtig wat jy hoor. 3) Kyk. Dis moeilik om die prentjie te sien wanneer jy binne die raam staan. Daar is ‘n wêreld buite jou eie, dus moet jy buite jouself beweeg en dit deur die oë van ander mense sien. Om aan mense se behoeftes te voldoen, moet jy eers uitvind hoe hulle dink. Dit verg dat jy nederig is, oor jou eie persoonlik agenda kom en die ander persoon se uitgangspunt probeer verstaan. Die Bybel stel dit so: ‘Julle moenie net elkeen na sy eie belange omsien nie, maar ook na mekaar se belange’ (Filippense 2:4 NLV).
Sielskos: Rut 2-4; Luk 14:15-24; Ps 119:81-88; Spr 18:1-5
Numbers 12:6 ESV
The word vision has lots of meanings. Physical sight aside, there are two meanings to learn from today. We can connect vision with messages from God, as in Acts 2:17, where we’re told ‘your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams’ (NIV). Visions are sent from God to share truth and important words that He wants His people to know. We also come across the idea of vision when we think of plans for the future. We often think of our long-term goals in that way, calling them visions for our lives, or careers, or families. Both types of vision are important, and both are from God. Words from Him, and plans for our lives both require His perspective. In Jeremiah 29:11, God says ‘”I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”‘ (NIV). If we truly want to step into the life that God has ready for us, we’ll need to dig deep into what He wants to say to us, and what His plan is for our future. In order to live like this, we have to put everything that we have into our relationship with God. James 4:8 says ‘draw near to God and He will draw near to you’ (NKJV). It’s only when we’re close to Him that our hearts and minds become clear enough for us to receive any kind of vision from Him. Let’s commit ourselves to welcoming the Holy Spirit into our minds, pressing as close to our Father as we can, so that we may ‘see visions’ and ‘dream dreams’ for our lives.
Ruth 2-4; Luke 14:15-24; Ps 119:81-88; Prov 18:1-5
