2021-03-03
Mark 3:35 MSG
The Bible says: “[Jesus] was surrounded by the crowd when he was given the message, ‘Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside looking for you.’ Jesus responded, ‘Who do you think are my mother and brothers?’ Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, ‘Right here, right in front of you – my mother and my brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God’s will is my brother and sister and mother'” (vv. 31-35 TM).
One of your greatest tests of faith will be family members who don’t understand you or share your values and vision. And it calls for wisdom and grace on your part.
Despite His family’s inability to understand Him, Jesus continued to care for them and respect them. However, He refused to let them dictate to Him or alter the assignment He believed God had given Him. His priority was the people who had gathered to hear what He had to say.
Are you feeling misunderstood and rejected by your family today? Then pray this prayer: “Father, help me to live as Jesus lived; facing head-on those who misunderstand me, hearing their words and feeling the sting of their accusations, yet learning to live above them. Help me to be gracious toward the one whose life is being consumed by resentment and crippled by fear. Bring me full circle to a place of peace, so that no matter who may misunderstand me, I’m able to go on like Jesus went on – all the way to the cross, the resurrection, and the prize. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.”
Soul food: Gen 35-36; Matt 20:17-28; Ps 77; Prov 6:29
Mark 3:35 MSG
The Bible says: ‘[Jesus] was surrounded by the crowd when he was given the message, “Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside looking for you.” Jesus responded, “Who do you think are my mother and brothers?” Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, “Right here, right in front of you – my mother and my brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God’s will is my brother and sister and mother”‘ (vv. 31-35 MSG).
One of the greatest tests of faith we’ll face is friends or family members who don’t understand us or share our values and vision. Facing them calls for wisdom and grace. Even though some of His family didn’t understand Him, Jesus continued to care for them and respect them. However, He refused to let them dictate to Him or alter the assignment He believed God had given Him. His priority was the people who had gathered to hear what He had to say.
Are you feeling misunderstood by your friends or family because of your faith? Then pray this prayer: ‘Father, help me to live like Jesus lived – facing those who misunderstand me, hearing their words and feeling the sting of their accusations, but learning to live above them, knowing that You love me. Help me to be gracious towards anyone who is being consumed by resentment and fear. Open their hearts so that they can also come to accept Your love. Give me Your peace, so that even when my loved ones misunderstand me, I’m able to keep my eyes fixed on You and carry on following Your path. Thank You for letting me lean on You and draw on Your strength every day. Amen.’
Gen 35-36; Matt 20:17-28; Ps 77; Prov 6:29
2021-03-02
Hebreërs 12:1 NLV
Voor jy gebore is, het God jou aankoms voorsien en ‘n spesifieke plan vir jou gehad. Daardie plan sluit die hantering van probleme en struikelblokke wat oorkom moet word, in, omdat dit die manier is waardeur karakter ontwikkel word. Die teken van ‘n suksesvolle persoon is sy of haar vermoë om probleme as geleenthede, in plaas van struikelblokke, te sien. Die belangrikste lesse vind nie plaas wanneer jy die goeie tye vier nie, maar wanneer jy gedurende die slegte tye volhard. Dis inderdaad hoekom die slegte tye die goeie tye so goed maak!
As jy enigiets van die geboorte van kameelperde af weet, sal jy weet dat die eerste dele wat verskyn, die voorste hoewe en die kop is. Dan kom die hele kalf te voorskyn, tuimel grond toe en beland op sy rug. Binne sekondes rol die baba om en staan op en sukkel om daardie lang, nuwe bene te kry om te beweeg. Dan gebeur ‘n wonderbaarlike ding. Die ma kameelperd posisioneer haarself direk bokant haar nuwe kalfie, kyk of hy ongedeerd is en skop hom weer om. As hy nie weer opstaan nie – skop sy hom weer. Wanneer die kalfie moeg is, skop sy hom weer om hom te stimuleer om weer op te staan. Elke keer wat die baba op sy voete kom, skop die ma hom weer om. Haar aksies mag dalk vir ons wreed lyk, maar sy is besig om haar kind vir oorlewing voor te berei. Tensy die klein kalfie leer om vinnig op te staan en saam met die trop te hardloop wanneer daar gevaar is, sal hy nie oorleef nie.
Wat is die les hier uit te leer? Wanneer die lewe jou onderstebo skop – staan weer op (sien Spreuke 24:16). Gedurende moeilike tye leer jy, deur pure vasberadenheid en deursettingsvermoë, die grootste lewenslesse.
Sielskos: Gen 32-34; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 70; Spr 6:26-28
Hebrews 12:1 NCV
God’s plan for us involves dealing with problems and overcoming obstacles, because it’s in those moments that our character is developed and our faith is encouraged to grow. James wrote, ‘Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown’ (James 1:12 NIV). God calls the people who persevere ‘blessed’, but how often do we think about giving up rather than persevering?
When we choose to persevere, God can strengthen us and help us be victorious. Giving up doesn’t build character, endurance does. It develops something in us that nothing else can. We’re told that ‘suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope’ (Romans 5:3-4 ESV).
Nobody knew more about endurance than Jesus. The Bible tells us that ‘He endured the cross.’ Not only did He endure the torture and crucifixion, He also endured the mocking voices of others, betrayal and abandonment from His friends, and God turning His face away from Him. When we feel like we want to give up, we need to follow Jesus’ example.
In Hebrews 12, it says: ‘So let us run the race that is before us and never give up…Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect…So do not get tired and stop trying’ (v.1-3 NCV). God has blessings in store for us, promises waiting to be fulfilled, and things that will bring us joy. We can look forward to eternal life where we see God face to face.
Right now things might be tough, but we need to try and see beyond our current circumstances. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and keep going.
Gen 32-34; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 70; Prov 6:26-28
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
Before you were born, God anticipated your arrival and had a specific plan for you. And that plan involves dealing with problems and overcoming obstacles because that’s how character is developed. The mark of a successful person is his or her ability to see problems as opportunities instead of obstacles. And the most important lessons take place not when you celebrate the good times but persevere during the bad ones. Indeed, that’s why the bad times make the good times so good!
If you know anything about the birth of baby giraffes, you’ll know that the first parts to emerge are its front hooves and head. Then the entire calf appears, tumbles ten feet to the ground, and lands on its back. Within seconds the baby rolls over and stands, struggling to move those gangly, untried legs. Then an amazing thing happens. The mother giraffe positions herself directly over her newborn calf, looks it over, kicks it, and sends it sprawling. If it doesn’t get up – she kicks it again! And when it grows tired of the struggle, she kicks it again to stimulate its effort to stand. In fact, every time the baby manages to get to its feet, the mother kicks it again. Her actions may seem cruel to us, but she’s preparing her child for survival. Unless that little calf learns to get up quickly and run with the herd when danger comes, it won’t survive.
So what’s the lesson here? When life knocks you down – get back up (See Proverbs 24:16). During difficult times you learn some of your greatest life lessons through sheer determination and perseverance.
Soul food: Gen 32-34; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 70; Prov 6:26-28
