2021-04-14
Rigters 11:1 NLV
Jefta was die buite-egtelike kind van ‘n man genaamd Gilead. Sy ma was ‘n prostituut. Hy het in die huishouding van Gilead se ander wettige seuns grootgeword, wat hom later weggejaag het. “…Hulle het vir hom gesê: ‘Jou ma is ‘n prostituut. Jy mag nie saam met ons van ons pa erf nie'” (vers 2 NLV). Jefta het toe in ‘n grot gaan woon.
Daar het hy ‘n bende leeglêers en rebelle bymekaar gebring en hulle in ‘n groot weermag omskep. Toe die Ammoniete vir Israel bedreig het, het die leiers na hom toe gegaan vir hulp. Jefta het egter vir hulle gesê: “….’Julle het my dan so gehaat dat julle my uit my pa se huis weggejaag het. Vir wat kom julle nou na my toe wanneer julle in die moeilikheid is?’ ‘Ons het jou nodig,’ het die leiers van Gilead vir Jefta gesê. ‘Kom voer ons aan teen die Ammoniete! Ons sal jou die hoof maak van almal wat in Gilead woon'” (verse 7-8 NLV).
Nie net het Jefta hulle na ‘n oorwinning gelei nie, maar sy naam word ook saam met mense soos Abraham, Moses en Dawid met eer in die Bybel genoem. Sy lewe was vol lesse. Hier is ‘n belangrike een: Verwerping kan deel van God se plan vir jou lewe wees. Jefta is vir redes buite sy beheer verwerp – hy was buite-egtelik. In plaas daarvan om bitter te word, het hy aanbeweeg en iets goeds van sy lewe gemaak.
Miskien is jy al verwerp omdat jy te oud, jonk, intelligent, dom, mooi, lelik, bevoorreg, arm, aantreklik, onaantreklik, manlik, vroulik, wit, swart ens is. Deur God se genade het Jefta ‘n lelike situasie geneem en dit in ‘n mooi een omskep. As jy jou situasie vandag vir God gee, sal Hy dieselfde genade aan jou voorsien.
Sielskos: Lev 26-27; Mark 1:40-45; Ps 56; Spr 10:8-9
2021-04-13
2 Peter 3:18 NLT
How do we overcome past hurts in relationships? How can we combine separate and unique perspectives to create a friendship or relationship that’s compassionate and caring?
There’s a very special ingredient called ‘grace’ that must be added to the mix. It calls for extending to the other person the same grace that God extends to us. It bandages broken people and allows the defeated to develop ways to break free from their pasts. It gives strength to those who struggle. Grace restores the heart and resolves the troubles of a tormented spirit. It is loving-kindness and forgiveness. It’s the favour of God. And as He bestows it on us, we should extend it to those who need our compassion and love. We are all broken in certain areas, and we need to learn to accept that and help mend the brokenness in others.
Peter didn’t believe he was capable of denying his Lord. He swore he would never do it. But Jesus not only predicted it, He promised to pray for him until he was fully restored (take a look at Luke 22:32). And we’re called to do that too; to extend to other imperfect people the same love and grace that has been shown to us.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: ‘We must always thank God for you, brothers and sisters. This is only right, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love that every one of you has for each other is increasing’ (2 Thessalonians 1:3 NKJV). Peter also said, ‘You must grow in…grace.’ It’s a process, so it won’t always be easy, but with God, we can work on it day by day.
Lev 23:26-25:55; Mark 1:35-39; Ps 50:16-23; Prov 10:4-7
2 Peter 3:18 NLT
How do we overcome past hurts in relationships? How do two people combine separate and unique perspectives to create a satisfying and loving relationship?
There’s a very special ingredient called “grace” that must be added to the mix. It calls for extending to the other person the same grace that God extends to you. It bandages broken people and permits the defeated to develop winning ways to escape their pasts. It gives strength to those who struggle to be functional in areas where historically they’ve been dysfunctional.
Grace restores the heart and resolves the troubles of a tormented spirit. It is loving-kindness and forgiveness. It’s the Favour of God. And as He bestows it on us, we should extend it to those who need our compassion and love. We are all broken in certain areas, and we need to learn to accept that and help mend the brokenness in others.
Peter didn’t believe he was capable of denying his Lord. He swore he would never do it. But Jesus not only predicted it, He promised to pray for him until he was fully restored (See Luke 22:32). And we are called to do that too; to extend to other imperfect people the same love and grace that has been shown to us.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other” (2 Thessalonians 1:3 NKJV). Then Peter adds, “You must grow in…grace.” And it’s a process, so you’ve got to work at it!
Soul food: Lev 23:26-25:55; Mark 1:35-39; Ps 50:16-23; Prov 10:4-7
2 Petrus 3:18 AFR83
Hoe hanteer ons die seer wat in die verlede in ons verhoudings plaasgevind het? Hoe kombineer twee mense aparte en unieke perspektiewe om ‘n bevredigende en liefdevolle verhouding te skep?
Daar is ‘n baie spesiale bestanddeel genaamd ‘genade’ wat by die mengsel bygevoeg moet word. Dit vereis dat jy aan die ander persoon dieselfde genade bewys as wat God aan jou bewys. Dit gee krag aan diegene wat sukkel om funksioneel in areas te wees waar hulle in die verlede disfunksioneel was. Genade herstel die hart en los die probleme van ‘n gefolterde gees op. Dit is liefdevolle barmhartigheid en vergifnis. Dis die Guns van God.
Soos Hy dit aan ons skenk, moet ons dit ook aan ander gee wat ons medelye en liefde nodig het. Ons is almal in sekere areas gebroke en ons moet leer om dit te aanvaar en ander te help om die gebrokenheid in hulle te herstel.
Petrus het nie geglo dat hy in staat was om sy Here te verraai nie. Hy het gesweer dat hy dit nooit sou doen nie. Jesus het dit egter nie net voorspel nie, maar ook beloof om vir Hom te bid totdat hy ten volle tot inkeer gekom het (sien Lukas 22:32).
Ons word ook geroep om dit te doen; om aan ander onvolmaakte mense dieselfde liefde en genade te bewys as wat aan ons bewys is. Paulus het aan die mense in Tessalonika geskryf: ‘Liewe broers en susters, dit is gepas dat ons altyd vir God dankie sê vir julle, want julle geloof hou net aan groei en julle almal se liefde vir mekaar word net groter!’ (2 Tessalonisense 1:3 NLV). Dan voeg Petrus by: ‘Sorg daarenteen dat julle steeds toeneem in die genade…’ Dis ‘n proses, dus moet jy daaraan werk!
Sielskos: Lev 23:26-25:55; Mark 1:35-39; Ps 50:16-23; Spr 10:4-7
2021-04-12
Acts 2:39 KJV
Every family has unique and different strengths. And you can give an inheritance to your children by passing on the values, insight, and love that got your family as far as it is today. Having a sense of your history can inspire in them a desire to perpetuate the greatness. You need to tell them how you made it over your Jordan River and into your promised land. You need to pass on the generational blessings that helped your family for years.
It is necessary to highlight each family member’s gifts. There’s something in each person that makes him or her stand out from all the others. All of us have special talents, and all of us want to hear what we do well. We need to recognize and verbalize the uniqueness of each member. We need to emphasize that while we may be part of a great family, we’re not restricted by our heritage; we have the freedom and ability to exercise our own individual gifts.
Inspire your family to be proud of where they came from, where they are, and where they can go. Our past binds us together, but it’s the individual members utilizing their unique gifts and fulfilling their particular roles that make a family resilient and give it a strong future in the promises of God. “For the promise is unto you, and to your children.”
Don’t be the last link in the chain. Don’t let it end with you. Take the blessings God has deposited in you and pass them on to your children – and to your grandchildren as well.
Soul food: Lev 21:1-23:25; Mark 1:29-34; Ps 50:1-15; Prov 10:3
