2021-04-09
2 Korintiërs 11:3 NLV
Al ooit van die fluweelmier gehoor? Hy het klein haartjies op sy lyf wat glad en fluweelagtig voel. Dis egter net ‘n vermomming. Hy is inderwaarheid glad nie ‘n mier nie, maar ‘n vlerklose perdeby met ‘n aaklige angel. Nadat hy sy slagoffers met gif gespuit het, lê hy sy eiers in hulle lewelose liggame.
Een van Paulus se grootste bekommernisse was dat die kerke, nadat hulle deur genade gered is, weer sou terugkeer na ‘n lewe onder die Ou Testamentiese wet. Hy het hulle aanhoudend daarteen gewaarsku om nie hulle verlossing en verhouding met God op hulle eie dade te baseer nie. ‘Ek is tog bang dat julle gedagtes weggevoer sal word van julle opregte en suiwer toewyding aan Christus, net soos die slang Eva met sy listigheid verlei het. As iemand ‘n ander Jesus kom verkondig as wat ons verkondig het, of ‘n ander Gees of ‘n ander evangelie aanvaar as dié wat julle van ons ontvang het, is julle só maklik tevrede daarmee’ (verse 3-4 NLV). ‘n Ander Jesus! ‘n Ander Gees! Paulus waarsku weer: ‘Die Satan self gee immers voor dat hy ‘n engel van die lig is’ (vers 14 NLV).
Ja, jou werk op aarde bepaal jou beloning in die hemel. Maar slegs deur op die voltooide werk van Christus te vertrou, sal jy in die hemel kom. Wetlikheid sal jou nie net infekteer nie, maar jou leweloos laat. Die Skotse dominee, Horatius Bonar, het geskryf: ‘In die hande van ‘n lewe wat ek nie gelei het nie, op ‘n sterfte wat ek nie gesterwe het nie; iemand anders se lewe, iemand anders se dood, plaas ek my hele ewigheid.’
Hoe beskerm jy jou teen ‘die angel’ van wetlikheid? Deur slegs op God se genade staat te maak.
Sielskos: Lev 15-17; Mark 1:14-20; Ps 25:8-15; Spr 10:1
2021-04-08
John 20:25 NIV
Have you ever felt guilty for crying when you lost a loved one, or felt you needed permission to grieve? Or felt intimidated about admitting, ‘I don’t know for certain’ when someone asked you something about God? The story of doubting Thomas teaches us that not only is it okay to doubt, sometimes it’s necessary. If we don’t, we won’t grow. We’ll end up relying on someone else’s answers, and in many cases they won’t be good enough for the questions we want to ask.
There are some well-meaning people who might try to make us think that any time we question God, we’re offending Him. But this is what Jesus would say to us: ‘Peace be with you. Look at my hands and feet. Look with eyes of faith and believe. You are blessed when you believe in spite of your doubts.’ Jesus didn’t turn away from Thomas, get angry with him, or ridicule him for doubting. He spoke gently to him and helped him work through those doubts.
God will do the same for us when we have questions. It’s okay to pray, ‘Father, I still struggle with some doubts, just like Thomas did. Thank You for accepting me in my struggles, and not ignoring my questions. Thomas finally reached the place where he could say, “My Lord and my God.” Thank You for being patient with me as I strive to reach that place as well.’
So, how do we get through our doubts? Like Thomas did – by facing them honestly, acknowledging them, bringing them to Jesus, and growing spiritually as a result of them.
Lev 13:38-14:57; Mark 1:9-13; Ps 25:1-7; Prov 9:17-18
John 20:25 NIV
Some of us have taken the message of Christianity and put it in a box marked “Don’t ask – don’t tell.” Ever feel like you need permission to weep when you lose a loved one? Or feel intimidated about admitting, “I really don’t know for sure?”
The story of doubting Thomas teaches us that not only is it okay to doubt – sometimes it’s necessary! If you don’t, you won’t grow. You’ll wind up with somebody else’s answers, and in many cases they will be inadequate for your questions – even if you’re honest enough to ask them.
Question: Has some well-meaning religious soul pushed you into a corner and tried to make you believe that your questions are an offense to Christ? If so, it’s time to listen anew to the tender words of the One who knows your doubts and fears better than you do: “Peace be with you. Look at my hands and feet. Look with eyes of faith and believe. You are blessed when you believe in spite of your doubts.”
It’s okay to pray, “Lord, like Thomas, I still struggle with some doubts. I haven’t put my life all together yet. Not until I’m with You will that happen. Thank You for accepting me in my struggles, and not ignoring my questions. Thomas finally reached the place where he could say, ‘My Lord and my God.’ Thank You for being patient with me as I strive to reach that place as well.”
So, how do we get through our doubts? Like Thomas! By facing them honestly, bringing them to Jesus, and growing spiritually as a result of them.
Soul food: Lev 13:38-14:57; Mark 1:9-13; Ps 25:1-7; Prov 9:17-18
Johannes 20:25 NLV
Sommige van ons neem die boodskap van Christenskap en plaas dit in ‘n boks gemerk: ‘Moenie vra nie, moenie vertel nie.’ Die verhaal van ongelowige Tomas leer ons dat dit nie net in die haak is om te twyfel nie – dis soms nodig! As jy dit nie doen nie, sal jy nie groei nie. Jy sal met iemand anders se antwoorde opeindig, wat in baie gevalle onvoldoende antwoorde vir jou sal wees – selfs as jy eerlik genoeg is om hulle te vra.
Vraag: Het ‘n godsdienstige siel wat goed bedoel jou al ooit in ‘n hoek gedruk en jou probeer oortuig dat jou vrae ‘n oortreding teenoor Christus is? As dit die geval is, is dit tyd om weer na die sagte woorde van die Een wat jou twyfel en vrese beter as jyself ken, te luister: ‘Vrede vir jou. Kyk na my hande en voete. Kyk met oë van geloof en glo. Jy is geseënd wanneer jy ten spyte van jou vertwyfelinge glo.’
Jy mag bid: ‘Here, soos Tomas sukkel ek soms met vertwyfelinge. Ek het nog nie al die stukke van my lewe heeltemal bymekaar gesit nie. Dit sal ook nie gebeur totdat ek by U is nie. Dankie dat U my in my worsteling aanvaar en dat U nie my vrae ignoreer nie. Tomas het eindelik die plek bereik waar hy kon sê: ‘My Here en my God!’ Dankie dat U geduldig met my is terwyl ek strewe om ook daardie plek te bereik.’
So, hoe kom ons deur ons vertwyfelinge? Soos Tomas! Deur hulle eerlik in die gesig te staar, hulle na Jesus toe te bring en as gevolg van hulle, geestelik te groei.
Sielskos: Lev 13:38-14:57; Mark 1:9-13; Ps 25:1-7; Spr 9:17-18
2021-04-07
John 20:25 NIV
Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus first appeared to His disciples after the resurrection. And like many of us, other people’s experiences weren’t good enough for Thomas – he had to have his own. And Jesus made sure he got it. Note, He didn’t put Thomas down for having doubts. He understood that any question arising from an honest heart isn’t a skeptical question; it’s a search for truth.
The Bible tells us: “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came…stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!'” (vv. 26-28 NKJV). We glean two important lessons from this story:
(1) Your doubts can actually lead you to a new level of faith. When the bottom drops out of your world, when the pain of your circumstances seems unbearable, when some shattering event occurs and doubt marches in unannounced, don’t deny it – acknowledge it. Times of doubt become classrooms of learning when they drive you to God for answers. As you work your way through them, you reach a new level of faith.
(2) Your doubts can lead you to a deeper relationship with Jesus. The testimony of others will only carry you so far; ultimately, you need your own personal experience with the Lord. And you can have it! Thomas started out doubting Jesus and ended up dying as a martyr for His cause. Think about that!
Soul food: Lev 11:1-13:37; Mark 1:1-8; Ps 32; Prov 9:10-16
