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. He didn’t put Thomas down for having doubts. Jesus understood that any question coming from an honest heart isn’t a sceptical question; it’s a search for truth.
The Bible tells us: ‘A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them…Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”‘ (John 26-28 NIV).
There are two important things we can learn from this story: 1) Our doubts can lead us to a new level of faith. When our world falls apart, when the pain of our circumstances seems unbearable, when some shattering event happens and doubt begins, don’t deny it – acknowledge it. Times of doubt become times of learning when our doubts lead us to ask God for answers. As we work our way through them, we can reach a new level of faith.
2) Our doubts can lead us to a deeper relationship with Jesus. The testimonies and experiences of others will only take us so far; ultimately, we each need our own personal experience with God. As soon as Thomas experienced Jesus for himself, his faith was instantly strengthened. We shouldn’t be ashamed to have doubts; instead we should take those doubts to God and let Him use them to build our faith.
Lev 11:1-13:37; Mark 1:1-8; Ps 32; Prov 9:10-16
Johannes 20:25 NLV
Tomas was nie daar toe Jesus die eerste keer aan sy dissipels na die opstanding verskyn het nie. Soos baie van ons, was ander mense se ervarings nie goed genoeg vir Tomas nie – hy moes sy eie hê. Jesus het seker gemaak dat hy dit kry. Let op dat Hy nie Tomas verwyt het omdat hy getwyfel het nie. Hy het verstaan dat enige vraag wat in ‘n eerlike hart ontstaan, nie ‘n skeptiese vraag is nie, maar ‘n soeke na die waarheid.
Die Bybel sê vir ons: ‘Agt dae later was Jesus se dissipels weer saam, en Tomas was by hulle… Jesus het tussen hulle kom staan en aan hulle gesê: ‘Vrede vir julle!’ Daarna sê Hy vir Tomas: ‘Bring jou vinger hier en kyk na my hande, en bring jou hand en steek dit in my sy; en moenie ongelowig wees nie, maar glo.’ Tomas het vir Jesus gesê: ‘My Here en my God!’ (verse 26-28 NLV).
Ons kan twee belangrike lesse uit hierdie verhaal leer: 1) Jou twyfel kan jou na ‘n nuwe vlak van geloof lei. Wanneer die bodem uit jou wêreld val, wanneer die pyn van jou omstandighede ondraaglik voel, wanneer ‘n verwoestende gebeurtenis plaasvind en twyfel onaangekondig instap, moenie dit ontken nie – erken dit. Tye van vertwyfeling word klaskamers van onderrig wanneer hulle jou na God vir antwoorde dryf. Soos jy deur hulle werk, sal jy ‘n nuwe vlak van geloof bereik.
2) Jou twyfel kan jou na ‘n dieper verhouding met Jesus lei. Die getuienis van ander sal jou net sover dra, maar uiteindelik het jy jou eie persoonlike ervaring met die Here nodig. Jy kan dit hê! Tomas het begin deur Jesus in twyfel te trek en het opgeëindig as ‘n martelaar wat vir Jesus se koninkryk gesterf het. Dink daaroor!
Sielskos: Lev 11:1-13:37; Mark 1:1-8; Ps 32; Spr 9:10-16
2021-04-06
Joshua 24:15 NCV
If we want to stay on God’s path, it’s a good idea for us to set out our priorities as soon as we can, and then make a conscious decision to maintain them every day. Here’s why:
1) It means we don’t have to keep re-establishing them. When we’re thinking about our priorities, we need to involve God and ask Him to help us set them. That way, we can make sure our priorities line up with His will, and we won’t need to keep changing them because we’ve chosen the wrong things.
2) It helps take the emotion out of our decisions. If we’re not careful, we can make a life-altering decision based on a temporary situation or feeling rather than God’s will. By setting out our life’s priorities first, we can make decisions without our emotions manipulating and controlling us. Plus, we’re more likely to set them with integrity. Joshua did that: ‘As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.’
3) It makes managing our lives easier. Once we nail down what’s important to us, we can live based on those priorities. For example, someone who’s inclined to procrastinate or do their work half-heartedly might decide to break that habit by basing one of their priorities on 1 Corinthians 10:31: ‘Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God’ (NIV). Once they’ve decided to put God first in their work, they’ll find it easier to be enthusiastic about the tasks they need to do.
It takes prayer and perseverance, but once we decide and ‘commit [our] actions to the LORD…[our] plans will succeed’ (Proverbs 16:3 NLT). He’ll give us the strength each day to live by our decisions.
Lev 8-10; Matt 28:16-20; Ps 72:12-20; Prov 9:7-9
Josua 24:15 NLV
Mense wat sukses in die lewe behaal, bepaal hulle prioriteite vroeg en handhaaf hulle daagliks. Dis ‘n goeie idee om twee redes:
1) Dit neem die emosie daaruit. As jy nie versigtig is nie, kan jy ‘n lewensveranderende besluit op ‘n tydelike situasie baseer, in plaas daarvan om dit op God se wil te baseer. Wanneer jy jou prioriteite vir jou lewe betyds bepaal, kan jy dit doen sonder emosies wat jou manipuleer en jou beheer. Jy sal ook meer geneig wees om hulle met integriteit vas te stel. Josua het dit gedoen: ‘…Ek en my huisgesin sal die Here aanbid.’
2) Dit maak dit makliker om jou lewe te bestuur. Sodra jy dit wat vir jou belangrik is besluit het, kan jy volgens daardie beginsels begin lewe. Kom ons sê jy is ‘n kompulsiewe dobbelaar wat besluit om op te hou. Jou taak word dan om jou lewe in lig van daardie besluit in te rig. Dit beteken dat jy nie meer by die perderesies kan uithang of by Sun City kan vakansie hou nie. Of, kom ons sê dat jy ‘n beter huwelik wil bou: dit mag dalk beteken dat jy minder tyd by die werk of op die golfbaan deurbring en ‘n weeklikse afspraak met jou eggenoot maak om te gaan uiteet.
Dit verg eerlikheid, gebore in gebed, om te weet wat jou ware kwessies is en om daarvolgens goeie besluite te maak. Dit neem ook karakter en volharding om deur te druk wanneer daardie besluite gemaak is. Die wonderlike ding is dat wanneer jy jou besluit geneem het, kan jy weet dat: ‘Alles wat jy doen, moet jy opdra aan die Here, dan sal jou planne slaag’ (Spreuke 16:3 NLV). Hy sal jou die krag gee om elke dag volgens jou besluite te lewe.
Sielskos: Lev 8-10; Matt 28:16-20; Ps 72:12-20; Spr 9:7-9
Joshua 24:15 NKJV
People who succeed in life set their priorities early and maintain them daily. That way they don’t have to keep reestablishing them. That’s a good idea for two reasons:
(1) It takes the emotion out of it. If you’re not careful, you can make a life-altering decision based on a temporary situation rather than God’s will. Or worse, base your decisions on your feelings! By establishing your life’s priorities before you have to, you can do it without your emotions manipulating and controlling you. Plus, you’re more likely to set them with integrity. Joshua did that: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
(2) It makes managing your life easier. Once you nail down what’s important to you, you can live based on those principles. Let’s say you’re a compulsive gambler and you decide to quit. Your task then becomes ordering your life in light of that decision. That probably means not hanging out at the racetrack or vacationing on the Strip in Las Vegas. Or, say you want to build a better marriage: that may mean spending less time at work or on the golf course, and planning a weekly date night with your spouse.
It takes honesty, born in prayer, to know what your real issues are and to make good decisions accordingly. And it takes character and perseverance to follow through once those decisions are made. The great thing is that once you decide, then “commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3 NLT). He will give you the strength each day to live by your decisions.
Soul food: Lev 8-10; Matt 28:16-20; Ps 72:12-20; Prov 9:7-9
