2021-05-01
Spreuke 29:25 NLV
Koning Saul was veronderstel om vir die profeet Samuel te wag om ‘n offer aan God te bring, om sodoende oorwinning in sy geveg te behaal. Soos die dag egter aangestap het en die mense ongeduldig geword het, het Saul die offer self gebring. Toe Samuel vir Saul vra hoekom hy dit gedoen het, het Saul geantwoord: “…’Ek het gesien hoe my manskappe wegloop… Ek het toe verplig gevoel om die brandoffer self te bring…’ ‘Dit was dwaas van jou!’ sê Samuel… ‘As jy geluister het, sou die Here jou koningskap oor Israel vir altyd bevestig het. Maar nou sal jou koningskap nie voortduur nie…'” (1 Samuel 13: 11-14 NLV). Omdat Saul mense se goedkeuring nodig gehad het, het hy alles verloor.
Het jy al ooit ongemaklik gevoel oor iets wat iemand jou gevra het om te doen? Een van die maniere wat God ons lei, is deur ‘n sin van innerlike vrede. Jesaja sê: ‘Julle sal… in vrede gelei word…’ (Jesaja 55:12 NLV). Paulus skryf ook: ‘Daarom moet ons dinge doen wat help dat daar vrede is…’ (Romeine 14:19 ABA).
As iets nie reg voel nie, laat jou stem gehoor word. Sê: ‘Ek het nie vrede hieroor nie.’ Mense moenie van jou verwag om voort te gaan totdat jy vrede het nie, alhoewel dit selde gebeur wanneer ander mense eise aan ons stel. Jesus het vir sy dissipels gesê: ‘As hulle julle nie wil ontvang of luister na wat julle sê nie, gaan uit daardie huis of dorp en skud die stof van julle voete af’ (Matteus 10:14 NLV). Wanneer iemand se reaksie jou daarvan wil weerhou om te doen wat jy weet reg is – is dit tyd om dit af te skud en aan te beweeg.
Sielskos: Num 14-15; Mark 6:1-13; Ps 37:1-7; Spr 11:1-2
Proverbs 29:25 NIV
To ensure victory in battle, King Saul was supposed to wait for Samuel the prophet to come and offer a sacrifice to God. But as the day wore on and the people grew impatient, Saul offered the sacrifice himself. When Samuel demanded to know why, “Saul replied: ‘When I saw…the people…slipping away from me…I…offered the burnt offering.’ Samuel said…’You have done foolishly…The Lord would have established your kingdom…now your kingdom will not continue'” (1 Samuel 13:11-14 NRS). Because Saul needed people’s approval, he lost everything.
Speaking truthfully may not be easy or comfortable, but the Bible tells us to do it anyway, like Samuel did. People pleasing is inherently dishonest because you’re telling others what they want to hear, instead of what you need to say. Now, you can’t be rude and insensitive, but you can’t be intimidated either. Because somebody doesn’t want to hear the truth doesn’t negate your responsibility to speak it.
Have you ever felt uneasy about something somebody asked you to do? One of the ways God leads us is through a sense of inner peace. Isaiah says you’ll be “led forth in peace” (Isaiah 55:12 NIV). And Paul writes, “Pursue…things which make for peace” (Romans 14:19 NKJV). When something doesn’t feel right, speak up. Say, “I don’t have peace about this.”
People shouldn’t expect you to proceed until you do, but that rarely happens when others place demands on us. Jesus told His disciples when someone “will not receive…you nor listen to your message, as you leave…shake the dust…from your feet” (Matthew 10:14 AMPC). When somebody’s reaction threatens to stop you from doing what you know is right – it’s time to shake it off and move on.
Soul food: Num 14-15; Mark 6:1-13;
Ps 37:1-7; Prov 11:1-2
