2021-06-10
Luke 11:17 NIV
Today, let’s think about harmony at church. In Luke 11:17, we read: ‘Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall’ (NIV). Division and disagreement in church can come from all different directions – some may not like the worship style or a particular sermon. Some may disagree with the way the church leaders are running things or a change they’ve made. It might even come down to something as trivial as the colour the walls are to be painted.
Satan loves to step in to a small disagreement and turn it into a big issue that causes real division and damage. So we need to be aware of how we handle disagreements and differences of opinion, and make sure our motive is to find the best way forward for our church rather than just getting our own way and what we want.
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, he wrote: ‘There are quarrels among you. This is what I mean: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another says, “I follow Apollos”, another says, “I follow Peter”, and another says, “I follow Christ.” Christ has been divided up into different groups! Did Paul die on the cross for you? No! Were you baptised in the name of Paul? No! I thank God I did not baptise any of you except Crispus and Gaius so that now no one can say you were baptised in my name…Christ did not send me to baptise people but to preach the Good News’ (1 Corinthians 1:11-16 NCV).
Whenever we’re facing disunity in our church, we should keep our focus on Christ, and try to remind others that we’re working towards the same goal – sharing the good news of God’s love and gift of salvation with the world.
2 Ki 10-12; Mark 15:1-20; Ps 132:11-18; Prov 13:7-8
Lukas 11:17 NLV
Hulle sê: ‘Die appel val nie ver van die boom af nie,’ en Jakob het dit verseker reg bewys. Aan die einde van sy lewe, toe hy moes begin voorberei het om sy seuns Simeon en Levi te seën, het hy vir hulle gesê: ‘Vervloek is [julle] woede…’ (Genesis 49:7 NLV). Hulle gedrag moes egter nie as ‘n verrassing gekom het nie. Die feit is dat Jakob hulle reeds deur sy eie voorbeeld gevorm het, toe hy sy eie pa (sien Genesis 27) en sy skoonpa (sien Genesis 30), om die bos gelei het. Sy ma het ook sy bedrog gefasiliteer. Gedragspatrone word van generasie tot generasie oorgedra.
Jou houdings en aksies sal jou kinders óf verwoes, óf seën. Die Woord van God sê: ‘Leer ‘n jongmens om die regte pad te kies, en wanneer hy eendag oud is, sal hy nie daarvan afwyk nie’ (Spreuke 22:6 NLV). Jou kinders kry meer as net jou gelaatstrekke by jou. Hulle eindig op met die waardes wat jy vir hulle geleer het en met die emosionele ingesteldheid wat jy vertoon het.
Moenie hulle by julle huweliksgeskille betrek nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘Moenie gou kwaad word nie; ergenis hoort by dwase’ (Prediker 7:9 NLV), en jou kinders is maklike teikens vir misplaaste woede. Selfs wanneer jou uitbarstings nie op hulle gerig is nie, ly hulle steeds onder die effek daarvan.
Jou baas wys jou byvoorbeeld by die werk tereg, dus kom jy by die huis soos ‘n beer met ‘n hoofpyn aan en veroorsaak dat almal jou vermy. Moenie toelaat dat jou woede amok maak nie. Koning Dawid het op die slagveld uitgeblink, maar by die tuisfront gesukkel. Dis dalk hoekom een van sy laaste Psalms as volg lees: ‘Sit ‘n wag voor my mond, Here, hou wag oor wat ek sê’ (Psalm 141:3 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Kon 10-12; Mark 15:1-20; Ps 132:11-18; Spr 13:7-8
Luke 11:17 NIV
They say, “The apple never falls far from the tree,” and Jacob certainly proved that. Nearing the end of his life when he should have been preparing to bless his sons Simeon and Levi, he told them, “I…curse…you because of your…anger” (Genesis 49:7 CEV). But their behavior should have come as no surprise. The fact is, Jacob had already shaped them by his own example when he deceived his father (See Genesis 27) and his father-in-law (See Genesis 30). And his mother facilitated the deception.
Behavioral patterns are passed from generation to generation. Your attitudes and actions will either blight your children or bless them. The Word of God says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV). Your children inherit more than just your looks. They end up with the values you taught and the emotional disposition you displayed.
Don’t involve them in your marital disputes. The Bible says, “Anger rests in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9 NKJV), and kids are easy targets for misdirected rage. Even when your outbursts aren’t aimed at them, they still suffer the effects. For example, your boss reprimands you at work, and because you can’t retaliate, you come home like a bear with a headache and make everybody around you walk on eggshells. Lower the decibel level! Don’t let your anger run amok. King David shone on the battlefront but struggled on the home front. Perhaps that’s why one of the last Psalms reads like this: “Help me to guard my words whenever I say something” (Psalm 141:3 CEV).
Soul food: 2 Ki 10-12; Mark 15:1-20; Ps 132:11-18; Prov 13:7-8
2021-06-09
Efesiërs 4:2 NLV
Sonder harmonie op die tuisfront, kan al jou suksesse in jou beroep leeg voel. Enige tyd wanneer dit makliker is om met buitestaanders, eerder as met jou eie familie, te praat, is iets gebroke – wat dringend reggemaak moet word. God het jou familie ontwerp om ‘n ondersteuningstelsel en ‘n veiligheidsnet te wees.
Sy Woord gee ons die beste resep om harmonie by die huis te kweek: ‘Met totale beskeidenheid en sagmoedigheid, ja, met geduld moet julle mekaar in liefde verdra. Deur in vrede met mekaar te lewe, moet julle die eenheid wat die Gees bewerk het, bewaar’ (verse 2-3 NLV). Let vier belangrike woorde in hierdie Skrifgedeelte op: ‘beskeidenheid,’ ‘sagmoedigheid,’ ‘geduld’ en ‘eenheid.’ Sonder hierdie noodsaaklike bestanddele sal dit nie werk nie!
Begin dus vir jou kinders bid, in plaas daarvan om reëls neer te lê wat afstand skep wanneer julle verskil. Julle sal nie altyd saamstem nie, maar julle kan leer om mekaar te waardeer, lief te hê en te respekteer. Elke familie gaan deur goeie en slegte tye. As jy egter verdwyn wanneer dit moeilik raak, sal jy die oes wat jy kon gehad het as jy gebly het, misloop.
Soms is die kind wat byvoorbeeld nie noodwendig met jou idees saamstem nie, of jou waardes omarm nie, of nie met die persoon trou waarmee jy gedink het hulle moes trou nie, die kind wat jou op die ou einde die meeste sal seën. Ja, dis ontstellend, maar niks daarvan maak op die ou einde saak nie, omdat familie ‘n lewenslange belegging is. Baie van diegene wat kies om te skei, wens dat hulle net ‘n bietjie langer uitgehou het of net ‘n bietjie meer liefde betoon het. Maak seker dat jy nie een van hulle is nie!
Sielskos: 2 Kon 7-9; Mark 14:66-72; Ps 132:1-10; Spr 13:4-6
Ephesians 4:2 CEV
Without harmony on the home front, all your career successes can feel empty. Anytime you find it easier to talk to outsiders than to your own family, something’s broken – and urgently needs fixing. God designed your family to be a support system, and a safety net to catch you when you fall. And His Word gives us the prescription for creating harmony at home: “Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace” (vv. 2-3 CEV).
Note four important words in this Scripture: “humble,” “gentle,” “patiently,” and “united.” Without those essential ingredients, it won’t work! So start praying for your kids instead of just laying down rules that create distance when you don’t see eye to eye. You won’t always agree, but you can learn to value, love, and respect each other.
Every family has its ups and downs – and every family tree has a few nuts! But if you bail out when things get tough, you’ll miss the harvest you could have reaped by hanging on. For example, sometimes the child that ends up blessing you the most is the one who didn’t necessarily agree with your ideas, or embrace your values, or marry the person you thought they should have. Yes, it’s upsetting, but in the long run none of that matters because family is a life-long investment.
Many of those who opt for divorce end up wishing they had hung in a little longer, and had loved a little bit more. Make sure you’re not one of them!
Soul food: 2 Ki 7-9; Mark 14:66-72; Ps 132:1-10; Prov 13:4-6
