2021-06-02
Prediker 9:9 NLV
Om jou huwelik te versterk, moet jy drie dinge besef: 1) Die huwelik is een van Satan se gunsteling teikens. Hy was kwaad omdat Job se familie God behaag het. Wanneer jou huis dus in harmonie en geseënd is, sal hy dit probeer aanval. Hy wil die derde party in jou verhouding wees; om kwaad te stook en teleur te stel deur jou swakpunte te gebruik. Hy inspireer onrealistiese verwagtinge en herlei jou aandag van diensbaarheid na selfsug toe. Hy wakker jou verbeelding deur ongesonde verhoudings aan, totdat God se teenwoording nie langer die fokus van julle huwelik en die oorheersende atmosfeer in julle huis is nie. Wees op jou hoede vir sy pogings en beskerm jou familie.
2) Jou ingesteldheid bepaal jou bui. Gedagtes het teenwoordigheid. Die oomblik wat iemand by ‘n kamer instap, kan jy konflik of tevredenheid, jaloesie of vreugde, ensovoorts aanvoel. Houdings is aansteeklik; hulle kan die klimaat in jou huis bepaal. Een man het agtergekom dat een televisieprogram ‘n seksuele rusteloosheid binne hom veroorsaak het, tot die punt waar hy sy vrou met die sensualiteit van die akteurs vergelyk het. ‘n Vrou het agtergekom dat sy onverklaarbare jaloesie teenoor haar man gevoel het nadat sy haar gunsteling sepieprogram gekyk het. Elke emosie het ‘n geboorteplek; wees dus sensitief teenoor enige veranderinge in jou huislike omgewing en jou innerlike lewe.
3) Deur te luister, sal jy verstaan. Liefde gaan daaroor om meer te luister en minder te praat. Luister lank genoeg vir weggesteekte emosies om uitgedruk te word. Luister versigtig genoeg om te kan verstaan. Luister akkuraat sodat jy jou maat se ware behoeftes kan assesseer. Die vrae wat jy vra sal wys hoe baie jy omgee, vra hulle dus op ‘n sagte manier en aanhoudend en bid voor jy reageer. Dis hoe jy jou huwelik versterk.
Sielskos: Op 5-9; Mark 13:24-37; Ps 121; Spr 12:23-24
Ecclesiastes 9:9 NIV
To strengthen your marriage you must realize three things: (1) Marriage is one of Satan’s Favourite targets. He was angry because Job’s family was a source of delight to God. So when your home is harmonious and blessed, he’ll try to attack it. He wants to be the third party in your relationship; to agitate and disappoint, using your weaknesses. He inspires unrealistic expectations and diverts your focus from servanthood to self-absorption. He fuels your imagination through unhealthy relationships until God’s presence ceases to be the goal of your union and the prevailing atmosphere in your home. Beware of his inroads and become protective over your family.
(2) Your mind-set determines your mood. Thoughts have presence. The moment someone walks into a room, you can sense conflict or contentment, jealousy or joy, etc. Attitudes are contagious; like a thermostat, they determine the climate in your home. One man noticed that certain TV shows nurtured a sexual restlessness within him, to the point where he found himself comparing his wife with the sensuality of the performers. A woman identified the timing of unexplainable jealousy toward her husband after watching her Favourite soap opera. Every emotion has a birthplace, so be sensitive to any changes in your home environment and inner life.
(3) Understanding comes by listening. Love is about listening more and talking less. Listen long enough for hidden emotions to be expressed. Listen carefully enough to gain understanding. Listen accurately so you can assess your mate’s true needs. The questions you ask can reveal how much you care, so ask them softly and repeatedly, and pray and process before you respond. That’s how to strengthen your marriage.
Soul food: Rev 5-9; Mark 13:24-37; Ps 121; Prov 12:23-24
2021-06-01
Spreuke 21:6 NLV
Een dag het ‘n predikant by die straat afgestap toe hy op ‘n groep seuns afkom wat ‘n hond omsingel. ‘Wat doen julle?’ het hy gevra. Een van die seuns het geantwoord: ‘Hy is ‘n rondloperhond in die buurt. Ons almal wil hom hê, maar net een van ons kan hom huis toe neem. Dus het ons besluit dat die een wat die grootste leuen kan vertel, hom kan huis toe vat.’
Die predikant het verklaar: ‘Julle seuns moenie ‘n kompetisie hou wat leuens behels nie!’ Hy het toe vir hulle begin preek met: ‘Dis sonde om te lieg,’ en geëindig met: ‘Toe ek julle ouderdom was, het ek nooit gejok nie.’ Daar was ‘n doodse stilte vir ‘n minuut. Net toe die predikant dink dat hy tot die seuns deurgedring het, het een van die seuns ‘n groot sug gegee en gesê: ‘Ag nou ja, gee die hond vir die dominee!’
Op ‘n ernstiger noot, leuens is altyd nadelig: 1) Jy moet altyd onthou wat jy gesê het en as jou geheue nie so goed is nie, is die kanse goed dat jy aan die kaak gestel sal word. 2) Jy moet met jouself lewe met die wete dat jy gelieg het en jou karakter geskend het. 3) Wanneer jy besluit om te bid, sal die eerste ding wat in jou gedagtes opkom, die laaste ding wees wat jy met God wil bespreek; jou leuens. 4) Anders as wat jy dalk mag dink, is verbode vrugte nie soet nie, dis suur.
‘Die tong het mag oor dood en oor lewe. Hulle wat lief is om te praat, moet saamleef met die gevolge van hulle woorde’ (Spreuke 18:21 NLV). Jy sal met die smaak van daardie leuen in jou mond moet saamlewe. Sal dit nie beter wees om net eerlik te wees nie?
Sielskos: Op 1-4; Mark 13:12-23; Ps 117; Spr 12:20-22
Proverbs 21:6 NIV
One day a clergyman was walking down the street when he saw a group of boys surrounding a dog. “What are you doing?” he demanded. One of the boys replied, “He’s a neighbourhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So we’ve decided whoever can tell the biggest lie will get to keep him.”
The preacher declared, “You boys shouldn’t be having a contest that involves lying!” Then he launched into a sermon beginning with, “It’s a sin to lie,” and ending with, “When I was your age, I never told a lie.” There was dead silence for a minute. Then just as he was beginning to think he’d gotten through to the boys, one of them gave a deep sigh and said, “All right, give the preacher the dog!”
Seriously, here’s the downside of lying: (1) You always have to remember what you said, and your memory just isn’t that good, so chances are you’ll be exposed. (2) You have to live with yourself knowing you lied and violated your character. That’s hard to do. (3) When you decide to pray, the first thing that will come to your mind is the last thing you’ll want to discuss with God; your lies. (4) Contrary to what you may think, forbidden fruit isn’t sweet, it’s sour.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV). You’ll have to live with the taste of that lie in your mouth. Wouldn’t it be better just to be honest?
Soul food: Rev 1-4; Mark 13:12-23; Ps 117; Prov 12:20-22
Proverbs 21:6 NIV
Proverbs 6 contains a list of things that God won’t put up with: ‘There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community (v.16-19 NIV). Notice that lying is mentioned twice, as well as being mentioned alongside killing people and doing evil.
We probably don’t think of lying being as bad as murder, but it’s clear that God takes lying very seriously. Even small lies that we think don’t matter or won’t really affect anyone else have so many downsides: 1) We’ll always have to remember what we said to whom, and if we let the lie continue and grow, chances are we’ll be found out. 2) We’ll have to live with the fact that we lied and damaged our character and integrity. That’s hard to do. 3) When we decide to pray, the first thing that will come to mind is the last thing we’ll want to discuss with God: our lies. 4) In Proverbs 6, there are no exceptions – it doesn’t say big lies or far-reaching, damaging lies are detestable to God, so therefore He must hate all lies.
Colossians 3:9 says: ‘Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds’ (NLT). Let’s embrace our new natures of honesty and integrity, and make an effort to be truthful at all times.
Rev 1-4; Mark 13:12-23; Ps 117; Prov 12:20-22
