2021-08-06
Efesiërs 4:29 DB
Die apostel Paulus skryf: ‘…As julle iets sê, moet dit iets wees wat die moeite werd is om te sê en vir ander iets beteken. Kyk wat nodig en goed is om in die omstandighede te sê en sê dit dan.’ Dink aan die mense met wie jy dit die meeste geniet om tyd mee deur te bring. Hoe sal jy hulle beskryf? Knorrig? Bitter? Negatief? Natuurlik nie! Hulle is mense wat die lewe vier, nie klakouse nie. Hulle is passievol oor die lewe. Die manier om ander mense op te bou, is om hulle as geleenthede in plaas van struikelblokke of verpligtinge te sien. Een leierskapskundige skryf: ‘Een van die beste dinge wat jy vir mense kan doen – wat hulle ook na jou toe sal aantrek – is om die beste van hulle te verwag. Dit help hulle om beter van hulself te dink en help jou terselfdertyd om hulle in ‘n goeie lig te sien.’
‘n Opname van eenhonderd multi-miljoenêrs het een algemene eienskap bewys. Hierdie hoogs suksesvolle mans en vrouens het gereeld die beste in ander mense gesoek. Benjamin Disraeli, een van Brittanje se beste Eerste Ministers, het dit as volg gestel: ‘Die beste ding wat jy vir iemand anders kan doen, is nie net om jou rykdom met hom te deel nie, maar om vir hom sy eie rykdom te openbaar.’ Jy doen dit deur ander mense te waardeer, aan te moedig en hulle te help om hulle potensiaal te bereik.
Napoleon het leiers as ‘handelaars van hoop’ beskryf. Hy het verstaan dat hoop die grootste van alle besittings is. As jy die persoon is wat daardie gawe aan ander mense kan gee, sal hulle nie net aangetrokke tot jou wees nie, maar vir ewig dankbaar wees.
Sielskos: Deut 30:1-32:28; Luk 11:45-54; Ps 119:9-16; Spr 17:4-6
Ephesians 4:29 MSG
The apostle Paul writes, ‘Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them’ (Ephesians 4:29 NLT). Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way: ‘Say only what helps, each word a gift.’ Think of the people you most enjoy spending time with. How would you describe them? You probably aren’t thinking of words like grumpy, bitter, or negative. In general, the people who we prefer to be around and leave us feeling uplifted and enthusiastic are not the complainer, but celebrators who are passionate about life. As we go about our day, everyone we meet, will be left either: 1) better off; 2) worse off; or 3) unaffected.
The way to build others up is to see them as opportunities instead of obstacles or obligations. One leadership expert writes: ‘One of the best things you can do for people – which also attracts them to you – is to expect the best of them. I call it putting a “10” on everyone’s head. It helps others think more highly of themselves, and at the same time it also helps you.’
Benjamin Disraeli, one of Britain’s prime ministers, put it this way: ‘The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.’ And we can do that by appreciating, encouraging, and helping others to reach their potential. Hope is one of the greatest of all possessions. Let’s take every opportunity to share the gift of hope with others, build them up, and help them discover their true value and potential in God’s eyes.
Deut 30:1-32:28; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 119:9-16; Prov 17:4-6
Ephesians 4:29 MSG
The apostle Paul writes, “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29 NLT). Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way: “Say only what helps, each word a gift.” Think of the people you most enjoy spending time with. How would you describe them? Grumpy? Bitter? Negative? Of course not! They’re celebrators, not complainers. They’re passionate about life. As you live this day, realize that everyone you meet, you will leave: (1) better off; (2) worse off; (3) unaffected.
The way to build others up is to see them as opportunities instead of obstacles or obligations. One leadership expert writes: “One of the best things you can do for people – which also attracts them to you – is to expect the best of them. I call it putting a ’10’ on everyone’s head. It helps others think more highly of themselves, and at the same time it also helps you.”
A survey of one hundred self-made multi-millionaires showed only one common denominator. These highly successful men and women routinely looked for the best in people. Benjamin Disraeli, one of Britain’s finest Prime Ministers, put it this way: “The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.” And you do that by appreciating, encouraging, and helping others to reach their potential.
Napoleon described leaders as “dealers in hope.” He understood that hope is one of the greatest of all possessions. If you can be the person who bestows that gift on others, they’ll not only be attracted to you, they’ll be forever grateful.
Soul food: Deut 30:1-32:28; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 119:9-16; Prov 17:4-6
2021-08-05
Mark 4:39 NLT
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.’ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out…But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back…with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?’ When Jesus woke…he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’…’Who is this man?’ they asked each other. ‘Even the wind and waves obey him!'” (vv. 35-41 NLT).
Following Jesus doesn’t exempt you from life’s storms, so you need to: (1) Remind yourself who’s with you – Jesus! Think about it: if Jesus can calm the storm, surely He can prevent it. But He permits us to go through storms to prove that we don’t have a problem He can’t solve. You may be powerless in the situation, but He’s not, and through it you’ll come to know him in a way you never have before. His goal is to bring you out stronger on the other side.
(2) Trust what He has told you. When Jesus tells you, “Let’s cross to the other side,” there’s not a wave big enough to take you under. The truth is, “We cannot stand in the storms of life based on someone else’s faith. We must be fully assured in our own hearts and minds” (See 1 John 5:14-15). What has God promised you? Stand on it!
Soul food: Deut 28-29; Luke 11:29-44; Ps 119:1-8; Prov 17:3
Markus 4:39 NLV
“Teen die aand sê Jesus vir sy dissipels: ‘Kom ons vaar oorkant toe.’ Hulle het die skare toe agtergelaat en Jesus… saamgeneem… Daar het ‘n hewige stormwind opgekom. Groot golwe het teen die skuit gebreek… Jesus het agter in die skuit gelê en slaap… Sy dissipels maak Hom toe wakker en sê vir Hom: ‘Leermeester, gee U nie om dat ons besig is om te vergaan nie?’ Jesus het opgestaan, die stormwind ernstig aangespreek en vir die see gesê: ‘Bedaar! Word kalm!’ Toe het die wind gaan lê en daar het ‘n groot rustigheid gekom. Hy vra toe vir hulle: ‘Hoekom is julle so verskrik? Vertrou julle My nog steeds nie?’ Hulle was heeltemal oorweldig en het vir mekaar gesê: ‘Wie is Hy werklik? Selfs die wind en die see luister na Hom!'” (verse 35-41 NLV).
Om Jesus te volg stel jou nie vry van die lewe se storms nie, dus moet jy die volgende doen: 1) Herinner jouself wie saam met jou is – Jesus! Dink daaroor: As Jesus die storm kan laat bedaar, kan Hy dit verseker voorkom. Hy laat ons egter toe om deur die storms te gaan om te bewys dat daar nie ‘n probleem is wat Hy nie kan oplos nie. Sy doel is om jou sterker aan die ander kant uit te bring.
2) Vertrou dit wat Hy vir jou sê. As Jesus vir jou sê: ‘Kom ons vaar oorkant toe,’ is daar nie ‘n golf groot genoeg om jou onder te kry nie. Die waarheid is dat ons nie in die lewe se storms op iemand anders se geloof staande kan bly nie. Ons moet ten volle in ons eie harte en gedagtes oortuig wees (sien 1 Johannes 5:14-15). Wat het God vir jou belowe? Staan daarop!
Sielskos: Deut 28-29; Luk 11:29-44; Ps 119:1-8; Spr 17:3
