2022-03-31
Matteus 11:29 NLV
Jesus het met die mense gepraat wat moedeloos oor godsdiens geword het. Mense wat uitgebrand was deur te probeer – en te faal – om ‘n lang lys reëls en regulasies na te kom. Hier is wat Hy vir hulle gesê het: ‘Kom na My toe, julle almal wat moeg is en swaar laste moet dra, en Ek sal julle lewens verkwik. Neem my juk op julle skouers. Kom leer van My, want Ek is sag en nederig van hart, en julle sal nuwe krag kry. Want my juk sal saggies op julle skouers rus en my las is lig om te dra’ (verse 28-29 NLV).
Die ‘juk’ waarvan Jesus gepraat het was ‘n harnas wat om die nekke van twee osse gegaan het, sodat hulle die ploeg in een rigting kon trek. In elke span osse, was een die leier en die ander een het gevolg. Jesus sal die leiding neem, maar jy moet in pas met Hom bly om sy seën op jou lewe te geniet. Hy belowe dat sy juk jou nie sal wurg nie; dit sal jou nie moeg maak of jou nie skaaf nie.
As jy waarlik vry wil wees, moet jy jouself toelaat om aan Jesus se juk vasgemaak te word, deur jou wil aan syne te onderwerp. Dit beteken egter nie dat jy Christus se juk vir ‘n rukkie aanvaar en dan in die ander rigting begin trek wanneer dinge nie gaan soos jy wil nie. Wanneer jy dit doen, raak die las swaarder en begin jy uitgeput voel. Vrede en rus vind plaas wanneer jy in die juk ontspan en Christus toelaat om te lei. Jesus het gesê: ‘…Ek sal julle lewens verkwik…’ Dit beteken dat jou opsies is om Hom teen te staan of om in Hom te rus. Watter een sal dit wees?
Sielskos: Job 40-42; Luk 20:41-47; Ps 31:1-13; Spr 8:34-36
Matthew 11:29 CEV
Jesus spoke to people who had given up on religion. People who were burnt out from trying (and failing) to stick to a long list of rules and regulations. Here’s what He said to them: ‘If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light’ (v.28-30 CEV).
A ‘yoke’ was a type of harness that went around the necks of two oxen so they could work together to pull a heavy plough. In each team of oxen, one was the leader and the other would follow. Accepting Jesus’ yoke means He’ll take the lead, but we have to stay in sync with Him to find real peace.
He promises His yoke won’t choke us; it won’t be overwhelming or confining, and we won’t be irritated or harmed by it. In fact, if we want to be truly free, we have to let ourselves be yoked to Jesus by submitting our will to His. It sounds strange to say that’ll bring freedom, but when we allow Him to guide us, we’re freed from wondering if we’re doing the right thing, worrying what other people think of us, and doubting our ability for the task He’s chosen.
It doesn’t work to accept Christ’s yoke for a while and then start pulling the other way when things don’t go the way we want. When we do that, the load gets heavier and we start to feel worn out. Peace and rest come when we relax and let Christ lead. Relax or resist – which will you choose?
Job 40-42; Luke 20:41-47; Ps 31:1-13; Pro 8:34-36
Matthew 11:29 CEV
Jesus spoke to people who had given up on religion. People who were burned out trying – and failing – to observe a long list of rules and regulations. Here is what He told them: “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light” (vv. 28-30 CEV).
The “yoke” Jesus spoke of was a harness that went around the necks of two oxen so they could pull the plow in the same direction. In each team of oxen, one was the leader and the other would follow. There is an important lesson here – don’t miss it. Jesus will take the lead, but you must stay in sync with Him to enjoy His blessing on your life. He promises His yoke won’t choke you; it won’t be wearisome or confining, and you won’t chafe under it.
In fact, if you want to be truly free, you must let yourself be yoked to Jesus by submitting your will to His. But it doesn’t work to accept Christ’s yoke for a while and then start pulling the other way when things don’t go the way you want. When you do, the load gets heavier and you start to feel worn out. Peace and rest come when you relax in the yoke and let Christ lead. Jesus said, “You will find rest.” That means your options are to resist Him or to rest in Him! Which will it be?
Soul food: Job 40-42; Luke 20:41-47; Ps 31:1-13; Pro 8:34-36
2022-03-30
2 Peter 1:5-6 CEV
Sometimes when we become aware of a flaw in our character, we’ll try to make ourselves feel better and justify it by blaming our circumstances. We might say things like ‘If I’d had a different tutor, I would have worked harder,’ or ‘If I had more money, I could afford the thing I want, and then I wouldn’t feel so jealous or resentful of other people.’ But even though our circumstances might be out of our control, our character isn’t. Integrity isn’t determined by our situation. It’s a choice, and every time we make the decision to act with integrity, we take a step forward in our spiritual growth.
Here’s something to try: Think about times when you’ve faced temptations and difficulties. Write them down, and next to each one, write how you dealt with it: escaped, excused, gave in, avoided, persevered, or overcame. How did you handle the things that were caused by circumstances out of your control? Do you notice any problem areas or anything you could improve on?
One way we can improve is ‘By adding…self-control’ to our spiritual weapons. Our lives are like icebergs – 15 per cent is visible; that’s our reputation, what others see of our attitude. The rest, our character, is hidden below the surface. Character is what we think but don’t necessarily share. It’s based on what we do when nobody’s looking, how we handle life’s little aggravations, how we handle failure and success. Character is based on self-control, and self-control is about making the right choices. We don’t have to work out what they are by ourselves: ‘God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him’ (Philippians 2:13 CEV).
Job 38-39; Luke 20:27-40; Ps 6; Pro 8:32-33
2 Peter 1:5-6 CEV
Ever notice how we tend to blame our circumstances for our character deficiencies? We attribute our problems to poor upbringing, financial difficulties, or other people’s shortcomings. Your circumstances may be beyond your control – but your character isn’t. You can no more blame your character flaws on circumstances than you can blame a mirror for how you look.
Integrity is always a choice, and every time you make a character-based decision, you take a step forward in your spiritual growth. Think about the times you have faced temptation and adversity. Jot them down, and beside each one, note your choice: to escape, excuse, capitulate, avoid, persevere, or overcome. What problem areas can you identify? How can you do better? If the things you listed were due to circumstances beyond your control, then choose to take greater control of your life. How? “By adding… self-control” to your arsenal.
Our lives resemble icebergs, in that 15 percent is visible; that’s our reputation. The rest, our character, is hidden below the surface. Character is what we think but don’t necessarily share. It’s based on what we do when nobody’s looking, how we handle life’s little aggravations, how we handle failure – and success. At the end of a brilliant career, Joshua challenged Israel with these words: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 NIV). Character is based on self-control, and self-control is about making the right choices. And the good news is, you don’t have to do it alone: “God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him” (Philippians 2:13 CEV).
Soul food: Job 38-39; Luke 20:27-40; Ps 6; Pro 8:32-33
