2022-07-26
1 Timoteus 5:13 NLV
Die Bybel sê dat skinder niks anders is as om jouself ‘te bemoei met ander mense se besigheid,’ nie. Jon Zens sê: ‘Ek het al gesien hoe vriende en families ongekende pyn as gevolg van skinderstories ervaar – die informasie wat iemand sonder jou toestemming of die betrokke persoon se toestemming op jou afpak. Dit kan waar, gedeeltelik waar of heeltemal vals wees. Dit kan deur goeie bedoelings gemotiveer wees, maar dit behels altyd negatiewe informasie en kleur mense se persepsies van iemand onregverdig in. Die persoon wat afgebreek word, word nie betrek nie, omdat skinderbekke dit gewoonlik vermy om direk met die een wat hulle besig is om te verneder, te praat.’
Stel dus vandag die standaard vir jou eie lewe deur mense op jou ervaring van hulle, en nie op wat iemand anders van hulle sê nie, te evalueer. Tweedehandse informasie is berug daarvoor dat dit onbetroubaar en misleidend is en dit oortree Christus se opdrag om ‘…aan ander mense [te] doen soos julle wil hê ander mense moet aan julle doen…’ (Matteus 7:12 ABA).
As jy al vantevore deur skinderpraatjies seergemaak is, kan jy aanklank by die wysheid van hierdie woorde vind. Gerugte en skimpe mag dalk onskuldig lyk en subtiel oorvertel word, maar selfs al tree iemand nie kwaadwillig op nie, is dit steeds verkeerd. Om skinderstories te versprei, oortree jy die opdrag om in liefde te wandel en vir die beste in ander mense uit te kyk (sien 1 Korintiërs 13:7).
A.W. Tozer het gesê: ‘Moet nooit iets oorvertel wat iemand kan seermaak nie. ‘…Sulke liefde maak baie sondes toe’ (1 Petrus 4:8 NLV), en die skinderbek het geen plek in God se guns nie. As jy iets weet wat een van God se kinders kan seermaak, neem dit en begrawe dit. God sal vir die res sorg.’
Sielskos: Hand 16-17; Matt 27:45-56; Ps 1; Spr 16:10-15
1 Timothy 5:13 NLT
The Bible says gossip is nothing less than “meddling in other people’s business.” Jon Zens says: “I have watched friends and… families suffer untold pain because of gossip… [the] information someone dumps on you without your consent and consent of the person [involved]. [It] can be true, partially true, or completely false. It can be motivated by good intentions, but it always contains negative… information… [and colors] people’s perceptions of [someone] unjustly. The person being torn down is out of the loop [because] talebearers usually avoid speaking directly to the one they are demeaning.”
One Christian leader said, “The Christian army is the only one that shoots its wounded.” So set the standard for your own life by evaluating people based on your experience with them, not on what somebody else says. Secondhand information is notoriously unreliable and misleading, and it violates Christ’s command to “treat people the… way you want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12 NAS).
When you have been hurt by tittle-tattle, you can relate to the wisdom of those words. Rumors and innuendos may seem innocent and come to you subtly, but even if someone isn’t operating in malice, their motive is irrelevant. Spreading gossip defies walking in love and looking “for the best” in others (1 Corinthians 13:7 MSG).
A. W. Tozer said, “Never pass anything on… that will hurt [somebody]. ‘Love covers… a multitude of sins’ (1 Peter 4:8 NIV), and the talebearer has no place in God’s favour. If you know something that would hurt one of God’s children… take it out… bury it and say, ‘Here lies in peace the story about my brother.’ God will take care of it.”
Soul food: Acts 16-17; Matt 27:45-56; Ps 1; Prov 16:10-15
2022-07-25
Lukas 6:13,15 DB
Toe die Ohio State Buckeyes en die Universiteit van Michigan Wolverines in 1968 teen mekaar in die voetbalkampioenskappe te staan gekom het, het Ohio hul aartsvyande met 50-14 verslaan. Die wedstryd sal lank onthou word as gevolg van wat minute voor die einde gebeur het. Met ‘n groot voorsprong van 44-14, het die Buckeyes heldhaftig deurgedruk om ‘n laaste raakvat te wen. In plaas daarvan om die normale eenpunt-omskakeling te kies, het die legendariese Woody Hayes onsuksesvol op ‘n tweepunt-omskakeling aangedring. Na die wedstryd, toe hy deur die pers gevra is hoekom hy twee punte gekies het toe die wedstryd reeds gewen was, het Hayes geantwoord: ‘Omdat ek nie vir drie kon gaan nie!’ Om alles te gee lei tot oorwinning, nie nederlaag nie; tot tevredenheid en nie spyt nie.
Entoesiasme is die kern van elke waardevolle prestasie. Paulus skryf: ‘Dit is goed dat julle ywerig is om te doen wat reg is…’ (Galasiërs 4:18 DB). Een van die dissipels was bekend vir sy entoesiasme en is ‘ywerige Simon’ genoem. Voor sy bekering het Simon aan ‘n militante nasionalistiese party behoort wat hom tot die Joodse bevryding van Rome verbind het. Deur genade het Simon, die politieke yweraar, egter ‘n geestelike vuurwapen geword wie se passie na die evangelie van Christus en sy koninkryk, gekanaliseer is.
Christelike entoesiasme is Godgeïnspireerde passie, wat deur die Heerlikheid van God gedryf word, deur die Woord van God gerig word, wat aan die Seun van God gewy word en wat van die Gees van God afkomstig is. Wanneer dit daarby kom om Christus lief te hê en te dien, moet jy alles gee wat jy het! Strewe daarna om vandag, soos Simon, as die ‘ywerige een’ bekend te staan.
Sielskos: Hand 14-15; Matt 27:33-44; Ps 65; Spr 16:8-9
Luke 6:13,15 CEV
When Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Michigan Wolverines met in the 1968 college football championships, Ohio soundly defeated their archrivals 50-14. The game will long be remembered because of what happened minutes from the end. With a commanding lead of 44-14, the Buckeyes pressed heroically to win a final touchdown. Instead of opting for the normal one-point conversion, the legendary Woody Hayes pushed unsuccessfully for a two-point conversion. After the game when he was asked by the press why he had opted for two points when the game was already won, Hayes replied, “Because I couldn’t go for three!”
Giving it your all results in victory not defeat; in satisfaction not regret. Enthusiasm is at the core of every worthwhile accomplishment. Paul writes, “It is good to be zealous in a good thing always” (Galatians 4:18 NKJV).
Among the disciples, one in particular was known for his enthusiasm; Simon the “Eager One.” Before his conversion, Simon belonged to a militant nationalist party committed to Jewish liberation from Rome. By grace, Simon the political zealot became a spiritual firebrand whose passion was channeled into the gospel of Christ and His kingdom. The word enthusiasm comes from the two Greek words en Theos, meaning “God within.” Christian enthusiasm is God-inspired passion, driven by the Glory of God, directed by the Word of God, dedicated to the Son of God, and derived from the Spirit of God. When it comes to loving and serving Christ, giving it everything you’ve got is the only way to go! Today strive like Simon to be known as the “Eager One.”
Soul food: Acts 14-15; Matt 27:33-44; Ps 65; Prov 16:8-9
2022-07-24
John 16:33 KJV
In the mid-eighties, Steven Patrick Morrissey, better known as “Moz,” dominated the British rock charts. Known for his melancholy as much as for his music, Morrissey’s songs had predominantly depressive themes. They dwelled on fractured relationships, lonely nightclubs, and the hopeless weight of the past. In short, Morrissey was a singer who lived a cheerless life in a minor key.
How different from the life Jesus called his followers to live! On three different occasions He encouraged his disciples to “be of good cheer.” Bible teacher Philip De Courcy calls them “the three cheers of The New Testament.” The first reason to be cheerful is because your sins are forgiven and forgotten in Christ (See Matthew 9:2). Because of Calvary, your faults and failings will never be used in judgment against you (See John 5:24).
The second reason to be cheerful is because we’re not fighting for victory but from the vantage point of victory. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NKJV).
And the third reason to cheer is because Jesus will be with you no matter what life throws at you or who comes against you. Like the terrified disciples on board a storm-tossed boat, He will be there when you need Him. You have His word on it: “They were troubled… But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid'” (Matthew 14:26-27 NKJV).
Peace isn’t the absence of storms. It’s knowing Christ is with us and “nothing… will… be able to separate us from the love of God… in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39 NLT).
Soul food: Gen 14:18; Ps 110; Heb 5:5-11
