2023-02-03
Proverbs 24:3 NCV
At an educators’ conference, one colleague condescendingly asked another’s wife, “What is it that you do, my dear?” The husband later wrote: “My wife… shot back, ‘I’m socializing two Homo sapiens into the dominant values of the Judeo-Christian tradition in order that they might be the instruments for the transformation of the social order into the kind of eschatological utopia that God willed from the beginning of creation.’ Then [she] asked…sweetly, ‘And what is it that you do?’ The woman answered humbly, ‘I… I… teach sociology.'”
The Bible says, “It takes wisdom to have a good family, and… understanding to make it strong” (v. 3 NCV). Wisdom is the ability to see with discernment. Understanding is the skill to respond with insight. If you succeed at everything else in life and fail at home, nothing else will matter.
One author writes: “We must fill our children with light so they can discern what’s dark… help them cultivate a life of peace so they recognize discord… educate them on what’s right so that what’s wrong has glaring contrast. We must love them so fully that they’re not trying to stave off emptiness… offer the sweet scent of truth so they can smell a lie… build their confidence in Christ so they’re not easily dismantled by others’ opinions. We must build their foundation on a rock so they [recognize] unstable ground… bring them up so it’s difficult for others to bring them down… and teach them to pray for wisdom so they realise being smart isn’t enough.”
As parents, you and I may not see the return on our investment right way, but “at…t he right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT).
Soul food: Gen 25:19-27:46; Luke 7:36-50; Ps 111; Prov 3:29-30
Spreuke 24:3 NLV
By ‘n konferensie vir onderwysers, het een kollega neerhalend vir ‘n ander een se vrou gevra: ‘En watse werk doen jy, skat?’ Die man het later geskryf: “My vrou het teruggekap: ‘Ek sosialiseer twee Homo sapiens in die dominante waardes van die Joods-Christelike tradisie sodat hulle die instrumente kan wees vir die transformasie van die sosiale orde in die soort eskatologiese utopie wat God van die begin van die skepping af wou hê.’ Toe het sy ewe gevra: ‘En watse werk doen jy?’ Die vrou het nederig geantwoord: ‘Ek…ek… gee klas in sosiologie.'”
Die Bybel sê: ‘Met wysheid word ‘n huis gebou. Insig is nodig om dit te onderhou’ (vers 3 NLV). Wysheid is om onderskeidingsvermoë aan die dag te lê. Insig is die vaardigheid om met begrip te reageer. As jy sukses in alles in die lewe behaal, maar by die huis misluk, sal geen van jou suksesse saak maak nie.
Een skrywer merk op: ‘Ons moet ons kinders met lig vul sodat hulle dit wat donker is kan onderskei. Ons moet hulle help om ‘n lewe van vrede te kultiveer sodat hulle onenigheid kan herken. Ons moet hulle leer wat reg is sodat dit wat verkeerd is, duidelik daarmee kontrasteer. Ons moet vir hulle die soet reuk van die waarheid aanbied sodat hulle ‘n leuen kan ruik. Ons moet hulle selfvertroue in Christus opbou sodat hulle nie maklik deur ander mense se opinies afgebreek sal word nie. Ons moet hulle fondasie op ‘n rots bou sodat hulle onstabiele grond sal herken. Ons moet hulle leer om vir wysheid te bid sodat hulle besef dat om slim te wees, nie genoeg is nie.’
As ouers, mag ons nie dadelik die opbrengs op ons beleggings sien nie, maar ‘…as ons nie tou opgooi nie, sal ons op die regte tyd oes’ (Galasiërs 6:9 NLV).
Sielskos: Gen 25:19-27:46; Luk 7:36-50; Ps 111; Spr 3:29-30
2023-02-02
Luke 15:20 CEV
When the father saw his prodigal son, “his heart went out to him.” Jack Graham writes: “This isn’t a father who can’t wait to punish his sinful son… who has written him off as wasted and worthless. This is a loving, caring father who can’t wait to embrace and welcome him. He runs down the road to meet him… What you see… is a picture of the Father’s love for you… eager… excessive… approachable… abundant.”
Max Lucado adds: “The tale involves a wealthy father and a willful son [who]… takes his inheritance [to] Las Vegas and… wastes [it] on slot machines and call girls… Broke [and] too proud to go home, he gets a job sweeping… stables at the racetrack. When he finds himself… [eating]… their oats, he realises enough is enough… Off he goes, rehearsing his repentance speech… But… ‘When he was… a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion’ [v. 20 NKJV]… We expect crossed arms… a furrowed brow… a guarded handshake… a stern lecture… Instead [the father said], ‘Bring out the best robe… a ring… sandals… and… the fatted calf’ [vv. 22-23 NKJV].”
The ring symbolized delegated authority. The one who wore it carried on business in the name of the one who gave it. Would you have given this prodigal the power of attorney over your matters? Entrusted him with your credit card?
When you came to God, you were given authority to conduct business in His name. When you speak truth, you’re His ambassador (See 2 Corinthians 5:20). As you steward finances He gives, you’re His business manager. When you proclaim forgiveness, you’re His priest. He has given you the privilege to do for others what He does for you. Don’t withhold encouragement or affirmation! Speak words that strengthen others. Why? Because you represent your Father!
Soul food: Gen 24:1-25:18; Luke 7:24-35; Ps 107:33-43; Prov 3:27-28
Lukas 15:20 ABA
Toe die pa sy verlore seun gesien het, was hy ‘baie jammer vir hom.’ Jack Graham skryf: ‘Dis nie ‘n vader wat nie kan wag om sy sondige seun te straf en wat hom as waardeloos afgeskryf het nie. Dis ‘n liefdevolle, sorgsame vader wat nie kan wag om hom te omhels en te verwelkom nie. Hy hardloop die pad af om hom tegemoet te gaan. Wat jy sien is ‘n beeld van die Vader se liefde vir jou – gretig, buitensporig, toeganklik, oorvloedig.’ ‘…toe hy nog ver weg was, het sy pa hom gesien aankom. Oorweldig met liefde en deernis het hy na sy seun toe gehardloop, hom omhels en gesoen’ (vers 20 NLV). Ons verwag gevoude arms, ‘n frons op die voorkop, ‘n onwillige handdruk, ‘n streng berisping. In plaas daarvan sê sy pa: ‘…Gou, bring die mooiste mantel… ‘n ring vir sy vinger, en sandale vir sy voete. En slag die kalf wat ons in die kraal vet maak…’ (verse 22-23 NVL).’
In daardie tyd het die vader se ring gedelegeerde gesag gesimboliseer. Die een wat dit gedra het, het besigheid in die naam van die een wat dit gegee het, gedoen. Sou jy hierdie verlore seun jou sake laat behartig het? Hom met jou kredietkaart vertrou het?
Toe jy na God toe gekom het, het jy die gesag om besigheid in sy Naam te doen, ontvang. Wanneer jy die waarheid praat, is jy sy ambassadeur (sien 2 Korintiërs 5:20). Jy is sy besigheidsbestuurder wanneer jy die finansies wat Hy aan jou toevertrou het, bestuur. Wanneer jy iemand vergewe, is jy sy priester. Hy het vir jou die voorreg gegee om vir ander te doen wat Hy vir jou doen. Spreek woorde wat ander mense versterk. Hoekom? Omdat jy jou Vader verteenwoordig.
Sielskos: GEN.24:1-25:18; Luk 7:24-35; Ps 107:33-43; Spr 3:27-28
2023-02-01
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV
In order to succeed in life, you need good coping skills. The salesperson has a quota. The performer has rehearsals. The therapist counsels one depressed soul after another. The pilot has to sit in the cockpit for hours. The preacher is never free of sermon preparation. Then there is the mother with tiny children facing fourteen hours a day of making decisions, competing with strong wills, and trying to be everything to everybody.
How do you develop the coping skills required to live the abundant life Jesus promised? (See John 10:10.) Paul tells us, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks.” Rejoice in the things that never change, can’t fail, and won’t let you down (like God’s promises!).
And when you feel like you can’t cope, pray. Better yet, live with a prayerful heart! With every breath, say, “I trust you, Lord; I turn it over to you, for I know you have everything under control.”
And don’t forget to give thanks. Remember the old adage: “I grumbled because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” Instead of complaining, start counting your blessings. Do you remember what life was like before you met Jesus? Weren’t there days when you thought you wouldn’t make it? Now look where you are! On the other side of the Red Sea, looking back, the Israelites declared that the Lord was their strength, their song, and their salvation (See Exodus 15:2). And isn’t that what He has been to you, too? Come on, praise God!
Soul food: Gen 20-23; Luke 7:11-23; Ps 107:23-32; Prov 3:25-26
