2025-08-21
Markus 14:8 NLV
“Tydens die ete kom daar ‘n vrou in met ‘n albaste fles vol egte, baie duur aromatiese olie. Sy breek toe die seël van die fles en gooi die olie oor Jesus se kop uit. Sommige van dié wat saam aan tafel was, was verontwaardig daaroor: ‘Hoekom hierdie verkwisting van duur olie?’ het hulle gesê. ‘Sy kon dit vir ‘n yslike bedrag verkoop het en die geld vir die armes gegee het.’ En hulle het haar uitgetrap. Jesus het hulle egter geantwoord: ‘Laat haar met rus! Waarom maak julle dit vir haar so moeilik?.. Sy het haar allerbeste vir My gedoen. Sy het my liggaam vooruit gesalf vir my begrafnis. Ek verseker julle, waar hierdie Goeie Nuus ook al oor die hele wêreld verkondig sal word, sal daar ook gepraat word van wat sy gedoen het, en so sal sy vir altyd onthou word!'” (verse 3-6, 8-9 NLV).
Let twee dinge op wat Jesus oor hierdie vrou gesê het.
1) ‘Sy het haar allerbeste vir My gedoen’ (vers 8 NLV). Dit is ‘n teregwysing vir die trots in elkeen van ons. Ons dink as ander mense nie gaan sien dat ons iets groots doen nie, doen ons eerder niks. Moeder Teresa het glo gesê: ‘Ons kan nie almal groot dinge doen nie, maar ons kan almal klein dingetjies met groot liefde doen.’
2) ‘So sal sy vir altyd onthou word!’ (vers 9 NLV). Tweeduisend jaar later praat ons steeds van haar nalatenskap – barmhartigheid!
Jy hoef nie gesofistikeerd, geleerd of ryk te wees om barmhartig te kan wees nie. Dien God – en ander – en jou beloning in die hemel is verseker (sien 2 Timoteus 4:6-8 NLV).
Sielskos: Amos 1:1-5:17; Matt 20:17-28; Ps 119:137-144; Spr 18:22-24
Mark 14:8 NKJV
“A woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil… and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant… and said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.’ And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone… She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her'” (vv. 3-6, 8-9 NKJV).
Notice two things Jesus said about this woman.
(1) “She has done what she could” (v. 8 NKJV). This is a rebuke to the pride in each of us, which thinks if we can’t do something great that will be noticed and celebrated by others, we won’t do anything at all. Mother Teresa is attributed with saying, “We cannot all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.”
(2) “What this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (v. 9 NKJV). Two thousand years later, we’re still talking about her legacy. What was it? Kindness!
And you don’t have to be educated, sophisticated, or rich to do it. Bill Borden turned his back on a family fortune and ministered to students at Yale, orphans, widows, and alcoholics on the streets. Before he died, he wrote, “No reserves, no retreats, no regrets.” No reserves: Hold nothing back. No retreats: Never turn back. No regrets: Serve God – and others – and your reward in heaven is assured (See 2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Soul food: Amos 1:1-5:17; Matt 20:17-28; Ps 119:137-144; Pro 18:22-24
2025-08-20
1 Korintiërs 12:31 AFR83
Die waarde van enigiets word deur sy funksionaliteit bepaal. Watter probleem los dit op? Aan watter behoefte voldoen dit? Sand is ‘n goeie voorbeeld. Op die strand is sand gratis. As jy egter ‘n speelgrond wil bou, moet daardie selfde sand in sakke gepak en vervoer word, dus kos dit meer en daarom styg die waarde daarvan. Nou kos dit wat eens gratis op die strand was, R100 per sak. Sodra dieselfde sand op ‘n stuk papier vasgeplak is, wat dit skuurpapier maak, neem die waarde daarvan weer toe. Nou is dit omtrent R50 vir ‘n stuk skuurpapier. Die waarde het toegeneem, omdat die doel daarvan verander het.
‘n Skrywer verduidelik dit verder as volg: ‘Sand bestaan uit silikondioksied. Wanneer sand verhit en verwerk word, word dit ‘n ingewikkelde deel van ‘n rekenaarskyfie wat R10 000 werd is. Wat dus eens gratis op die strand was, het nou waarde omdat dit in ‘n sak is, omdat dit op ‘n stuk papier vasgeplak is, of omdat dit deel van ‘n rekenaarskyfie wat jy skaars kan bekostig, is. Die sand is dieselfde, maar omdat dit nou ‘n groter doel het, is die waarde daarvan baie groter.’
Nadat Paulus baie oor die verskillende werke wat gedoen moes word en gawes wat in die kerk uitgeoefen moes word geskryf het, het hy gesê: ‘Lê julle toe op die beste genadegawes.’ Hoekom? Sodat die goeie wat jy doen die beste en voordeligste vir almal sal wees. Paulus skryf aan die gelowiges in Rome: ‘Want ek begeer om julle te sien, sodat ek die een of ander geestelike gawe met julle kan deel om julle te versterk’ (Romeine 1:11 AFR20). Moenie met minder tevrede wees nie; vra God vir meer – jy sal nie teleurgestel word nie.
Sielskos: Klaag 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Spr 18:21
1 Corinthians 12:31 NKJV
The value of anything is determined by its function. What problem does it solve? What need does it meet? Sand is a good example. At the beach, sand is free. But if you want to build a playground, that same sand has to be bagged and transported, so it costs more; hence its value goes up. Now what was once free on the beach costs twenty-five dollars a bag. Once this same sand is glued to a piece of paper, making it sandpaper, its value increases again. Now it’s about five dollars for a sheet. The value has gone up with an alteration in its purpose.
An author further explains this: “Now, sand is silicon dioxide. When sand is taken, heated, and processed, it becomes an intricate part of a computer chip that is now worth five hundred dollars. So what was once free on the beach now has value because it is in a bag, because it is glued to a piece of paper, or because it is in a computer chip that you can hardly afford. The sand is the same, but it has found increased value in a greater purpose.”
After writing at length about the various jobs to be done and gifts to be exercised in the church, Paul writes, “Earnestly desire the best gifts.” Why? So you can bring the most benefit and do the greatest good. Paul writes to the believers in Rome, “I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord” (Romans 1:11 NLT). Don’t settle for less; seek God for more – you won’t be disappointed.
Soul food: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21
2025-08-19
1 Peter 3:8 NKJV
Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and try to see things from their point of view. That’s one of the great keys to working with clients, pleasing customers, sustaining a marriage, raising children, pastoring people, helping those who are less fortunate, etc. Live by this Scripture: “All of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tender-hearted, be courteous.” Try to look beyond yourself, your own pursuits, and your own world.
When you decide to reflect upon an issue from every possible angle, (a) look at it in light of another person’s history, (b) find out the interests and concerns of others, and (c) lay aside your own plan and try to see what others see. That’s a powerful thing because it means you are truly connecting with them.
If you join in any kind of group or team activity, you know how vital it is that each person sees the whole picture and not just their own part. Anytime a person doesn’t recognize how their work fits in with that of their teammates, then the whole team suffers. The better a team member grasps the big picture, the greater their potential to work with the team.
Getting along with people and working with them requires effort: getting to know their needs, their goals, their hurts, and their struggles. That’s what Jesus does with us. The Bible says that He can “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15 NKJV). To follow in His footsteps, you must endeavour to do that with others.
Soul food: Lam 1:1-3:39; Matt 19:15-30; Ps 119:121-128; Pro 18:13-20
