2023-10-07
Colossians 3:12 NLT
John Gray wrote the best-selling book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. His underlying thesis is this: In order to get along with someone, you have to try and see life from their perspective. And that’s not easy. Paul writes: “Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts” (vv. 12-15 NLT).
Those who need others to think and act exactly the way they do are often masking insecurities. They have a deep-seated need to have their views and actions confirmed in the behavior and thoughts of others. But that’s not how life works. Disagreements happen in any relationship where more than one person is involved. We are all unique, and we are not likely to agree on everything.
But the way we approach our disagreements can determine whether our relationship makes it to the finish line. Fighting fair, opening yourself to the ideas of others and to new ways of doing things, is how you grow. And who knows, in the end you may even “agree to disagree.” The important thing is to respect the other person’s ideas and seek to create an environment where the two of you can feel free to express your feelings and be who you really are without fear of being judged.
Soul food: 1 Sam 16-17; John 1:29-42; Ps 92; Prov 22:24-25
2023-10-06
Romans 12:10 NIV
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” Most people know about Isaac Newton’s famed encounter with a falling apple; how he introduced the law of universal gravitation and revolutionized astronomical studies. But few people know that had it not been for a man called Edmond Halley, the world may never have heard of Newton.
Halley was the one who urged Newton to think through his original theories, corrected his mathematical mistakes, and formulated geometrical figures to support his discoveries. It was Halley who persuaded a hesitant Newton to write his great work The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. And it was Halley who edited and supervised its publication and financed its printing, even though Newton was wealthier and could better have afforded the cost.
Historians have called Halley’s affiliation with Newton one of the most selfless cases in science. Newton began almost immediately to reap the rewards of prominence, but Halley received little credit. He did use the principles Newton established to forecast the orbit and return of a comet that would later bear his name. But since Halley’s Comet returns only every seventy-six years, relatively few people still hear his name.
However, Halley didn’t care who got the credit as long as the cause of science was advanced. He personified what it means to live by this scriptural principle: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.” Anytime God gives you an opportunity to put others first and yourself second, grab it and run with it.
Soul food: 1 Sam 14-15; John 1:14-28; Ps 63; Prov 22:17-23
Romeine 12:10 NLV
Ralph Waldo Emerson het gesê: ‘Daar is geen beperking op dit wat bereik kan word as dit nie saak maak wie die krediet daarvoor kry nie.’ Die meeste mense weet van Isaac Newton se befaamde ontmoeting met ‘n vallende appel en hoe hy die wet van gravitasie ingestel het. Min mense weet egter dat as dit nie vir ‘n man genaamd Edmond Halley was nie, die wêreld dalk nooit van Newton sou gehoor het nie.
Halley was die een wat Newton aangespoor het om oor sy oorspronklike teorieë na te dink, sy wiskundige foute reg te stel en geometriese figure te formuleer om sy ontdekkings te ondersteun. Dit was Halley wat ‘n huiwerige Newton oortuig het om sy boek The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy te skryf. Dit was Halley wat die boek geredigeer het, die publikasie daarvan waargeneem het en die druk daarvan gefinansier het, alhoewel Newton ryker was en dit kon bekostig het.
Newton het byna dadelik begin om die vrugte van prominensie te pluk, maar Halley het min krediet gekry. Hy het wel die beginsels wat Newton vasgestel het gebruik om die wentelbaan en terugkeer van ‘n komeet wat later sy naam sou dra, te voorspel. Aangesien Halley se komeet egter net elke ses-en-sewentig jaar terugkeer, hoor relatief min mense steeds sy naam.
Halley het egter nie omgegee wie die krediet gekry het nie, solank die saak van die wetenskap bevorder word. Hy het verpersoonlik wat dit beteken om volgens hierdie Skriftuurlike beginsel te lewe: ‘…julle [moet] mekaar in liefde koester en voor in die ry staan om mekaar met respek te hanteer.’ Wanneer God jou die geleentheid gee om ander mense eerste en jouself tweede te stel, gryp dit aan en hardloop daarmee.
Sielskos: 1 Sam 14-15; Joh 1:14-28; Ps 63; Spr 22:17-23
2023-10-05
Psalm 27:4 NKJV
You may have to downscale materially to upscale spiritually. If owning things, maintaining them, and worrying about losing them is robbing you of the things that matter most like peace, joy, and fulfillment, consider simplifying your life. Downscale on the things that don’t matter, so you can upscale on the things that do.
During her successful career as an opera singer, Jenny Lind, known as the “Swedish Nightingale,” became one of the wealthiest artists of all time. Yet she gave up her career at a time when she was singing her best. And she never returned to it. People speculated about the reason and wondered how she could give up applause, fame, and money. But Jenny seemed satisfied to live in privacy in a home by the ocean.
One day a friend found her sitting on the sand with her Bible on her knees, looking out at a glorious sunset. As they conversed, the friend asked, “Madame Goldschmidt [Lind’s married name], how is it that you came to abandon the stage at the height of your success?” She answered quietly, “When every day made me think less of this (laying a finger on her Bible), and nothing at all of that (pointing to the sunset), what else could I do?”
King David owned all the stuff we dream about, yet he wrote: “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” (v. 4 NKJV). Now, there is a man with right priorities!
Soul food: 1 Sam 11-13; John 1:1-13; Ps 51; Prov 22:12-16
Psalm 27:4 NLV
Jy mag dalk materieel moet afskaal om geestelik te groei. As die dinge wat jy besit die dinge wat die meeste saak maak, soos vrede, vreugde en vervulling by jou steel, oorweeg dit om jou lewe te vereenvoudig. Skaal af op die dinge wat nie saak maak nie, sodat jy op die dinge wat wel saak maak, kan fokus.
Gedurende haar suksesvolle loopbaan as operasanger, het Jenny Lind, wat ook die ‘Sweedse Nagtegaal’ genoem is, een van die rykste kunstenaars van alle tye geword. Tog het sy haar loopbaan op die punt waar sy op haar beste gesing het, prysgegee. Sy het nooit as operasanger teruggekeer nie. Mense het oor die rede daarvoor gespekuleer en gewonder hoe sy die applous, roem en geld kon prysgee. Jenny het tevrede gelyk om in privaatheid in ‘n huis by die see te woon.
Eendag het ‘n vriend haar gevind waar sy op die sand met haar Bybel op haar knieë sit en na ‘n wonderlike sonsondergang kyk. Soos hulle gesels het, het die vriend gevra: ‘Madame Goldschmidt [Lind se getroude van], hoe het dit gebeur dat jy die verhoog op die kruin van jou sukses verlaat het?’ Sy het stilweg geantwoord: ‘Wanneer elke dag my minder hieroor (met ‘n vinger op haar Bybel), en glad nie daaraan nie (wysend na die sonsondergang) laat dink het, wat anders kon ek doen?’
Koning Dawid het al die dinge waaroor ons droom besit en tog het hy geskryf: ‘Een ding vra ek van die Here, en dit sal ek bly soek; om in die huis van die Here te bly al die dae van my lewe, om my te verbly in sy goedheid, en in sy tempel daaroor na te dink’ (vers 4 NLV). Dít is ‘n man met die regte prioriteite!
Sielskos: 1 Sam 11-13; Joh 1:1-13; Ps 51; Spr 22:12-16
