2022-10-30
1 Petrus 3:11 NLV
Lees die volgende Skrifgedeeltes: ‘Doen julle bes om in vrede met almal te lewe…’ (Hebreërs 12:14 NLV). ‘Maar die wysheid wat van Bo kom, is in die eerste plek suiwer. Verder is dit vredeliewend, inskiklik, bedagsaam… Die vredemakers saai saad van vrede; hulle oes omdat hulle reg lewe voor God’ (Jakobus 3:17-18 NLV). ‘As jy die lewe wil liefhê en goeie dae wil beleef, moet jy jou tong weghou van kwaadpraat en jou lippe van leuens. Bly weg van die kwaad af, ja, doen wat goed is. Soek vrede, ja, jaag dit na!’ (1 Petrus 3:10-11 NLV).
Om ‘n gesonde middeweg te kry beteken nie dat jy dit wat jy waarlik glo of wie jy waarlik is, moet prysgee nie. Dit beteken nie dat jy kortpaaie moet neem of met tweede-beste tevrede moet wees omdat jy ongeduldig of vreesbevange is nie. Nee, ‘n gesonde middeweg gaan daaroor om ‘n wen-wen situasie vir beide partye te onderhandel. Dit beteken dat jy probeer om die situasie of probleem deur die ander persoon se oë te sien.
Om ‘n gesonde middeweg te probeer kry, is die karaktereienskap van gesonde verhoudings. Dit is aanloklik om iemand as ‘verkeerd’ of ‘selfsugtig’ af te skryf en te weier om enige ander perspektief behalwe jou eie te sien. Dis egter dan wat dit noodsaaklik is om jou trots agter te laat, uit die rol wat jy speel te tree en te probeer verstaan waar die ander persoon vandaan kom.
Was daar nie al tye wat jyself geduld, liefde en begrip nodig gehad het nie? Ja? Dan moet jy gewillig wees om dieselfde genade aan ander mense te bewys. Soms is ‘n bietjie gee-en-neem al wat nodig is om die verhouding te laat werk en dinge vir almal betrokke beter te laat uitdraai.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 6:1-7; Matt 14:22-33
1 Peter 3:11 NKJV
Read these Scriptures: “Pursue peace with all people” (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV). “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield… the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:17-18 NKJV). “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:10-11 NKJV).
Healthy compromise doesn’t mean giving up what you truly believe or who you truly are. It doesn’t mean taking shortcuts and relinquishing yourself to second- or third-best because you are impatient or fearful. No, healthy compromise is about discovering how to negotiate a win-win position for both sides. It calls for trying to see things through the eyes of the other person involved in the situation or problem. And healthy compromise is the characteristic of healthy relationships.
It’s tempting to write off someone as “wrong” or “selfish” and refuse to see any other perspective except your own. But this is when it’s critical to abandon your pride, to step outside the role you are playing, and to try to understand where the other person is coming from. A meat cleaver is required when you want a meal, but a fine surgical instrument is required when you want to heal.
Haven’t there been times when you yourself needed patience, love, and understanding? Yes? Then be willing to extend the same grace to others. Sometimes all that’s required is a little give-and-take to make the relationship work and for things to turn out better for everyone involved.
Soul food: 2 Kings 6:1-7; Matt 14:22-33
2022-10-29
Proverbs 20:13 NKJV
Zig Ziegler said, “When you do what you need to do when you need to do it, then…you can do what you want to do when you want to do it.” But you will never do what you need to do if you don’t set your alarm clock, arise, take dominion over the blankets, and go to work.” Solomon warns about the kind of sleep that crosses the line between rest and laziness.
(1) Too much sleep has a dulling influence. “As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed” (Proverbs 26:14 NKJV).
(2) Too much sleep destroys ambition. “Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger” (Proverbs 19:15 NKJV).
(3) Too much sleep causes poverty. “Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty” (Proverbs 20:13 NKJV).
(4) Too much sleep disappoints God. “How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?” (Proverbs 6:9 NKJV).
(5) Too much sleep squanders golden opportunities. “He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame” (Proverbs 10:5 NKJV).
One guy was asked by a potential employer, “Does hard work bother you?” He answered, “No, hard work doesn’t bother me in the least. I can lie down next to it and go right to sleep.” The Bible calls such a person a “sluggard.” His god is slumber, his bed is his altar, and his body is the sacrifice he readily offers. Seriously, unless you’re willing to work hard, all your prayers for success won’t rise any higher than the roof.
Soul food: 1 Tim 1-3; John 6:52-59; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
Spreuke 20:13 NLV
Zig Ziegler het gesê: ‘Wanneer jy doen wat jy moet doen wanneer jy dit moet doen, dan kan jy doen wat jy wil doen wanneer jy dit wil doen.’ Jy sal egter nooit doen wat jy moet doen as jy nie jou alarm stel, opstaan, en gaan werk nie. Salomo waarsku ons oor die tipe slaap wat die grens tussen rus en luiheid oorsteek.
1) Te veel slaap veroorsaak dofheid. “‘n Luiaard draai om en om op sy bed, soos ‘n deur heen en weer swaai op sy skarnier” (Spreuke 26:14 NLV).
2) Te veel slaap vernietig ambisie. ‘Luiheid laat jou diep slaap. ‘n Lui mens ly honger’ (Spreuke 19:15 NLV).
3) Te veel slaap veroorsaak armoede. ‘Moenie lief wees vir slaap nie; jy kan in armoede verval…’ (Spreuke 20:13 NLV).
4) Te veel slaap stel God teleur. ‘Jou luiaard, hoe lank gaan jy nog lê en slaap? Wanneer gaan jy eendag opstaan, jou luiaard?’ (Spreuke 6:9 NLV).
5) Te veel slaap verkwis gulde geleenthede. ‘Die verstandige mens samel sy oes in wanneer dit ryp is. Hy wat in die oestyd slaap, bring skande oor homself’ (Spreuke 10:5 NLV).
Een ou is deur ‘n potensiële werkgewer gevra: ‘Pla harde werk jou?’ Hy het geantwoord: ‘Nee, harde werk pla my nie die minste nie. Ek kan langsaan gaan lê en dadelik aan die slaap raak.’ Die Bybel noem so ‘n persoon “‘n luiaard.” Sy god is sluimer, sy bed is sy altaar en sy liggaam is die offer wat hy geredelik bring. Tensy jy bereid is om hard te werk, sal jou gebede vir sukses nie hoër as die dak styg nie.
Sielskos: 1 Tim 1-3; Joh 6:52-59; Ps 114; Spr 24:23-25
2022-10-28
1 John 2:12 NIV
John says, “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name” (v. 12 NIV). When you’re born again, the only thing you know is that your sins are forgiven and you’re in right standing with God. But you have a lot more to learn. The Greek term for “children” refers to toddlers. And toddlers keep tripping and falling. Until they learn to walk, they need someone to pick them up and reassure them that falling down doesn’t mean they will never walk or they’re not part of the family.
In spiritual childhood, it’s essential that you understand two things: the difference between your stage of growth and your standing before God. Don’t get them mixed up! Trusting in the finished work of Christ gives you right standing with God as a fully accepted, redeemed child of His. If you forget that, every time you fall, the devil will make you doubt your salvation.
When you sin, it doesn’t mean that your standing before God is altered; it means your stage of spiritual growth needs work. The forgiveness you receive at the new birth is a judicial act, making you a member of God’s family in good standing. But the forgiveness you receive on a daily basis is a relational act. For example, when you enter some wrong numbers into your calculator, what do you do? There is a little button called “clear entry” that lets you erase your mistake and start over again. That’s what the blood of Jesus does. Repentance allows you to override sin by triggering God’s forgiveness, so that the flow of His grace continues. And when grace flows, growth follows.
Soul food: Habakkuk 1-3; John 6:35-51; Ps 49; Prov 24:19-22
