2022-08-02
Ephesians 5:2 NKJV
The Greeks used four words to distinguish different types of love: (1) Storge, which means natural affection; (2) Eros, which means sexual attraction; (3) Philia, which means emotional affection or friendship; (4) Agape, which means unconditional, giving, sacrificial love.
When the Bible tells of God’s love for us and the type of love we are to have for Him and others, the word is always “agape,” indicating a commitment to act. Do you know it’s possible to love someone you don’t even like? Indeed, if God is going to educate us to love, He will bring certain hard-to-love people into our lives. The truth is, our lives are full of people we don’t like. We do not like the way some people speak. We do not like the way some behave. We do not like what others wear. But most of all, we tend to dislike people who don’t like us.
If you think about it for a minute, you can probably produce a list of people you don’t like. They would probably be people with whom you have difficulty getting along. Everyone is hard to love sometimes – even you – but some are hard to love at any time. But Jesus never demanded that we have a tender fondness for everyone. He did not feel warmth for the Pharisees. We don’t have to like everyone – isn’t that a relief? – but we must love them.
What does the Bible mean when it says, “Walk in love?” Like physical walking, this unconditional love (a) requires effort, (b) moves in a certain direction, and (c) is something you do every day.
Soul food: Deut 1-2; Mark 1:21-34; Ps 78:17-31; Prov 16:26-30
2022-08-01
Johannes 13:34 NLV
Liefde is sekerlik een van die woorde in die wêreld wat die meeste verkeerd verstaan word. Ons water die betekenis daarvan af deur dit oor te benut: ‘Ek is lief vir my vrou, ek is lief vir my land, ek is lief vir pizza.’ Om liefde te gee en te ontvang, is moeilik wanneer ons nie eers begryp wat dit beteken nie. Ons moet dus ‘n paar wanopvattings daaroor uitklaar.
Ons dink liefde is ‘n gevoel – ‘n sentimentele klomp skoenlappers in jou maag. Ware liefde veroorsaak wel gevoelens, maar dis meer as net ‘n gevoel. ‘n Tweede wanopvatting is dat liefde onbeheerbaar is. Het jy al ooit gesê: ‘Ek het halsoorkop verlief geraak’ – asof jy gestruikel het? Ons sê: ‘Ek kan nie help dat ek verlief is nie,’ of die teenoorgestelde: ‘Ek kan dit nie help nie; ek is net eenvoudig nie meer vir hom (of haar) lief nie.’ Die feit dat Jesus ons opdrag gee om mekaar lief te hê, beteken dat ons wel beheer het oor wie ons liefhet en wie ons nie liefhet nie.
Die kern van liefde kom op twee dinge neer. Eerstens, liefde is ‘n keuse. ‘Die heel belangrikste wat julle moet aantrek, is die liefde. Die liefde bind alles volmaak saam’ (Kolossense 3:14 NLV). Soos jy elke dag die klere wat jy dra kies, kies jy die houding wat jy gaan vertoon. Liefde is dus beheerbaar. Tweedens, liefde word geken deur jou optrede. ‘…laat ons nie liefhê met woorde of ‘n gepratery nie, maar eerder deur ons optrede, en met opregte bedoelings’ (1 Johannes 3:18 NLV). Dit werk as volg: Wanneer jy na iemand met opregte liefde en besorgdheid uitreik, verander jou gevoelens teenoor daardie persoon. Selfs al bewys hulle nie liefde terug aan jou nie, is God tevrede met jou. Dis genoeg beloning.
Sielskos: Hand 27-28; Mark 1:9-20; Ps 78:9-16; Spr 16:25
John 13:34 NKJV
Love is almost certainly the most misunderstood word in the world. We dilute its meaning by overuse: “I love my wife, I love my country, I love pizza.” Giving and receiving love is difficult when we don’t even comprehend what it is. So we need to clear up a couple misconceptions.
We think love is a feeling – a sentimental knot in your stomach. True love does create feelings, but it is more than a feeling. A second misconception is that love is uncontrollable. Have you ever said, “I fell in love” – as if you had stumbled? We say, “I can’t help it if I’m in love,” or the opposite, “I can’t help it; I just don’t love him (or her) anymore.” The fact that Jesus commands us to love one another means that we do have control over whom we love and whom we do not.
Love, at its core, is two things. First, love is a matter of choice. “Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:14 NIV). Notice those two small words, “put on.” Like you choose the clothes you wear each day, you choose the attitude you will display. So, love is controllable.
Second, love is a matter of behaviour. “Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18 NIV). It works like this: When you reach out toward someone with genuine love and concern, your feelings toward that person change. And even if they don’t return your love, God is pleased with you. That’s reward enough.
Soul food: Acts 27-28; Mark 1:9-20; Ps 78:9-16; Prov 16:25
2022-07-31
Romeine 8:26 NLV
Die twee pilare van ‘n gelowige se daaglikse lewe behoort gebed en Skriflesing te wees. Terwyl gebed dalk eenvoudig mag lyk, is dit nie altyd maklik nie. Ons kort motivering, ons aandag word maklik afgelei en ons is nie altyd seker waarvoor ons moet bid nie. Omdat God ons menslike ontoereikendheid besef, voorsien Hy ons van hulp in die vorm van die Heilige Gees.
Paulus skryf: ‘…Maar die Gees self neem ons gebedsbehoeftes voor God op met versugtinge wat nie in menslike taal verwoord kan word nie. Dié God wat die dieptes van elke hart deurgrond, weet wat die Gees in die oog het – dat Hy in harmonie met God se wil vir die gelowiges intree’ (verse 26-27 NLV). Dit beteken dat dit nie saak maak hoe jy voel wanneer jy bid nie, die Heilige Gees bid saam met jou, vir jou en transformeer jou swakste gebede in kragtige oproepe tot die Vader.
Wanneer dit by die tweede pilaar kom, naamlik die Woord van God, is die Heilige Gees se rol ewe dinamies. Jesus het gesê: ‘Wanneer Hy ook al kom, die Gees van die waarheid, sal Hy julle begelei in die volle waarheid. Hy sal nie uit Homself praat nie, maar net sê wat Hy hoor. Hy sal die dinge wat gaan kom, aan julle meedeel’ (Johannes 16:13 NLV). Die Heilige Gees doen drie dinge: 1) Hy lei ons terwyl ons die Woord van God bestudeer en dit probeer verstaan. 2) Hy neem dit wat Jesus wil hê ons moet weet en openbaar dit aan ons. 3) Hy maak ons gedagtes oop oor dinge wat nog voorlê.
Natuurlik is goeie naslaanboeke, Skrifgebaseerde hulpbronne en bekwame Bybelonderwysers nodig en nuttig, maar dit is geen plaasvervanger om die Heilige Gees self te hoor en aandagtig te luister na dit wat Hy vir jou wil sê nie.
Sielskos: Jos 1; Ps 27:11-14; 2 Tim 2:1-15
Romans 8:26 NLT
The twin pillars of a believer’s daily life should be prayer and Scripture. But, while praying may be simple, it’s not always easy. We lack motivation, we’re easily distracted, and we are not always sure what we should be praying for. So, recognising our human inadequacies, God provides help for us in the form of the Holy Spirit.
Paul writes: “The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father… knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us… in harmony with God’s own will” (vv. 26-27 NLT). That means, no matter how you feel when you pray, the Holy Spirit is in prayer with you and for you, transforming your feeblest prayers into powerful appeals to the Father.
And when it comes to the second pillar, namely the Word of God, the Holy Spirit’s role is equally dynamic. Jesus said, “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth… whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13 KJV). Note, the Holy Spirit does three things.
(1) He guides us as we study the Word of God and seek to understand it.
(2) He takes what Jesus wants us to know and reveals it to us.
(3) He opens our understanding about things that are still to come.
No question, good reference books, Scripture-based resources, and skilled Bible teachers are necessary and helpful, but they’re no substitute when it comes to hearing from the Holy Spirit for yourself and listening carefully to what He wants to tell you.
Soul food: Josh 1; Ps 27:11-14; 2 Tim 2:1-15
