2022-07-15
1 Petrus 2:23 NLV
Wanneer iemand jou teleurstel of jou ontstel, wat doen jy? Hoe lyk jou reaksie? Sê jy: ‘Jy maak my so kwaad!’ Wanneer jy dit sê, erken jy dat iemand anders in beheer van jou emosies is. Jy erken dat jy daardie persoon die mag gegee het om jou gevoelens en emosies te bepaal. Die Bybel sê: ‘Moenie toelaat dat die slegte julle onderkry nie, maar deur goed te doen moet julle die slegte hokslaan’ (Romeine 12:21 NLV). Om terug te slaan is ‘n reaksie. Om egter te vergewe, is om daadwerklik op te tree. Dit sê: ‘Ek kies die manier waarop ek reageer.’
Beheer ander mense jou emosionele toestand? Laat jy hulle toe om jou vlakke van geluk te verhoog of jou in bekommernis, vrees of woede te dompel? ‘Dis beter om geduldig te wees as dapper. Selfbeheersing is beter as om ‘n stad in te neem’ (Spreuke 16:32 NLV). Die persoon wat sy buie en reaksies kan beheer, is sterker as ‘n ommuurde stad. ‘n Persoon wat egter nie hulle eie gees kan beheer nie is weerloos, soos ‘n stad sonder mure. Daardie persoon het geen verweer nie; hulle is uitgelewer aan wat ook al iemand aan hulle wil doen.
Krag word in sagmoedigheid gevind en sagmoedigheid het die vermoë om seer te hanteer sonder om weerwraak te neem; dit kan die hou absorbeer sonder om terug te slaan. Jesus sê vir ons om die ander wang te draai (sien Matteus 5:39). Jy sê: ‘Dis nie maklik nie.’ Nee, dit is nie; soms is dit amper onmoontlik. Jy sê: ‘Om so te reageer is nie natuurlik nie.’ Jy’s reg, dit is bonatuurlik; dis is die vrug van die Gees (sien Galasiërs 5:22-23). Jy het God se krag nodig om op hierdie manier te leef.
Sielskos: Jer 51-52; Matt 26:14-25; Ps 118:1-9; Spr 15:27-30
1 Peter 2:23 NIV
When someone disappoints or upsets you, what do you do? Pull out your big guns and react? Do you say, “You make me so mad!” When you say that, you’re admitting someone else is controlling your emotions. You’re acknowledging you have given that person the power to determine your feelings and reactions. No one can take control from you – you give it away the moment you start reacting! The Bible says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21 NIV). To retaliate is to react. But to forgive is to act. It’s saying, “I choose the way I respond.”
Do other people control your emotional state? Do you let them raise your happiness level or plunge you into worry, fear, or anger? “Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city” (Proverbs 16:32 NLT). The person who can control their moods and reactions is stronger than a walled city. But a person who cannot control their own spirit is defenseless, like a city with no walls around it. That person has no defense; they are at the mercy of whatever anyone wants to do to them. Strength is found in gentleness, and gentleness has the ability to handle hurt without retaliating; it can absorb the blow without needing to strike back. Jesus called it “turning the other cheek” (See Matthew 5:39).
You say, “That’s not easy to do.” No, it’s not; sometimes it’s almost impossible. You say, “To respond that way is not natural.” You’re right, it is supernatural; it is the fruit of the Spirit (See Galatians 5:22-23). You need God’s power to live this way.
Soul food: Jer 51-52; Matt 26:14-25; Ps 118:1-9; Prov 15:27-30
2022-07-14
Proverbs 1:33 AMPC
Think about the major decisions we make over our lifetime: choosing a mate, deciding where to live, and what career to pursue. Looking back, can you say you have consistently made the wisest choices?
As Jennifer Winquist writes, “We make choices based on what feels best, what’s easiest… fastest… makes our kids happy… shuts up the boss… stops our problem for the moment… We buy wants instead of saving for necessities. We marry Mr. Right-Now instead of waiting for Mr. Right. We get a job instead of an education. We eat a bag of chips instead of a bag of carrots… We don’t plan to fail, but unless we plan to win by making wise choices, we can end up getting the short end of the stick… Wise choices aren’t usually quick fixes, selfish, or short-term; they involve planning, hard work, sacrifice, and resilience. But the rewards are huge.”
James says, “If… you lack wisdom… ask… God… and it shall be given” (James 1:5 KJV). The world spends billions of dollars seeking wisdom, but as God’s children, we have the wisdom of the Creator of the universe at our disposal. Furthermore, when you develop the patience and maturity to make the wise choice instead of the easy one, you never have to live in “fear or dread” of the outcome.
John Mason says growing in wisdom means fearing God, pleasing Him, hearing from Him, looking to Him, choosing His way, staying humble before Him, taking His advice, receiving His correction, maintaining a prayer connection with Him, and knowing His Son personally (See Psalm 111:10; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Proverbs 2:6; 3:13; 8:10-11; 11:2; 13:10; 29:15; Ephesians 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:30). So… how are you doing with that so far?
Soul food: Jer 49-50; Matt 26:1-13; Ps 109:16-31; Prov 15:23-26
Spreuke 1:33 NLV
Dink aan die groot besluite wat ons in ons leeftyd maak: om ‘n maat te kies, om te besluit waar om te woon en watter beroep om na te streef. Wanneer jy op jou lewe terugkyk, kan jy sê dat jy deurlopend die wysste besluite gemaak het?
Soos Jennifer Winquist skryf: ‘Ons maak keuses gebaseer op wat die beste voel, wat die maklikste en vinnigste is, wat ons kinders gelukkig maak, wat ons probleem vir nou oplos. Ons koop dit wat ons wil hê, in plaas daarvan om vir noodsaaklikhede te spaar. Ons trou met mnr Nou in plaas daarvan om vir mnr Reg te wag. Ons eet ‘n pakkie skyfies eerder as ‘n pakkie wortels. Wyse besluite is gewoonlik nie kitsoplossings, selfsugtig of korttermyn nie; hulle behels beplanning, harde werk, opoffering en veerkragtigheid. Die belonings is egter die moeite werd.’
Jakobus sê: ‘Vra vir God as jy nie kan agterkom wat Hy wil hê jy moet doen nie. Hy sal jou eenvoudig daardie wysheid gee…’ (Jakobus 1:5 NLV). As God se kinders, het ons die wysheid van die Skepper tot ons beskikking. Wanneer jy die geduld en volwassenheid ontwikkel om die wyse keuse in plaas van die maklike een te maak, hoef jy nooit in vrees vir die uitkoms van jou besluite te leef nie.
John Mason sê om in wysheid te groei, beteken om God te vrees, Hom te behaag, van Hom te hoor, na Hom te kyk, sy weg te kies, nederig voor Hom te bly, sy raad te volg, sy teregwysing te ontvang, ‘n gebedsverbinding met Hom te handhaaf en om Sy Seun persoonlik te ken (sien Psalm 111:10; Prediker 2:26; Spreuke 2:6; 3:13; 8:10-11; 11:2; 13:10; 29:15; Efesiërs 1:16-17; 1 Korintiërs 1:30). So… hoe gaan dit tot dusver daarmee?
Sielskos: Jer 49-50; Matt 26:1-13; Ps 109:16-31; Spr 15:23-26
2022-07-13
2 Timothy 4:2 CEV
Paul describes our generation: “People won’t listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear” (v. 3 CEV). Popular thinking says, “Tickle my ears, but don’t step on my toes!”
Sadly, we have also lived to see many Christians get caught up in political correctness. Political correctness dictates we should avoid saying anything that offends others, especially when it comes to God’s Word. Count on it: Christ’s virgin birth, His miraculous power, His sinless life, His death, burial, resurrection, soon return, and the truth that salvation comes only through Him will offend some people. The mention of a hell for unbelievers, a heaven for believers, the absolute authority of Scripture, biblical mandates concerning sex, marriage, parenting, and the sanctity of human life are guaranteed to bring a backlash from the politically correct.
Where does God expect us to stand in such a culture? On the truth! Jesus often offended His hearers, including those who claimed to be His disciples (See John 6:66). Recognising that young Timothy would face rejection and ridicule from some of his hearers, Paul told him, “Preach God’s message. Do it willingly, even if it isn’t the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins.” We’re not called to be popular; we’re told, “Be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere” (Acts 1:8 NLT). God’s Word will aggravate some and liberate others – so be it! (See John 8:32.)
You must never be arrogant or offensive, but you must always stand up for the truth of God’s Word.
Soul food: Jer 45-48; Matt 25:31-46; Ps 109:1-15; Prov 15:22
