2022-04-18
Colossians 3:13 CEV
Building a successful relationship calls for focusing on the other person’s strengths instead of their weaknesses. Concerning marriage, Benjamin Franklin said, “Keep your eyes wide open beforehand and half shut afterwards.” It’s a mistake to rush into a lifetime relationship without taking time to get to know the other person. Without due diligence on the front end, you are sure to have problems on the back end. But an important relationship principle lies in learning to forgive and forget.
American politician Edward Wallace Hoch is attributed with saying, “There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it hardly behooves any of us, to talk about the rest of us.” Forgetting can be harder when the offense is great. Small offenses can usually be forgiven quickly; big ones involve a healing process. But until you decide to forgive and forget, the process can’t even start.
Paul writes: “Be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other… forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything… It is what ties everything… together” (vv. 12-14 CEV). One author puts it this way: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” In other words, when it comes to facing facts you can’t change, pray for grace and learn to live with them.
Why do we need to forgive and forget? Because God says so! You are not designed to carry the physical and mental stress that comes with harboring resentment. Added to which, “You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out” (Galatians 6:1 MSG).
Soul food: 1 Cor 1-3; Luke 24:13-24; Ps 56; Pro 10:8-9
Colossians 3:13 CEV
We shouldn’t rush into an important or potentially lifelong relationship without taking time to really get to know the other person. None of us are perfect, and we’re dealing with other imperfect people, so if we want to build successful, strong relationships, we’ll need to try focusing on the other person’s strengths instead of their weaknesses.
An important skill in relationship building is learning to forgive. Forgiveness can be harder when the offence is big. Small offences can usually be forgiven quickly. Big ones involve a healing process, but until we decide to forgive, the process can’t even start. Paul wrote: ‘Be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together’ (v.12-14 CEV).
One author puts it this way: ‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.’ In other words, when it comes to facing facts we can’t change, we should pray for grace in learning to live with them. (However, if we’re in any kind of relationship where we’re being hurt, emotionally, physically or mentally, we should seriously consider getting out and getting help from someone we can trust.)
Forgiving others and trusting God to deal with their faults is the right thing to do. We’re not designed to carry the physical and mental stress that comes with holding on to resentment. And on top of that, ‘You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out’ (Galatians 6:1 MSG). So let’s be willing to forgive.
1 Cor 1-3; Luke 24:13-24; Ps 56; Pro 10:8-9
2022-04-17
1 Corinthians 15:4 NLT
‘Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time… Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him’ (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NLT).
Well-respected people such as Christian authors C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel, and Alister McGrath were atheists who ended up putting their trust in Christ after exploring and examining the evidence. If Jesus was who He claimed to be, God incarnate, taking upon Himself human form, dying for our sins and rising again, then they knew they had a life-changing decision to make: either accept Him or reject Him. And we must make that same decision.
Peter told his listeners on the day of Pentecost: ‘You nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life’ (Acts 2:23-24 NLT). They said, ‘What should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God’ (Acts 2:37-38 NLT). That day three thousand souls were won to Christ and the church was launched. Jesus died for our sins and rose again to represent us as an advocate before God’s throne. If you haven’t already, make today the day to accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, knowing that He’ll give you an abundant life now, and eternal life in heaven.
1 Cor 15; Luke 24:1-12
1 Corinthians 15:4 NLT
“Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 followers at one time… Then He was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all… I also saw Him” (See 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NLT).
Some of history’s greatest intellectuals started as atheists and ended up putting their trust in Christ. Why? They examined the evidence! If Jesus was who He claimed to be, God incarnate, taking upon Himself human form, dying for our sins and rising again, then they knew they had a life-changing decision to make: either accept Him or reject Him. And you must make that same decision.
Peter told his listeners on the day of Pentecost: “You nailed him to a cross… but God… raised him back to life” (Acts 2:23-24 NLT). They said, “What should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God” (Acts 2:37-38 NLT). That day three thousand souls were won to Christ and the church was launched.
Bottom line, Jesus died for your sins and rose again to represent you as an advocate before the throne of God. If you are wise you will accept Him as your Lord and Saviour knowing that He will give you an abundant life now, and eternal life in heaven.
Soul food: 1 Cor 15; Luke 24:1-12
1 Korintiërs 15:4 NLV
‘Die kern van die boodskap… was dat Christus, soos in die Skrif staan, vir ons sondes gesterf het. Ook dat Hy begrawe is en God Hom op die derde dag opgewek het, soos in die Skrif staan. Verder dat Hy aan Petrus verskyn het en daarna ook aan die twaalf apostels. Daarna het Hy aan meer as 500 van sy volgelinge tegelyk verskyn… Daarna het Hy aan Jakobus verskyn en later aan al die apostels. Heel laaste van almal het Hy ook aan my verskyn…’ (1 Korintiërs 15:3-8 NLV).
Sommige van die geskiedenis se grootste denkers was eers ateïste voor hulle later hul vertroue in Christus geplaas het. Hoekom? Omdat hulle die bewyse ondersoek het! Hulle het geweet dat indien Jesus was wie Hy beweer het – vleesgeworde God wat menslike gestalte aangeneem het – wat vir ons sondes gesterf en weer opgestaan het, dat hulle ‘n lewensveranderende besluit moes neem: om Hom of te aanvaar, of te verwerp. Jy moet dieselfde besluit neem.
Petrus het vir die skare op Pinksterdag gesê: ‘Maar julle het… Hom aan die kruis gespyker en vermoor. God het Hom egter… weer laat opstaan…’ (Handelinge 2:23-24 NLV). Hulle het gevra: ‘…’Broers, wat moet ons doen?’ Petrus antwoord hulle: ‘Kom tot inkeer en maak reg met God’…’ (Handelinge 2:37-38 NLV). Daardie dag is drieduisend siele vir Christus gewen en die kerk het sy aanvang geneem.
Jesus het vir jou sondes gesterf en weer opgestaan, sodat Hy as voorstander jou voor die troon van God kan verteenwoordig. As jy wys is, sal jy Hom as jou Here en Redder aanvaar, met die wete dat Hy vir jou ‘n oorvloedige lewe nou en ‘n ewige lewe in die hemel, sal gee.
Sielskos: 1 Kor 15; Luk 24:1-12
