2022-03-31
Matthew 11:29 CEV
Jesus spoke to people who had given up on religion. People who were burned out trying – and failing – to observe a long list of rules and regulations. Here is what He told them: “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light” (vv. 28-30 CEV).
The “yoke” Jesus spoke of was a harness that went around the necks of two oxen so they could pull the plow in the same direction. In each team of oxen, one was the leader and the other would follow. There is an important lesson here – don’t miss it. Jesus will take the lead, but you must stay in sync with Him to enjoy His blessing on your life. He promises His yoke won’t choke you; it won’t be wearisome or confining, and you won’t chafe under it.
In fact, if you want to be truly free, you must let yourself be yoked to Jesus by submitting your will to His. But it doesn’t work to accept Christ’s yoke for a while and then start pulling the other way when things don’t go the way you want. When you do, the load gets heavier and you start to feel worn out. Peace and rest come when you relax in the yoke and let Christ lead. Jesus said, “You will find rest.” That means your options are to resist Him or to rest in Him! Which will it be?
Soul food: Job 40-42; Luke 20:41-47; Ps 31:1-13; Pro 8:34-36
2022-03-30
2 Peter 1:5-6 CEV
Sometimes when we become aware of a flaw in our character, we’ll try to make ourselves feel better and justify it by blaming our circumstances. We might say things like ‘If I’d had a different tutor, I would have worked harder,’ or ‘If I had more money, I could afford the thing I want, and then I wouldn’t feel so jealous or resentful of other people.’ But even though our circumstances might be out of our control, our character isn’t. Integrity isn’t determined by our situation. It’s a choice, and every time we make the decision to act with integrity, we take a step forward in our spiritual growth.
Here’s something to try: Think about times when you’ve faced temptations and difficulties. Write them down, and next to each one, write how you dealt with it: escaped, excused, gave in, avoided, persevered, or overcame. How did you handle the things that were caused by circumstances out of your control? Do you notice any problem areas or anything you could improve on?
One way we can improve is ‘By adding…self-control’ to our spiritual weapons. Our lives are like icebergs – 15 per cent is visible; that’s our reputation, what others see of our attitude. The rest, our character, is hidden below the surface. Character is what we think but don’t necessarily share. It’s based on what we do when nobody’s looking, how we handle life’s little aggravations, how we handle failure and success. Character is based on self-control, and self-control is about making the right choices. We don’t have to work out what they are by ourselves: ‘God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him’ (Philippians 2:13 CEV).
Job 38-39; Luke 20:27-40; Ps 6; Pro 8:32-33
2 Peter 1:5-6 CEV
Ever notice how we tend to blame our circumstances for our character deficiencies? We attribute our problems to poor upbringing, financial difficulties, or other people’s shortcomings. Your circumstances may be beyond your control – but your character isn’t. You can no more blame your character flaws on circumstances than you can blame a mirror for how you look.
Integrity is always a choice, and every time you make a character-based decision, you take a step forward in your spiritual growth. Think about the times you have faced temptation and adversity. Jot them down, and beside each one, note your choice: to escape, excuse, capitulate, avoid, persevere, or overcome. What problem areas can you identify? How can you do better? If the things you listed were due to circumstances beyond your control, then choose to take greater control of your life. How? “By adding… self-control” to your arsenal.
Our lives resemble icebergs, in that 15 percent is visible; that’s our reputation. The rest, our character, is hidden below the surface. Character is what we think but don’t necessarily share. It’s based on what we do when nobody’s looking, how we handle life’s little aggravations, how we handle failure – and success. At the end of a brilliant career, Joshua challenged Israel with these words: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 NIV). Character is based on self-control, and self-control is about making the right choices. And the good news is, you don’t have to do it alone: “God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him” (Philippians 2:13 CEV).
Soul food: Job 38-39; Luke 20:27-40; Ps 6; Pro 8:32-33
2 Petrus 1:6 NLV
Het jy al ooit agtergekom dat ons geneig is om ons omstandighede, in plaas van ons tekortkominge, te blameer? Ons skryf ons probleme aan ons swak opvoeding, finansiële moeilikhede of aan ander mense se tekortkominge, toe. Net soos jy nie die spieël kan blameer vir hoe jy lyk nie, net so kan jy ook nie jou karakterfoute op jou omstandighede blameer nie.
Integriteit is altyd ‘n keuse en elke keer wat jy ‘n karakter-gebaseerde besluit maak, neem jy ‘n tree vorentoe in jou geestelike groei. Dink aan die kere wat jy voor versoeking en teenstand te staan gekom het. Skryf hulle neer en dui langs elkeen die keuse wat jy gemaak het aan: om te ontsnap, te verskoon, in te gee, te vermy, uit te hou of te oorkom. Watter probleemareas kan jy identifiseer? Hoe kan jy beter doen? As die dinge wat jy neergeskryf het buite jou beheer was, kies dan om groter beheer van jou lewe te neem.
Hoe? Deur selfbeheersing toe te pas. Karakter word gebaseer op dit wat ons doen wanneer niemand anders kyk nie – hoe ons die lewe se klein ergenisse hanteer en hoe ons mislukking – en sukses – hanteer. Aan die einde van ‘n briljante loopbaan, het Josua vir Israel met hierdie woorde uitgedaag: ‘As julle nie die Here wil aanbid nie, moet julle vandag vir julleself besluit wie julle dan wil aanbid… Ek en my huisgesin sal die Here aanbid’ (Josua 24:15 NLV).
Karakter word op selfbeheersing gebaseer en selfbeheersing gaan daaroor om die regte besluite te neem. Die goeie nuus is dat jy dit nie alleen hoef te doen nie: ‘Dis mos God wat julle gewillig maak om te doen waarvan Hy hou, en Hy gee julle ook die vermoë om dit te kán doen!’ (Filippense 2:13 NLV).
Sielskos: Job 38-39; Luk 20:27-40; Ps 6; Spr 8:32-33
2022-03-29
1 Korintiërs 6:11 NLV
Nadat hy sommige van die ergste sondes moontlik genoem het, het Paulus vir die mense van Korinte gesê: ‘Daar was ‘n tyd toe party van julle presies so was, maar nou is julle sonde afgewas en God het julle aan Homself toegewy. Julle is vrygespreekte mense op grond van wat die Here Jesus Christus en die Heilige Gees van God vir julle gedoen het’ (vers 11 NLV). Voor jy dus ‘n oordeel oor iemand anders vel, onthou waaruit God jou gelig het! Daar is twee maniere hoe ons mekaar kan help.
Een is om ‘n gewas te verwyder. ‘n Gewas kan jou doodmaak en moet verwyder word. Paulus skryf: ‘…wanneer iemand iets doen wat verkeerd is, moet julle wat deur die Gees gelei word, daardie persoon nederig reghelp… Help ander gelowiges wat swaarkry, en gee só uitvoering aan Christus se liefdeswet’ (Galasiërs 6:1-2 NLV). Dit kan ‘n las wees om iemand anders se skaamte en vernedering saam met hulle te dra. Nietemin, ‘Terwyl ons die kans het, moet ons dus goeddoen aan alle mense, maar veral aan medegelowiges’ (Galasiërs 6:10 NLV). As jy vinnig is om iemand anders te veroordeel – iets wat ons almal al van tyd tot tyd gedoen het – vra jouself die volgende vraag af: As mense nie genade tussen die mense wat dit preek kan vind nie, waar kan hulle dit dan kry?
Die tweede manier is om ‘n gebreekte been te spalk. Die Skrif sê vir ons: ‘…Al is ons baie, vorm ons saam een liggaam…’ (Romeine 12:5 NLV). Deur iemand wat geval het op te help, help jy hulle om hulle pyn te genees en stel jy hulle in staat om weer ‘n noodsaaklike, funksionerende deel van Christus se liggaam te word. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – help mekaar.
Sielskos: Job 35-37; Luk 20:20-26; Ps 69:19-36; Spr 8:30-31
