2022-02-26
Jeremiah 31:18 KJV
The Bible tells us: “Isaac’s servants dug…a well…But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, ‘The water is ours.’ So…they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also….And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called it…Rehoboth, because he said, ‘For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land'” (Genesis 26:19-22 NKJV).
What a great example of practicing forgiveness. During a drought, Isaac dug wells and his enemies moved in and claimed them. It wasn’t fair, but instead of retaliating, he moved on and dug new wells – and God blessed him greatly. The truth is this: God will fill the emptiness in your life when you forgive those who have hurt you.
Let’s face it; as long as we share this planet with other imperfect human beings, they will hurt us. There is no way to avoid it. And when the hurt goes deep, it can be hard to forgive. Does that mean you should go around pretending that nothing is wrong, and denying how you feel? No, the first step toward healing is acknowledging your feelings. And Jesus gives us the second step: “Pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28 NIV).
When you do that, something unexpected happens. Your heart softens and you start to see the offender through God’s eyes instead of your own raw emotions. “But I don’t want to forgive them!” you say. Then here is step three. Acknowledge your unwillingness to forgive and ask God to make you willing. Pray, “Turn thou me, and I shall be turned.”
Soul food: Exo 4-6; Luke 12:1-12; Ps 58; Pro 6:12-15
Jeremia 31:18 NLV
Die Bybel sê vir ons: “[Isak] het die putte wat sy pa gegrawe het… weer oopgegrawe… Maar die plaaslike skaapwagters het die fontein vir hulleself toegeëien. ‘Dis ons water,’ het hulle gesê… Hy het weer verskuif en nog ‘n put gegrawe. Hierdie keer het die plaaslike mense hom met rus gelaat. Hy noem toe die put Rehobot, ‘want,’ het hy gesê, ‘uiteindelik het die Here vir ons ruimte gemaak. Hier sal ons nou voorspoedig wees'” (Genesis 26:18-22 NLV).
Wat ‘n wonderlike voorbeeld van vergifnis wat beoefen word. Gedurende ‘n droogte het Isak putte grawe, maar sy vyande het inbeweeg en die putte vir hulself toegeëien. Dit was nie regverdig nie, maar in plaas daarvan om te baklei, het Isak aanbeweeg en nuwe putte gegrawe – en God het hom ryklik geseën.
Die waarheid is dat God die leegheid in jou lewe sal vul wanneer jy diegene wat jou seergemaak het, vergewe. So lank as wat ons hierdie planeet met ander onvolmaakte mense deel, sal hulle ons seermaak. Ons kan dit nie vermy nie. Wanneer die wond diep sny, kan dit moeilik wees om te vergewe.
Beteken dit dat jy moet rondgaan en maak asof niks verkeerd is nie en jou gevoelens moet ontken? Nee, die eerste stap na genesing is om jou gevoelens te erken. Jesus het vir ons die tweede stap gegee: ‘…Bid vir hulle wat jou seermaak’ (Lukas 6:28 NLV). Wanneer jy dit doen, gebeur daar iets onverwags. Jou hart begin sag word en jy begin om die oortreder deur God se oë, in plaas van jou eie rou emosies, te sien. ‘Maar ek wil hulle nie vergewe nie!’ sê jy. Dan is daar stap drie. Erken jou onwilligheid om te vergewe en vra God om jou gewillig te maak. Bid: ‘…Bring ons terug en herstel ons…’
Sielskos: Eks 4-6; Luk 12:1-12; Ps 58; Spr 6:12-15
2022-02-25
Romans 12:19 NLT
Long after we think we’ve forgiven someone, we can still be harbouring hard feelings. Some indicators that we still have work to do are these: 1) We keep thinking about the people who’ve hurt us and become resentful. 2) We avoid them. 3) We rehearse the incident mentally, replaying it in our minds, and bring it up in conversation. 4) We take every opportunity to remind the people who’ve hurt us of what they did. What we’re actually doing is trying to justify our unforgiving attitude.
There are two things God won’t share. 1) The praise that’s due to Him. ‘I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise’ (Isaiah 42:8 NLT). 2) The right to ‘settle the score’. Paul wrote: ‘Never take revenge…The Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads. Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good’ (Romans 12:19-21 NLT). So forgive, hand the situation over to God, and trust Him to work it out.
When ‘people insulted Christ…he did not insult them in return…He let God…who judges rightly, take care of him’ (1 Peter 2:23 NCV). Resentment chains us, and we end up as a hostage to unforgiveness. Dwelling on something that someone did to us, or how someone took credit for our work, or what someone has said about us, makes us – not them – miserable. We walk around angry, and they don’t even know we’re upset. Let’s resolve not to allow anyone to have that kind of control over us. Instead, forgive, leave the situation with God, and move on.
Exo 1-3; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 53; Pro 6:9-11
Romeine 12:19 NLV
Lank nadat jy gedink het jy het iemand vergewe, mag jy steeds harde gevoelens koester. Jy dink en praat byvoorbeeld die heeltyd oor die insident. Jy neem elke geleentheid waar om hulle aan dit wat hulle gedoen het, te herinner. Jy is dan besig om ‘n onvergewensgesinde houding te regverdig! Daar is twee dinge wat God nie sal deel nie.
1) Die eer en lof wat Hom toekom. ‘…My eer deel Ek met niemand anders nie. Die lof wat My toekom, deel Ek nie met afgode nie’ (Jesaja 42:8 NLV).
2) Die reg om te vergeld. Paulus skryf: ‘Geliefdes, julle moet julleself nie wreek nie. Laat die straf aan God oor. Daar staan mos in die Skrif: ‘Dit is mý reg om te straf; Ek sal vergeld, sê die Here.’ Doen eerder wat die Skrif sê: ‘As jou vyande honger is, gee aan hulle iets om te eet. As hulle dors is, les hulle dors. Deur dit te doen, sal julle hulle bloedrooi van skaamte maak.’ Moenie toelaat dat die slegte julle onderkry nie, maar deur goed te doen moet julle die slegte hokslaan’ (Romeine 12:19-21 NLV).
Vergewe dus, gee die situasie aan God oor en vertrou Hom om dit uit te werk. ‘Toe [Jesus] beledig is, het Hy nie terugbeledig nie…Hy het alles oorgelaat aan God wat altyd regverdig oordeel’ (1 Petrus 2:23 NLV). Wrokkigheid ketting jou aan die oortreder vas en jy eindig as ‘n gyselaar op. As jy aanhou dink aan iets wat jou ouers of eggenoot gedoen het, of hoe ‘n kollega krediet vir jou werk geneem het, of dit wat iemand dalk oor jou gesê het, laat dit jou – nie hulle nie – ellendig voel. Moenie enigiemand daardie tipe beheer oor jou lewe gee nie. Vergewe – en beweeg dan aan!
Sielskos: Eks 1-3; Luk 11:45-54; Ps 53; Spr 6:9-11
Romans 12:19 NLT
Long after you think you have forgiven someone, you can still be harboring hard feelings. Some indicators that you still have work to do are these: You keep thinking about the person who hurt you and become resentful. You avoid them. You rehearse the incident mentally and in conversation. You take every opportunity to remind them of what they did. Do you know what you’re doing? Justifying an unforgiving attitude!
There are two things God won’t share. (1) The praise that’s due Him. “I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise” (Isaiah 42:8 NLT). (2) The right to “settle the score.” Paul writes: “Never take revenge…The Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord. Instead, ‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.’ Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good” (Romans 12:19-21 NLT).
So forgive, hand the situation over to God, and trust Him to work it out! When “people insulted Christ…he did not insult them in return…He let God…who judges rightly, take care of him” (1 Peter 2:23 NCV). Resentment chains you to the offender, and you end up as a hostage. Dwelling on something your parents or spouse did, or how an associate took credit for your work, or what someone may or may not have said about you, makes you – not them – miserable. You walk around stewing, and they don’t even know you’re upset. Don’t give anyone that kind of control over your life. Forgive – and move on!
Soul food: Exo 1-3; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 53; Pro 6:9-11
