2022-02-21
Hebrews 11:5 NKJV
When you grow up with rejection, it can manifest itself in a need to isolate and withdraw or in a drive to constantly “prove yourself.” One man said it like this: “I can still hear my father yelling, telling me I’d never be any good, never amount to anything. The more he yelled, the more determined I became to prove him wrong.” Are the wrong voices speaking to you? If they are – read on!
The Bible says Enoch “had this testimony, that he pleased God.” How? “By faith” (v. 5 NKJV). God sees you differently than your parents or peers do. Their acceptance is often based on your performance, whereas God’s acceptance is based on your position. Paul writes, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us…that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). God sees us wrapped in the righteousness of Christ; therefore, we’re always acceptable.
That doesn’t mean you don’t work hard; it means working for the right reasons. Instead of striving for God’s approval, you serve Him out of gratitude. Once you know that your identity and worth aren’t tied to the car you drive, the home you live in, how much you earn, or the people you mix with, it changes your motivation. Instead of being concerned about the neighborhood you live in, you become concerned about your neighbors. Instead of focusing on how much money you make, your focus becomes financing God’s kingdom. Instead of worrying about your job title, your goal becomes performing with excellence and integrity. In other words, instead of just working hard, you’re doing it for the right reasons.
Soul food: Isa 53-57; Luke 10:38-42; Ps 33:13-22; Pro 5:15-20
Hebreërs 11:5 NLV
Wanneer jy met verwerping grootword, kan dit in ‘n behoefte om te isoleer en onttrek, of in ‘n dryfkrag om jouself heeltyd te bewys, manifesteer. Een man het dit so gestel: ‘Ek kan steeds my pa hoor skree dat ek nooit goed genoeg sal wees of nooit enigiets sal bereik nie. Hoe meer hy geskree het, hoe meer vasbeslote het ek geword om hom verkeerd te bewys.’
Praat die verkeerde stemme met jou? Indien dit die geval is – lees verder! Die Bybel sê dat daar van Henog getuig is dat hy God se goedkeuring weggedra het. Hoekom? ‘Omdat hy geglo het.’ God sien jou op ‘n ander manier as wat jou ouers of portuurgroep doen. Hulle aanvaarding word dikwels op jou optrede gebaseer, terwyl God se aanvaarding op jou posisie gebaseer word.
Paulus skryf: ‘God het Hom wat nie sonde geken het nie, sonde gemaak ter wille van ons sodat ons, op grond van ons eenheid met Christus, deur God vrygespreek kan word’ (2 Korintiërs 5:21 NLV). God sien ons waar ons in die geregtigheid van Christus omvou is; dus is ons altyd aanvaarbaar.
Sodra jy besef dat jou identiteit en waarde nie aan die kar wat jy bestuur, die huis waarin jy bly en hoeveel jy verdien, gekoppel is nie, verander dit jou beweegredes. In plaas daarvan om besorg te wees oor in watter buurt jy woon, raak jy oor jou bure besorg. In plaas daarvan om te fokus op hoeveel geld jy verdien, word jou fokus om God se koninkryk te finansier. In plaas daarvan om oor jou titel by die werk besorg te wees, word jou doelwit om met uitnemendheid en integriteit op te tree. Met ander woorde, in plaas daarvan om net hard te werk, begin jy dit vir die regte redes doen.
Sielskos: Jes 53-57; Luk 10:38-42; Ps 33:13-22; Spr 5:15-20
2022-02-20
Ephesians 6:6 KJV
Even for a very productive person, that sounds like a full-time effort. The word ‘servant’ can have negative implications, but that’s not the intention in this Scripture. Knowing how pressures and people distract us from our God-given purpose, Paul used the strongest possible language, doulos, to remind us that we’re supposed to be absolutely committed to the will of our loving God.
Jesus loved people so much that one day He would die to redeem them, but that didn’t stop Him from saying no when He needed to. Pleasing and appeasing people to win their approval is never a good idea because it puts someone other than God in the driver’s seat of our lives.
Instead of letting Himself be side-tracked, Jesus: 1) refused to let other people’s idea of what was important keep Him from His mission; 2) recognised that doing God’s will was more important than trying to meet everybody else’s expectations; and 3) made prayer and uninterrupted time with His Father a top priority. It wasn’t always easy for Him, and it won’t be easy for us either.
Early in His ministry when word spread about His miracles, a ‘whole town gathered…and Jesus healed many’ (Mark 1:33-34 NIV). The next morning another crowd was waiting on His doorstep. And Jesus’ response this time can surprise us. ‘While it was still dark, Jesus…left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else…so I can preach there also. That is why I have come”‘ (v.35-38 NIV). Jesus was a servant to God’s will, and we must be too.
Ps 23; John 10:7-18
Ephesians 6:6 NIV
The word “slave” has a negative connotation, but not in this Scripture. Knowing how pressures and people distract us from our God-given purpose, Paul uses the strongest possible language to remind us that we’re supposed to be “enslaved” to doing God’s will.
Jesus loved people so much that one day He would die to redeem them, but that didn’t stop Him from saying no when He needed to. Pleasing and appeasing people to win their approval is never a good idea because it puts someone other than God in the driver’s seat of your life. Instead of letting Himself be sidetracked, (1) Jesus refused to let other people’s idea of what was important keep Him from His mission, (2) Jesus recognized that doing God’s will was more important than trying to meet everybody else’s expectations, and (3) Jesus made prayer and uninterrupted time with His Father a top priority.
Was that easy? No, and it won’t be easy for you either! Early in His ministry when word spread about His miracles, a “whole town gathered…and Jesus healed many” (Mark 1:33-34 NIV). The next morning another crowd was waiting on His doorstep! And how Jesus responded this time might surprise you. “While it was still dark, Jesus…left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’ Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else…so I can preach there also. That is why I have come'” (vv. 35-38 NIV).
Jesus was enslaved to doing God’s will, and you must be too.
Soul food: Ps 23; John 10:7-18
Efesiërs 6:6 NLV
Die woord ‘slaaf’ het normaalweg ‘n negatiewe konnotasie, maar nie in hierdie Skrifgedeelte nie. Paulus gebruik die sterkste moontlike taal om ons te herinner dat ons veronderstel is om daaraan ‘verslaaf’ te wees om God se wil te doen. Jesus het mense so lief gehad dat Hy sou sterf om hulle te verlos, maar dit het Hom nie gekeer om nee te sê wanneer dit nodig was nie.
In plaas daarvan dat dit sy aandag afgelei het, het: 1) Jesus geweier dat ander mense se idee van wat belangrik is Hom van sy doelwit weerhou, 2) Jesus besef dat om God se wil te doen belangriker was as om aan almal anders se verwagtinge te voldoen, en 3) Jesus gebed en ononderbroke tyd met sy Vader sy hoogste prioriteit gemaak.
Was dit maklik? Nee, en dit sal ook nie vir jou maklik wees nie! Vroeg in sy bediening, toe gerugte van sy wonderwerke begin versprei het, het: ‘Die hele Kapernaum… by die deur saamgedrom om alles te sien. Jesus het baie siekes… gesond gemaak…’ (Markus 1:33-34 NLV). Die volgende oggend het daar nog ‘n skare op sy drumpel gewag!
Hoe Jesus hierdie keer daarop gereageer het, mag jou dalk verbaas. “Nog voor dagbreek die volgende oggend het Jesus opgestaan en alleen op ‘n stil plek gaan bid. Later het Simon en sy makkers agter Hom aangegaan en toe hulle Hom kry, sê hulle vir Hom: ‘Almal vra na U.’ Jesus het egter geantwoord: ‘Ons moet ook nog verder gaan na die omliggende dorpe sodat Ek ook daar kan preek. Dit is immers waarvoor Ek gekom het'” (verse 35-38 NLV). Jesus was verslaaf daaraan om God se wil te doen, en jy moet ook wees.
Sielskos: Ps 23; Joh 10:7-18
