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
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
2022-02-15
Matthew 5:13-14 NKJV
Do the people you work with know that you are a follower of Christ? What do they think of your attitude toward those in authority? How about the people who work under you – are you critical or complimentary toward them? How is your timekeeping? Do you arrive to work on time and give 100 percent? Do you demonstrate a commitment to personal growth and excellence on the job? In other words, on the job, are you making Jesus look good?
When you begin to think seriously about it, the eternal destiny of some of the people you work with may be riding on your performance. Right now, they may not be too interested in what you have to say when it comes to the things of God. But all of that can change in an instant.
When people face a crisis in life like death, divorce, sickness, or unemployment, they want someone with real answers. That’s when they seek out the boys they threw into the fiery furnace and the lions’ den, because nobody else around them has answers that work.
Jesus said: “You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?…Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill…I’ve put you…on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God” (Matthew 5:13-16 MSG).
Soul food: Isa 34-37; Luke 9:46-56; Ps 145:14-21; Pro 4:23-24
2021-12-24
Luke 2:10 NIV
Are you excited for Christmas? Or do you secretly wish that it were all over already? For many people, Christmas is filled with dread instead of delight.
Author Jon Walker writes this: ‘There’s a darker side to Christmas we rarely acknowledge. We create this fantasy that seldom matches reality, even in the best of homes…many Christmas memories are full of tension, not tinsel…yet another reminder that the one we love is far away or perhaps never coming back…more people hurt at Christmas than we initially imagine.’
We may dread strained family gatherings, parties where we have to put on a happy face in spite of how we’re feeling, or reminders of painful past Christmases. Even if we enjoy this time of year, we might find the preparations stressful. Relatively trivial things like wondering if we’ve chosen the right present for someone or mentally calculating if we have enough wrapping paper can take tiny bites out of the joy of Christmas. But whatever is stealing our joy, let’s reclaim it back. Jon Walker continues with these words of encouragement: ‘For those tired of the hollow hope…of Christmas, the good news is, God is with us. Jesus came to earth to “bring…good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
Regardless of your situation, Christmas is the best gift you’ll ever get, because: 1) it’s the costliest you’ll ever receive because it cost Jesus His life; 2) it’s the only gift that lasts forever; 3) it’s one you can enjoy for the rest of your life.’ We can get so weighed down by all the things we’ve made Christmas about – the food, the parties, the decorations, and so on – that we sometimes lose sight of what it’s really about. This year, let’s try to focus on the true meaning – the gift of Jesus.
1 Cor 4-6; Matt 1:12-17; Ps 117; Prov 31:18-21
Lukas 2:10 NLV
Vir baie mense is Kersfees met vrees, in plaas van plesier, gevul. Jon Walker skryf die volgende: ‘Ek sit in ‘n kitskos restaurant en sien ‘n jong meisie wat ‘n vroeë Kersfees met haar ma vier. Haar geskenke is oor die tafel versprei en sy sê eenvoudig: ‘Ek verlang na Mammma.’ ‘Ek mis jou ook, my kind,’ sê haar ma. Agter die tafel sit daar ‘n vrou wat hulle versigtig dophou. As joernalis, pas ek die legkaartstukke bymekaar. Die vrou wat hulle dophou, is ‘n maatskaplike werker wat oor ‘n gestruktureerde besoek tussen ma en kind, wat hulle bes doen om Kersfees te vier, toesig hou. ‘n Paar minute later daag die pleegouers op om die dogtertjie huis toe te neem. Die ma verlaat die restaurant alleen.
Daar is ‘n donkerder kant aan Kersfees wat ons selde erken. Ons skep hierdie fantasie wat selde met die realiteit ooreenstem, selfs in die beste van huise. Baie herinneringe aan Kersfees is vol spanning, nie blink liggies nie. Die vakansiedae is net nog ‘n verskoning vir Ma om dronk te word, of vir Pa om by sy nuwe familie te wees. Die selfdoodsyfers skiet oor Desember die hoogte in. Depressie is algemeen.
Vir diegene wat moeg vir die leë hoop van Kersfees is, is die goeie nuus dat God by ons is. Jesus het aarde toegekom om ‘…goeie nuus wat groot blydskap vir almal inhou’ vir ons te bring. Ongeag jou situasie, is Kersfees die beste geskenk wat jy ooit sal kry, want: 1) dis die duurste geskenk wat jy ooit sal ontvang, omdat dit Jesus sy lewe gekos het; 2) dis die enigste geskenk wat vir ewig sal hou; 3) dis die enigste geskenk wat jy die res van jou lewe kan geniet.’
Sielskos: 1 Kor 4-6; Matt 1:12-17; Ps 117; Spr 31:18-21
