2018-03-29
1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV
We all need good role models. But when you devote your life to being like somebody else, you risk becoming something God doesn’t want you to be. Always remember, your “heroes” wrestle with blind spots and character flaws too. Paul said, “I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (v. 9 NIV). The same thing with Peter: When Cornelius sent for him, we’re told that as he “entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘I am only a man myself'” (Acts 10:25-26 NIV). If you’re successful in life, you’ll adopt that same attitude. The danger in hero worship comes from forfeiting your individuality and missing the path God has mapped out for you personally. Some of the lessons God teaches us may be similar, but another person’s purpose, gifting, journey, and time-frame will be different from yours. For example, a friend starts a business and makes money, but when you quit your job and follow in his footsteps you go broke. Or a co-worker wears something that looks great on her, but on you the same outfit looks like a sack tied in the middle. God is “jealous” concerning you (See Deuteronomy 4:24). Why? Because He wants to protect you from anything that would rob you of your uniqueness, or threaten your relationship with Him. Bottom line: If you want to be on safe ground, make Jesus your role model and you’ll win every time.
Soul food: Jer 10-13; Matt 27:27-32; Ps 38:13-22; Prov 8:24-26
2018-03-28
2 Korintiërs 4:7 NLV
Christene is nie perfek nie! Die redes daarvoor is: 1) Omdat hulle menslik is. God ken ons hoogste potensiaal en ons laagste begeertes en het ons steeds onvoorwaardelik lief. Die Bybel sê, ‘Ons het hierdie skat egter maar net in breekbare kleipotte – die alle soortreffende krag kom van God en nie van ons nie. Hierdie kleipotte kan egter kraak. Dit behoort jou nie te ontmoedig nie; dit moet jou hoop gee dat as God ‘n ou gebreekte pot kan gebruik, hy jou ook kan gebruik! 2) Omdat hulle geestelik uitgeput is. Dit gebeur met die bestes van ons. Ons raak besig met wêreldse dinge en gee nie aandag aan ons geestelike gesondheid nie. In die Ou Testamant is ‘n soldaat beveel om ‘n gevangene na ‘n sekere plek toe te vat. Sy bevele was duidelik: ‘Verloor die gevangene en jy verloor jou lewe.’ Die soldaat het sy gevangene verloor en met sy lewe daarvoor geboet. Wat het gebeur? ‘Maar terwyl ek met iets anders besig was, het die gevangene weggekom!…’ (1 Konings 20:40 NLV). Gee dus aandag aan jou geestelike lewe en sorg dat jy nie uitgeput raak nie. 3) Omdat hulle geestelik aan die slaap is. Dis terwyl Simson geslaap het wat Delila sy hare afgesny het en hom aan sy vyande uitgelewer het. Dit is terwyl die slawe geslaap het dat ‘n vyand onkruid tussen die graan gesaai het en die oes verlore gegaan het. Twee dinge waarop jy bedag moet wees is sonde en jou denke oor God. ‘Kom tot julle sinne en moenie langer sondig nie. Tot julle beskaming moet ek vir julle sê dat party van julle heeltemal tekort skiet wat julle kennis van God betref’ (1 Korintiërs 15:34 NLV).
Sielskos: Jer 7-9; Matt 27:20-26; Ps 38:1-12; Spr 8:22-23
2 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV
Christians aren’t perfect! Here’s why: (1) Because they’re human. Yet with full knowledge of our highest potential and our lowest proclivities, God loves us unconditionally. The Bible says, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” And guess what? Every time you meet treasure, you bump into the earthen vessel. An earthen vessel is just a clay pot, and when it’s cracked – it’s a cracked pot! That shouldn’t discourage you; it should give you hope and cause you to say, “If God can use that old cracked pot, He can use me too!” (2) Because they’re spiritually depleted. The saying goes, “When your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep becomes your downfall.” It happens to the best-intentioned among us. In the Old Testament a soldier was commanded to deliver a prisoner to a certain destination. His orders were clear: “Lose the prisoner and you’ll lose your life.” The soldier lost his prisoner and paid with his life. What happened? “While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone” (1 Kings 20:40 NKJV). So pay attention to your spiritual life and don’t let it get depleted. (3) Because they’re asleep spiritually. It was while Samson slept that Delilah shaved the locks of power off his head and delivered him to his enemies. And it was while the servants slept that an enemy sowed tares among the wheat and the harvest was lost. Two things you must stay alert to are – sin and righteousness. “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin” (1 Corinthians 15:34 NKJV).
Soul food: Jer 7-9; Matt 27:20-26; Ps 38:1-12; Prov 8:22-23
2018-03-27
Handelinge 27:31 NLV
Elke kerk het probleme – en mense wat die probleme veroorsaak. Dit was nog altyd so. Dink aan die kerk in Korinte. Sommige lidmate het gedurende nagmaal dronk geword, ander wou nie luister tensy hul gunsteling prediker aan die woord was nie. Een ou het selfs met sy stiefma ‘n verhouding gehad (sien 1 Korintiërs 5:1). Langs jou op Sondagoggende in die kerk sit daar ‘n paar baie disfunksionele mense. God hou egter aan om met ons te werk, omdat Hy ons potensiaal vir sy koninkryk sien. Nadat hy oor mense wat kla, kerm, begeer en gierig is geskryf het, het Judas sy kort boek met die volgende woorde afgesluit: ‘Aan Hom wat magtig is om julle van val te bewaar, en julle sonder vlek met groot vreugde voor sy heerlike teenwoordigheid stelling te laat inneem… behoort die heerlikheid…’ (vers 24 NLV). Paulus en 276 ander mense was in ‘n storm wat nie oorleefbaar gelyk het nie. Nogtans het hy vir hulle gesê, ‘…As hierdie mense nie op die skip bly nie, kan julle nie gered word nie.’ Beteken dit dat dit altyd verkeerd is om ‘n kerk te verlaat? Nee, maar maak seker dat jou redes Skriftuurlik en nie self-gesentreerd is nie. Jy sê, ‘Die pastoor se preke is te lank.’ Paulus het een keer so lank gepreek dat ‘n man wat in ‘n venster op die derde vloer gesit het, aan die slaap geraak het en tot sy dood geval het. Wat het Paulus gedoen? Hy het hom die hande opgelê, hom weer lewendig gemaak en hom weer in die venster laat sit om na die res van die preek te luister (sien Handeling 20:9-11). As jou kerk probleme het, moenie loop nie; bly en bid. Dis hoe dinge verander.
Sielskos: Jer 4-6; Matt 27:11-19; Ps 55:12-23; Spr 8:19-21
Acts 27:31 NIV
Every church has problems – and the people who cause them. It has always been so. Consider the Corinthian church. Some members got drunk during communion, and others wouldn’t attend unless their favorite preacher was speaking. One guy was even having an affair with his stepmother (See 1 Corinthians 5:1). Sitting beside you on Sunday mornings are some very messed-up and dysfunctional folks. But God keeps working with us, because He sees our potential value to His kingdom. After writing about murmurers, complainers, the lustful, and the greedy, Jude ends his short book with these words: “Unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and…present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (v. 24). Noah didn’t jump ship for the same reason you shouldn’t leave your church – there’s no better alternative. Paul and 276 others were in a storm that looked unsurvivable. Nevertheless he told them, “Unless [you] stay on board the ship, you cannot be saved.” Does that mean it’s always wrong to leave a church? No, but make sure your reasons are scriptural and not self-centered. You say, “But the pastor’s sermons are too long.” Paul once preached so long that a man sitting in a third-story window fell sleep, plummeted to the ground, and died. And what did Paul do? He laid hands on him, revived him, set him back in the window and made him listen to the rest of the sermon! (See Acts 20:9-11). Seriously, if your church has problems, don’t leave; stay and pray. That’s how things get changed.
Soul food: Jer 4-6; Matt 27:11-19; Ps 55:12-23; Prov 8:19-21
