2018-09-18
2 Corinthians 4:18 TM
We enjoy the blessings of change, but not the process of change. We’re creatures of habit. We form our habits, and our habits form us. Then we start to see things exclusively from our own perspective. And when that happens – we stagnate. The truth is, without change there is no growth. When you have the right attitude every experience – positive and negative – becomes an opportunity for progress. Think about it: Trees need more than sunshine to produce fruit. Rainy seasons are productive seasons too, and they always precede the harvest. You don’t have to like rain, you just have to understand its purpose and benefits. The Bible says that every day “the Lord…makes us more and more like him…we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT). But to become like Jesus you must follow wherever He leads. That means following Him through the wilderness of temptation, the pain of rejection, the forfeiting your reputation, the surrendering your will, and being ready to go to the place of crucifixion where you die to all forms of self-centred living. Following Jesus may mean being in a different location tomorrow than you are today. Once you grasp this principle, you’ll stop fearing and resisting the changes taking place in your life and start seeing God at work in them. Paul says: “Even though on the outside it…looks like things are falling apart…on the inside…God is making new life…The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 TM).
Soul food: Neh 11-13; Luke 22:14-23; Ps 78:56-64; Prov 24:6-10
2018-09-17
2 Korintiërs 4:8 ABA
Voor jy tou opgooi en wegloop, lees eers die verhaal van Nehemia wat Jerusalem se mure in twee-en-vyftig dae herbou het: Eerstens het hy God se hulp gesoek. ‘Maar ons het tot ons God gebid…’ (Nehemia 4:9 NLV). Tweedens het hy sy visie beskerm. ‘…Ons het die stad dag en nag bewaak om onsself teen hulle te beskerm’ (vers 9 NLV). Derdens het hy geweier om tou op te gooi. ‘…Behoort iemand soos ek vir gevaar weg te vlug?.. Nee, ek sal nie…’ (Nehemia 6:11 NLV). Gandhi het gesê, ‘Jy mag dalk nooit weet wat die resultate van jou aksies is nie, maar as jy niks doen nie, sal daar geen resultate wees nie.’ Ten spyte van die struikelblokke, die vyand en die druk, het Nehemia geweier om tou op te gooi. Paulus het gesê, ‘Mense hou aan om ons te laat swaarkry, maar ons hou aan om te lewe. Ons weet nie altyd wat om te doen nie, maar ons is nie moedeloos nie. Mense wil ons doodmaak, maar God los ons nie…’ (2 Korintiërs 4:8-9 ABA). Thomas Edison het vir die wêreld elektriese lig, mikrofone, batterye, klankfilms, fonograwe en ‘n duisend ander uitvindings gegee. Hier is die beginsels waarvolgens hy gelewe het: 1) Werk om al die kennis wat jy kan oor dit wat jy wil bereik, te kry. 2) Vestig jou gedagtes op jou doelwit. Hou aan! Soek! Die probleem met die meeste mense is dat hulle tou opgooi nog voor hulle begin. 3) Hou aan soek, maak nie saak hoeveel keer jy teleurstelling aanvaar nie. 4) Weier om deur die feit dat iemand anders dieselfde ding probeer en misluk het, beïnvloed te word. 5) Hou aan glo dat daar êrens ‘n oplossing op jou probleem bestaan, en dan sal jy dit vind.
Sielskos: Neh 8-10; Luk 22:1-13; Ps 78:40-55; Spr 24:1-5
2 Corinthians 4:8 CEV
Before you quit and walk away, read the story of how Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in just fifty-two days: First, he sought God’s help. “We prayed to our God” (Nehemiah 4:9 NIV). Second, he protected his vision. “We…posted a guard day and night to meet this threat” (v. 9 NIV). Third, he refused to quit. “Should a man like me run away?…I will not” (Nehemiah 6:11 NIV). Gandhi said, “You may never know what results come from your action, but if you do nothing there will be no results.” In spite of the obstacles, the enemy, and the pressure – Nehemiah refused to give up. And God honors people with such a spirit. Paul said, “Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 CEV). Thomas Edison gave the world electric light, microphones, storage batteries, sound films, phonographs, and a thousand other inventions. Here are the principles he lived by: (1) Work to obtain all the knowledge you can about what you want to achieve. (2) Fix your mind on your purpose. Persist! Seek! The trouble with most people is they quit before they start. (3) Keep searching, no matter how many times you meet with disappointment. (4) Refuse to be influenced by the fact that someone else tried the same thing and failed. (5) Stay “sold” on the idea that somewhere a solution to the problem exists, and you’ll find it.
Soul food: Neh 8-10; Luke 22:1-13; Ps 78:40-55; Prov 24:1-5
2018-09-16
1 Korintiërs 4:5 NLV
Vooroordeling veroorsaak dat jy mense wat nie dit wat jy glo onderskryf nie, as vyande sien. Jy ken prysenswaardige kwaliteite aan die sirkel waarin jy beweeg en negatiewe kwaliteite aan diegene buite hierdie sirkel toe. Dis nie wat Jesus gedoen het nie. Hy het vriende met sondaars en uitgeworpenes gemaak – sonder om wie Hy was in gedrang te bring, of om hulle leefstyl goed te keur. Die Bybel waarsku ons daarteen om vooroordelend te wees en herinner ons dat ‘Hý… die motiewe van ons harte aan die lig [sal] bring’ (vers 5 NLV). Hy is die enigste een wat bevoeg is om ‘…ons diepste motiewe en oorwegings oop [te vlek]’ (Hebreërs 4:12 NLV). As jy dus geneig is om ‘…vinnig [te] wees om te sê die een ding is sleg of die ander ding is goed…’ (1 Korintiërs 4:5 DB), is hier iets om te oordink: 1) Erken jou vooroordelings. Maak ‘n lys van al die mense wat jy nie as vriende tel nie, mense wat jy uit jou pad gaan om nie ‘n verhouding mee te hê nie en begin om hulle lief te hê deur jou ‘…optrede, en met opregte bedoelings’ (1 Johannes 3:18 NLV). 2) Verloor die masker. Kyk in jou hart en vra jouself af wat dit van die ander persoon is wat jou pla. 3) Leer die ander persoon ken. Paulus het gesê, ‘…Ek het my met almal vereenselwig om sodoende tog sommige tot redding te bring’ (1 Korintiërs 9:22 NLV). Jy sal ontdek dat die krag van jou gedagtes dinge kan belemmer, mislei en dit verander in iets wat dit nie is nie. Jy sal dan ook ‘n beter kans hê om ander mense vir Christus te wen, omdat ‘Liefde nie iets is wat mens kan opgebruik… nie…’ (1 Korintiërs 13:8 NLV).
Sielskos: Heb 11:23-28; Eks 3:1-22; Eks 33:7-23; Eks 34:29-35
1 Corinthians 4:5 AMPC
Prejudice – is pre-judging. It makes you see those who don’t endorse what you believe as enemies. You attribute commendable qualities to the circle you move in, and negative ones to those outside it. That’s not what Jesus did. He befriended and fellowshipped with sinners and societal outcasts – without compromising who He was or endorsing their lifestyle. The Bible cautions against “hasty…premature judgments,” and reminds us that “the Lord…will…bring to light…things that are […hidden]…aims, (motives and purposes) of hearts” (v. 5 AMPC). He’s the only one qualified to “discern the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 ASV). So if you’re inclined to jump “to conclusions…before all the evidence is in” (1 Corinthians 4:5 TM), here’s some food for thought: (1) Face your prejudice. List all the people you don’t count as friends, people you actually go out of your way not to have a relationship with, and start loving them “by…actions and true caring” (1 John 3:18 NCV). (2) Drop the mask. Look inside your heart and ask yourself what it is about the other person that bothers you. Are there similarities between you? Are they expressing something you’re hiding from? (3) Get to know the other person. Paul said, “I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT). Whether or not you decide to continue the relationship, you’ll discover the power of your mind to obstruct, delude, and turn something into what it’s not. Plus you’ll have a better chance of winning others to Christ, because “love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV).
Soul food: Heb 11:23-28; Exo 3:1-22; Exo 33:7-23; Exo 34:29-35
