2018-10-26
Psalm 119:59 NLV
Denkers: Denkers hou daarvan om alles te weet. Hulle is die ondersoekers, wetenskaplikes en uitvinders onder ons. Hulle hou daarvan om waarhede te ontdek wat niemand anders al ontdek het nie en om kennis, vaardighede en stokperdjies baas te raak. Aan die negatiewe kant, kan denkers introverte wees; hulle geniet hulle eie spasie. Wat is dus die sonde wat denkers kan laat struikel? a) Onsensitiwiteit teenoor ander. Soms is denkers liewer daarvoor om reg te wees as wat hulle vir die mense om hulle is. Hulle is nie altyd gemaklik daarmee om emosie of liefde te bewys nie. Hulle is geneig om hulle gevoelens indirek of deur gebare uit te druk, sodat dit kan voel asof hulle nemers en nie gewers is nie. Hulle hou nie daarvan om argumente te verloor nie of om onderbreek te word nie. Hulle geniet afsondering, vir ure en selfs dae aaneen. Dit beteken nie dat hulle meer geestelik as die res van ons is nie; dit beteken net dat hulle ‘n laer behoefte aan gemeenskap en konneksies het. Die probleem is dat ons nie geskape is om solo te vlieg nie. Jy kan net geestelik groei wanneer jy aan ander gee en bereid is om van hulle te ontvang. Jesus het gesê, ‘As julle liefde teenoor mekaar beoefen, sal almal daaraan sien dat julle my dissipels is’ (Johannes 13:35 NLV). b) Denkers sukkel dikwels met die konsep van ‘geloof.’ Dit maak hulle nie slegte mense nie; die meeste is eerlike twyfelaars. Geloof en rede staan nie noodwendig teenoor mekaar nie, maar wanneer rede jou nie verder kan neem nie, stel geloof in God jou in staat om vorentoe te kan beweeg. Die lewe sal jou situasies gee wat rede alleen nie kan oplos nie – dis dan wanneer jy geloof in God nodig het.
Sielskos: Jes 12-16; Joh 6:25-34; Ps 85; Spr 27:20-22
Psalm 119:59 NKJV
Thinkers: Thinkers like to know – everything. They’re the investigators, scientists, and inventors among us. They love to discover truths no one else has uncovered, and master bodies of knowledge, skills, and hobbies on their own. They have amazing memories when it comes to retaining information about things they’re interested in. On the minus side, thinkers can be introverted; they enjoy having their own space. So what’s the sin that can “so easily trip up” a thinker? (a) Insensitivity to others. Sometimes thinkers love being right more than they love the people around them. And they’re not always comfortable expressing emotion or affection. They’re inclined to express their feelings indirectly or through gestures, so it can feel like they’re takers and not givers. They don’t like to lose arguments, and they don’t like to be interrupted. They enjoy solitude for hours on end – even days. That doesn’t mean they’re more spiritual than the rest of us; it just means they have a lower need for community and connection. The problem is we weren’t created to fly solo. You can only grow spiritually as you give to others and are willing to receive from them. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35 NIV). (b) Thinkers often struggle with the concept of “faith.” That doesn’t make them bad people; most are honest doubters. Faith and reason aren’t necessarily opposed, but when reason won’t take you another step, faith in God enables you to keep going. Life will hand you situations that reason alone can’t resolve – that’s when you need faith in God.
Soul food: Isa 12-16; John 6:25-34; Ps 85; Prov 27:20-22
2018-10-25
1 Korintiërs 9:27 NLV
Kunstenaars: Kunstenaars is nie net lief vir skoonheid en sien dit op plekke waar ander mense dit nie sien nie, hulle het ook die unieke gawe om dit te skep. Hulle druk hulle individualiteit in helder manier wat ons almal verryk, uit. Hulle bring kleur en flair aan ‘n wêreld wat andersins maar vaal sou wees. Omdat niemand van ons egter in die ideale wêreld van ons verbeelding kan leef nie, is kunstenaars soms nie toegerus om in die regte lewe met sy probleme en druk te leef nie. Dieselfde sensitiwiteit wat hulle kreatief maak, maak hulle soms slawe van die emosionele op-en-af wat ander mense afskrik en op die ou einde die kunstenaar self vernietig. Van Ernest Hemingway tot Elvis Presley, vertel die geskiedenisboeke hierdie verhaal. Koning Dawid was kunstig. Hy was ‘n talentvolle digter, danser en het baie liedere gekomponeer. Sy onvermoë om egter sy drange te beheer, het op ‘n affair uitgeloop wat tot moord en die verwoesting van sy familie gelei het. Verstaan een ding: Elke sterkpunt wat God jou gee, het ‘n ooreenstemmende swakheid wat geïdentifiseer moet word en op die regte manier hanteer word. Hoe meer talentvol jy is, hoe meer gedissiplineerd moet jy wees. Paulus was wys genoeg om sy eie neigings te herken: ‘Ek brei my liggaam en dissiplineer dit om werklik bruikbaar te wees. Ek wil tog nie, terwyl ek vir ander gepreek het, self deur God gediskwalifiseer word nie.’ Die laaste paar dekades het bewys dat selfs mense vir wie God die gawe gegee het om groot kerke te bou en groot bedienings te lei, nie immuun teen versoeking is nie. Waar daar groot talent is – is daar groot versoeking. Waar vind skape hulle grootste veiligheid? Deur naby aan hulle herder te bly. Doen dit vandag!
Sielskos: Jes 8-11; Joh 6:1-24; Ps 126; Spr 27:17-19
1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV
Artists: Artists not only love beauty and see it in places others don’t, they’re uniquely gifted to create it. They express their individuality in bold ways that enrich us all. They bring color and flair to a world that would otherwise be drab. But since none of us can live in the ideal world of our imagination, artists are sometimes ill equipped to live in the real world with its problems and pressures. The same sensitivity that makes them creative often enslaves them to emotional swings that put people off, and ends up destroying the artist himself. From Ernest Hemingway to Elvis Presley, the history books tell the story. King David was artistic. He was a gifted poet, dancer, and composer of many songs. But his inability to control his impulses culminated in an affair that led to murder and the devastation of his family. Understand one thing: Every strength God gives you has a corresponding weakness that must be identified and handled in the right way. The more talented you are, the more disciplined you must be. Paul was wise enough to recognize his own proclivities: “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest…when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (KJV). The last few decades have proven that even people God gifted to build great churches and lead great ministries aren’t immune to temptation. Where there is great talent – there is great temptation. Where do sheep find their greatest safety? By sticking close to the shepherd. Today, do that!
Soul food: Isa 8-11; John 6:1-24; Ps 126; Prov 27:17-19
2018-10-24
Philippians 2:5 NIV
Achievers: Achievers love to overcome challenges and perform for others. At best, they’re motivated to grow, stretch, and learn. They inspire and move people to action and enjoy being in front of crowds. Giving a talk energizes them. Without a chance to develop and shine they lose their motivation. Achievers want to make an impact, can be tempted to live for the image they portray, and end up idolizing their own performance. They’re apt to measure success in terms of applause and recognition. When John the Baptist said about Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30 NKJV), he demonstrated the kind of surrender that can be difficult for an achiever. Simon Magus thought he could buy a spectacular ministry like Peter’s, and offered Peter money in exchange for the ability to give others the Holy Spirit (See Acts 8:18-22 NIV). Similarly, an unredeemed achiever can turn what looks like serving God into serving himself. For many of us “the sin that so easily trips us up” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT) is pride. While achievers have the ability to accomplish great things and enrich the lives of others, they can also become preoccupied with their own image and success. What’s the answer? Paul says: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves…look not only to your own interests, but…the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5 NIV).
Soul food: Isa 4-7; John 5:31-47; Ps 5; Prov 27:13-16
