Deel dit met hulle


Johannes 4:14 NLV

Eendag het die Fariseërs vir Jesus gevra: ‘…Hoe kry julle dit reg om saam met ‘n klomp skelms en sondaars te eet en te drink?..’ (Lukas 5:30 DB). Sulke minagting – en dit van mense wat veronderstel was om eerste in die ry te staan om liefde en medelye te bewys! Jesus was lief vir mense; kyk hoe het hy die vrou by die put behandel. Eerstens het Hy die reëls verbreek. Jode het nie met nie-Jode gemeng nie en hulle het vir seker nie met haar soort omgegaan nie. (Sy was al vyf keer geskei.) Hy het met haar gemeng, nie om voordeel uit haar te trek nie, maar om haar te bereik, te verlos en te herstel. Dis hoekom Hy ‘n vriend van sondaars (sien Matteus 11:19), genoem word. Kan mense dieselfde van jou sê? Tweedens het Hy die ys gebreek. Jesus het met haar oor iets waarin sy geïnteresseerd was gepraat – water. Jy moet waar mense is, begin, nie waar hulle veronderstel is om te wees nie. Jy moet ook oor jou vrees vir verwerping kom. Jy mag dalk skaam kry as hulle nee sê, maar dink net wat hulle sal verloor as hulle nooit die kans kry om vir die evangelie ja te sê nie. Derdens het Hy die nuus gebring. Hy het vir haar lewende water in plaas van dooie godsdiens aangebied. Hoe kan jy sê dat jy vir iemand lief is en nie met hulle die grootste geskenk wat jy al ooit ontvang het – verlossing – deel nie? Elke mens wat jy ontmoet is op die verlede gefokus, angstig oor die toekoms, of het die behoefte aan ‘n ware vriend. Sodra jy uitvind agter watter deur hulle staan, tree dit met liefde en sensitiwiteit binne. Hulle is dors na die lewende water. Deel dit met hulle.

Sielskos: 2 Kon 24-25; Mark 14:12-26; Ps 73:17-28; Spr 13:20

Share it with them


John 4:14 NKJV

One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” (Luke 5:30 NLT). Such contempt – and from those who should have been the first to show love and compassion! Jesus loved people; look how He dealt with the woman at the well. First, He broke the rules. Jews didn’t mix with Gentiles, and they certainly didn’t associate with her kind. (She’d been divorced five times.) Jesus walked for miles to meet this woman. He went into her world to bring her into His. He mixed with her not to take advantage of her or become like her, but to reach, redeem, and restore her. That’s why He’s called “a friend of…sinners” (Matthew 11:19). Could people say that about you? Second, He broke the ice. Jesus talked about what she was interested in – water. You must start where people are, not where you think they should be. You must use words they understand. And get over your fear of rejection. You may lose face if they say no, but think what they’ll lose if they never have a chance to say yes to the gospel. Third, He broke the news. He offered her living water instead of dead religion. How can you say you love someone and not share with them the greatest thing you ever found – salvation? Everybody you meet is hung up on the past, anxious about the future, or in need of a real friend. Once you find which door they’re behind, walk through it with love and sensitivity. They’re thirsty for “the living water.” Share it with them.

Soul food: 2 Kings 24-25; Mark 14:12-26; Ps 73:17-28; Prov 13:20

Pray for “wisdom from above”

2019-06-12
James 3:17 NLT

Some people seem to thrive on conflict. They are always picking on others, arguing, disagreeing, or trying to get something started. They fight just for the sport of it, not because they passionately believe in a particular cause. They are quick to jump in and expend their energy fighting other people’s battles in which they have no stake. These people seem confident but they make poor decisions, so others learn to ignore them and not take them seriously. They need to “always win” in order to feel good about themselves. When it comes to your relationships with others, you need “wisdom from above.” When you have it, you won’t need to put everyone else on the mat just to show how strong or smart you are. True self-confidence, including confidence in your ability to make good decisions, comes from within. “The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness” (vv. 17-18 NLT). When you operate according to these scriptural principles, you’ll know whether or not a battle is worthy of your attention. If you keep your eyes on the prize that God has set before you, you’ll realize that some things simply aren’t worth your time and attention. As a result you’ll make better decisions about your life as well as your relationships.

Soul food: 2 Kings 21-23; Mark 14:1-11; Ps 73:1-16; Prov 13:17-19