2020-01-26
Philippians 1:23 NIV
When death takes someone we love. We’ll all have to deal with grief at some point in our lives. It’s not a quick and easy process. There are many stages to grieving, and we might go through these stages more than once. We need to give ourselves permission and time to grieve. However we’re feeling, we need to stand on verses such as: ‘Brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died’ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NLT); ‘Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength’ (1 Corinthians 15:42-43 NLT); ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled…My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am’ (John 14:1-3 NIV). Paul writes, ‘To depart and…be with Christ…is better by far.’ When we’re grieving, we sometimes might struggle to find comfort in these words. We want the person we love to still be here with us. But when we truly know that it’s better for them to be with God, we can begin to accept what has happened.
Luke 10:25-37; Eph 4:31-32; Gen 50:15-21
Filippense 1:23 NLV
Wanneer die dood iemand wie jy liefhet kom haal het. Satan sal probeer om jou met berouvolle gedagtes oor dit wat jy vir jou geliefde gedoen en nie gedoen het nie toe hulle nog hier was, te martel. Moenie na hom luister nie! Die Bybel noem hom ‘die aanklaer’ (sien Openbaring 12:10). Verbly jouself eerder dat julle eendag vir ewig in die hemel herenig sal word. Gee jouself toestemming om te rou en wanneer die rouproses eindig, staan op God se Woord: ‘Liewe broers en susters, ons wil nie hê dat julle in onkunde sal verkeer oor die dooies nie. Dan sal julle nie soos die ander mense treur sonder ‘n toekomsvooruitsig nie. Want as ons glo dat Jesus gesterf het én opgestaan het, moet ons ook glo dat God dié mense wat gesterf het terwyl hulle in Jesus glo, saam met Jesus sal terugbring’ (1 Tessalonisense 4:13-14 NLV). ‘Ons liggame wat in die grond geplant word, is maar heel gewoon, maar hulle sal in glansende heerlikheid opgewek word. Hulle is maar baie broos wanneer hulle geplant word, maar hulle sal vol krag wees wanneer hulle opgewek word’ (1 Korintiërs 15:43-44 NLV). ‘Moenie ontsteld wees nie. Hou net aan om op God te vertrou en vertrou ook ten volle op My. In die huis van my Vader is daar sommer baie kamers. As dit nie só was nie, sou Ek dit aan julle gesê het. Ek gaan soontoe om vir julle plek gereed te maak… Ek kom terug en sal julle na My toe neem sodat julle ook kan wees waar Ek is’ (Johannes 14:1-3 NLV). Paulus skryf: ‘om te vertrek en persoonlik by Christus te wees… is vir my verreweg die beste.’ Leun vandag op hierdie woorde van die Skrif en vind vertroosting daarin.
Sielskos: Luk 10:25-37; Ef 4:31-32; Gen 50:15-21
Philippians 1:23 NIV
When death takes someone you love. Satan will try to torment you with remorseful thoughts of what you did and didn’t do for your loved one while they were still here. Don’t listen to him! The Bible calls him “the accuser” (See Revelation 12:10). Instead, rejoice that your loved one was in right standing with you and with the Lord, and that you’ll be reunited in heaven for all eternity. Give yourself permission to grieve, and when the grieving period ends, stand on God’s Word: “Brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NLT). “Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength” (1 Corinthians 15:42-43 NLT). “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And… I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3 NKJV). Paul writes, “To depart and…be with Christ…is better by far.” Lean on these words of Scripture today and find comfort.
Soul food: Luke 10:25-37; Eph 4:31-32; Gen 50:15-21
2020-01-25
Psalm 34:18 NLT
When someone has broken your heart. When somebody you love breaks your heart and betrays your trust, you’re in a vulnerable place. And the Enemy will use the experience to get you to do four things that will hurt you even more, derail you spiritually, and rob you of God’s blessing: (1) Isolate yourself, alienate and avoid others. (2) Lose your sense of trust, and suspect the motives of everyone you meet. (3) Cause a root of bitterness to spring up that will impact your relationship with your family and those in your circle of influence (See Hebrews 12:15). (4) Make you strike back and get even, rendering evil for evil (See 1 Thessalonians 5:15). Don’t do it! Instead, stand on God’s Word: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” “I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing” (Jeremiah 31:13 NLT). “The Spirit of the Lord…has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor…heal the brokenhearted…proclaim liberty to the captives…recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18 NKJV). “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT). Has someone done you wrong? Forgive them – and keep on forgiving them until you’re free in your mind. It’s a daily walk that sometimes feels like three steps forward and two back. But if you keep your eyes on Jesus – you’ll get there.
Soul food: Isa 4-7; Matt 10:1-10; Ps 100; Prov 3:7-8
Psalm 34:18 NIVUK
When we’re broken-hearted. When somebody breaks our heart and betrays our trust, we’re in a vulnerable place. And the enemy will use the experience to get us to do four things that will hurt us, make us doubt our faith, and rob us of God’s blessing: 1) Isolate ourselves. 2) Lose our sense of trust so we suspect the motives of everyone we meet. 3) Cause bitterness to be deeply rooted in our hearts which impacts our relationships with our family and friends (take a look at Hebrews 12:15). 4) Make us want to get even by seeking revenge (have a read of 1 Thessalonians 5:15). But this doesn’t have to be what happens. Instead, we can stand on verses such as: ‘The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed’; ‘I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing’ (Jeremiah 31:13 NLTUK); ‘The Spirit of the Lord…has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor…heal the broken-hearted…proclaim liberty to the captives…recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed’ (Luke 4:18 NKJV)’ ‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you’ (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLTUK). If someone has hurt us and broken our hearts, we need to forgive them. It’s often not just a one-time thing. We need to keep on forgiving them until we’re free in our mind. Forgiveness is a challenge, especially when we’re hurting. But if we keep our eyes on Jesus, we’ll get there.
Isa 4-7; Matt 10:1-10; Ps 100; Prov 3:7-8
