2020-04-25
Ephesians 6:7 NIV
If you think your boss is hard to get along with, imagine working for David’s boss, King Saul. The more David tried to help him, the more Saul tried to kill him. So what did David do? Every time his boss flew into a jealous rage and threw spears at him, David ducked and kept on serving him. Why? (1) Because David knew God had called him to be king, and what better place to learn the ropes than right there in Saul’s palace? The truth is, sometimes you can learn more from mistakes and failures than from the achievements of success. So David kept his head down and kept on learning and growing. (2) David recognized that because Saul had been called by God to the position he held, it was God’s job, not his, to remove him. Was that hard to do? Yes. But David understood that how you treat others when they’re in trouble determines how God treats you when you’re in trouble. And before his life was over, David got into lots of trouble and needed God’s mercy big-time! Paul writes, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” Instead of murmuring and complaining, work to excel on the job and pray for favour. Remember: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1 NKJV). Because David acted with grace and integrity while serving under a boss who was a nightmare, God made him the boss! And when you honor God on the job, He can do the same for you.
Soul food: Dan 8-10; Mark 4:13-25; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 10:19-21
Ephesians 6:7 NIV
All throughout our lives we’ll have to be under the authority of others. When we’re children, we have to do as our parents say. At school, we have to obey our teachers. At work, we’re reporting to a boss. In our everyday lives, we follow rules made by those in government. Romans 13 talks about the importance of submitting to those in authority. But this can be really challenging when we don’t agree with what those above us are doing, or when we’re frustrated with how we’re being treated. In the Bible, we read about David and his ‘boss’ King Saul. Every time Saul became jealous, angry, and violent, David kept on serving him. Why? 1) David knew God had called him to be king, and that being in Saul’s palace was the best place for him to learn. Sometimes we have to stay in places we’d rather not stay in, because God has things He wants us to learn. 2) David recognised that because Saul had been called by God to the position he held, it was God’s job, not his, to remove him. We’re not ultimately in control, God is. It’s up to Him to bring justice in our situations. It’s our job to be faithful. Paul writes, ‘Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.’ Instead of complaining, let’s work hard for God. But it’s also worth remembering that if someone is treating us badly, we should speak up about it to people who can help us. God calls us to work hard for Him, and to respect people above us. But if those people are abusing their authority, we don’t have to stay and let it carry on. Instead, we need to ask God for wisdom on how to deal with our situation.
Dan 8-10; Mark 4:13-25; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 10:19-21
Efesiërs 6:7 NLV
As jy dink dis moeilik om met jou baas oor die weg te kom, dink net hoe moeilik was dit om vir Dawid se baas, koning Saul, te werk. Hoe meer Dawid hom probeer help het, hoe meer het Saul hom probeer doodmaak. Wat het Dawid dus gedoen? Elke keer as sy baas ‘n jaloerse woedebui gehad het en spiese na hom toe gegooi het, het Dawid gekoes en aangehou om hom te dien. Hoekom? 1) Want Dawid het geweet dat God hom geroep het om koning te wees en die beste plek om touwys daarvoor te raak, in Saul se paleis was. Die waarheid is dat jy soms meer uit foute en mislukkings as die prestasies van sukses, leer. Dawid het dus sy kop laat sak en aangehou leer en groei. 2) Dawid het geweet dat God vir Saul in sy posisie as koning geplaas het en dus was dit God, nie Dawid nie, se werk om hom uit sy posisie te verwyder. Was dit moeilik om dit te doen? Ja. Dawid het egter verstaan dat die manier wat jy mense hanteer wanneer hulle in moeilikheid is, die manier wat God jou hanteer wanneer jy in die moeilikheid is, bepaal. Dawid het op die ou einde telkens God se genade broodnodig gehad! Paulus skryf: ‘Doen julle werk entoesiasties, asof julle dit vir die Here doen en nie vir mense nie.’ In plaas daarvan om te kla en te kerm, werk hard om in jou werk uit te blink en bid vir guns. Onthou: ‘Die Here stuur die koning soos Hy wil. Dit is soos ‘n stroom water wat Hy afkeer’ (Spreuke 21:1 NLV). Omdat Dawid met genade en integriteit teenoor ‘n baas, wat ‘n nagmerrie was, opgetree het, het God hom die baas gemaak! Wanneer jy God in jou werk eer, kan Hy dieselfde vir jou doen.
Sielskos: Dan 8-10; Mark 4:13-25; Ps 144:1-8; Spr 10:19-21
2020-04-24
Romans 12:10 NKJV
In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died after being hurled into the icy water below. News of the disaster got worse when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction, or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence and both could have steered clear. But according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other, because each was too proud to yield. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late. If you’re a tough-minded, strong-willed, make-it-happen kind of person, think about what you’ve just read. If by winning the argument you hurt or lose the relationship, what have you gained? If you save face but lose the relationship, you end up in the loss column. So here’s the word for you today: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another…Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men….Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (vv. 10:16-19, 21 NKJV).
Soul food: Dan 5-7; Mark 4:1-12; Ps 7:10-17; Prov 10:17-18
Exodus 32:9 NCV
We can all be stubborn at times. We get fixed on our ideas or traditions and refuse to make changes, even if we can see that we’re in the wrong. But stubbornness can damage our relationships with others. It can make it difficult for people to want to spend time around us, or to share ideas with us. Stubbornness doesn’t just affect our human relationships, it can also damage our relationship with God. When we harden our hearts to Him and refuse to surrender to His ways, we end up drifting away from Him. The Message paraphrases Proverbs 29:1 like this: ‘For people who hate discipline and only get more stubborn, there’ll come a day when life tumbles in and they break, but by then it’ll be too late to help them.’ This is exactly what happened to the Israelites. God said: ‘I have seen these people, and I know that they are very stubborn.’ God repeatedly warned them to turn away from the things they were doing. But they wouldn’t listen. In Psalm 81, God says: ‘Israel did not want me. So I let them go their stubborn way and follow their own advice’ (vv.11-12 NCV). Because God loves us, He doesn’t force us to connect with Him, repent of our sins, or surrender our plans. He allows us to go our own way, if that’s what we choose. But He doesn’t want that to happen. His ways are far better than ours. And sometimes, even though we don’t want to admit it, we know that we would be so much better off if we allowed God into our lives. So are we going to be like the Israelites who were stubborn, or are we going to allow Him to soften our hearts?
Dan 5-7; Mark 4:1-12; Ps 7:10-17; Prov 10:17-18
