2020-07-16
1 Korintiërs 7:7 NLV
Daar is niks fout daarmee om enkellopend te wees nie. Soms wanneer ons ‘n pragtige vrou of man sien wat ongetroud is, dink ons: ‘Ek wonder wat is fout met hulle?’ Niks nie! Daar mag inderwaarheid dalk iets met hulle verkeerd wees indien hulle getroud was, want dis beter om enkellopend te wees as om met die verkeerde persoon te trou. Daar word ‘n verhaal van twee vriende vertel. Een het opgemerk dat sy vriend ‘n trouring aan die wysvinger van sy regterhand dra. ‘Is dit jou trouring?’ het hy gevra. ‘Ja,’ het die eerste vriend geantwoord. ‘Nou hoekom dra jy dit aan die verkeerde vinger op die verkeerde hand?’ Sy vriend het geantwoord: ‘Want ek het met die verkeerde vrou getrou.’ Ons glimlag, maar die Bybel leer ons dat die enkellopende lewe nie net ‘n goeie lewe is nie, maar ‘n begaafde lewe. Paulus skryf: ‘Eintlik sou ek wens dat almal – soos ek – sonder die huwelik sou regkom. Maar ons het verskillende gawes van God ontvang, die een hierdie, die ander een weer ander.’ Dit beteken nie dat jy meer geestelik is as jy ongetroud is nie. Die feit bly egter staan, party mense is deur die Here gekies en van die genade voorsien om enkellopend te bly. Paulus was een van hulle. Hy skryf: ‘Nou wil ek vir die ongetroudes en die weduwees sê: Dis beter om soos ek ongetroud te bly’ (vers 8 NLV). Paulus het, met die uitsondering van sewe jaar, sy hele bediening in die tronk deurgebring, waar hy die sendingbriewe geskryf het. Sy Godgegewe opdrag in die lewe het by enkellopendheid gepas. Die punt is, niemand moet ooit skaam of verleë wees omdat hy of sy enkellopend is nie.
Sielskos: Hand 1:1-3:10; Luk 7:36-50; Ps 123; Spr 16:1
1 Corinthians 7:7 TLV
There’s nothing wrong with being single. Sometimes when we see a beautiful woman or a handsome man who’s not married we think, “I wonder what’s wrong with them?” Nothing! Indeed, something might be wrong with them if they were married, because it’s better to be single than to marry the wrong person. The story’s told of two friends. One noticed the other one wearing a wedding ring on the index finger of his right hand. So he said, “That’s strange. Is that your wedding ring?” His friend replied, “Yes.” The first one said, “Why are you wearing it on the wrong finger of the wrong hand?” His friend responded, “Because I married the wrong woman.” We smile, but the Bible teaches that the single life is not only a good life, it is a gifted life. Paul writes: “I wish everyone could get along without marrying, just as I do. But we are not all the same. God gives some the gift of [marriage], and others he gives the gift of being able to stay happily unmarried.” This doesn’t mean being single makes you more spiritual than if you were married. But the fact is, some people have been chosen and graced by the Lord to be single. Paul was one of them. He writes, “I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they remain even as I am” (v. 8 NKJV). Paul spent all but seven years of his ministry in prison, where he wrote the epistles. His God-given assignment in life was suited to singleness. The point is, no person should ever be ashamed or embarrassed because he or she is single.
Soul food: Acts 1:1-3:10; Luke 7:36-50; Ps 123; Prov 16:1
1 Corinthians 7:8 NIV
If we’re single, we might experience people questioning why we’re not in a relationship. This can be frustrating, especially if we’re struggling with our singleness. But the truth is, there’s nothing wrong with being single. It’s better to be single than to marry the wrong person. The Bible teaches that the single life is not only a good life, but it’s a gifted life. Paul wrote: ‘Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.’ When we’re upset that we’re still single, we can struggle to see that it’s good for us to be unmarried. But what Paul’s saying is that when we’re single, we can be solely focused on pleasing God and following His call. Being married means we need to take another person’s thoughts, opinions, and callings into consideration before we make decisions. Being single means we can just listen to God’s voice for our lives. This doesn’t mean being single makes us more spiritual than if we were married. But some people have been chosen by God to remain single. Paul was one of them. Paul spent many years in prison, where he wrote the epistles. His God-given assignment in life was suited to singleness. None of us should ever be ashamed or embarrassed because we’re single. Maybe we’re called to be single, like Paul was. Or maybe we’re called to be single for a season, because God has a job for us that needs our full attention. Whatever the reason, if we’re struggling with being single, or we’re tired of people wondering why we’re not married yet, let’s remember Paul’s words and hand those feelings over to God.
Acts 1:1-3:10; Luke 7:36-50; Ps 123; Prov 16:1
2020-07-15
John 8:44 NIV
Jesus said of Satan, “When he lies, he speaks his native language.” And he lies to us in three ways: (1) Doubts. His strategy is to discourage you, to make you throw up your hands and say, “What’s the use? Nothing has changed!” When you say that, you’re signing the receipt and accepting the package. Don’t do it! The Bible says, “You are snared with the words of your lips” (Proverbs 6:2 AMPC). What you say forms your perspective and creates the environment you live in. Never say anything that leads Satan to think he’s winning. (2) Shock. If you’re not expecting Satan’s attack, you’ll get alarmed and think, “I must not be making progress. Why else would I still be fighting the same old battles?” Why? Because Satan doesn’t give up without a fight, and his attack is proof you haven’t been conquered. (3) Feelings. Satan will try to convince you that you don’t deserve to be forgiven. He’ll tell you that because you don’t feel forgiven, you’re not. But remember, he’s a liar. Here’s where victory is decided. Stand your ground. The work has already been done in you. God’s Word says so; now you must begin to say so too. Time will strengthen and solidify your position. Satan will bring to your mind all the things God has delivered you from, and in dealing with them you’ll experience some of the emotions you had when you went through them. His strategy is to make you feel like nothing has changed. Don’t buy it! Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32 NIV).
Soul food: Joel 1-3; Luke 7:24-35; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 15:33
Johannes 8:44 NLV
Jesus het van Satan gesê: ‘…Wanneer hy ook al leuens verkoop, praat hy volgens sy innerlike oortuiging omdat hy ‘n leuenaar en ook die vader daarvan is.’ Hy lieg op drie maniere vir ons: 1) Vertwyfelinge: Sy strategie is om jou te ontmoedig en jou te laat tou opgooi deur te sê: ‘Wat help dit? Niks het verander nie!’ Wanneer jy dit sê, teken jy die strokie en aanvaar die aflewering. Moenie dit doen nie! Die Bybel sê: ‘…Deur jou woorde en jou dade word jy gevang…’ (Spreuke 6:2 DB). Dit wat jy sê, vorm jou perspektief en skep die omgewing waarin jy lewe. Moet nooit iets sê wat Satan laat dink dat hy gewen het nie. 2) Skok. As jy nie Satan se aanval verwag nie, sal jy geskok wees en dink: ‘Ek maak seker nie vordering nie. Hoekom anders sal ek dan dieselfde gevegte oor en oor veg?’ Satan gee nie sommer tou op nie en sy aanval is bewys dat hy jou nog nie oorwin het nie. 3) Gevoelens. Satan sal jou probeer oortuig dat jy nie vergifnis verdien nie. Hy sal vir jou sê dat omdat jy nie voel dat jy vergewe is nie, is jy nie vergewe nie. Onthou egter, hy is ‘n leuenaar. Dis hier waar die oorwinning besluit word. Staan vas. Die werk is reeds in jou gedoen. God se Woord sê so; nou moet jy dit ook begin sê. Tyd sal jou posisie versterk. Sy strategie is om jou te laat voel dat niks verander het nie. Moenie dit glo nie! Jesus het gesê: ‘…As julle in ‘n noue verbintenis aan my boodskap leef, is julle my egte navolgers; en julle sal begryp wat die waarheid beteken, en die waarheid sal julle vrymaak’ (Johannes 8:31-32 NLV).
Sielskos: Joël 1-3; Luk 7:24-35; Ps 118:19-29; Spr 15:33
