2020-11-27
Jesaja 58:5 NLV
God het jou nooit beveel om jou emosies, ervarings of sondes te ondersoek nie. Wat Hy wel gesê het, is: ‘…Kyk, daar is die Lam van God wat die sonde van die wêreld wegneem’ (Johannes 1:29 NLV). Oorwinning oor sonde vind plaas deur op Christus te fokus – nie deur jouself te stenig nie!
In die Ou Testament het die Israeliete ‘n plek van wanhoop bereik. Hulle het gevas en hulle siele verootmoedig, maar tog het God dit verwerp en gesê: ‘Is dit die vas wat Ek verkies, net ‘n dag waarop ‘n mens homself verneder? Is dit om net jou kop te buig soos ‘n biesie en te sit in sak en as?..’ Dis duidelik dat God nie tevrede is met die ellende wat self-fokus meebring nie!
Hy het ‘n meer effektiewe manier om ons te bevry. Eerder as om ons die las van berou te laat dra, het Hy gesê: ‘Nee, is die vas wat Ek wil hê, dan nie: om mense wat onregverdig in die tronk is, vry te laat, om… elke juk te breek nie? Is dit nie om jou kos te deel met dié wat honger is… om klere te gee vir mense wat dit nodig het, om nie weg te draai van medemense wat jou hulp nodig het nie?’ (Jesaja 58:6-7 NLV). God se manier beveel jou om heeltemal van jouself te vergeet en by die lewens en behoeftes van ander mense betrokke te raak.
Sy vier-punt plan om jou vlees te oorkom is as volg: 1) Erken sy genade en sien jouself as ‘geregtig’ in Christus. 2) Vestig jou oë op Jesus. 3) Vermy obsessiewe self-fokus. 4) Dien God deur ander mense te dien. Wanneer jy al hierdie dinge doen, ‘…dan sal jou lig skyn in die donkerte… Die Here sal jou altyd lei… en sterk hou…’ (verse 10-11 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Kro 29-31; Joh 14:1-14; Ps 118:10-18; Spr 28:1-4
Isaiah 58:5 NIV
God never commanded you to examine your emotions, experiences, or sins. What He did say is, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NAS). Victory over sin comes from focusing on Christ – not beating yourself up!
In the Old Testament the Israelites reached a place of despair. They’d fasted and “afflicted” their souls, yet God ignored their efforts. They sought spiritual restoration in their own self-directed way, and God rejected it, saying: “Is this the kind of fast I have chosen…for people to humble themselves…bowing one’s head like a reed…in sackcloth and ashes? Is that…acceptable to the Lord?” Clearly, God is not pleased with the misery that comes from self-focus! He has a more effective way to liberate us.
Rather than have us weighed down with remorse, He said: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice…set the oppressed free…break every yoke…share your food with the hungry…provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not…turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7 NIV).
God’s way eliminates the “paralysis of self-analysis” by commanding you to forget about yourself completely; to stop dwelling on your imperfections and get involved in the lives and needs of others. His four-point plan for overcoming your flesh is: (1) Acknowledge His grace and see yourself as “righteous” in Christ. (2) Fix your eyes on Jesus. (3) Shun obsessive self-focus. (4) Serve God by serving others.
When you do all these things, “Your light will rise in the darkness…The Lord will guide…and…strengthen [you]” (vv. 10-11 NIV).
Soul food: 2 Chr 29-31; John 14:1-14; Ps 118:10-18; Prov 28:1-4
2020-11-26
Psalm 25:15 NIV
Hannah Whitall Smith writes: ‘It is no use for us to examine self, and tinker with it in hope of improving it. The thing the Lord wants us to do is to get rid of it.’
In the process of examining ourselves and feeling miserable when we don’t measure up to God’s standards, we’re inclined to think that we’re being humble, honest, and spiritual. But the only spiritual and safe way to handle our fleshly nature is to ignore it, and anchor our attention and expectations exclusively on God.
David understood how this principle worked: ‘My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.’ Looking at our own ‘snare’ (our old nature) that we’re tangled in won’t free us from the trap. We’ll just end up getting even more entangled. Only God, together with our cooperation, can release us from the trap of our fleshly nature. This old nature is determined to hold our attention and keep us caught, so we need to constantly remind ourselves to look to God and the freedom He brings. Keeping our ‘eyes…ever on the LORD’ is His way of giving us the victory.
Here’s something else that David said on the subject: ‘I keep my eyes always on the LORD…I will not be shaken…You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand’ (Psalm 16:8-11 NIV).
Our job is easy to explain and understand, but not necessarily easy to do. It’s to ignore our fleshly cravings and stay focused on Jesus. His job is to transform us by His mighty power.
2 Chr 25-28; John 13:31-38; Ps 118:1-9; Prov 27:23-27
Psalm 25:15 NIV
Hannah Whitall Smith writes: “It is no use for us to examine self, and tinker with it in hope of improving it. The thing the Lord wants us to do is to get rid of it.”
Your old nature is determined to hold your attention; it would rather be thought of badly than not at all. In the process of examining your flesh and feeling miserable, you’re apt to think you are being humble, honest, and spiritual. But the only spiritual and safe way to handle your fleshly nature is to consign it to the “ignore file,” and anchor your attention and expectations exclusively on the Lord.
David understood how this principle worked: “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.” Looking at your own “clay feet” (weaknesses and failures), and the “snare” (your unregenerate flesh) you’re tangled in, won’t free you from the trap. You’ll just end up further entangled. Only God, together with your cooperation, can release you from the trap of the flesh. Keeping your “eyes…ever on the Lord” is His way of giving you the victory.
Listen again to what David said: “I keep my eyes always on the Lord…I will not be shaken…You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:8-11 NIV).
Your job is simple, though not necessarily easy. It’s to ignore your fleshly cravings and stay focused on Jesus. His job is to transform you by His mighty power!
Soul food: 2 Chr 25-28; John 13:31-38; Ps 118:1-9; Prov 27:23-27
Psalm 25:15 NLV
Hannah Whitall Smith skryf: ‘Dis van geen nut vir ons om die self te ondersoek en daaraan te timmer in die hoop om dit te verbeter nie. Die Here wil hê dat ons daarvan ontslae moet raak.’ Jou ou natuur is gedetermineerd om jou aandag te hou; dit verkies dat jy eerder sleg van jouself dink as wat jy glad nie aan jouself dink nie. Wanneer jy in die proses is om jou vlees te ondersoek, mag jy dalk dink dat jy besig is om nederig, eerlik en geestelik te wees. Die enigste geestelike en veilige manier om egter jou vleeslike natuur te hanteer is om dit te ignoreer en jou aandag en verwagtinge eksklusief op die Here te fokus.
Dawid het verstaan hoe hierdie beginsel werk: ‘Ek kyk altyd op na die Here, want Hy sal my voete van die vangnet bevry.’ Deur na jou eie ‘voete van klei’ (swakhede en mislukkings), en die vangnet (jou onveranderde vlees) waarin jy verstrik is te kyk, sal jou nie uit die strik red nie. Jy sal net meer verstrengel word. Net God, tesame met jou samewerking, kan jou uit die vangnet van die vlees bevry. Jy moet slegs opkyk na die Here om oorwinning te behaal. Luister na wat Dawid gesê het: ‘Die Here is altyd by my… daarom sal ek nie struikel nie… U wys vir my die lewenspad; in u teenwoordigheid is vreugde, en aan u regterhand is daar blydskap vir altyd’ (Psalm 16:8-11 NLV).
Jou werk is eenvouding, alhoewel nie noodwendig maklik nie. Jy moet net jou vleeslike begeertes ignoreer en op Jesus gefokus bly. Sy werk is om jou deur sy magtige krag te transformeer!
Sielskos: 2 Kro 25-28; Joh 13:31-38; Ps 118:1-9; Spr 27:23-27
