2020-11-25
Ephesians 4:22 NLT
God expects us to work on growth and self-improvement, but just as examining ourselves too much is unproductive, so is trying to change if it keeps us self-focused and defeated. The Bible’s path to change is to turn away from self and focus on Christ. Paul wrote: ‘We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit’ (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).
God wants to transform our characters. All the self-improvement strategies we could try by ourselves can’t transform our old natures. Only God, ‘by the Spirit’, can change our characters and make us more Christlike. As we ‘contemplate the Lord’s glory’ by spending time with Him and reading His Word, we become ‘transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory’ – in other words, little by little, we become more like Him.
It doesn’t matter how determined we are to change our nature, if we haven’t involved God, it won’t happen. We need His grace for lasting change. Paul wrote: ‘Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.’ No altering, adjusting, or patching-up – we must ‘throw it off’ completely, and accept the new nature and new way of living that God has for us. As we focus on Christ and draw closer to Him, we’re released from the hold of our old nature and grow into your new one. We’re transformed – from the inside out.
2 Chr 22-24; John 13:18-30; Ps 114; Prov 27:20-22
Efesiërs 4:22 NLV
Verwag God van ons om aan groei en self-verbetering te werk? Ja! Dis egter vergeefs as dit jou op jouself gefokus en oorwonne hou. Die Bybelse pad na verandering is om weg te draai van jouself en op God te fokus. Paulus sê: ‘Ons almal weerspieël die heerlikheid van die Here, want die sluier is van ons gesig af weggeneem. Ons word al hoe meer verander om soos die Here te lyk, met ‘n heerlikheid wat steeds toeneem namate die Here, dit is die Gees, dit aan ons gee’ (2 Korintiërs 3:18 NLV).
God stel nie in ‘verbeterde vlees’ belang nie. In sy oë is ‘verbeterde vlees’ steeds vlees. Hy wil jou karakter transformeer. Al jou self-verbetering strategieë kan nie jou ou sondige natuur transformeer nie. Net God, deur die Gees, kan jou meer soos Christus maak. Dit gebeur nie as gevolg van jou harde werk nie, maar deur sy genade.
‘Wat gaan dus met my vlees gebeur?’ vra jy. God se uiteindelike plan is om dit te vervang en vir jou ‘n nuwe geestelike liggaam te gee. Dis hoekom Paulus skryf: ‘naamlik dat julle, wat julle vroeëre leefstyl betref, die ou, sondige mens soos vuil klere moet uittrek. Bedrieglike begeertes laat hierdie mens te gronde gaan.’ Jy moet dit nie regmaak of verander nie – jy moet dit uittrek!
Soos ‘n kreef groei en die gevangenis van sy ou skulp afskud, so sal jy die dominansie van jou ou natuur afskud en in jou nuwe een ingroei, soos jy op Christus fokus en in gemeenskap met Hom lewe. Jy word getransformeer – van die binnekant af buitentoe.
Sielskos: 2 Kro 22-24; Joh 13:18-30; Ps 114; Spr 27:20-22
Ephesians 4:22 NLT
Does God expect us to work on growth and self-improvement? Yes! But just as examining yourself is futile, so is trying to change if it keeps you self-focused and defeated. The Bible’s path to change is to turn away from self and focus on Christ. Paul says, “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV).
God isn’t interested in improved flesh. In His eyes “improved flesh” is still flesh. He’s in the character- transformation business, not the self-improvement business. All your self-improvement strategies can’t transform your old self-nature. Only God, “by the Spirit,” can make you more Christ-like. As you “behold (look at and study) as in a mirror (the Word of God)” you become “transformed into the same image (the image of God you’re looking at) from glory to glory (grade to grade).” It doesn’t happen because of your grit, but because of His grace.
“So what will happen to my flesh?” you ask. God’s ultimate plan is to replace it and give you a new heavenly body. That’s why Paul writes: “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.” No altering, adjusting, and patching-up allowed – you must “throw it off!” Like a lobster growing and shedding the confinement of its old shell, as you focus on and fellowship with Christ, you are released from the dominance of your old nature and grow into your new one. You’re transformed – from the inside out.
Soul food: 2 Chr 22-24; John 13:18-30; Ps 114; Prov 27:20-22
2020-11-24
Lukas 12:37 NLV
Wanneer jy aan self-fokus dink, mag jy dalk vra: ‘Wat van al daardie Skrifgedeeltes wat spesifiek vir ons sê om op te let? Gaan hulle nie almal daaroor om ‘n oog oor onsself te hou nie?’ Dis ‘n goeie vraag, kom ons kyk dus na ‘n paar Skrifgedeeltes wat daaroor gaan.
In Markus 13:34-37 (NLV) lees ons: “Die koms van die Seun van die Mens kan vergelyk word met ‘n man wat van sy huis vertrek om op reis te gaan. Hy vertrou sy eiendom aan sy werksmense toe. Vir elkeen het hy instruksies gegee oor die werk wat hy moes doen, maar vir die deurwagter het hy opdrag gegee om noulettend wag te hou. Waak julle dan voortdurend, want julle weet nie wanneer die baas van die huis terugkom nie – teen die aand of teen middernag of met hanekraai of vroegdag. Moenie dat hy julle aan die slaap kry as hy onverwags opdaag nie. Wat Ek vir julle sê, sê Ek vir almal: ‘Bly voortdurend waaksaam!'”
Wat Jesus hier vir ons leer, is die teenoorgestelde van self-fokus. Jesus verwag van ons om onsself te vergeet, pligsgetrou vir sy koninkryk te werk en uit te sien en voor te berei vir sy terugkeer. Jesus wil nie hê dat jy obsessiewe selfondersoek moet doen wat jou moeg, moedeloos en teleurgesteld in jouself laat nie. Nee, Hy wil hê dat jy opgewonde en betrokke by sy werk hier op aarde moet wees en aktief op die uitkyk vir jou Here en Koning se koms moet wees. ‘Laat die hele wêreld na My toe kom sodat julle gered kan word. Want Ek is God en daar is geen ander nie’ (Jesaja 45:22 NLV). Fokus dus meer op God – en minder op jouself.
Sielskos: 2 Kro 19-21; Joh 13:1-17; Ps 95; Spr 27:17-19
Luke 12:37 NKJV
When dealing with self-focus, we might ask, ‘What about Scriptures that tell us to stay alert? Aren’t they reminding us to keep an eye on ourselves?’ That’s a good question, so let’s take a look at some of those passages that tell us to watch and stay alert.
In Mark 13:34-37 we read: ‘A man going to a far country…left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!’ (NKJV). What Jesus was teaching here is the opposite of self-focus. The doorkeeper wasn’t to watch himself, but to watch for his returning master.
Jesus expects us to forget ourselves, work conscientiously for His kingdom, and be watching and prepared for His return. He said, ‘They will be blessed when their master comes home, because he sees that they were watching. I tell you the truth, the master will dress himself to serve and tell the servants to sit at the table, and he will serve them.’
Far from obsessive self-introspection that leaves us exhausted, discouraged, and disappointed with ourselves, Jesus wants us to be excited and involved in His work here on earth, to actively watch for the coming again of your Lord and King. ‘Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other’ (Isaiah 45:22 NLT). So let’s lift our eyes from ourselves, and instead look to God.
2 Chr 19-21; John 13:1-17; Ps 95; Prov 27:17-19
