2020-12-28
Romans 12:6, 8 NIV
Did you know that there’s such a thing as ‘the gift of encouragement’? The Bible says, ‘We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is…to encourage, then give encouragement.’ And we don’t have to be talented or have a high IQ to demonstrate this gift. Every day we meet people in need of encouragement. They may not show it on the surface, but underneath they’re struggling to keep their head above water. Some of them are at the point of despair, and our words can lift them. Even a smile can do it. Job said, ‘When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them’ (Job 29:24 NLT). Solomon said, ‘Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad’ (Proverbs 12:25 NKJV).
We mustn’t assume that people who seem successful and happy don’t need encouragement, because we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. David was a best-selling author whose psalms are still read around the world. He was Israel’s most popular king. His victories in battle are the envy of every military strategist. But he had days when he felt so low and in despair that he wasn’t sure he could carry on: ‘I am on the verge of collapse, facing constant pain’ (Psalm 38:17 NLT).
It doesn’t matter what our past or present successes are, how much money or power we have, or what our social status is, everyone needs encouragement. And that’s good, because when we have the gift of encouragement, we’ll never be without opportunities to use it. So today let’s be sensitive to God’s leading, and when He prompts us to encourage someone, let’s do it.
Mal 1-2; Matt 2:9-15; Ps 139:1-12; Prov 31:25-27
Romeine 12:6,8 NLV
Het jy geweet dat daar so ‘n ding soos ‘die gawe van bemoediging’ is? Daar is! Die Bybel sê: ‘Ons het gawes wat van mekaar verskil volgens die genade wat God aan elkeen van ons gegee het… As God aan jou die gawe gegee het… om ander op te beur, dóén dit dan inderdaad…’
Jy hoef nie talentvol te wees of ‘n hoë IK te hê om hierdie gawe te demonstreer nie. Jy ontmoet elke dag mense wat bemoediging nodig het. Hulle mag dit dalk nie op die oppervlak wys nie, maar hulle sukkel om kop bo water te hou. Sommige van hulle is op die punt van wanhoop en jou woorde kan hulle opbeur. Selfs ‘n glimlag kan dit doen.
Job het gesê: ‘Wanneer hulle moedeloos was, het ek hulle met ‘n glimlag bemoedig. Wanneer ek met goedkeuring na hulle kyk, was dit vir hulle kosbaar’ (Job 29:24 NLV). Salomo het gesê: ‘Bekommernis rem ‘n mens af; bemoedigende woorde maak hom bly’ (Spreuke 12:25 NLV).
Moenie aanneem dat mense wat status en sukses het, nie bemoediging nodig het nie. Dawid was ‘n skrywer wie se psalms reg rondom die wêreld gelees is. Hy was Israel se populêrste koning. Hy het egter dae gehad wat hy so laag gevoel het dat dit vir hom gevoel het of hy moes opreik net om aan die bodem te raak: ‘Ek is op die punt van ineenstorting, ek beleef voortdurend pyn’ (Psalm 38:18 NLV).
Dis nie net gemiddelde mense wat bemoediging nodig het nie – mense wat topverkoper boeke skryf en konings het dit ook nodig. Almal het dit nodig. Dis goed, want wanneer jy die gawe van bemoediging het, sal jy nooit sonder ‘n werk sit nie. Wees dus vandag sensitief vir God se leiding en wanneer Hy jou aanpor om iemand te bemoedig – doen dit!
Sielskos: Mal 1-2; Matt 2:9-15; Ps 139:1-12; Spr 31:25-27
2020-12-27
Matthew 22:39 NLT
We know we’re supposed to love others, but we might struggle to love ourselves, especially if there are mistakes and things in our past that we’re not proud of. But we should try to love ourselves, because we can only give love to others from the source of our own self-esteem. When God saves us, He positions us ‘in Christ’. From that moment on, He views us as being righteous. Not because of our ‘own righteousness…but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God’ (Philippians 3:9 NKJV).
For some of us, when we were growing up, our parents might have given the impression that if we were good enough, they would love and accept us. As a result, we might think God feels the same way. But He doesn’t. We could never be good enough to earn God’s love, so instead He clothes us in Christ’s righteousness and says, ‘I love you unconditionally in spite of all your faults.’ Now we have a true basis for loving ourselves. If God loves us, then we are worthy of loving. That means we can love ourselves.
If we wrestle with insecurity, guilt, self-doubt, and self-loathing, eventually it will manifest itself in our relationships. But God’s love gives us a mental image of ourselves that enables and empowers us to give and receive love from others. The truth is, if you had been the only sinner who ever lived, Christ would have died for you. And when we accept and cling on to that truth, we’ll start to love ourselves and reach out towards our God-given potential.
Ps 103:8-18; John 3:16-18; Acts 2:38-41
Matthew 22:39 NLT
When God saves you, He positions you “in Christ.” From that moment on, He views you as being righteous. Not because of your “own righteousness…but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God” (Philippians 3:9 NKJV).
When you are growing up, your parents may have given you the impression that if you were good enough they would love and accept you. As a result, you think God feels the same way about you. But He doesn’t. In truth, you could never be good enough to earn God’s love; that’s why He clothes you in Christ’s righteousness and says, “I love you unconditionally in spite of all your faults.” Now you have a true basis for loving yourself!
Think: If God loves you then you are worthy of loving, right? That means you can love yourself! And in fact, you must, because you can only give love to others from the wellspring of your own self-esteem. If you wrestle with insecurity, guilt, self-doubt, and self-loathing, eventually it will manifest itself in your relationships.
Swiss Psychologist Paul Tournier said: “If a person will love God the way he ought to…he will then love others the way he ought to…and when he loves God and others the way they ought to be loved, he will never need a psychiatrist.” God’s love gives you a mental image of yourself that enables and empowers you to give and receive love from others. The truth is, if you had been the only sinner who ever lived, Christ would have died for you. And when that truly dawns on you, you’ll start to love yourself and develop into the fullness of your God-given potential.
Soul food: Ps 103:8-18; John 3:16-18; Acts 2:38-41
Matteus 22:39 NLV
Wanneer God jou red, posisioneer Hy jou ‘in Christus.’ Van daardie oomblik af, sien Hy jou as geregtig. Jy is ‘…. vrygespreek, nie omdat [jy] die wet onderhou nie, maar omdat [jy] in Christus glo. Dit is die vryspraak wat God gee omdat ‘n mens in Hom glo’ (Filippense 3:9 AFR83).
Toe jy groot geword het, mag jou ouers jou dalk die indruk gegee het dat as jy goed genoeg was, hulle vir jou sou lief wees en jou sou aanvaar. Gevolglik dink jy dat God dieselfde oor jou voel. Hy doen egter nie. Jy kan inderwaarheid nooit goed genoeg wees om God se liefde te verdien nie, daarom klee Hy jou in Christus se geregtigheid en sê: ‘Ek is onvoorwaardelik lief vir jou, ten spyte van al jou foute.’
As God lief is vir jou, dan is jy waardig om liefgehê te word, nie waar nie? Dit beteken dat jy jouself kan liefhê! As jy met onsekerheid, skuldgevoelens, selftwyfel en selfweersin stoei, sal dit uiteindelik in jou verhoudings manifesteer.
Die Switserse sielkundige Paul Tournier het gesê: ‘As ‘n persoon vir God lief is soos hy veronderstel is om te wees, sal hy ander mense liefhê soos hy veronderstel is om te doen. En wanneer hy vir God en ander mense lief is soos hy veronderstel is om te wees, sal hy nooit ‘n sielkundige nodig hê nie.’
God se liefde gee vir jou ‘n geestelike beeld van jouself wat jou in staat stel en bekragtig om liefde te gee en liefde van ander mense te ontvang. Die waarheid is dat Christus steeds vir jou sou gesterf het, selfs al was jy die die enigste sondaar wat ooit gelewe het. Wanneer jy dit waarlik besef, sal jy begin om vir jouself lief te wees en begin om die volheid van jou Godgegewe potensiaal, te ontwikkel.
Sielskos: Ps 103:8-18; Joh 3:16-18; Hand 2:38-41
