2021-03-28
Jakobus 1:22 NLV
Jakobus skryf: ‘Doen wat God vir jou sê. Daar wag ‘n groot verrassing op jou as jy maar net daarna sit en luister en niks daaraan doen nie… Iemand wat net na God se woord luister sonder om te doen wat dit vra, is soos ‘n man wat na homself in ‘n spieël kyk. Hy sien daar hoe deurmekaar sy hare is. Hy draai dan om en stap weg sonder om sy hare te kam, omdat hy dadelik vergeet hoe deurmekaar sy hare is.
Hoe anders is dit nie met iemand wat moeite doen om alles van God se wil te leer nie… Iemand wat so ernstig in God se wil belangstel en dit wat hy daar hoor ook gaan doen, het die ware geluk en sin van die lewe ontdek’ (verse 22-25 DB). Hoekom is hierdie Skrifgedeelte betekenisvol? Omdat daar ‘n verskil is hoe mans en vrouens ‘n spieël gebruik.
Mans kyk oor die algemeen net gou in die spieël om die basiese gedoen te kry; terwyl vrouens oor die algemeen meer besorg is oor hoe hulle lyk en dikwels ‘n spieël in hulle handsakke dra om deur die dag seker te maak hulle voorkoms lyk nog versorg. Dit gaan egter nie oor die verskil hoe mans en vrouens spieëls gebruik nie. Nee, dit gaan daaroor dat jy nie ‘n paar gejaagde oomblikke met die Skrif moet deurbring voor jy by die deur uithardloop om jou dag te begin nie, maar dat jy oor die Skrif moet mediteer totdat dit jou gedagtes vernuwe en jou karakter na Jesus se beeld omvorm.
Soos jy die Skrif lees, hou die Heilige Gees ‘n spieël voor jou op sodat jy die nodige aanpassings kan maak. Om in God se seën te wandel, moet jy sorg vir die ‘doen,’ en Hy sal sorg vir die ‘seën.’
Sielskos: Ps 118:19-29; Matt 21:1-16
James 1:22 NIV
James writes: “Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has…gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law…and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does” (vv. 22-25 NAS).
In this Scripture the word man comes from the Greek word for male. Why is that significant? Because there’s a difference in how men and women use a mirror. Men generally glance in it just long enough to get the basics done; whereas, women are usually so intent on knowing how they look that they carry a mirror in their purse and check their looks regularly throughout the day.
But don’t miss the point. It’s not about the difference in how men and women utilize mirrors. No, it’s about the difference between spending a few hurried moments in the Scripture before rushing out into your day, instead of meditating on it until it renews your mind and shapes your character into the likeness of Jesus.
As you read the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit holds a mirror up in front of you so that you can make whatever adjustments are necessary. Note the words, “Whoever looks intently…and continues in it…will be blessed” (v. 25 NIV). It’s a two-way street. To walk in God’s blessing, you need to take care of the “doing,” and He will take care of the “blessing.”
Soul food: Ps 118:19-29; Matt 21:1-16
2021-03-27
Job 22:21 NIV
We are all so connected these days. Anything that can cause us stress is probably in our pocket. Our phones are filled with emails reminding us of work to do, impossible standards to compare our lives to via constant updates on social media, bank apps that won’t let us forget about our money situation. It becomes virtually impossible for us to shut down when our whole world is always powered up in our palm.
The good news? God has a solution. He is the solution. Jesus often disconnected from the world around Him, and went away by Himself to spend time with His Father. John 5:16 tells us that ‘Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed’ (NIV). Have a read of Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:3, Mark 6:46, and Luke 6:12, too.
We know that in our hyper-connected society, and the constant noise that we surround ourselves with, the idea of disconnecting really can feel lonely. We can become more in tune to the world around us than we are to God’s ‘still, small voice’ that’s been trying to get our attention (1 Kings 19:12 NIV).
Silence becomes scary when our default is constant information. We’re intimidated by the idea of being left alone with our own thoughts. But with God, we’re never alone. He’s waiting in the stillness and silence for us to give Him enough space to become the only thing on our minds. Those moments, when it’s just us and God, are when our spirit comes to rest and we can find true, Heavenly peace.
Exo 12:1-14; Matt 26:17-29; 1 Cor 11:20-34; Ps 49
Job 22:21 NIV
Today we don’t just have regular stress, we’ve got cyber stress. Emails multiply like rabbits. Turn your cell phone off for even a couple of hours, and when you turn it back on, it has gained ten pounds from the influx of recent voice mails. Then we have hyper stress. Go to the grocery store and see how much small talk you get from the cashier whose speed and efficiency is being tracked by computer as he or she electronically scans your groceries, calls out your total, and digitally sweeps you out the door.
In a five-year study of three thousand salaried and hourly employees, 88 percent said they work “very hard.” Sixty-eight percent said they worked “very fast.” Sixty percent said they “still don’t get all their work done.” And 71 percent said they felt “used up.” Even ministers aren’t immune. Almost half eventually resign, and when asked why, 80 percent cited the negative effect of pastoral ministry on their family lives.
So what’s the solution to our stress? Peace! And where can you find peace? The Bible tells us, “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.”
Here’s how it works: When you know that God loves and accepts you unconditionally, it sets you free to do the same for yourself. As a result, you’re no longer driven by a need for acceptance, acquisition, and achievement. Yes, when you live by the principles clearly laid down in the Bible, you can have peace and prosperity!
Soul food: Exo 12:1-14; Matt 26:17-29; 1 Cor 11:20-34; Ps 49
Job 22:21 NLV
Vandag het ons nie net gewone stres nie, ons het kuberstres. E-posse vermeerder soos hase. As jy jou selfoon net vir ‘n paar ure afskakel, weeg dit sommer vyf kilogram swaarder wanneer jy dit weer aansit as gevolg van al die boodskappe wat ingekom het. Dan het ons hiperstres. Gaan na die kruidenierswinkel toe en sien hoeveel geselsies die kassier, wie se spoed en effektiwiteit deur ‘n rekenaar gemeet word soos hy of sy jou kruideniersware elektronies skandeer en jou totale bedrag uitroep, met jou wil maak.
In ‘n vyf-jaar studie, het 88 persent van drieduisend salaristrekkers gesê dat hulle ‘baie hard’ werk. Agt-en-sestig persent het gesê dat hulle ‘baie vinnig’ werk. Sestig persent het gesê dat hulle ‘nie al die werk klaarkry nie.’ Een-en-sewentig persent het gesê dat hulle ‘opgebruik’ voel.
Selfs pastore is nie immuun daarteen nie. Amper die helfte van hulle bedank uiteindelik en 80 persent van hulle gee die effek van pastorale bediening op hulle familielewe, as die rede daarvoor.
Wat is dus die oplossing vir ons stres? Vrede! Waar kan jy vrede kry? Die Bybel sê vir ons: ‘Onderwerp jou aan God, dan sal jy vrede hê en sal alles met jou goed gaan.’ Hier is hoe dit werk: Wanneer jy weet dat God lief is vir jou en jou onvoorwaardelik aanvaar, stel dit jou vry om dieselfde vir jouself te doen. Gevolglik word jy nie meer deur ‘n behoefte aan aanvaarding, verkryging en prestasie gedryf nie. Ja, wanneer jy volgens die beginsels wat duidelik in die Bybel uiteengesit is lewe, kan jy vrede en voorspoed hê!
Sielskos: Eks 12:1-14; Matt 26:17-29; 1 Kor 11:20-34; Ps 49
