2021-07-03
Matteus 7:25 NLV
Het jy geweet dat voordat dit begin sneeu, trek sekere sipresse hulle takke in om sodoende die gewig van die sneeu wat hulle gaan moet dra, te verminder? Hierdie reaksie is in hulle takke geprogrammeer. God het hierdie bome in staat gestel om die probleem te verwag voordat dit plaasvind en sodoende die risiko om takke in die sneeustorm te breek, te verminder.
Jy moet dieselfde in jou huwelik doen. Jy kan nie probleme en krisisse vermy nie, maar jy kan jouself daarvoor voorberei. Die meeste oorsake van stres in ons families is algemeen en kan dus voorspel word.
Die Christelike sielkundige, dr James Dobson, skryf: ‘Een van my goeie vriende het baie tyd saam met sy vrou deurgebring om hulleself voor te berei vir die dag wanneer hulle kinders die huis sou verlaat. Hulle het dikwels oor die leë nes gepraat en het die maniere waarmee hulle vriende dit hanteer het, bespreek. Hulle het boeke oor daardie lewensfase gelees en dit wat hulle geleer het, op hulleself toegepas. Gevolglik was hulle oorgang na die leë nes sonder probleme. In elke huwelik sal daar ‘n bietjie sneeu val. Sneeustorms sal woed en stormwinde sal loei. As jy egter moeite doen om hierdie tye te verwag, sal dit jou en jou maat help om onder die gewig van die winterstorm staande te bly.’
Hier is drie dinge wat jy kan doen om gereed te wees: 1) Deel doelwitte buite ouerskap met mekaar waartoe beide van julle verbind is. 2) Deel julle gevoelens en behoeftes met mekaar. 3) Bid daagliks saam. Het jy geweet dat 90 persent van alle Christelike paartjies nie saam bid nie? Maak dit ‘n doelwit om deel van die 10 persent wat saam met mekaar bid, te wees.
Sielskos: Jer 36:27-40:16; Luk 4:31-44; Ps 102:12-17; Spr 15:3
Matthew 7:25 NCV
Before it snows, there are some types of fir tree that retract their branches so the weight of snow they’ll have to bear will be reduced. This response is programmed into their branches. God has enabled these trees to anticipate the problem before it occurs so they can reduce the risk of breaking in a storm. We need to do the same thing in our lives. We can’t always avoid problems and crises, and there’ll be some that really do take us completely by surprise, but there are still things we can do to prepare for their arrival:
1) Get into God’s Word. When Jesus was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, He defeated him using Scripture. He didn’t have to search for something that spoke into His situation; He had memorised God’s Word so He could use it immediately when the devil attacked. That doesn’t mean we need to memorise the entire Bible, but by reading it every day, becoming more familiar with God’s Word, and learning a few verses that remind us to trust Him, we can equip ourselves to stand strong as soon as a problem arises.
2) Spend time with God every day. When we set aside a regular time to pray and talk to God, we keep Him involved in our daily lives and everything that’s going on, so we can constantly get His wisdom and guidance on our situation and learn His will. Following His will may not always be easy, and doesn’t mean we’ll avoid all problems, but we can have confidence that we’re taking the best course of action. It also gives us time to be refreshed and strengthened by Him, so we’re better prepared when trouble comes.
Jer 36:27-40:16; Luke 4:31-44; Ps 102:12-17; Prov 15:3
2021-07-02
Johannes 15:4 NLV
‘n Loot dra nie vrugte deur te probeer, te werk of homself in te span nie. Die loot dra vrugte deur eenvoudig ‘verbonde’ te bly. Wat beteken dit? Hoe bly jy aan Jesus verbonde?
Kom ons illustreer dit as volg: Wanneer jy ‘n teesakkie in ‘n koppie kookwater sit, gebeur daar iets. Hoe langer die teesakkie in die water bly, hoe sterker en geuriger word die tee. Dit is wat gebeur wanneer jy aan Christus en Hy aan jou, verbonde bly. Hoe langer jy aan Hom verbonde bly en hoe dieper jou band met Hom word, hoe meer sal sy teenwoordigheid jou lewe deurdring.
Die loot produseer nie die vrugte nie; dit dra die vrugte. Dis die druiwestok wat die vrugte produseer. Jesus het gesê: ‘Ek is die druiwestok, julle is die lote. Wie aan My verbonde bly en Ek aan hulle, dra baie vrugte, want sonder My kan julle niks doen nie’ (vers 5 NLV). Sonder die druiwestok, is die sterkste loot net so weerloos soos die swakste loot. Wat moet jy dus doen om aan Christus verbonde te by?
1) Bestudeer sy Woord. ‘As julle in My verbind bly en my woorde ‘n stewige vastrapplek in julle gekry het…’ (vers 7 NLV). Soos jy God se Woord bestudeer, word jy deur sy Gees verander.
2) Wees gehoorsaam aan sy wil. ‘As julle my opdragte gehoorsaam, sal julle aan my liefde verbonde bly…’ (vers 10 NLV). Hoe nader jy aan God beweeg, hoe meer sal jy wil doen wat Hy sê. Wanneer jy dan doen wat Hy sê, sal jy begin om in sy seën te wandel.
Sielskos: Jer 33:1-36:26; Luk 4:14-30; Ps 102:1-11; Spr 14:35-15:2
John 15:4 NKJV
A branch doesn’t bear fruit by trying, working, or straining. It bears fruit by simply “abiding.” What does this mean? How do you abide in Jesus?
Let’s illustrate it this way: When you put a tea bag in a cup of hot water, something happens. As the tea bag abides in the water, the tea begins to flavour the water until it takes on the taste of the tea bag. And the longer the tea bag abides in the water, the stronger the color and flavour of the tea.
That’s what happens when you abide in Christ and He abides in you. The longer you abide in Him and the deeper you go with Him, the more His presence will begin to permeate your life. The branch doesn’t produce the fruit; it bears the fruit. It’s the vine that produces the fruit.
And Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (v. 5 NKJV). Without the vine, the strongest branch is as defenseless as the weakest branch. So what does it mean to abide in Christ?
(1) Studying His Word. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you” (v. 7 NKJV). As you study God’s Word, you are changed by His Spirit.
(2) Obeying His will. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love” (v. 10 NKJV). The closer you get to God, the more you’ll want to do what He says. And when you do what He says, you’ll begin to walk in His blessing.
Soul food: Jer 33:1-36:26; Luke 4:14-30; Ps 102:1-11; Prov 14:35-15:2
John 15:4 NKJV
A branch doesn’t bear fruit by trying, working, or straining. It bears fruit by simply ‘abiding’. But what does this mean? How do we abide in Jesus? Let’s illustrate it this way: when you put a tea bag in a cup of hot water, something happens. As the tea bag abides in the water, the tea begins to flavour the water until it takes on the taste of the tea. And the longer the tea bag abides in the water, the stronger the colour and flavour of the tea.
That’s what happens when you abide in Christ and He abides in you. The longer you abide in Him and the deeper you go with Him, the more His presence will begin to permeate your life. The branch doesn’t make the fruit; it bears the fruit. It’s the vine that produces the fruit. And Jesus said, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing’ (v.5 NKJV). Without the vine, the strongest branch is as defenceless as the weakest branch.
So what does it mean to abide in Christ? 1) Studying His Word. ‘If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you’ (v.7 NKJV). As you study God’s Word, His Spirit changes you. 2) Obeying His will. ‘If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love’ (v.10 NKJV). The closer you get to God, the more you’ll want to do what He says. And when you follow His guidance, you’ll see what amazing things He can do in your life.
Jer 33:1-36:26; Luke 4:14-30; Ps 102:1-11; Prov 14:35-15:2
