2021-12-28
1 Corinthians 6:12 MSG
Paul said, “Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean…it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.” If you’re serious about spiritual growth, look for opportunities to say no to yourself in small areas. Then one day you will be able to say it when it really counts.
Daniel started by saying no to eating the king’s food, and later was able to say no to bowing to the king’s idols. Zero in on the undisciplined areas of your life; the ones you keep excusing, rationalizing, and delaying dealing with. Paul measured his actions by this yardstick: “Is it beneficial? Does it have the potential to control me?” (See 1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV).
You have a “right” to eat a tub of ice cream every night. It’s permissible – but it’s not “beneficial,” especially if you want unblocked arteries, a trim waistline, the ability to run a marathon, or to just keep up with your kids and grandkids. You have a “right” to spend your money as you please, but don’t complain when you end up strangled by debt. You have a “right” to look at whatever you want on TV or the internet, but exposure to wrong influences will inevitably weaken your character, rob you of self-respect, and enslave you.
Bottom line: Your character is the sum total of the choices you make each day. And one more thought: When it comes to replacing bad habits with good ones, the only person who can make that happen is you!
Soul food: 1 Cor 10-11; Matt 2:9-15; Ps 139:1-12; Prov 31:25-27
1 Corinthians 6:12 MSG
Paul said, ‘Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean…it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.’ If we’re serious about spiritual growth, we need to look for opportunities to say no to our wants in small areas. Then one day we’ll be able to say no when it really counts. Daniel started by saying no to eating the king’s food, and later was able to say no to bowing to the king’s idols.
We need to focus in on the undisciplined areas of our lives; the ones we keep excusing, rationalising, and putting off dealing with. Paul measured his actions by this standard: ‘Is it beneficial? Does it have the potential to control me?’ (see 1 Corinthians 6:12). We have a ‘right’ to eat a tub of ice cream every night. It’s permissible – but it’s not ‘beneficial’, especially if we want to try to eat more healthily. We have a ‘right’ to spend our money as we please, but bad management of our money and buying things we can’t really afford leads to problems. We have a ‘right’ to look at whatever we want on TV or the internet, but exposure to wrong influences will inevitably weaken our characters, steal our self-respect, and trap us.
Our character is the sum total of the choices we make each day. Every single decision matters and influences our character in some way, so let’s try to make good choices. So if you want to start replacing bad habits with good ones, you should ask God for help and guidance – but the only person who can make it happen is you.
1 Cor 10-11; Matt 2:9-15; Ps 139:1-12; Prov 31:25-27
2021-12-27
Isaiah 43:25 NLT
God says in His Word: ‘I – yes, I alone – will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of the again. Let us review the situation together, and you can present your case to prove your innocence’ (v.25-26 NLT). Today, if you’re condemning yourself because you think your sins are too big to deserve God’s grace, go back and reread those Scriptures carefully. God said He would forgive our sins for His own sake. What we need to do is ‘present [our] case to prove [our] innocence.’ Why do we have such a hard time accepting God’s forgiveness? Here are some possible answers:
1) Because in some cases we feel like we’re reaping what we have sown.
2) Because we have condemned someone else for doing the very thing we ourselves did.
3) Because we think God likes to keep us twisting in the wind for a while so we will think twice before committing the same sin again.
4) Because growing up, when we disobeyed our parents, they took away certain privileges until we had proven ourselves.
5) Because we think we have to be ‘worthy’ of God’s mercy. But when we refuse to forgive ourselves, we’re implying that our mistakes are beyond the scope of God’s grace. And that’s a bigger sin – pride!
And here’s another thought. When we always have ‘issues’ with other people, it may be that we’re looking for someone to offend us, so we can point to how bad the other person is and feel better about ourselves. When we adopt a humble attitude and work on forgiving ourselves because we know God has forgiven us, it’ll be much easier to forgive other people’s mistakes.
1 Cor 7-9; Matt 2:1-8; Ps 97; Prov 31:22-24
Isaiah 43:25 NKJV
God says in His Word: “I…am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted” (vv. 25-26 NKJV). Today if you’re condemning yourself because you think your sins are too big to merit God’s grace, go back and reread those Scriptures carefully. Why did God say He would forgive your sins? “For My own sake.” So what should you do? “State your case, that you may be acquitted.” Why do we have such a hard time accepting God’s forgiveness?
(1) Because in some cases we feel like we’re reaping what we have sown.
(2) Because we have condemned someone else for doing the very thing we ourselves did.
(3) Because we think God likes to keep us twisting in the wind for a while so we will think twice before committing the same sin again.
(4) Because growing up, when we disobeyed our parents, they took away certain privileges until we had proven ourselves.
(5) Because we think we have to be “worthy” of God’s mercy.
But when you refuse to forgive yourself, you’re implying that your transgressions are beyond the scope of God’s grace. And that’s a bigger sin – pride!
And here is another thought. When you always have “issues” with other people, you may be looking for someone to offend you. That way, you can point to how bad the other person is and feel better about yourself. When you adopt a humble attitude and work on forgiving yourself because you know God has exonerated you, it’s easier to forgive other people’s mistakes.
Soul food: 1 Cor 7-9; Matt 2:1-8; Ps 97; Prov 31:22-24
Jesaja 43:25 NLV
God sê in sy Woord: ‘Ek, ja, Ek alleen, is die Een wat julle sondes uitwis. Ek doen dit ter wille van Myself en dink nie weer daaraan nie. Dink saam met My oor die verlede. Laat ons hierdie saak uitpraat. Stel julle saak en regverdig julleself’ (verse 25-26 NLV). Indien jy vandag jouself veroordeel omdat jy dink dat jou sondes te groot is om God se genade te verdien, gaan terug en lees hierdie Skrifgedeeltes weer aandagtig deur. Hoekom het God gesê Hy sal jou sondes vergewe? ‘…ter wille van Myself…’ Wat moet jy dus doen? ‘…Stel julle saak en regverdig julleself.’ Hoekom vind ons dit so moeilik om God se vergifnis te aanvaar?
1) Omdat ons in sekere gevalle voel dat ons maai wat ons gesaai het.
2) Omdat ons al iemand anders vir presies dieselfde ding wat ons self gedoen het, veroordeel het.
3) Omdat ons dink dat God daarvan hou om ons aan ‘n lyntjie te hou, sodat ons twee keer sal dink voor ons weer dieselfde sonde pleeg.
4) Omdat ons ouers, toe ons ongehoorsaam was, sekere voorregte weggeneem het totdat ons onsself weer bewys het.
5) Omdat ons dink dat ons God se genade moet verdien.
Wanneer jy egter weier om jouself te vergewe, gee jy te kenne dat jou oortredings buite die bestek van God se genade val. Trots is ‘n groot sonde! Hier is nog ‘n gedagte. Wanneer jy altyd ‘n probleem met ander mense het, mag jy dalk iemand soek wat jou aanstoot kan gee. Op hierdie manier kan jy uitwys hoe sleg die ander persoon is en beter oor jouself voel. Wanneer jy egter ‘n nederige houding inneem en daaraan werk om jouself te vergewe omdat God jou vrygespreek het, is dit makliker om ander mense se foute te vergewe.
Sielskos: 1 Kor 7-9; Matt 2:1-8; Ps 97; Spr 31:22-24
