2022-02-25
Romeine 12:19 NLV
Lank nadat jy gedink het jy het iemand vergewe, mag jy steeds harde gevoelens koester. Jy dink en praat byvoorbeeld die heeltyd oor die insident. Jy neem elke geleentheid waar om hulle aan dit wat hulle gedoen het, te herinner. Jy is dan besig om ‘n onvergewensgesinde houding te regverdig! Daar is twee dinge wat God nie sal deel nie.
1) Die eer en lof wat Hom toekom. ‘…My eer deel Ek met niemand anders nie. Die lof wat My toekom, deel Ek nie met afgode nie’ (Jesaja 42:8 NLV).
2) Die reg om te vergeld. Paulus skryf: ‘Geliefdes, julle moet julleself nie wreek nie. Laat die straf aan God oor. Daar staan mos in die Skrif: ‘Dit is mý reg om te straf; Ek sal vergeld, sê die Here.’ Doen eerder wat die Skrif sê: ‘As jou vyande honger is, gee aan hulle iets om te eet. As hulle dors is, les hulle dors. Deur dit te doen, sal julle hulle bloedrooi van skaamte maak.’ Moenie toelaat dat die slegte julle onderkry nie, maar deur goed te doen moet julle die slegte hokslaan’ (Romeine 12:19-21 NLV).
Vergewe dus, gee die situasie aan God oor en vertrou Hom om dit uit te werk. ‘Toe [Jesus] beledig is, het Hy nie terugbeledig nie…Hy het alles oorgelaat aan God wat altyd regverdig oordeel’ (1 Petrus 2:23 NLV). Wrokkigheid ketting jou aan die oortreder vas en jy eindig as ‘n gyselaar op. As jy aanhou dink aan iets wat jou ouers of eggenoot gedoen het, of hoe ‘n kollega krediet vir jou werk geneem het, of dit wat iemand dalk oor jou gesê het, laat dit jou – nie hulle nie – ellendig voel. Moenie enigiemand daardie tipe beheer oor jou lewe gee nie. Vergewe – en beweeg dan aan!
Sielskos: Eks 1-3; Luk 11:45-54; Ps 53; Spr 6:9-11
Romans 12:19 NLT
Long after you think you have forgiven someone, you can still be harboring hard feelings. Some indicators that you still have work to do are these: You keep thinking about the person who hurt you and become resentful. You avoid them. You rehearse the incident mentally and in conversation. You take every opportunity to remind them of what they did. Do you know what you’re doing? Justifying an unforgiving attitude!
There are two things God won’t share. (1) The praise that’s due Him. “I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise” (Isaiah 42:8 NLT). (2) The right to “settle the score.” Paul writes: “Never take revenge…The Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord. Instead, ‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.’ Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good” (Romans 12:19-21 NLT).
So forgive, hand the situation over to God, and trust Him to work it out! When “people insulted Christ…he did not insult them in return…He let God…who judges rightly, take care of him” (1 Peter 2:23 NCV). Resentment chains you to the offender, and you end up as a hostage. Dwelling on something your parents or spouse did, or how an associate took credit for your work, or what someone may or may not have said about you, makes you – not them – miserable. You walk around stewing, and they don’t even know you’re upset. Don’t give anyone that kind of control over your life. Forgive – and move on!
Soul food: Exo 1-3; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 53; Pro 6:9-11
2022-02-24
Jesaja 6:5 NLV
Voor God die profeet Jesaja tot ‘n leierskapsposisie geroep het, het Hy eers sy visie aangepas. Ongekorrigeerde visies lei tot ‘n skewe perspektief, swak oordeel en vermorste inspanning. Israel se konstante rebellie was besig om hulle in gevaar by God te stel en hulle het ‘n leier met ‘n duidelike visie nodig gehad. Dus, die eerste ding wat God gedoen het, was om vir Jesaja ‘n visie van sy glorie en heerlikheid te wys. Sonder hierdie lewensveranderende ontmoeting met God, sou hy nooit sterk genoeg gewees het om sy roeping te voltooi nie.
Dieselfde is op jou van toepassing. Dit waarvoor God jou roep, sal meer as ‘n paar basiese vaardighede verg. Jy sal ‘n visie van sy heerlikheid en onbeperkte krag nodig hê om jou gerus te stel dat Hy meer as voldoende vir die uitdaging is! (Sien Efesiërs 3:20).
Die tweede ding wat God gedoen het, was om Jesaja se visie van homself aan te pas. Wanneer jou begrip van God aangepas is, is jy gereed om jou siening van jouself aan te pas – en nie voor dit nie! Jesaja het uitgeroep: ‘…ek is ‘n sondige mens, tussen ander sondige mense…’ (Jesaja 6:5 NLV). Jesaja het besef dat hy nie beter was as die mense wat hy geroep is om na uit te reik nie. Totdat jy nie jouself realisties, eerlik en nederig in verhouding met God en ander sien nie, sal jou missie nie slaag nie (sien Romeine 12:3).
Die derde ding wat God gedoen het, was om op Jesaja se nederigheid te reageer. ‘n Engel het sy lippe met God se suiwerende vuur aangeraak en gesê: ‘…Nou is jou skuld weg en jou sondes vergewe’ (Jesaja 6:7 NLV). God roep nie perfekte leiers nie. Hy roep nederige, eerlike, vergewensgesinde leiers en kroon hulle pogings met sukses, ongeag die omstandighede.
Sielskos: 1 Tess 1-5; Luk 11:29-44; Ps 40:9-17; Spr 6:6-8
Isaiah 6:5 NIV
Before God called the prophet Isaiah to a position of leadership in the nation, He adjusted his vision. That’s because uncorrected vision can lead to skewed perspective, poor judgment, and wasted effort. Israel’s constant rebellion was putting them at risk and making them vulnerable. They needed a leader with clear vision. So, the first thing God did was give Isaiah a vision of His glory and power. Without it, he couldn’t have done the job. Without this life-changing encounter with God, he would never have been strong enough to complete his mission. And the same applies to us.
Whatever God calls us to do will require more than just a job description and a few basic skills. We’ll also need a vision of His glory and limitless power to reassure us that He’s more than ready for the challenges we’ll face along the way (see Ephesians 3:20).
The second thing God did was adjust Isaiah’s vision of himself. When our God-concept is adjusted, we’re ready for a self-concept adjustment. It has to happen in that order. If we start with step two, we’ll give up before we begin. Isaiah cried, ‘I am not pure, and I live among people who are not pure’ (Isaiah 6:5 NCV). Isaiah realised he was no better than the people he had been called to reach. Until we see ourselves realistically, honestly, and humbly, our God-given mission won’t succeed (see Romans 12:3).
The third thing God did was respond to Isaiah’s humility. An angel touched his lips with God’s purifying fire and said, ‘Your sin is taken away’ (Isaiah 6:7 NCV). God doesn’t call perfect leaders. He calls humble, honest, forgiven leaders, and crowns their efforts with success, regardless of the challenges they face.
1 Thes 1-5; Luke 11:29-44; Ps 40:9-17; Pro 6:6-8
Isaiah 6:5 NIV
Before God called the prophet Isaiah to a position of leadership in the nation, He adjusted his vision. Uncorrected vision leads to skewed perspective, poor judgment, and wasted effort. Israel’s constant rebellion was putting them in jeopardy with God, and they needed a leader with clear vision. So, the first thing God did was give Isaiah a vision of His glory and power. Without it, he could not have done the job. Without this life-changing encounter with God, he would never have been strong enough to complete his mission.
And the same applies to you. Whatever God calls you to do will require more than a job description and some basic skills. You will need a vision of His glory and limitless power to reassure you He is more than adequate for the challenge! (See Ephesians 3:20.)
The second thing God did was adjust Isaiah’s vision of himself. Once your God-concept is adjusted, you’re ready for a self-concept adjustment – and not before! If you start with step two, you will quit before you begin. Isaiah cried, “I am not pure, and I live among people who are not pure” (Isaiah 6:5 NCV). Isaiah realized he was no better than the people he had been called to reach.
Until you see yourself realistically, honestly, and humbly in relation to God and others, your mission won’t succeed. (See Romans 12:3.) The third thing God did was respond to Isaiah’s humility. An angel touched his lips with God’s purifying fire and said, “Your sin is taken away” (Isa 6:7 NCV).
God doesn’t call perfect leaders. He calls humble, honest, forgiven leaders, and crowns their efforts with success, regardless of the odds.
Soul food: 1 Thes 1-5; Luke 11:29-44; Ps 40:9-17; Pro 6:6-8
