2022-02-20
Ephesians 6:6 NIV
The word “slave” has a negative connotation, but not in this Scripture. Knowing how pressures and people distract us from our God-given purpose, Paul uses the strongest possible language to remind us that we’re supposed to be “enslaved” to doing God’s will.
Jesus loved people so much that one day He would die to redeem them, but that didn’t stop Him from saying no when He needed to. Pleasing and appeasing people to win their approval is never a good idea because it puts someone other than God in the driver’s seat of your life. Instead of letting Himself be sidetracked, (1) Jesus refused to let other people’s idea of what was important keep Him from His mission, (2) Jesus recognized that doing God’s will was more important than trying to meet everybody else’s expectations, and (3) Jesus made prayer and uninterrupted time with His Father a top priority.
Was that easy? No, and it won’t be easy for you either! Early in His ministry when word spread about His miracles, a “whole town gathered…and Jesus healed many” (Mark 1:33-34 NIV). The next morning another crowd was waiting on His doorstep! And how Jesus responded this time might surprise you. “While it was still dark, Jesus…left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’ Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else…so I can preach there also. That is why I have come'” (vv. 35-38 NIV).
Jesus was enslaved to doing God’s will, and you must be too.
Soul food: Ps 23; John 10:7-18
Efesiërs 6:6 NLV
Die woord ‘slaaf’ het normaalweg ‘n negatiewe konnotasie, maar nie in hierdie Skrifgedeelte nie. Paulus gebruik die sterkste moontlike taal om ons te herinner dat ons veronderstel is om daaraan ‘verslaaf’ te wees om God se wil te doen. Jesus het mense so lief gehad dat Hy sou sterf om hulle te verlos, maar dit het Hom nie gekeer om nee te sê wanneer dit nodig was nie.
In plaas daarvan dat dit sy aandag afgelei het, het: 1) Jesus geweier dat ander mense se idee van wat belangrik is Hom van sy doelwit weerhou, 2) Jesus besef dat om God se wil te doen belangriker was as om aan almal anders se verwagtinge te voldoen, en 3) Jesus gebed en ononderbroke tyd met sy Vader sy hoogste prioriteit gemaak.
Was dit maklik? Nee, en dit sal ook nie vir jou maklik wees nie! Vroeg in sy bediening, toe gerugte van sy wonderwerke begin versprei het, het: ‘Die hele Kapernaum… by die deur saamgedrom om alles te sien. Jesus het baie siekes… gesond gemaak…’ (Markus 1:33-34 NLV). Die volgende oggend het daar nog ‘n skare op sy drumpel gewag!
Hoe Jesus hierdie keer daarop gereageer het, mag jou dalk verbaas. “Nog voor dagbreek die volgende oggend het Jesus opgestaan en alleen op ‘n stil plek gaan bid. Later het Simon en sy makkers agter Hom aangegaan en toe hulle Hom kry, sê hulle vir Hom: ‘Almal vra na U.’ Jesus het egter geantwoord: ‘Ons moet ook nog verder gaan na die omliggende dorpe sodat Ek ook daar kan preek. Dit is immers waarvoor Ek gekom het'” (verse 35-38 NLV). Jesus was verslaaf daaraan om God se wil te doen, en jy moet ook wees.
Sielskos: Ps 23; Joh 10:7-18
2022-02-19
Jeremiah 29:12 CEV
Because they disobeyed God, the Jews spent seventy years as slaves in Babylon. They lost their joy, their freedom, and their identity; all the things that make life worth living. But that wasn’t the end of their story. God hadn’t finished with them. He told them this: ‘After…seventy years, I will be kind and bring you back to Jerusalem, just as I have promised. I will bless you with a future filled with hope – a future of success, not of suffering. You will turn back to me…ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you and accept your worship….You feel secure’ (v.10-15 CEV).
Maybe you’ve veered off course somewhere in your journey with God. We all have at some time. But when we read biblical accounts of the people God blessed and used, we’ll discover that failing isn’t unusual. Often, it’s part of the learning curve. The fact is, there is nothing in our past or present that God can’t use.
When we come into this world, none of us knows exactly what we’re supposed to do with our lives. And that’s okay. Just start where you are right now. When God puts your life back on track, He starts by giving you a sense of hope, because only God-given hope will sustain you through the rough times.
If you’re wondering whether you will ever get to where you’re supposed to be in life, go back and reread what God promised His people: ‘A future filled with hope’ (v.11 CEV). And the God who gave Israel another chance will give you one, too, when you turn to Him.
Isa 49-52; Luke 10:25-37; Ps 33:1-12; Pro 5:7-14
Jeremiah 29:12 CEV
Because they disobeyed God, the Jews spent seventy years as slaves in Babylon. They lost their joy, their freedom, and their identity; all the things that make life worth living. But God wasn’t through with them. He told them this: “After…seventy years, I will be kind and bring you back to Jerusalem, just as I have promised. I will bless you with a future filled with hope – a future of success, not of suffering. You will turn back to me…ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you and accept your worship….You feel secure” (vv. 10-15 CEV).
Maybe you have veered off course. We all have at one time or another. But when you read biblical accounts of the people God blessed and used, you discover that failing isn’t unusual. Often, it’s part of the learning curve. The fact is, there is nothing in your past or present that God can’t use.
When we come into this world, none of us knows exactly what we’re supposed to do with our lives. And that’s okay. Just start where you are right now. When God puts your life back on track, He starts by giving you a sense of hope, because only God-given hope will sustain you through the rough times. If you’re wondering whether you will ever get to where you’re supposed to be in life, go back and reread what God promised His people: “A future filled with hope” (v. 11 CEV). And the God who gave Israel another chance will give you one, too, when you turn to Him.
Soul food: Isa 49-52; Luke 10:25-37; Ps 33:1-12; Pro 5:7-14
Jeremia 29:13 NLV
Omdat hulle ongehoorsaam aan God was, het die Jode sewentig jaar as slawe in Babel deurgebring. Hulle het hulle vreugde, hulle vryheid en hulle identiteit verloor; al die dinge wat die lewe die moeite werd maak. God was egter nie klaar met hulle nie. Hy het vir hulle die volgende gesê: “‘Julle sal 70 jaar lank in Babel wees. Maar… Ek sal julle na julle land toe terugbring. Ek weet wat Ek vir julle beplan het,’ sê die Here. ‘Ek beplan voorspoed vir julle, nie teëspoed nie. Ek wil hê dat julle hoop vir die toekoms moet hê. Julle sal na My roep en kom bid. Ek sal na julle luister. As julle heelhartig na my soek, sal julle My vind'” (verse 10-13 NLV).
Miskien het jy die pad byster geraak. Wanneer jy egter die Bybelse weergawes van die mense wat God geseën en gebruik het lees, sal jy ontdek dat mislukking nie ongewoon is nie. Die feit is dat daar niks in jou verlede of huidige omstandighede is wat God nie kan gebruik nie. Wanneer ons in hierdie wêreld kom, weet niemand van ons presies wat ons veronderstel is om met ons lewe te doen nie. Jy kan egter begin op die plek waar jy tans is.
Wanneer God jou lewe weer op die regte pad bring, begin Hy deur jou ‘n sin van hoop te gee, want net Godgegewe hoop sal jou deur die rowwe tye staande hou. Indien jy wonder of jy ooit by die plek waar jy veronderstel is om te wees gaan uitkom, gaan terug en lees weer wat God vir sy mense beloof het: ‘…hoop vir die toekoms…’ (vers 11 NLV). Die God wat vir Israel nog ‘n kans gegee het, sal dieselfde vir jou doen wanneer jy na Hom toe draai.
Sielskos: Jes 49-52; Luk 10:25-37; Ps 33:1-12; Spr 5:7-14
