2022-02-15
Matteus 5:13-14 NLV
Weet die mense saam met wie jy werk dat jy ‘n volgeling van Christus is? Wat dink hulle van jou houding teenoor diegene wat in gesag is? Wat van die mense wat onder jou werk – is jy krities of komplimenteer jy hulle? Hoe is jou tydsberekening? Daag jy betyds by die werk op en gee 100 persent? Demonstreer jy ‘n toewyding aan persoonlike groei en uitnemendheid by die werk? Met ander woorde, laat jy Jesus goed lyk by die werk?
Wanneer jy ernstig daaroor begin dink, hang die ewige lotsbestemming van sommige mense saam met wie jy werk dalk van jou optrede af. Op die oomblik mag hulle dalk nie in dit wat jy oor God te sê het, geïnteresseerd wees nie. Dit kan alles egter in ‘n oogwink verander.
Wanneer mense voor ‘n krisis soos die dood, ‘n skeisaak, siekte of werkloosheid te staan kom, soek hulle iemand met werklike antwoorde. Dis dan wanneer hulle die mense wat in die oond en die leeu se kuil gegooi is uitsoek, omdat niemand anders rondom hulle antwoorde het wat werk nie.
Jesus het gesê: ‘Julle is sout wat smaak moet gee aan hierdie smaaklose wêreld waarin almal in sonde leef. As julle dit nie doen nie, beteken julle net mooi niks vir God nie… Julle is ‘n lig vir die donker wêreld rondom julle. Almal moet kan sien dat julle glo. Julle geloof moet net so sigbaar wees soos ‘n stad wat hoog bo-op ‘n berg gebou is… Julle moet soos ‘n lig in hierdie pikdonker wêreld skyn. Ander mense moet uit julle woorde en dade sien dat julle God van harte dien. Dan sal hulle sê dat God regtig ‘n groot en goeie God is. So word julle hemelse Vader se Naam regtig grootgemaak’ (Matteus 5:13-16 DB).
Sielskos: Jes 34-37; Luk 9:46-56; Ps 145:14-21; Spr 4:23-24
Matthew 5:13-14 NKJV
Do the people you work with know that you are a follower of Christ? What do they think of your attitude toward those in authority? How about the people who work under you – are you critical or complimentary toward them? How is your timekeeping? Do you arrive to work on time and give 100 percent? Do you demonstrate a commitment to personal growth and excellence on the job? In other words, on the job, are you making Jesus look good?
When you begin to think seriously about it, the eternal destiny of some of the people you work with may be riding on your performance. Right now, they may not be too interested in what you have to say when it comes to the things of God. But all of that can change in an instant.
When people face a crisis in life like death, divorce, sickness, or unemployment, they want someone with real answers. That’s when they seek out the boys they threw into the fiery furnace and the lions’ den, because nobody else around them has answers that work.
Jesus said: “You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?…Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill…I’ve put you…on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God” (Matthew 5:13-16 MSG).
Soul food: Isa 34-37; Luke 9:46-56; Ps 145:14-21; Pro 4:23-24
2022-02-14
1 Samuel 20:17 NLV
In die hoop om hulle verhouding te red, het ‘n vrou haar man na ‘n berader toe gesleep. Gedurende hulle sessie het die berader vir die man gevra: ‘Sê jy vir jou vrou jy is lief vir haar?’ Die man het gemompel: ‘Ek het vir haar gesê ek is lief vir haar toe ons getrou het – en as dit ooit verander, dat ek haar sal laat weet.’
Mense weet dat jy vir hulle lief is, wanneer jy dit vir hulle wys en wanneer jy dit vir hulle sê. Die verhouding tussen Jonatan en Dawid was so sterk dat hulle bereid was om hul lewens vir mekaar af te lê. Tog sê die Bybel: ‘Jonatan het sy eed van vriendskap met Dawid hernu, want… hy het hom liefgehad soos homself.’
Wanneer jy ‘n geliefde verloor, besef jy dat verhoudings baie belangriker as besittings is. Wanneer ‘n mens net ‘n kort tyd oor het om te lewe, verander jou perspektief radikaal. Dit maak dat jy elke kosbare oomblik met belangrike woorde wat jy nog nie gesê het nie en belangrike dinge wat jy nog nie gedoen het nie, wil vul.
Moenie toelaat dat jou selfgesentreerdheid wat agter ‘n masker van ambisie of godsdienstige ywer wegkruip, jou daarvan weerhou om jou liefde aan die mense in jou lewe wat nodig het om dit te hoor, uit te druk nie. Maak daardie oproep. Stuur daardie epos. Koop daardie blomme. Sê: ‘Ek is lief vir jou.’
Ja, dis belangrik om jou Godgegewe opdrag in die lewe te vervul, maar nie ten koste van die mense wat werklik saak maak nie. Klein woordjies wat mense nooit moeg word om te hoor nie, is: ‘Ek is lief vir jou.’ Dis nie ingewikkeld nie – dit verg net bedagsaamheid.
Sielskos: Ef 5:21-33; Hoogl 2:1-7; Ps 45; Spr 5:15-19
1 Samuel 20:17 NIV
Hoping to save their relationship, a woman dragged her husband to see a counselor. During their session, the counselor asked him, “Do you tell your wife you love her?” The man growled, “I told her when we got married, I loved her – and that if I ever changed my mind, I’d let her know.”
Seriously, people know you love them when you show them and when you tell them. The relationship between Jonathan and David was so strong that they were willing to lay down their lives for one another. Yet the Bible says, “Jonathan had David reaffirm his…love for him.”
When you lose a loved one, you realize that relationships are much more important than possessions. We tend to forget that, in our scramble to get to the top of the heap. There is something about knowing you have a short time to live that radically alters your perspective. It makes you want to fill every precious moment with important words you have left unsaid and important things you have neglected to do. Don’t let self-centeredness masquerading as ambition or religious zeal stop you from expressing your love to the people in your life who need to hear it. Make that call. Send that e-mail. Buy those flowers. Say, “I love you.”
Most times, people don’t need our opinions and solutions; when we give them our love and support, they usually find their own solutions. Yes, it’s important to fulfill your God-given assignment in life, but not at the cost of the people who really matter. Three little words people never get tired of hearing are “I love you.” It’s not complicated – it just requires thought.
Soul food: Eph 5:21-33; S of S 2:1-7; Ps 45; Pro 5:15-19
1 Samuel 20:17 NLT
The relationship between Jonathan and David in the Bible was so strong that they would make sacrifices and give things up for one another, they were completely loyal, they were willing to compromise, and they were even prepared to lay down their lives for each other if necessary. But even though theirs was such a strong and true friendship, the Bible tells us that, ‘Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.’
We can be sure in our own minds that we care about someone, but they can only know that we love and care for them when we show them and when we tell them. The people we love can’t read our minds, so we need to demonstrate how we feel about them through our actions and words.
When a close friend leaves for another city, the parting is usually accompanied with hugs, giving gifts, and words telling how much the friend is loved and will be missed. People sitting at the bedside of a dying family member often find the most important words for that moment are those of love.
But there’s no reason for us to wait until a separation happens to show and tell how much we care about someone. We can make opportunities every day. Send a quick text. Make a phone call. Buy flowers. Bake a cake. Help clean the car. There are so many ways to say, ‘I love you.’ We shouldn’t neglect the people in our lives who really matter to us, and we shouldn’t waste an opportunity to reaffirm our love and let them know that they have our support.
Eph 5:21-33; S of S 2:1-7; Ps 45; Pro 5:15-19
