2022-03-18
Proverbs 4:23 CEV
When it comes to everyday life, we have a choice: we can walk according to the unchanging principles of God’s Word; or we can be ruled by our constantly changing feelings. When we live by God’s Word, we have stability. When we live by our feelings, it’s like riding a roller coaster; one day we’re up, the next day we’re down.
God wants to bring us into emotional maturity, but we have to cooperate with Him. That calls for a daily act of will; choosing to do things His way rather than our own. And once it becomes a habit, we’ll discover that life is more enjoyable when we do it God’s way. We should try not to let every emotion dictate the direction of our day or decide our responses.
‘Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life’ (v.23 CEV). It can often be our thinking that influences our feelings. That’s why Paul wrote, ‘Capture every thought and make it…obey Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NCV). In other words, if a thought doesn’t line up with God’s Word, we mustn’t give it a voice or let it influence us.
‘We walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV). As Christians, we won’t always feel God’s presence. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to two of His disciples on the Emmaus road, but they didn’t recognise Him because they were preoccupied with the way they were feeling. So how did He lift them out of their negative emotions? He ‘began to explain everything that had been written about himself in the Scriptures (Luke 24:27 NCV). So today, let’s resolve to be led only by God and His Word.
Job 5-7; Luke 18:1-17; Ps 19; Pro 8:6-7
Spreuke 4:23 NLV
Wanneer dit by die alledaagse lewe kom, kan jy volgens die onveranderende beginsels van God se Woord, of volgens jou gevoelens wat konstant verander, lewe. Wanneer jy volgens God se Woord leef, het jy stabiliteit. Wanneer jy volgens jou gevoelens leef, is dit soos ‘n tuimeltrein; een dag is jy op, die volgende dag is jy af.
God wil jou tot by emosionele volwassenheid bring, maar jy moet jou samewerking gee. Dit verg dat jy daagliks kies om dinge op sy manier, eerder as jou eie, te doen. Wanneer dit ‘n gewoonte word, sal jy ontdek dat die lewe baie meer plesierig is. ‘Bo alles, wees versigtig met wat in jou hart aangaan. Wat jy dink, bepaal alles wat jy doen’ (vers 23 NLV). Dis jou denke wat jou gevoelens produseer, nie andersom nie!
Dis hoekom Paulus skryf: ‘…Ons neem ook elke gedagte gevange om dit aan Christus gehoorsaam te maak’ (2 Korintiërs 10:5 NLV). Met ander woorde, as ‘n gedagte nie in lyn met God se Woord is nie, moenie dit ‘n stem gee nie. ‘…ons leef deur te glo en nie deur te sien nie’ (2 Korintiërs 5:7 NLV).
Dit mag dalk as ‘n verrassing kom, maar jy sal nie altyd God se teenwoordigheid as ‘n Christen aanvoel nie. Jesus het na sy opstanding aan twee van sy dissipels op die pad na Emmaus verskyn, maar hulle het Hom nie herken nie. Hoekom nie? Omdat hulle met hulle gevoelens besig was! Hoe het Hy hulle uit hulle negatiewe emosies uitgelig? ‘Hierna het Jesus begin om vanaf Moses en al die profete al die skrifgedeeltes wat oor Hom handel, vir hulle te interpreteer’ (Lukas 24:27 NLV). Jy moet slegs deur God se Woord gelei word.
Sielskos: Job 5-7; Luk 18:1-17; Ps 19; Spr 8:6-7
2022-03-17
Romeine 12:1 ABA
Paulus skryf: ‘Vriende, God is baie goed vir julle… Julle moet self offers wees vir Hom… Dan sal julle dinge doen wat God wil hê julle moet doen, goeie dinge, dinge waarvan Hy hou, dinge wat heeltemal reg is’ (verse 1-2 ABA). Daar is twee maniere om God se soewereiniteit te verstaan: a) deur sy inisiatief, en b) deur ons reaksie.
In wese sê Paulus die volgende: 1) Weerstaan die druk van ‘n wêreldsisteem wat jou in die verkeerde rigting trek. 2) Vernuwe jou gedagtes elke dag deur gebed en deur God se Woord te lees. 3) Herken sy wil vir jou lewe en lewe daarvolgens. Paulus hou egter nie daar op nie. Hy skryf: ‘Julle moet waarlik lief wees vir mekaar. Julle moet slegte dinge haat en graag goeie dinge doen. Julle behoort aan Christus en aan mekaar, daarom moet julle lief wees vir mekaar. Julle moet eerste wees om ander mense te respekteer… Wanneer julle swaarkry, dan moet julle geduldig wees. Julle moet aanhou bid. Party mense wat ook aan die Here behoort, het baie min goed. Julle moet van julle goed vir hulle gee. Julle moet vriendelik wees met vreemdelinge. Wanneer mense slegte dinge aan julle doen, dan moet julle vir die Here vra om goed te wees vir hulle … Wanneer mense slegte dinge aan julle doen, dan moet julle nie ook slegte dinge aan hulle doen nie. Julle moet goeie dinge doen… Julle moet baie hard probeer om in vrede te lewe met ander mense’ (verse 9-18 ABA).
God se soewereiniteit stel ons nie van persoonlike verantwoordelikheid vry nie. Dit beteken nie dat ons belangstelling in aktuele sake of ingeligte besluite moet verloor nie. God verwag steeds van ons om na uitnemendheid te strewe en besorg te wees oor ‘n verlore wêreld.
Sielskos: Job 1-4; Luk 17:20-37; Ps 11; Spr 8:4-5
Romans 12:1 CEV
Paul writes, “God is good. So… offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice… Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him” (vv. 1-2 CEV). There are two ways to understand God’s sovereignty: (a) through His initiative, and (b) through our response. In essence, Paul is saying this: (1) Resist the pressures of a world system that pulls you in the wrong direction. (2) Renew your mind every day through prayer and reading God’s Word. (3) Recognize His will for you and live accordingly.
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He writes: “Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself. Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. Take care of… needy people… Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you… When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people. Don’t mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone” (vv. 9-18 CEV).
God’s sovereignty doesn’t release us from personal responsibility. It doesn’t mean we should lose interest in current affairs or in making informed decisions. God still expects us to strive for excellence and show concern for a lost world. Acknowledging God’s sovereignty sets you free from playing God and enables you to enjoy walking with Him.
Soul food: Job 1-4; Luke 17:20-37; Ps 11; Pro 8:4-5
Romans 12:1 CEV
Paul wrote, ‘God is good. So… offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice… Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him’ (v.1-2 CEV). What Paul’s saying is this: 1) Resist the pressures of a world system that tries to pull you in the wrong direction. 2) Renew your mind every day through prayer and reading God’s Word. 3) Recognise His will for you and live accordingly.
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He continues: ‘Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. Love each other as brothers and sisters and honour others more than you do yourself. Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. Take care of… needy people… Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you… When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people. Don’t mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone’ (v.9-18 CEV).
God’s sovereignty doesn’t release us from personal responsibility. It doesn’t mean we should lose interest in the news or in making informed decisions. God still expects us to strive for excellence and show concern for a hurting world. Acknowledging God’s sovereignty sets us free from trying to do everything ourselves in our own power, and instead enables us to enjoy walking with Him.
Job 1-4; Luke 17:20-37; Ps 11; Pro 8:4-5
