2022-04-20
Spreuke 24:16 NLV
As jy al ooit ‘n kind dopgehou het wat leer loop, sal jy weet dat om te val ‘n belangrike deel van die proses is. Om weer op te staan is noodsaaklik om die kind se balans en spiere te ontwikkel. Soortgelyk word ‘n bokser nie gediskwalifiseer wanneer hy platgeslaan word nie; hy word gediskwalifiseer wanneer hy val en nie weer opstaan nie. Boksers weet dat hulle dikwels sal val, dus fokus hulle op die kuns om veilig te val en vinnig weer op te staan. Kinders en boksers leer dat dit daaroor gaan om weer op te staan.
Die Bybel sê vir ons dat om te val algemeen onder die regverdiges en die goddeloses is. Dis die opstaan wat hulle van mekaar onderskei. ‘Selfs al val ‘n regverdige mens sewe keer, hy sal elke keer weer opstaan. Die goddelose mens sal bly lê na net een ramp’ (vers 16 NLV). Die goddelose bly lê – die regverdige staan weer op!
Sommige van God se grootste dienaars in die Skrif het in persoonlike mislukking geval. Abram het vir die farao oor sy vrou, Sarai, gejok (sien Genesis 12:11-17). Jakob het sy pa om die bos gelei en sy broer se geboortereg gesteel (sien Genesis 27:17-29). Moses was God ongehoorsaam deur uit woede die rots te slaan (sien Numeri 20:7-12). In plaas daarvan dat hulle egter gediskwalifiseer is, is daar ‘…oor hulle almal op grond van hulle geloof met soveel lof getuig…’ (Hebreërs 11:39 NLV).
Hoekom? Omdat hulle hulle sondes bely en God se vergifnis ontvang het. Hulle het met ander woorde geval, maar weer opgestaan. Wanneer jy val, kan jy ook weer opstaan. Dit is die ‘geloof’ gedeelte van jou reis. Wanneer jy bly lê aanvaar jy mislukking – maar wanneer jy weer opstaan word jou geloof geaktiveer!
Sielskos: 1 Kor 7-9; Luk 24:36-44; Ps 127; Spr 10:11
Proverbs 24:16 NIV
If you have ever seen a child learning to walk, you know that falling down is an important part of the process. Getting back up again is crucial to developing the child’s balance and muscle development. Likewise, a boxer isn’t disqualified because he gets knocked down; he’s disqualified because he doesn’t get back up. Boxers know they will go down, so they focus on the art of falling safely and getting up quickly. Children and boxers both learn this: It’s all about getting up again.
The Bible tells us that falling is common to both the righteous and unrighteous. It’s getting up again that sets them apart: “If good people fall… they will get back up. But when trouble strikes the wicked, that’s the end of them” (v. 16 CEV). The unrighteous stay down – the righteous get up again!
In Scripture, some of God’s greatest servants fell into personal failure. Abram lied to Pharaoh about his wife, Sarai (See Genesis 12:11-17). Jacob deceived his father and stole his brother’s birthright (See Ge 27:17-29). In anger, Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock (See Numbers 20:7-12). Yet instead of being disqualified, they “were all commended for their faith” (Hebrews 11:39 NIV).
How come? Because they acknowledged their sin and received God’s forgiveness. In other words, they fell, but they got up again. And when you fall, you can get up again too. That’s the “faith” part of your journey. Staying down is failure accepted – getting back up is faith activated!
Soul food: 1 Cor 7-9; Luke 24:36-44; Ps 127; Pro 10:11
Proverbs 24:16 NIV
Have you ever seen a child learning to walk? Falling down is an important part of the process. Getting back up again is crucial to developing the child’s balance and muscles. Every horse rider will face a fall, usually when they least expect it, but they know it’s important to get back on the horse, readjust what they’re doing, and try again. It’s a learning experience. A boxer isn’t disqualified because they get knocked down; they’re disqualified because they don’t get back up. Even the most skilful boxers know they’ll go down at some point, so they learn the art of falling safely and getting up quickly. Children, riders, and boxers all learn this: it’s all about getting up again.
The Bible tells us that falling happens to righteous people and unrighteous people. Believers aren’t immune from falling. It’s getting up again that sets them apart: ‘Even if good people fall seven times, they will get back up. But when trouble strikes the wicked, that’s the end of them’ (v.16 CEV). Unrighteous people stay down, but righteous people get up again.
In Scripture, some of God’s greatest servants fell into personal failure. Abram lied to Pharaoh about his wife, Sarai (see Genesis 12:11-17). Jacob deceived his father and stole his brother’s birth right (see Genesis 27:17-29). In anger, Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock (see Numbers 20:7-12). But instead of being disqualified, they ‘were all commended for their faith’ (Hebrews 11:39 NIV), because they acknowledged their sins and received God’s forgiveness.
In other words, they fell, but they got up again. And when we fall, we can get up again too. That’s the ‘faith’ part of our journey. Staying down is failure accepted – getting back up is faith activated.
1 Cor 7-9; Luke 24:36-44; Ps 127; Pro 10:11
2022-04-19
2 Corinthians 5:19 NIV
God created us to have unbroken fellowship with Him and with each other. That’s why Satan’s first scheme was to separate us from God, and from each other. Using things like pride, stubbornness, confusion, resentment, and selfishness, he drives wedges and promotes disunity. What starts out as a misunderstanding can end in angry stand-offs or toxic silences that last for hours, days, and sometimes years.
We might think that it’s nothing to do with anyone else because it doesn’t affect them, but the truth is that the fallout from a major disagreement can’t be contained. A grudge against one person can begin to infect every relationship in our lives in some way, and it’s often because the disagreement becomes the focus of our lives and we’re determined to prove we’re right and the other person is wrong at every opportunity. It’s a serious problem that needs a divine solution.
Paul wrote, ‘God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.’ Sin destroyed our relationship with God, but He took the initiative by giving Jesus ‘as a ransom [a price paid] for many’ (Mark 10:45 NIV) in order to reconcile us to Himself. Reconciling means bringing back together what belongs together. God doesn’t count ‘people’s sins against them’, but that doesn’t mean He trivialises or ignores our sin debt.
He cancelled it at the cross and stopped holding it against us. And it didn’t end there. He made us ‘Christ’s representatives’ (2 Corinthians 5:20 MSG), calling us ‘to settle our relationships with each other’ (v.19 MSG). Sometimes that means practising humility, becoming the reconciler, taking the initiative, and ending the grudge. Are you ready to do that today?
1 Cor 4-6; Luke 24:25-35; Ps 43; Pro 10:10
2 Corinthians 5:19 NIV
God created us to enjoy unbroken fellowship with Him and each other. (And he designed marriage as the epitome of human relationships.) That’s why Satan’s first ploy was to separate us from God – and from each other. Using things like pride, stubbornness, confusion, resentment, and selfishness, he drives wedges and polarizes relationships. What starts out as a misunderstanding often ends in angry standoffs or toxic silences that last for hours, days, and sometimes years.
Furthermore, we delude ourselves by thinking it’s nobody else’s business. The fallout can’t be contained. It affects every relationship in our lives – all because we’re determined to prove we’re right and the other person is wrong. And it’s not just a psychological problem; it’s a sin problem in need of a divine solution!
Here is how God handles polarized relationships. Paul writes, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.” Sin destroyed our relationship with God. Yet He took the initiative by giving Jesus “as a ransom [price paid] for many” (Mark 10:45 NIV), in order to reconcile us to Himself. Reconciling means bringing back together what belongs together! Notice this: God doesn’t count “people’s sins against them.” Neither does He trivialize or ignore our sin debt. He canceled it at the cross and stopped holding it against us. And it didn’t end there. He “made us agents of… reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19 PHPS) by calling us “to settle our relationships with each other” (v. 19 MSG).
Sometimes that means eating humble pie, becoming the reconciler, taking the initiative, and ending the standoff. Are you ready to do that today?
Soul food: 1 Cor 4-6; Luke 24:25-35; Ps 43; Pro 10:10
