2022-07-16
John 15:16 NIV
Ever wonder how some people are able to accomplish so much? What makes them so productive? Fast-forward to the end of your own life. What will it take for you to be able to say, “I led a productive life. I accomplished what I set out to do”? What do you consider to be a productive life? More importantly, do you know God’s definition of a productive life?
Let’s consider what it means to be a fruitful Christian. The word “fruit” occurs sixty-six times in the New Testament. Three different kinds of fruit are referred to: the kind we eat – figs and grapes; biological fruit – infants; and spiritual fruit – Christ-like character. The Bible defines this spiritual fruit as nine things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (See Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).
Now you know the kind of fruit that God wants produced in your life. That’s how He defines a productive life. Jesus said, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8 NIV). The proof that you are a disciple of Jesus is that you bear spiritual fruit. Perhaps you’re a good “fruit inspector” when it comes to examining the lives of others. But what kind of fruit is growing in your own life? Are you growing more carnal or more Christ-like?
To know how fruitful you are, examine what’s growing in your life. If you like what you see, keep doing what you’re doing. If you don’t, get down on your knees and pray, “Father, help me to bring forth fruit that glorifies you.”
Soul food: Joel 1-3; Matt 26:26-35; Ps 118:10-18; Prov 15:31-32
Johannes 15:16 NLV
Het jy al ooit gewonder hoe sommige mense in staat is om so baie te bereik? Wat maak hulle so produktief? Verbeel jouself jy is aan die einde van jou lewe. Wat sal dit neem sodat jy kan sê: ‘Ek het ‘n produktiewe lewe gelei. Ek het dit bereik wat ek myself voorgeneem het om te doen’? Wat dink jy is ‘n produktiewe lewe? Nog belangriker, weet jy wat God se definisie van ‘n produktiewe lewe is? Kom ons kyk na wat dit beteken om ‘n Christen te wees wat vrugte dra.
Die woord ‘vrug’ kom ses-en-sestig keer in die Nuwe Testament voor. Daar word na drie tipes vrugte verwys: die tipe wat ons eet – vye en druiwe; biologiese vrugte – babas; en geestelike vrugte – ‘n Christelike karakter. Die Bybel definieer hierdie geestelike vrugte as nege dinge: liefde, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedheid, getrouheid, sagmoedigheid en selfbeheersing (sien Galasiërs 5:22-23).
Dit is die tipe vrugte wat God in jou lewe wil produseer. Dis hoe Hy ‘n produktiewe lewe definieer. Jesus het gesê: ‘Dit is juis hierin dat my Vader verheerlik word, dat julle baie vrugte oplewer en my dissipels is’ (Johannes 15:8 NLV). Die bewys dat jy ‘n dissipel van Jesus is, is dat jy geestelike vrugte produseer. Miskien is jy ‘n goeie ‘vrugte-inspekteur’ wanneer jy die lewens van ander mense ondersoek. Watter vrugte is egter besig om in jou lewe te groei? Is jy besig om meer vleeslik of meer soos Christus te word?
Om te weet hoe vrugtevol jy is, moet jy dit wat in jou lewe groei, ondersoek. As jy hou van dit wat jy sien, hou so aan. As jy egter nie daarvan hou nie, gaan op jou knieë en bid: ‘Vader, help my om vrugte wat U verheerlik, te produseer.’
Sielskos: Joël 1-3; Matt 26:26-35; Ps 118:10-18; Spr 15:31-32
2022-07-15
1 Petrus 2:23 NLV
Wanneer iemand jou teleurstel of jou ontstel, wat doen jy? Hoe lyk jou reaksie? Sê jy: ‘Jy maak my so kwaad!’ Wanneer jy dit sê, erken jy dat iemand anders in beheer van jou emosies is. Jy erken dat jy daardie persoon die mag gegee het om jou gevoelens en emosies te bepaal. Die Bybel sê: ‘Moenie toelaat dat die slegte julle onderkry nie, maar deur goed te doen moet julle die slegte hokslaan’ (Romeine 12:21 NLV). Om terug te slaan is ‘n reaksie. Om egter te vergewe, is om daadwerklik op te tree. Dit sê: ‘Ek kies die manier waarop ek reageer.’
Beheer ander mense jou emosionele toestand? Laat jy hulle toe om jou vlakke van geluk te verhoog of jou in bekommernis, vrees of woede te dompel? ‘Dis beter om geduldig te wees as dapper. Selfbeheersing is beter as om ‘n stad in te neem’ (Spreuke 16:32 NLV). Die persoon wat sy buie en reaksies kan beheer, is sterker as ‘n ommuurde stad. ‘n Persoon wat egter nie hulle eie gees kan beheer nie is weerloos, soos ‘n stad sonder mure. Daardie persoon het geen verweer nie; hulle is uitgelewer aan wat ook al iemand aan hulle wil doen.
Krag word in sagmoedigheid gevind en sagmoedigheid het die vermoë om seer te hanteer sonder om weerwraak te neem; dit kan die hou absorbeer sonder om terug te slaan. Jesus sê vir ons om die ander wang te draai (sien Matteus 5:39). Jy sê: ‘Dis nie maklik nie.’ Nee, dit is nie; soms is dit amper onmoontlik. Jy sê: ‘Om so te reageer is nie natuurlik nie.’ Jy’s reg, dit is bonatuurlik; dis is die vrug van die Gees (sien Galasiërs 5:22-23). Jy het God se krag nodig om op hierdie manier te leef.
Sielskos: Jer 51-52; Matt 26:14-25; Ps 118:1-9; Spr 15:27-30
1 Peter 2:23 NIV
When someone disappoints or upsets you, what do you do? Pull out your big guns and react? Do you say, “You make me so mad!” When you say that, you’re admitting someone else is controlling your emotions. You’re acknowledging you have given that person the power to determine your feelings and reactions. No one can take control from you – you give it away the moment you start reacting! The Bible says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21 NIV). To retaliate is to react. But to forgive is to act. It’s saying, “I choose the way I respond.”
Do other people control your emotional state? Do you let them raise your happiness level or plunge you into worry, fear, or anger? “Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city” (Proverbs 16:32 NLT). The person who can control their moods and reactions is stronger than a walled city. But a person who cannot control their own spirit is defenseless, like a city with no walls around it. That person has no defense; they are at the mercy of whatever anyone wants to do to them. Strength is found in gentleness, and gentleness has the ability to handle hurt without retaliating; it can absorb the blow without needing to strike back. Jesus called it “turning the other cheek” (See Matthew 5:39).
You say, “That’s not easy to do.” No, it’s not; sometimes it’s almost impossible. You say, “To respond that way is not natural.” You’re right, it is supernatural; it is the fruit of the Spirit (See Galatians 5:22-23). You need God’s power to live this way.
Soul food: Jer 51-52; Matt 26:14-25; Ps 118:1-9; Prov 15:27-30
2022-07-14
Proverbs 1:33 AMPC
Think about the major decisions we make over our lifetime: choosing a mate, deciding where to live, and what career to pursue. Looking back, can you say you have consistently made the wisest choices?
As Jennifer Winquist writes, “We make choices based on what feels best, what’s easiest… fastest… makes our kids happy… shuts up the boss… stops our problem for the moment… We buy wants instead of saving for necessities. We marry Mr. Right-Now instead of waiting for Mr. Right. We get a job instead of an education. We eat a bag of chips instead of a bag of carrots… We don’t plan to fail, but unless we plan to win by making wise choices, we can end up getting the short end of the stick… Wise choices aren’t usually quick fixes, selfish, or short-term; they involve planning, hard work, sacrifice, and resilience. But the rewards are huge.”
James says, “If… you lack wisdom… ask… God… and it shall be given” (James 1:5 KJV). The world spends billions of dollars seeking wisdom, but as God’s children, we have the wisdom of the Creator of the universe at our disposal. Furthermore, when you develop the patience and maturity to make the wise choice instead of the easy one, you never have to live in “fear or dread” of the outcome.
John Mason says growing in wisdom means fearing God, pleasing Him, hearing from Him, looking to Him, choosing His way, staying humble before Him, taking His advice, receiving His correction, maintaining a prayer connection with Him, and knowing His Son personally (See Psalm 111:10; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Proverbs 2:6; 3:13; 8:10-11; 11:2; 13:10; 29:15; Ephesians 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:30). So… how are you doing with that so far?
Soul food: Jer 49-50; Matt 26:1-13; Ps 109:16-31; Prov 15:23-26
