2023-02-11
Hebrews 12:10 NLT
Did you know that some master gardeners actually talk to their plants? Why? Because it helps them grow! Imagine yourself saying, “You’re such a good plant. My, you sure are looking fine today! I’m so proud of you!” Now picture yourself talking to a plant you’re pruning and saying, “This pains me more than it pains you.” Whack! “You will thank me for this afterward!” Whack! “It’s for your own good!” Whack! Now picture the plant talking back: “You don’t have a heart. You hate me. I’ve worked long and hard to make those roses you just cut off.”
Isn’t that what we say to God while He prunes us? “Don’t you love me? Don’t you care about me? Don’t you see what’s going on in my life right now?” We think God is mad at us. No, He is not mad. One of the major mistakes we make is confusing pruning with punishment. Don’t equate the two.
God sees you as someone who can bear more fruit, someone with potential for greatness, someone He wants to utilize in a significant way. He wants you to be as fruitful as you can conceivably be, so He prunes you, even lopping off some of the things He has been blessing in your life. Have you lost a job you loved? Or a relationship you loved? God may have something much better in mind.
Can you trust Him? Do you believe He is at work in your life? His Word says, “God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished” (Philippians 1:6 NLT).
Soul food: Gen 42-43; Luke 9:28-36; Ps 141; Prov 4:18-19
2023-02-10
1 Petrus 3:15-16 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘… As… iemand julle [uitvra] oor die hoop wat in julle leef, wees altyd reg om te reageer. Maar doen dit taktvol en eerbiedig…’ Die twee maniere om ‘n eier uit sy dop te kry, is: 1) om dit oop te breek, of 2) om dit in ‘n warm, liefdevolle omgewing te plaas en dit toe te laat om te inkubeer en uit te broei. Die tweede manier bewaar die kuiken, terwyl die eerste een hom doodmaak.
Soortgelyk, is die twee maniere om die goeie nuus van die evangelie aan mense oor te dra: 1) om hulle oor die kop daarmee te slaan, of 2) om hulle tot in God se familie lief te hê. Het jy opgelet dat baie evangelisasie net ‘n dun bedekte belediging is? ‘Jy het nodig wat ek het, want jy is so aaklig.’ Mense het die goeie nuus nodig, maar jou ingesteldheid kan hulle daarvan weerhou om dit te ontvang.
Respekteer ongelowiges; moenie hulle verneder nie. Om iemand te respekteer, beteken dat jy hulle aanvaar. Dit beteken nie dat jy hulle lewenstyl goedkeur nie. Aanvaarding en goedkeuring is twee verskillende dinge. Almal het egter die reg om met respek behandel te word. Die beste manier om die evangelie met ongelowiges te deel, is om hulle met liefde en aanvaarding te omring terwyl jy dit met hulle deel. Wees respekvol, sensitief en gee vir hulle om.
Die teoloog D.T. Niles het gesê: ‘Evangelisasie is net een bedelaar wat vir ‘n ander vertel waar om brood te kry.’ Versprei God se Woord! Doen jy die verspreiding daarvan en God sal die redding doen. Sodra jy die saad van God se Woord in iemand se hart geplant het, kan jy hulle liefhê, laat gaan en op God vertrou om sy deel te doen.
Sielskos: Gen 40-41; Luk 9:18-27; Ps 138; Spr 4:14-17
1 Peter 3:15 NIV
The Bible says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Two ways to get an egg out of an eggshell are to (1) crack it open, or (2) put it in a warm, loving environment and allow it to incubate and hatch. The second way preserves the chick, while the first kills it. Similarly, two ways to get the good news of the gospel across to people are to (1) pound them over the head with it, or (2) love them into God’s family.
Have you noticed that a lot of evangelism is just a thinly-veiled insult? “You need what I have because you’re so awful.” People do need the good news, but your disposition can keep them from receiving it. Respect unbelievers; don’t humiliate them. Respecting means accepting them. That doesn’t mean you have to approve of their lifestyle. Acceptance and approval are different. But everybody has the right to be treated in a respectful way.
The best way to share the gospel with unbelievers is to surround them with love and acceptance as you share it with them. Be respectful, sensitive, and caring. Theologian D. T. Niles said, “Evangelism is just one beggar telling another where to find bread.” Share God’s Word! You do the sharing, and God will do the saving. Once you sow the seed of God’s Word into someone’s heart, you can love them and leave them and trust God to do His part.
Soul food: Gen 40-41; Luke 9:18-27; Ps 138; Prov 4:14-17
2023-02-09
Romans 12:5 NIV
The Bible describes the Christian life in war terms: fight, conquer, strive, battle, overcome, victory. You’re in a spiritual battle whether you realise it or not, and you need support and backup. When you became a Christian, you became a member of God’s army.
Imagine you go to a recruiting office to join the Army. They say, “Wonderful, sign here.” You say: “Wait! I have one stipulation. I don’t want to be committed to any particular platoon. I want to be able to float around. I’ll be part of the Army, but I don’t want to be committed to a certain group of soldiers. If the battle gets too hot in one area, I’ll move to another area and join another platoon. And if I dislike one platoon’s leadership, I’ll join another.” Would you want a person like that fighting by your side? Of course you wouldn’t!
But that’s how many Christians today relate to God’s army. They float around from church to church with little or no commitment to any particular group of Christians – so while the battle is being fought, they are awol. There is no such thing as a free-floating believer in the Bible. The difference between just attending church and becoming a member is like the difference between getting married and just living together. The distinction is commitment.
The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia, which means being committed to one another. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35 NIV). And you can’t love in absentia. So, be committed and connected.
Soul food: Gen 37-39; Luke 9:1-17; Ps 134; Prov 4:5-13
Romeine 12:5 NLV
Die Bybel beskryf die Christelike lewe in oorlogsterme: veg, oorwinning, strydperk, oorlog, triomfeer, sege. Jy is in ‘n geestelike stryd betrokke, of jy dit nou besef of nie en jy het ondersteuning en hulp nodig. Wanneer jy ‘n Christen word, word jy deel van God se weermag.
Stel jou voor jy gaan na ‘n werwingskantoor om by die weermag aan te sluit. Hulle sê: ‘Wonderlik, teken hier.’ Jy sê: ‘Wag! Ek het een voorwaarde. Ek wil nie aan enige spesifieke peloton toegewys word nie. Ek wil kan kom en gaan soos ek wil. Ek sal deel van die weermag wees, maar ek wil nie aan ‘n sekere groep soldate toegewyd wees nie. As die stryd te warm word in een gebied, sal ek na ‘n ander gebied beweeg en by ‘n ander peloton aansluit. En as ek nie van een peloton se leierskap hou nie, sal ek by ‘n ander een aansluit.’ Sal jy wil hê dat so ‘n persoon langs jou in die geveg moet staan? Natuurlik nie!
Dis egter hoe baie Christene deesdae God se weermag benader. Hulle spring van kerk tot kerk met min of geen toewyding aan enige spesifieke groep Christene – so terwyl die stryd geveg word, is hulle nêrens te sien nie. Die verskil tussen slegs kerk bywoon en ‘n lidmaat word, is soos die verskil om te trou of net saam te bly. Die verskil is toewyding.
Die Griekse woord vir gemeenskap is koinonia, wat beteken om aan mekaar toegewyd te wees. Jesus het gesê: ‘As julle liefde teenoor mekaar beoefen, sal almal daaraan sien dat julle my dissipels is’ (Johannes 13:35 NLV). Jy kan nie liefde betoon wanneer jy afwesig is nie. Wees dus toegewyd en verbonde.
Sielskos: Gen 37-39; Luk 9:1-17; Ps 134; Spr 4:5-13
