2023-03-26
Philippians 3:20 NLT
The story is told of a pastor who asked his congregation, “How many of you want to go to heaven?” Everyone raised their hand except one little boy. The pastor said, “Son, don’t you want to go to heaven?” He replied, “Yes, but I thought you were getting up a batch to go right now!”
Let’s be honest, we don’t think or talk much about heaven until a loved one dies and goes there, or we grow old and feel like we have fulfilled our assignment here on earth. Then we feel a tug pulling us heavenward. And we should. On average, we will spend about seventy or eighty years here, whereas we will spend eternity there. “We shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV).
Here on earth we get a mixed scorecard; sometimes we do well, other times not so well. But in heaven, we will be just like Jesus. “We are citizens of heaven… we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Saviour. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own” (Philippians 3:20-21 NLT). C. S. Lewis wrote that in heaven each of us will be a “dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine.”
All the patriarchs, prophets, and preachers in the Bible longed for heaven. Zechariah describes it in these words: “They’ll become… like gemstones in a crown, catching all the colors of the sun. Then… they’ll shine!” (Zechariah 9:16-17 MSG). Question: If you were to die today, would you go to heaven? You can, by putting your trust in Jesus Christ.
Soul food: 1 Kings 17:1-24; 1 Cor 12
Filippense 3:20 NLV
Daar is ‘n verhaal van ‘n pastoor wat vir sy gemeente gevra het: ‘Wie van julle wil hemel toe gaan?’ Almal, behalwe een klein seuntjie, het hulle hande opgesteek. Die pastoor het gesê: ‘Seun, wil jy nie hemel toe gaan nie?’ Hy het geantwoord: ‘Ja, maar ek dog jy maak ‘n groep bymekaar om nou dadelik te gaan!’
Kom ons wees eerlik, totdat ‘n geliefde sterf of ons oud word en voel dat ons ons opdrag hier op aarde voltooi het, dink of praat ons nie baie oor die hemel nie. Dan voel ons hoe die hemel ons begin aantrek. Ons moet so voel. Ons sal gemiddeld so sewentig of tagtig jaar hier deurbring, terwyl ons die ewigheid in die hemel sal deurbring. ‘Daarna sal ons… vir altyd by Hom… wees’ (1 Tessalonisense 4:17 NLV).
Hier op aarde kry ons ‘n gemengde telkaart; soms doen ons goed, ander kere nie so goed nie. In die hemel sal ons egter net soos Jesus wees. ‘Ons daarteenoor het ons burgerskap in die hemel. Van dáár verwag ons ook die Here Jesus Christus as Redder. Hy sal ons vernederde liggame verander in liggame met goddelike heerlikheid, soos sy eie…’ (Filippense 3:20-21 NLV).
C.S. Lewis het geskryf dat in die hemel sal elkeen van ons “‘n skitterende, stralende, onsterflike skepsel, wat deurgaans pols met sulke energie en vreugde en wysheid en liefde as wat ons ons nie nou kan voorstel nie,” wees. Al die patriarge, profete en predikers in die Bybel het na die hemel verlang. Sagaria het dit as volg beskryf: ‘…Hulle sal ook soos ‘n juweel in ‘n koning se kroon wees. Hulle sal blink en skitter in sy land’ (Sagaria 9:16-17 DB).
As jy vandag sou sterf, sal jy hemel toe gaan? Jy kan, deur jou vertroue in Jesus Christus te plaas.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 17:1-24; 1 Kor 12
2023-03-25
Luke 6:37 NIV
Here are three more steps to forgiveness: (1) Accept people as they are and don’t try to change them. You say, “I’ll only forgive them if they change.” That just keeps you tied to them, obsessing over what they did and demanding they act in ways that you approve of. Nothing makes people less willing to change than when you try to control them and demand that they meet your requirements. Changing people isn’t your job – it’s God’s job! Your job is to choose to forgive and leave the outcome in God’s hands. The formula for healing is simple: forgive, let go, and let God.
(2) See your offender as God’s tool for your growth. It’s easier to forgive someone when you stop seeing them as Satan’s agent sent to destroy you, and begin seeing them as God’s instrument to develop you. The life of Joseph speaks to this principle. The path that led him from the pit to the palace was paved by injustice, disappointment, and betrayal. But God used each painful circumstance to get him to his destiny. And God can do that for you.
(3) Try reconciling with your offender. Reconciliation is God’s nature. “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10 KJV). And what God did for you, He wants you to do for whoever you are at odds with. Jesus made reconciliation a top priority by saying, “Leave your gift there before the altar… First be reconciled… then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:24 NKJV). Yes, it will take selflessness and humility on your part, but the return is worth the investment!
Soul food: Job 24-28; Luke 21:1-11; Ps 38:1-12; Prov 8:22-23
Lukas 6:37 NLV
Hier is nog drie stappe na vergifnis: 1) Aanvaar mense soos hulle is en moet hulle nie probeer verander nie. Dit hou jou net aan hulle vasgeketting, terwyl jy jouself kwel oor wat hulle gedoen het en eis dat hulle op maniere wat jy goedkeur, moet optree. Niks maak mense minder gewillig om te verander as wanneer jy hulle probeer beheer en eis dat hulle aan jou vereistes moet voldoen nie. Om mense te verander is nie jou werk nie – dis God s’n! Jou werk is om te kies om te vergewe en die uitkoms in God se hande te los.
2) Sien jou oortreder as God se instrument vir jou groei. Dis makliker om iemand te vergewe wanneer jy ophou om hulle as Satan se agent wat gestuur is om jou te vernietig te sien en hulle as God se instrument om jou te ontwikkel, begin sien. Josef se lewe is ‘n sprekende bewys van hierdie beginsel. Die pad wat hom van die put tot die paleis geneem het, was met onreg, teleurstelling en verraad geteer. God het egter elke pynlike gebeurtenis gebruik om hom by sy lotsbestemming uit te bring. God kan dieselfde vir jou doen.
3) Probeer om met jou oortreder te versoen. Versoening is in God se aard. ‘Aangesien ons, toe ons nog vyande was, deur die dood van sy Seun met God versoen is…’ (Romeine 5:10 AFR83). Wat God vir jou gedoen het, wil Hy hê moet jy aan die een wat teenoor jou oortree het, doen. Jesus het versoening ‘n hoofprioriteit gemaak deur te sê: ‘los jou offer net daar voor die altaar en gaan maak eers vrede… Kom dan terug en bring jou offer’ (Matteus 5:24 NLV). Ja, dit sal onbaatsugtigheid en nederigheid van jou kant af verg, maar die opbrengs is die belegging werd!
Sielskos: Job 24-28; Luk 21:1-11; Ps 38:1-12; Spr 8:22-23
2023-03-24
Colossians 3:13 NIV
The misery of living with unforgiveness in your heart always lasts longer than the pain of the offense. Always! When you hold on to resentment, you open the door to depression and physical illness. Forgiving brings healing to your wounds and restores your joy. Here are two steps to help you forgive:
(1) Remember that you have been unconditionally forgiven. Recall God’s grace toward you, and the price paid for your forgiveness. By refusing to show mercy, you’re like the man Jesus said was forgiven an enormous debt, yet was unwilling to forgive another man’s paltry indebtedness to him (See Matthew 18:23-34). The grace God has extended to you leaves you no grounds whatsoever to refuse the same grace to the one who hurt you.
(2) Release the offender from the debt they owe you. You may be totally justified in saying, “They owe me for what they did!” Your friends may agree. The law may agree, and you may be thinking that the only way your offender will “learn to do what’s right” is if they’re made to pay for the wrong they did. But as long as you’re holding on to your “rights,” you’re chained to the past. It has you in its grip, and your future is being held hostage to the past’s control over you.
Your offender’s sin against you was paid for by the same sacrificial love that cancelled your sin debt, so they have the same need and right to forgiveness that you have. And there is more; forgiveness is not just for their benefit, but for yours: “Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37 NIV).
Soul food: Job 21-23; Luke 20:27-47; Ps 55:12-23; Prov 8:19-21
