2023-04-10
2 Peter 3:18 NKJV
Think how much happier and more energized you would be if you weren’t trying to control people and straighten them out. One author writes: “Give your loved ones the dignity of making their own mistakes and learning from them. If you’re always getting into someone else’s business, you’re not only going to burn out, you’re hindering God from working in their lives… they belong to Him, not you!”
In the New Testament, when legalistic Jewish believers tried to impose kosher laws on Gentile believers, Paul wrote: “Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t… must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them” (Romans 14:3 NLT). Sometimes in trying to be holy, we come across as harsh. Just because you don’t feel at liberty to do something doesn’t give you the right to condemn those who do – unless it’s something clearly prohibited in Scripture. Having strong opinions doesn’t give you the right to impose them on others. Remember, you can have the right theology and the wrong attitude.
Gladys M. Hunt writes: “Acceptance means you’re valuable just as you are… you can talk about how you feel… and why – and someone really cares… you can try out new ideas without being shot down… you can even express heretical thoughts and discuss them with intelligent questioning. You feel safe. No one will pronounce judgment… even though they don’t agree with you. It doesn’t mean you’ll never be corrected… it simply means it’s safe to be you.”
When it comes to the truth, stand fast! But when it comes to nonessentials like personal preferences, customs, and traditions, “Let each be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5 NKJV).
Soul food: Lev 13:38-14:57; Luke 24:13-18; Ps 50:1-15; Prov 9:13-16
2023-04-09
Hebrews 2:15 NLT
When Charles Lindbergh, the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic, was dying of cancer, he wrote these words to be read at his burial service: “We commit the body of Charles A. Lindbergh to its final resting place; but his spirit we commit to Almighty God, knowing that death is but a new adventure in existence and remembering how Jesus said upon the cross, ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.'”
Death is just “a new adventure in existence,” so there is no need to dread it or ignore it. Because of Christ, you can face it with joy and confidence. Furthermore, His resurrection guarantees yours. Aristotle was wrong: Death isn’t to be feared. The Greeks were mistaken: The boatman Charon won’t ferry you across the River Styx into oblivion in a sunless world of spirits.
As a believer, you don’t get buried, you get planted! “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power” (1 Corinthians 15:42-43 NKJV).
One day when Saint Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden, a man asked him what he would do if he suddenly learned he was to die at sunset that day. He said, “I would finish hoeing my garden.” Here was a man who was ready to die, and without the fear of death, he was ready to maximize every moment of life. That’s how you need to live too!
Soul food: 1 Cor 15; Luke 24:1-12
Hebreërs 2:15 NLV
Toe Charles Lindbergh, die eerste persoon wat alleen oor die Atlantiese Oseaan gevlieg het, sterwend aan kanker was, het hy hierdie woorde neergeskryf om by sy begrafnisdiens voorgelees te word: ‘Ons vertrou die liggaam van Charles A. Lindbergh tot sy laaste rusplek toe; maar ons gee sy gees aan die Almagtige God oor, met die wete dat die dood maar ‘n nuwe avontuur is.’ Die dood is slegs ‘n nuwe avontuur, dus is daar geen rede om dit te vrees of te ignoreer nie. Jy kan dit as gevolg van Christus met vreugde en selfvertroue in die gesig staar. Sy opstanding waarborg joune.
Aristoteles was verkeerd; die dood is nie iets wat gevrees moet word nie. Die Grieke was verkeerd, die roeier Charon sal jou nie oor die Styx-rivier na die vergetelheid in ‘n sonlose wêreld van geeste vervoer nie.
As ‘n gelowige word jy nie begrawe nie, jy word geplant! ‘Dieselfde is die geval met die opstanding van die dooies… Ons liggame wat in die grond geplant word, is maar heel gewoon, maar hulle sal in glansende heerlikheid opgewek word. Hulle is maar baie broos wanneer hulle geplant word, maar hulle sal vol krag wees wanneer hulle opgewek word’ (1 Korintiërs 15:42-43 NLV).
Een dag toe die Heilige Franciscus van Assisi besig was om sy tuin te skoffel, het ‘n man hom gevra wat hy sou doen as hy skielik sou weet dat hy daardie dag teen sonsonder sou sterf. Hy het geantwoord: ‘Ek sou my tuin klaar skoffel.’ Hier was ‘n man wat gereed was om dood te gaan en sonder die vrees vir die dood, was hy gereed om elke oomblik uit die lewe te put. Dis hoe jy ook moet lewe!
Sielskos: 1 Kor 15; Luk 24:1-12
2023-04-08
John 19:23 NLT
John records: “When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they… also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, ‘Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it'” (vv. 23-24 NLT). Jewish mothers traditionally made these garments as gifts for their sons who were leaving home. So while we don’t know if Mary actually made Jesus’ robe, it was likely a cherished possession.
It’s also significant because throughout the Bible, clothes symbolize behavior and character. Peter talks about being “clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5 NKJV). Paul says, “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes” (Galatians 3:27 NLT). Like His robe, Jesus’ character was seamless, integrated, and perfect. The words “woven… from top to bottom” indicate that He had always been directed by the mind of God. In fact, He said, “The Son can do nothing… but only what he sees the Father doing” (John 5:19 NRS).
However, when Jesus was crucified, He set aside His seamless robe, “changed places with us” (Galatians 3:13 NCV) and put on the robes of sin that had our names on them. He died like a common criminal for sins He didn’t commit so that we could wear the garments of His righteousness. And so that sinners like us coming to the cross could leave wearing the “coat of his… love” (Isaiah 59:17 NCV), the belt of “goodness and fairness” (Isaiah 11:5 NCV), and the “garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10 NIV). Jesus not only prepared a place in heaven for us; He made sure we would be properly dressed for the occasion.
Soul food: Lev 11:1-13:37; Luke 23:50-56; Ps 69:7-21; Deut 21:22-23
Johannes 19:23 NLV
Johannes skryf: ‘Die soldate het, toe hulle Jesus gekruisig het, sy boklere geneem en daarvan vier dele gemaak, vir elke soldaat ‘n deel. Hulle het ook die drarok geneem. Dit was ‘n naatlose kleed, van bo tot onder aaneen geweef. Hulle het toe vir mekaar gesê: ‘Moenie dit skeur nie, laat ons liewer daaroor loot wie s’n dit sal wees’…’ (verse 23-24 NLV).
Joodse moeders het tradisioneel hierdie kleed as ‘n geskenk vir hul seuns wat die huis verlaat, gemaak. Alhoewel ons nie weet of Maria Jesus se kleed gemaak het nie, was dit heel waarskynlik ‘n kosbare besitting. Dis ook betekenisvol, omdat klere dwarsdeur die Bybel gedrag en karakter simboliseer. Paulus sê: ‘…By julle doop het julle Christus aangetrek soos ‘n mens ‘n stel nuwe klere aantrek…’ (Galasiërs 3:27 DB).
Die woorde: ‘… van bo tot onder aaneen geweef,’ dui aan dat Jesus altyd deur God se gedagtes gerig is. Hy het inderwaarheid gesê: ‘…die Seun kan niks uit sy eie doen nie. Hy doen slegs wat Hy die Vader sien doen…’ (Johannes 5:19 NLV). Toe Jesus gekruisig is, het Hy sy naatlose kleed eenkant gesit, en ‘…in ons plek ‘n vervloekte [ge]word…’ (Galasiërs 3:13 AFR83), deur die kleed van sonde waarop ons name geskryf was, aan te trek.
Hy het soos ‘n gewone misdadiger vir sonde wat Hy nie gepleeg het nie gesterf, sodat ons die kleed van sy geregtigheid kan aantrek. Sodat sondaars soos ons wat na die kruis kom, daar kan wegstap met ‘…regverdigheid aan soos ‘n borsplaat…’ (Jesaja 59:17 NLV), die belt van ‘…regverdigheid… en ook waarheid’ (Jesaja 11:5 NLV), en ‘…klere van redding…’ (Jesaja 61:10 NLV), aan ons lyf. Jesus het nie net ‘n plek in die hemel vir ons voorberei nie; Hy het ook seker gemaak dat ons reg vir die geleentheid aangetrek sou wees.
Sielskos: Lev 11:1-13:37; Luk 23:50-56; Ps 69:7-21; Deut 21:22-23
