2023-06-16
Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV
What’s your concept of God? When you pray, “Our Father,” what do you see? Do you see a parent who abandoned you, abused you, or abdicated their responsibility to you? Do you think of an angry father who accused but never affirmed you; in other words, a God waiting to zap you each time you do wrong? If so, you need to change your concept of God.
The Bible says: “The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (v. 17 NKJV). Let’s break this Scripture down:
(1) “The Lord your God in your midst.” He is not a distant deity, but an up-close-and-personal Father who loves His redeemed children dearly.
(2) “The Mighty One, will save.” When you consider the word “mighty,” think of Hercules a billion times over and you still won’t even be close. Today you may be weak, but He is strong. Your sins may be great, but His saving grace is greater (See Romans 5:20).
(3) “He will rejoice over you with gladness.” Every time God looks at you, He smiles and rejoices. You make His heart glad. Did you know that?
(4) “He will quiet you with His love.” Ever watch a mother holding a crying baby and saying, “Shush, shush, it’s okay, I’m here, I love you.” The baby is comforted, feels secure, and goes to sleep. That’s what God does for us.
(5) “He will rejoice over you with singing.” God sings! What does He sing about? You! It’s time to change your concept of God!
Soul food: 2 Kings 10-12; Matt 18:21-35; Ps 73:1-16; Prov 13:17-19
2023-06-15
Luke 10:42 NIV
When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, their individual responses to Him were very different. Martha’s focus was on the meal. Her aim was to please Jesus. But she made a common mistake; her work became more important than her Lord. What began as a serving experience became a self-serving one. She forgot the meal was to honor Jesus, not her. She said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (v. 40 NIV). And what did Jesus say? “Martha, Martha… you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed… Mary has chosen what is better” (vv. 41-42 NIV). And what had Mary chosen? Intimacy with Jesus!
The danger of religious activity is that sometimes it’s designed to make us feel good about ourselves and look good in front of others. Choosing activity over intimacy also happens to people who love the Lord and aren’t necessarily involved in church work.
It’s amazing how many bright, successful people reach the point of burnout because they have neglected their relationship with God. They never intended to; it’s just that they have learned to make it on their own and haven’t been forced to rely on Him. Or they have bought into a “religious compartmentalization” of God – like He is just another weekly appointment on Sunday mornings.
The fact that Jesus chose intimacy over activity teaches us a very important lesson: Until you put your relationship with God at the center of your life, you will struggle to find your true purpose, enjoy the fruit of your labors, and experience God’s peace and joy.
Soul food: 2 Kings 7-9; Matt 18:10-20; Ps 80:12-19; Prov 13:13-16
Lukas 10:42 NLV
Toe Jesus die huis van Maria en Marta besoek het, was hulle individuele reaksies teenoor Hom baie verskillend. Marta se fokus was op die maaltyd. Haar doel was om Jesus te behaag. Sy het egter ‘n algemene fout gemaak; haar werk het belangriker as haar Here geword. Wat begin het as ‘n bedieningservaring, het ‘n selfdienende een geword. Sy het gesê: ‘…Here, lyk dit darem nie vir U onregverdig dat my suster net hier sit terwyl ek al die werk doen nie? Sê sy moet my kom help’ (vers 40 NLV).
Hoe het Jesus haar geantwoord? ‘…My liewe Marta, jy kwel jou tog oor so baie dinge. Daar is regtig net een ding wat die moeite werd is om oor besorg te wees. Maria het dit ontdek…’ (verse 41-42 NLV). Wat het Maria gekies? Intimiteit met Jesus!
Die gevaar van godsdienstige aktwiteite is dat dit soms ontwerp is om ons goed oor onsself te laat voel en ons goed voor ander mense te laat lyk. Dis verstommend hoe baie slim, suksesvolle mense uitbrand omdat hulle hul verhouding met God verwaarloos. Hulle bedoel nie om dit te doen nie; dis net dat hulle geleer het om hulle eie weg te baan en nie gedwing is om op Hom staat te maak nie. Of hulle het ingekoop in ‘n ‘godsdienstige kompartementalisering’ van God – asof Hy net nog ‘n weeklikse afspraak op ‘n Sondagoggend is.
Die feit dat Jesus intimiteit bo aktiwiteit verkies het, leer ons ‘n baie belangrike les: Totdat jy nie jou verhouding met God die middelpunt van jou lewe maak nie, sal jy sukkel om jou ware doel te ontdek, die vrugte van jou harde werk te pluk en God se vrede en vreugde te geniet.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 7-9; Matt 18:10-20; Ps 80:12-19; Spr 13:13-16
2023-06-14
Philippians 3:20 NIV
Let’s recap. As an ambassador, you must have the following qualifications and characteristics:
(1) Be a citizen of the country you represent. “Our citizenship is in heaven.”
(2) Your character and conduct must reflect the highest values of your country. “That our God may make you worthy of his calling” (2 Thessalonians 1:11 NIV).
(3) You must be equipped for the job. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4 NIV).
(4) You must be loyal to your country.
Now, let’s look at two more qualifications: (5) An ambassador must be an effective communicator. The best ambassadors are bilingual; they speak and understand the language of those around them. Can you do that? In order to have the right answer, you must understand the question, the questioner, and where they’re coming from. The Bible says, “If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way” (1 Peter 3:15-16 NLT). Note the words “always be ready.”
(6) An ambassador must be a good diplomat. Ambassadors are most effective when they’re winsome as they go about their work. You wouldn’t want someone representing your country who was arrogant and abrasive in dealing with others. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35 NKJV). Our message is the gospel, and our strategy is love! What’s our message? “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV).
Soul food: 2 Kings 4:18-6:33; Matt 18:1-9; Ps 80:1-11; Prov 13:11-12
Filippense 3:20 NLV
Jy moet dus die volgende kwalifikasies en karaktereienskappe as ambassadeur hê:
1) Jy moet ‘n burger wees van die land wat jy verteenwoordig. ‘Ons daarteenoor het ons burgerskap in die hemel…’
2) Jou karakter en optrede moet die hoogste waardes van jou land verteenwoordig. ‘…Mag ons God julle waardig maak vir die lewe waartoe Hy julle geroep het…’ (2 Tessalonisense 1:11 NLV).
3) Jy moet vir die werk toegerus wees. ‘Daar is ‘n hele verskeidenheid geestelike gawes, en tog kom hulle van dieselfde Gees’ (1 Korintiërs 12:4 NLV).
4) Jy moet lojaal aan jou land wees.
Kom ons kyk nou na nog twee kwalifikasies waaroor ‘n ambassadeur moet beskik:
5) ‘n Ambassadeur moet ‘n effektiewe kommunikeerder wees. Die beste ambassadeurs is tweetalig; hulle verstaan en praat die taal van die mense rondom hulle. Kan jy dit doen? Om die regte antwoord te hê, moet jy die vraag, die persoon wat die vraag vra en waar hulle vandaan kom, verstaan. Die Bybel sê: ‘…en iemand vra julle uit oor die hoop wat in julle leef, wees altyd reg om te reageer. Maar doen dit taktvol en eerbiedig…’ (1 Petrus 3:15-16 NLV). Let die woorde: ‘wees altyd reg om te reageer’ op.
6) ‘n Ambassadeur moet diplomaties wees. Ambassadeurs is die effektiefste wanneer hulle innemend is terwyl hulle met hulle werk aangaan. Jy wil nie iemand hê wat arrogant en beledigend teenoor ander mense is om jou land te verteenwoordig nie. Jesus het gesê: ‘As julle liefde teenoor mekaar beoefen, sal almal daaraan sien dat julle my dissipels is’ (Johannes 13:35 NLV). Ons boodskap is die evangelie en ons strategie is liefde! Wat is ons boodskap? ‘Ons tree op as ambassadeurs vir Christus terwyl God deur ons ‘n appèl aan julle rig. Ons smeek julle ter wille van Christus. Kom tot versoening met God!’ (2 Korintiërs 5:20 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Kon 4:18-6:33; Matt 18:1-9; Ps 80:1-11; Spr 13:11-12
