2023-08-26
1 Johannes 3:18 NLV
Toe iemand vir ‘n multimiljoenêr gevra het hoeveel geld mens nodig het om gelukkig te wees, het hy geantwoord: ‘Net nog ‘n bietjie.’ Kom ons neem aan dat jy nie so is nie en vir ander mense omgee. Hoekom is jy nie meer daarby betrokke om aan hulle behoeftes te voldoen nie? ‘Iemand wat ryk is aan aardse lewensmiddele en sy broers en susters sien gebrek ly, maar weier om ‘n helpende hand uit te steek – hoe is dit moontlik dat die liefde van God in daardie persoon woon? Kinders, laat ons nie liefhê met woorde of gepratery nie, maar eerder deur ons optrede…’ (verse 17-18 NLV). Hierdie Skrifgedeelte kan in twee woorde opgesom word: Doen iets!
In die gelykenis van die Barmhartige Samaritaan, het twee verskillende predikers op die Jerigopad verby ‘n sterwende man geloop sonder om te stop en hulp aan te bied. Hoe het hulle so onsensitief en onwillig geword? Het hulle gedink: ‘Die probleem is te groot, daar is niks wat ek daaraan kan doen nie?’ Was hulle so op hulle kerk se agenda gefokus dat hulle nie die tyd of hulpbronne om hierdie man weer op sy voete te kry, wou afstaan nie?
Jesus het gesê: ‘Toe het ‘n veragte Samaritaan verbygekom, en toe hy die man sien, het hy hom innig jammer gekry. Die Samaritaan kniel toe langs hom, behandel sy wonde met medisyne, en verbind dit. Toe het hy die man op sy eie donkie gehelp en hom na ‘n herberg geneem en daar verder versorg’ (Lukas 10:33-34 NLV). Die Samaritaan het hom innig jammer gekry. Hy was bereid om emosioneel betrokke te raak. Jy moet ook wees. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – doen iets!
Sielskos: Rig 19:16-21:25; Mark 8:14-26; Ps 119:137-144; Spr 18:22-24
1 John 3:18 NKJV
When a multimillionaire was asked how much money it takes to be happy, he replied, “Just a little more.” Now let’s assume you’re not like that, and you care about others. Why are you not more involved in meeting their needs? “Whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? …let us not love in word… but in deed” (vv. 17-18 NKJV). That Scripture could be reduced to two words: Do something!
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, two different ministers walked past a dying man on the Jericho road without stopping to help. Why? Wasn’t this a great opportunity to “practice what you preach?” How did they become so insensitive and uncaring? Did they think, “The problem is too big, there is nothing I can do about it?” Were they so focused on their church’s agenda that they didn’t want to commit the time or the resources necessary to get this man back on his feet?
Jesus said: “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:33-34 NKJV). Note the word “compassion.” The Good Samaritan was willing to get emotionally involved. You must too.
Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision, once prayed, “Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.” The word for you today is – do something!
Soul food: Judg 19:16-21:25; Mark 8:14-26; Ps 119:137-144; Prov 18:22-24
2023-08-25
Matthew 18:21 NKJV
The Bible says, “Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him… ‘up to seventy times seven'” (vv. 21-22 NKJV). Seventy times seven equals 490 times. And it’s your “brother,” someone you have to live or work with, whom you’re called to forgive. In essence Jesus was saying, “Forgive, and keep on forgiving if you want to have a relationship with this person.”
Let’s face it, we all make mistakes because we’re flawed in different ways. Perfection only exists in God. Recall Jesus’ words: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 KJV). Truer words have never been spoken, and very few concepts are more significant to remember in a relationship.
While it’s perfectly normal to feel anger, and a natural human reaction to feel mistreated, there is a big difference between healthy anger and the corrosive emotion of bitterness. Bitterness is relational cancer. As Dr. Maya Angelou said, “[Bitterness] feeds upon the host. It does nothing to the object of the displeasure.” In this case, the “host” is your relationship, and forgiveness is the medication and the cure.
Jesus said, “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31 KJV). Offering the degree of forgiveness you wish to receive ensures that your relationship stays healthy and free from the disease of bitterness. Is it sometimes hard to do? Yes, but if you pray, God will give you the grace to do it!
Soul food: Judg 16:1-19:15; Mark 8:1-13; Ps 119:129-136; Prov 18:21
Matteus 18:21 NLV
Die Bybel sê: “Daarop kom vra Petrus Hom: ‘Hoeveel maal moet ek ‘n medegelowige vergewe wat iets verkeerds teen my gedoen het? Selfs tot sewe maal toe?’ ‘Nee,’ verseker Jesus hom, ‘nie tot sewe maal toe nie, maar tot sewentig maal sewe toe!'” (verse 21-22 NLV). Sewentig maal sewe is gelyk aan 490 keer. Dis jou medegelowige, iemand saam met wie jy moet lewe of werk, wat jy geroep is om te vergewe. In wese het Jesus gesê: ‘Vergewe en hou aan om te vergewe as jy ‘n verhouding met hierdie persoon wil hê.’
Kom ons erken dit, ons almal maak foute, omdat ons op verskillende maniere gebrekkig is. Volmaaktheid bestaan net in God. Onthou Jesus se woorde: ‘…Vader, vergewe hulle, want hulle besef nie wat hulle doen nie!’ (Lukas 23:34 NLV).
Terwyl dit heeltemal normaal is om woede te voel en dit ‘n natuurlike menslike reaksie is om mishandel te voel, is daar ‘n groot verskil tussen gesonde woede en die bytende emosie van bitterheid. Bitterheid is kanker vir ‘n verhouding. Soos dr Maya Angelou gesê het: ‘Bitterheid teer op die gasheer. Dit doen niks aan die onderwerp van die onvergenoegdheid nie.’
Jesus het gesê: ‘Doen aan ander wat jy wil hê hulle aan jou moet doen’ (Lukas 6:31 NLV). Deur die mate van vergifnis aan te bied wat jy wil ontvang, verseker jy dat jou verhouding gesond en vry van die siekte van bitterheid bly. Is dit soms moeilik om te doen? Ja, maar as jy bid, sal God jou die genade gee om dit te doen!
Sielskos: Rig 16:1-19:15; Mark 8:1-13; Ps 119:129-136; Spr 18:21
2023-08-24
Exodus 12:7 NLT
On the night of the Passover, God told Moses that the angel of death would come and eliminate all the firstborn males in Egypt. Then He gave a specific plan of protection to the children of Israel. He said each household must take a lamb and spread its blood “on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses.” Try to imagine that! On the night of judgment when the angel of death looked at their houses, because they were “under” the blood, “surrounded” by the blood, and “seen” through the blood, they were saved.
Sometimes when we pray, we say, “Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus and on the merits of His shed blood, and I ask you to…” Why do we pray that way? Because the Bible tells us that God responds to (a) the name of Jesus, whose sacrifice on our behalf He has fully accepted, and (b) the blood of Jesus, which satisfies all His claims against us – past, present, and future.
Among the many things that you may be able to do for your family, none is more important or significant than praying for them every day. When you say, “Father, by an act of faith, I cover this member of my family with the precious blood of Jesus,” you protect them from spiritually destructive influences that if left to their own devices can tear your family apart. You say, “I don’t quite understand all of that!” You don’t have to. Just do it – and God will honour you and bless your family!
Soul food: Judg 12-15; Mark 7:24-37; Ps 119:121-128; Prov 18:13-20
