2024-02-29
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
What would you like to change about yourself? How would you change it? To ask it another way, what would your spouse like you to change? Maybe that would be more enlightening. How would you end the sentence, “It’s just like me to… “? Always be late? Not stay on a diet? Say the wrong thing? Burst out in anger? Be sad? Jeremiah puts it this way: “Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil” (Jeremiah 13:23 NLT).
You say, “I guess it’s hopeless.” No, this is where God’s life-changing power comes into operation: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV). Once we commit our lives to Christ, we’re not the same any longer; a new life has begun. That’s why the Bible calls it being “born again.” We immediately have a new nature, plus the indwelling Holy Spirit. A set of “spiritual batteries” is included to supply the power! That makes all the difference.
Just as your first birth was the beginning of your life, so the new birth is the beginning of this new life. And it’s followed by a lifelong process depicted in Romans 12:2: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-make you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed. Thus you will prove in practice that the will of God is good, acceptable to him and perfect” (PHPS).
Soul food: 1 Kings 15; Matt 18:15-35; Ps 96; Prov 6:12-15
2 Korintiërs 5:17 NLV
Wat sal jy graag aan jouself wil verander? Hoe sou jy dit verander? Wat sou jou eggenoot graag wou hê jy moet verander? Hoe sou jy die sin: ‘Dis tipies van my om….’ voltooi? Altyd laat te wees? Nie op ‘n dieet te bly nie? Die verkeerde ding te sê? In woede uit te bars? Hartseer te wees? Jeremia stel dit so: ‘…Kan ‘n luiperd sy kolle laat verdwyn? Dink julle miskien dat julle skielik kan begin goeie dinge doen nadat julle gewoond was om kwaad te doen?’ (Jeremia 13:23 NLV). Jy sê: ‘Dan is dit seker hopeloos.’ Nee, dis waar God se lewensveranderende krag inkom. ‘Daarom – iemand wat één is met Christus, is ‘n nuwe skepping. Die ou dinge is verby, kyk, die nuwe is hier!’ (2 Korintiërs 5:17 NLV).
Wanneer ons ons lewens aan Christus toewy, is ons nie meer dieselfde nie; ‘n nuwe lewe het begin. Dis hoekom die Bybel sê dat ons ‘wedergebore’ is. Ons het onmiddellik ‘n nuwe gesindheid, sowel as die inwonende Heilige Gees. Dit maak die verskil. Net soos jou eerste geboorte die begin van jou lewe was, so is die nuwe geboorte die begin van hierdie nuwe lewe.
Dit word deur ‘n lewenslange proses wat in Romeine 12:2 uitgebeeld word, gevolg: ‘Moenie julle leefstyl aanpas by die gedragspatrone van hierdie wêreld nie, maar laat God julle omvorm deurdat Hy julle denkpatrone vernuwe. Dan sal julle goed kan onderskei wat Hý wil hê dat julle moet doen, naamlik dit wat werklik goed en aanvaarbaar en volmaak is’ (NLV).
Sielskos: 1 Kon 15; Matt 18:15-35; Ps 96; Spr 6:12-15
2024-02-28
Efesiërs 1:15-16 NLV
Bybelse gebede is kragtig. Hulle plaas dinge in perspektief. Paulus het byvoorbeeld gebid vir die Efese dat: ‘…die Vader… aan julle geestelike wysheid en insig sal gee deurdat julle Hom persoonlik ken. Mag God julle harte so verlig dat julle sal insien watter wonderlike vooruitsig sy roeping inhou… Mag julle insien hoe enorm groot die krag is wat God gebruik in ons wat glo’ (verse 17-19 NLV).
JoHannah Reardon skryf: ‘1) Maak jou gebede God-gesentreerd. Die skepper van die heelal het jou die voorreg gegee dat jy jou versoeke na Hom kan bring. Wanneer jy vir God vertel hoe groot Hy is, word jy met ‘n verwagting vervul dat iets groot kan gebeur, omdat jy met die Een wat enigiets kan doen, praat.
2) Maak jou gebede vol lofprysing. Die sleutel is nie om op jou probleme te fokus nie, maar om God te dank en te prys omdat Hy weet wat Hy doen. Leer om te sê: ‘Ek weet nie hoekom ek hierdie probleem het nie, Here, en ek sal graag wil hê dat U dinge verander. As U dit egter nie verander nie, weet ek dat U dit ten goede in my lewe sal gebruik.’
3) Maak jou gebede lewensveranderend. Die meeste van ons gebede vra God om ons omstandighede te verander. Miskien wil Hy egter vir jou verander. Dit beteken nie dat Hy nooit tussenbeide sal tree nie; Hy voorsien aan behoeftes, maak deure oop en genees mense elke dag op wonderbaarlike maniere. Wanneer jy egter jare bestee om te bid vir iets wat nooit gebeur nie, mag dit dalk ‘n leidraad wees dat jy nie op die regte manier bid nie. Paulus het vreugde in ‘n tronksel gevind en wanneer God jou oë oopmaak, sal jy ook vreugde in jou situasie vind.’
Sielskos: 1 Kon 14; Matt 18:1-14; Ps 58; Spr 6:10-11
Ephesians 1:16 NIV
Bible prayers are powerful. They put things into perspective. For example, Paul prayed that God would give the Ephesians “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation… that you may know him better…. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you… and his incomparably great power” (vv.17-19 NIV).
With this model in mind, JoHannah Reardon writes this: (1) Make your prayers God centered. The creator of the universe has given you the privilege of bringing your requests to Him. When you tell God how great He is, you’re filled with an expectancy that something great can happen because you’re talking to the One who can do anything.
(2) Make them praise filled. Paul starts by saying, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you.” The key isn’t to focus on your troubles, but to thank God and praise Him because He knows what He is doing. Learn to say, “I don’t know why I’m having this problem, Lord, and I would love for you to change things. But if you don’t, I know you will use it for good in my life.”
(3) Make them life changing. Most of our prayers are asking God to change our circumstances. But maybe He wants to change you. That doesn’t mean He won’t ever intervene; He supplies needs, opens doors, and heals people in incredible ways every day. But when you spend years praying for something that never happens, it may be a clue you’re not praying the right way. Paul found joy in a prison cell, and when God opens your eyes, you will find joy in your situation too.
Soul food: 1 Kings 14; Matt 18:1-14; Ps 58; Prov 6:10-11
2024-02-27
Proverbs 23:18 NIV
Are you surrounded by people whose mission is to inject “a dose of reality” into your life? They continually point out how tough the economy is, how dismal the job market is, and how the sky is falling down.
Jon Walker writes: “I remember my high school English teacher telling me not to apply to Cornell University because they wouldn’t accept me, and if they did, I wouldn’t be able to do the work… I almost didn’t apply, but a few days later a former teacher said, ‘If you get in, go. You can do it.’ His words made all the difference. I applied and was accepted… The world needs more optimists, encouragers, and inspirers to speak into the hearts of others and say, ‘I believe in you. Follow your passion and live your purpose. If you have the desire, you have the power to make it happen. Keep working hard. You’re improving and getting better. The economy is tough, but you can still grow your business. The job market isn’t great, but you’ll find the right job… Even if you fail, it will lead to something even better. You’re learning and growing.’ The difference between success and failure is belief, and often that belief is instilled in us by someone who encouraged us.”
The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish [lack faith and focus]” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). Vision is a desire to move ahead; without it, you stay stuck where you are. It doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks; God says, “There is… a future… for you,” and when you look to Him, He will give you the strength to go forward.
Soul food: 1 Kings 12-13; Matt 17:14-27; Ps 53; Prov 6:9
