2024-06-15
Psalm 32:5 NLV
In die Skrif word die woord ‘belydenis’ uit twee Griekse woorde saamgestel: homo, wat ‘dieselfde’ beteken en logeo, wat ‘om te praat,’ beteken. Daarom, om jou sonde voor God te bely, beteken om dieselfde as wat Hy daaroor sê, te sê. Nêrens verwys die Bybel na ons sondes as foute, slegte oordeel of glipsies nie. Dit sê egter duidelik dat God ons sonde vergewe: ‘Ek… is die Een wat julle sondes uitwis. Ek doen dit ter wille van Myself en dink nie weer daaraan nie’ (Jesaja 43:25 NLV). Kom ons wees dus duidelik:
1) Belydenis gaan nie daaroor om verskoning te vra nie. Om jammer te sê is van tyd tot tyd toepaslik en noodsaaklik. Jy kan egter nooit jammer genoeg wees om God se vergifnis te verdien nie. Belydenis gaan daaroor om met God oor die aard, omvang en aanstootlikheid van jou oortredings, saam te stem.
2) Belydenis gaan nie oor gevoelens nie. Sommige van ons verval in berou, skuld en depressie oor ons sondes. Wanneer sulke gevoelens tot belydenis lei, is dit goed. Wanneer ons egter nie hierdie emosies voel nie, moet ons belydenis net so opreg en effektief wees.
3) Belydenis beteken nie jy kla nie. Om ‘n lys van jou sondes te maak en vir God te vertel hoe verskriklik sleg jy is, stem meer ooreen met ‘n gekla as met ‘n belydenis. God wil hê dat jy eerlik met Hom moet wees en met sy evaluasie van jou sonde moet saamstem. Dan kan jy soos Dawid sê: ‘Maar ek het my oortredings bely, my sonde nie weggesteek nie… En my sonde en oortredings het U vergewe.’
Bely dus jou sondes aan God – en begin dan optree soos iemand wat vergewe is!
Sielskos: Eseg 31-33; Mark 16:1-20; Ps 80:1-11; Spr 15:11-14
Psalm 32:5 NLT
In Scripture, the word confession is comprised of two Greek words: homo, meaning “the same,” and logeo, meaning “to speak.” Therefore, confessing your sin to God means saying the same thing about it as He does. It means calling a spade a spade – not a gardening tool! Nowhere does the Bible refer to our sins as mistakes, bad judgments, and slips. However, it clearly says God forgives our sin: “I… am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV). So let’s be clear.
(1) Confessing isn’t about apologizing. Saying you’re sorry is appropriate and necessary at times. But you could never be sorry enough to deserve or earn God’s forgiveness. Confessing is agreeing with God about the nature, extent, and offensiveness of your transgressions.
(2) Confessing isn’t about feelings. Some of us plunge into remorse, guilt, and depression over our sins. And when such feelings lead to confession, that’s good. But even when we don’t feel these emotions, our confession is just as genuine and effective.
(3) Confessing isn’t complaining. Making a laundry list of your sins and telling God how terrible you are is more akin to complaining than confessing. Coming clean with God and agreeing with His evaluation of your sin is what He wants from you. Then, like David, you can say, “I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt… And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”
So, confess your sins to God – then start acting like someone who has been forgiven!
Soul food: Eze 31-33; Mark 16:1-20; Ps 80:1-11; Prov 15:11-14
2024-06-14
2 Konings 6:6 NLV
2 Konings 6 vertel die verhaal van ‘n profeet wat besig was om naby ‘n rivier ‘n boom af te kap toe sy byl in die rivier val. Hy het toe vir Elisa gesê: ‘…Ag Meneer!… Dit is ‘n geleende byl!’ (vers 5 NLV). Hy het gedink die byl was vir ewig verlore. Hy het geen verwagting gehad om ooit die byl terug te kry nie. Hy het vir Elisa gewys waar dit ingeval het. Toe het Elisa ‘n stok afgekap en dit in die water gegooi en iets het gebeur wat nog nooit vantevore of sedertdien gebeur het nie: ‘…Die byl het boontoe gekom en gedryf.’ Dit was nie ‘n lewe-of-dood situasie nie. Ja, die byl was geleen. Ja, dit het verdwyn. As dit egter die ergste ding is wat jy al ooit moes deurmaak, het jy ‘n redelike beskermde lewe gelei.
Jy kan dit in dieselfde kategorie as Jesus wat die water in wyn by die bruilof verander het, plaas. Hoekom jou eerste wonderwerk mors om ‘n bruid en bruidegom te help wat nie genoeg wyn vir hulle onthaal gehad het nie? Dit openbaar iets van God. Hy bemoei Hom met die klein dingetjies, soos bruilofsonthale en geleende byle. Niks is te groot vir ons God nie en niks is ook vir Hom te klein nie. ‘Gee al julle bekommernisse aan God oor, want Hy gee vir julle om’ (1 Petrus 5:7 NLV). As dit vir jou saakmaak, maak dit vir jou liefdevolle hemelse Vader saak. ‘Vra na die wil van God in alles wat jy doen. Hy sal die regte pad vir jou wys’ (Spreuke 3:6 NLV). Let die woorde: ‘in alles wat jy doen,’ op. God wil hê dat jy vandag elke detail van jou lewe met Hom moet deel.
Sielskos: Eseg 27:25-30:26; Mark 15:33-47; Ps 143; Spr 15:8-10
2 Kings 6:6 KJV
Second Kings 6 tells of a prophet chopping trees near a river when his iron ax-head falls in. He said to Elisha: “Alas, master! For it was borrowed” (v. 5 NKJV). He uses the past tense. As far as he is concerned, this ax-head is gone forever. He has no expectation whatsoever that the ax-head will be retrieved. He shows Elisha where he lost it. Elisha cuts a stick and flings it into the water, and something happens that most likely never happened before or since. “And the iron did swim.” Notice, this isn’t a life-or-death situation. Yes, it’s a loaned ax-head. Yes, it disappeared. But if that’s the worst thing you have gone through, you have led a pretty sheltered life.
You could put this into the same category as Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding party. Why waste your first miracle on helping a bride and groom avoid embarrassment because they didn’t stock enough wine for their reception? This reveals something about God. He concerns Himself with the little things, like wedding receptions and borrowed ax-heads. Nothing is too big for our great God, and nothing is too small for Him either.
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV). Note the words “all your care.” If it matters to you, it matters to your loving heavenly Father. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6 NKJV). Note the words “all your ways.” Today God wants you to share every detail of your life with Him.
Soul food: Eze 27:25-30:26; Mark 15:33-47; Ps 143; Prov 15:8-10
2024-06-13
Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV
Anytime you substitute positive thinking for faith in God and obedience to His Word, you’re on dangerous ground! But don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. As a believer, you’re supposed to train your brain to trust God and think positive thoughts that are founded on His Word. A study conducted in the Netherlands found that people who are optimistic have healthier hearts than those who are grumpy. Self-described optimists died of cardiovascular disease at a lower rate than those of pessimists.
Dr. Becca Levy of Yale University conducted a study which concluded that “a positive attitude towards aging was greater than physiological measures such as low blood pressure and cholesterol,” each of which is believed to add a maximum of four years to a person’s life. The same study discovered that optimistic people live longer than people who always worry, and that a positive attitude can add more years to life than exercising or refraining from smoking.
Additionally upholding the mind-body connection, a 2005 Associated Press article reported, “New research suggests that once Alzheimer’s disease robs someone of the ability to expect that a proven painkiller will help them, it doesn’t work nearly as well.” Isn’t that remarkable? When people are able to think painkillers work, the medicines seem to help. Our minds are amazing! The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” And that’s not just spiritual strength, but physical, mental, and emotional strength.
If you want to have a healthy life, you must have a healthy mind, and that starts with thinking positively instead of negatively. So, train your brain.
Soul food: Eze 24:1-27:24; Mark 15:21-32; Ps 132:11-18; Prov 15:5-7
