2024-10-24
Matthew 7:1 NKJV
This happened when Chuck Swindoll was speaking in California: “A gentleman came to him and said, ‘I have waited so long for this week, I am going to eat up everything you have to say.’ Swindoll thanked him. Sunday night… the man started nodding [off]. Swindoll figured that he’d had a long drive and was probably tired. It happened each night until the conference ended. As a preacher… it didn’t feel good to see someone sleeping on him.
On Friday morning, the lady who was sitting next to him came to Swindoll and said, ‘I want to thank you for the ministry this week. Oh, and by the way, I am sorry about my husband sleeping on you… He has terminal cancer and the doctors have just given him a couple of weeks to live. When we talked about what he wanted to do before he died, he said, ‘I want to go hear Chuck Swindoll.’ But you see, Dr. Swindoll, the doctors gave him medicine to keep away the pain, and the medicine makes him sleep. I wanted to apologize to you that he has been sleeping, but I wanted you to know you made this the best week of the last part of his life.’ Swindoll later said he could have crawled under a rock, because he had made a judgment and without any investigation he reacted.”
Why did Jesus say, “Judge not, that you be not judged”? Because there may be circumstances and factors at work in a person’s life that you don’t understand. So instead of judging them, extend to them the same grace God has extended to you.
Soul food: Isa 4-7; John 5:31-47; Ps 5; Prov 27:13-16
2024-10-23
Ecclesiastes 3:7 NLT
Calvin Coolidge, the thirtieth US president, was known as a reserved man who spoke very little. One day when a reporter attempted to interview him, the conversation went like this: Reporter: “Do you wish to say anything about the war threat in Europe?” Coolidge: “No.” Reporter: “Do you have anything to say about the strike in the clothing factories?” Coolidge: “No.” Reporter: “Do you have anything to say about the League of Nations?” Coolidge: “No.” Reporter: “Would you care to comment on the farm production problem?” Coolidge: “No.” As the reporter was leaving the room, Coolidge unexpectedly called him back and said with a smile, “Don’t quote me!”
The Bible says, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven… A time to be quiet and a time to speak” (vv. 1, 7 NLT). Never allow yourself to be pressured into saying something you don’t want to say, or get drawn in when you don’t feel like talking. Silence isn’t a lack of communication; it’s a form of communication and can be a very effective one!
Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” One thing is for sure, what you don’t say today, you won’t have to explain or apologize for tomorrow. If your tendency is to speak without thinking, or when you have nothing constructive to add, weigh the situation carefully and ask God for wisdom before deciding if you should speak or be quiet. Remember: “Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut” (Proverbs 17:28 MSG).
Soul food: Isa 1-3; John 5:16-30; Ps 15; Prov 27:10-12
Prediker 3:7 NLV
Calvin Coolidge, die dertigste president van Amerika, was bekend daarvoor dat hy ‘n inkennige man was wat baie min gepraat het. Een dag toe ‘n verslaggewer probeer het om met hom ‘n onderhoud te voer, het die gesprek as volg verloop: Verslaggewer: ‘Wil jy iets oor die oorlogbedreiging in Europa sê?’ Coolidge: ‘Nee.’ Verslaggewer: ‘Het jy enigiets oor die staking in die klerefabrieke te sê?’ Coolidge: ‘Nee.’ Verslaggewer: ‘Het jy iets oor die Volkebond te sê?’ Coolidge: ‘Nee.’ Soos die verslaggewer die kamer verlaat het, het Coolidge hom onverwags teruggeroep en met ‘n glimlag gesê: ‘Maar moet my nie aanhaal nie!’
Die Bybel sê: ‘Daar is ‘n vaste tyd vir alles, elke ding onder die son het sy tyd… ‘n Tyd om stil te bly en ‘n tyd om te praat’ (verse 1, 7 NLV). Moet nooit toelaat dat jy onder druk geplaas word om iets te sê wat jy nie wil sê nie, of ingetrek word wanneer jy nie lus is om te praat nie. Stilte is nie ‘n gebrek aan kommunikasie nie; dis ‘n vorm van kommunikasie wat baie effektief kan wees!
Spreuke 29:11 sê: ‘Wanneer ‘n dwaas kwaad is, dan sê hy alles wat hy dink, ‘n wyse mens bly kalm’ (ABA). Een ding is vir seker: dit wat jy vandag nie sê nie, hoef jy nie môre te verduidelik of verskoning voor te vra nie. As jy geneig is om te praat voor jy dink, of wanneer jy niks opbouend het om by te dra nie, moet jy die situasie versigtig opweeg en God vir wysheid vra voor jy besluit of jy moet praat of eerder stil moet bly. Onthou: ‘Selfs ‘n dwaas tree reg op wanneer hy sy praatlus bedwing. As hy geheime kan hou, is hy slim’ (Spreuke 17:28 DB).
Sielskos: Jes 1-3; Joh 5:16-30; Ps 15; Spr 27:10-12
2024-10-22
Psalm 141:3 NLT
When William Gladstone was Chancellor of the Exchequer in Britain, he requested that the Treasury send him certain statistics upon which he might base his budget proposals. Unfortunately, the statistician made a mistake, and Gladstone was so certain of this man’s reputation for accuracy that he didn’t take the time to verify his figures. As a result, Gladstone went before the House of Commons and gave a speech based on the incorrect information given to him. His speech was no sooner published than the inaccuracies were exposed, and he became the brunt of terrible public ridicule.
When the chancellor sent for the statistician who had given him the inaccurate information, the man arrived full of fear and shame, certain he was going to be fired. Instead, Gladstone said, “I know how much you must be disturbed over what has happened, so I have sent for you to put you at ease. For a long time, you have been engaged in handling the intricacies of the national accounts, and this is the first mistake that you have made. I want to congratulate you, and express to you my keen appreciation.” Can you imagine the sense of relief, gratitude, and hope the man felt that day as he walked out of Gladstone’s office?
It takes a Christlike person to extend mercy, to listen as well as talk, and to think before jumping into action. So instead of retaliating in anger today, pray, “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” When you begin to pray that way – and really mean it – it indicates that you’re growing in grace.
Soul food: Exo 39-40; John 5:1-15; Ps 41; Prov 27:7-9
Psalm 141:3 NLV
Toe William Gladstone die minister van finansies in Brittanje was, het hy versoek dat die tesourie vir hom sekere statistieke stuur waarop hy sy begrotingsvoorstelle kon baseer. Ongelukkig het die statistikus ‘n fout gemaak, maar Gladstone was so seker van hierdie man se reputasie vir akkuraatheid dat hy nie die tyd geneem het om die syfers te verifieer nie. Gevolglik het Gladstone ‘n toespraak op grond van die verkeerde inligting wat aan hom gegee is, gelewer. Dit was nie lank nadat sy toespraak gepubliseer is dat die onakkuraathede blootgelê is, en hy die onderwerp van verskriklike openbare bespotting geword het nie.
Toe die minister die statistikus laat haal wat die onakkurate inligting aan hom gegee het, het die man vol vrees en skaamte opgedaag, seker dat hy afgedank gaan word. In plaas daarvan het Gladstone gesê: ‘Ek weet hoe ontsteld jy oor wat gebeur het is, dus het ek jou ingeroep om jou gerus te stel. Jy is al lank met die hantering van die ingewikkelde nasionale rekeninge besig en dit is die eerste fout wat jy gemaak het. Ek wil jou gelukwens en my groot waardering daarvoor aan jou uitspreek.’ Kan jy jou die verligting, dankbaarheid en hoop van die man indink toe hy uit Gladstone se kantoor geloop het?
Dit verg ‘n Christelike persoon om barmhartigheid te betoon, om te luister sowel as om te praat en om te dink voordat jy tot aksie oorgaan. In plaas daarvan om dus vandag in woede vergelding te neem, bid eerder: ‘Sit ‘n wag voor my mond, Here, hou wag oor wat ek sê.’ Wanneer jy so begin bid – en dit opreg bedoel – dui dit daarop dat jy in genade groei.
Sielskos: Eks 39-40; Joh 5:1-15; Ps 41; Spr 27:7-9
