2025-06-20
Luke 22:32 NLT
Too often people are devalued or dismissed because of what they have been through in life. Sometimes it’s because of what they have done to others, sometimes it’s because of what others have done to them. If you have been to a consignment store, you know there are valuable items at deeply discounted prices; you just have to know what you’re looking for.
Jesus does. In His eyes you may be “down” but you’re not “out.” Peter’s sorrow over denying Jesus ran so deep that he decided to go back to his old job as a fisherman. Can you imagine the scuttlebutt around the harbour? “That’s the guy who turned his back on Jesus.” Were Peter a pastor, we would have called for his resignation. At the very least, he would have nothing to say that we would be interested in listening to. Yet, he was the first person Jesus went looking for after the resurrection. And when Jesus saw Peter, He never mentioned it – not even once. But three times He asked him, “Do you love me?” When Peter answered yes three times, Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” referring to his future as pastor and head of the church (See John 21:15-17).
Jesus looked beyond Peter’s failed past and saw his future. Peter’s failure was not a surprise. Jesus had told him, “When you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” The weakness he had overcome and the restoring grace he had experienced became some of his greatest teaching tools in helping others. Yes, God will reprove you, but it’s to restore you and use you for His purposes.
Soul food: Jer 10-13; Mark 15:33-47; Ps 17; Prov 14:13-16
Lukas 22:32 NLV
Mense word te dikwels onderwaardeer of geïgnoreer as gevolg van wat hulle in die lewe deurgemaak het. Soms is dit as gevolg van wat hulle aan ander gedoen het, soms is dit as gevolg van wat ander aan hulle gedoen het. As jy al ooit by ‘n pandjieswinkel was, weet jy dat daar waardevolle items teen groot afslagpryse is; jy moet net weet waarna jy soek.
Jesus weet waarna Hy soek. Petrus se hartseer omdat hy Jesus verloën het, het hom so diep getref dat hy besluit het om na sy ou werk as visserman terug te keer. Kan jy jou die skinderstories by die hawe voorstel? ‘Dis die ou wat sy rug op Jesus gedraai het.’ As Petrus ‘n leraar was, sou ons sy bedanking geëis het. Tog was hy die eerste persoon wat Jesus na die opstanding opgesoek het. Toe Jesus vir Petrus sien, het Hy nie een keer van Petrus se misstap melding gemaak nie. Drie keer het Hy egter vir Petrus gevra: ‘Het jy My lief?’ Toe Petrus drie keer instemmend geantwoord het, het Jesus vir hom gesê: ‘Wees ‘n herder van my skape.’ Dit het na Petrus se toekoms as pastoor en hoof van die kerk verwys (sien Johannes 21:15-17).
Jesus het verby Petrus se verlede gekyk en sy toekoms gesien. Petrus se mislukking was nie ‘n verrassing nie. Jesus het vir hom gesê: ‘…As jy weer tot inkeer gekom het, moet jy jou medegelowiges gaan ondersteun.’ Petrus se swakheid wat hy oorkom het en die herstellende genade wat hy ervaar het, het sy grootste onderriginstrumente om ander te help, geword. Ja, God sal jou teregwys, maar dit is om jou te herstel en jou vir sy doeleindes te gebruik.
Sielskos: Jer 10-13; Mark 15:33-47; Ps 17; Spr 14:13-16
2025-06-19
2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV
In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul reflects on the cost of serving Jesus: “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27 NKJV).
What enabled him to live above his problems rather than be crushed under them? A God perspective! “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV).
Paul processed things differently. When he had nothing materially, he believed, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). When facing the executioner’s chopping block, he wrote, “Having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Philippians 1:23 NKJV). Today ask God to give you His perspective on things!
Soul food: Jer 7-9; Mark 15:21-32; Ps 8; Prov 14:9-12
2 Korintiërs 4:16 NLV
Paulus het in ‘n skrywe aan die kerk in Korinte oor die koste om Jesus te dien, gereflekteer: ‘Vyf maal het ek van die Jode die gebruiklike straf van 39 houe gekry; drie maal is ek met stokke geslaan, en een keer is ek met klippe gegooi. Drie maal het ek skipbreuk gely en een van daardie kere het ek ‘n dag en ‘n nag op die oop see oorleef. Ek was dikwels op reis; in gevare van riviere; van rowers; van my volksgenote; van heidene; gevare in die stad en in verlate gebiede; gevare op see en gevare onder vals medegelowiges. Ek weet van harde werk en swaarkry, van baie nagte se wakkerbly, van honger en dors; van dikwels sonder kos te moet klaarkom, van koue en sonder klere wees’ (2 Korintiërs 11:24-27 NLV).
Wat het hom in staat gestel om bo sy probleme uit te styg, eerder as om daardeur verpletter te word? ‘n God-perspektief! ‘Om hierdie rede gee ons nie moed op nie. Al is ons uiterlike mens besig om te vergaan, innerlik word ons dag tot dag vernuwe. Ons swaarkry op die oomblik is gering en tydelik, maar dit bewerk vir ons ‘n heerlikheid wat alles verreweg oortref en vir altyd vas sal staan. Ons oog is nie op die sigbare dinge nie, maar op die onsigbare, want die sigbare dinge is tydelik, maar die onsigbare vir altyd’ (2 Korintiërs 4:16-18 NLV).
Paulus het dinge anders verwerk. Toe hy die laksman se gereedskap in die gesig gestaar het, het hy geskryf: ‘…Aan die een kant verlang ek om te vertrek en persoonlik by Christus te wees, want dit is vir my verreweg die beste’ (Filippense 1:23 NLV). Vra vandag vir God om vir jou sy perspektief op dinge te gee!
Sielskos: Jer 7-9; Mark 15:21-32; Ps 8; Spr 14:9-12
2025-06-18
John 21:21 NIV
One day Peter looked at John and asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered… “What is that to you?… follow me” (v. 22 NIV). When others disappoint you, remember that you have disappointed others. When others give you bad advice, remember that you have given others bad advice. There is only one person who won’t disappoint you and will always point you in the right direction. Jesus. He doesn’t merely know the way, He is the way. “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12 NIV). When you follow even the best of Christians, they will sometimes cause you to stumble or be confused. But when you follow Jesus, He will illuminate every step you take.
Christ’s own disciples would have disappointed you. Peter was racially biased and sometimes honoured Jews over Gentiles. James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven on those in a village that refused overnight accommodation to Jesus and His disciples. Thomas doubted the truth of the resurrection and said, “Unless I feel the imprint of the nails in His hands, I will not believe He is alive” (See John 20:25).
Yes, people will disappoint you. But Jesus won’t. That’s why the Bible says, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV).
The only people who can let you down are the people you lean on. So, the word for you today is – lean less on people and more on Jesus.
Soul food: Jer 4-6; Mark 15:1-20; Ps 144:9-15; Prov 14:5-8
