2025-09-15
Psalm 119:9 NLV
Wanneer ons aan versoeking toegee, is dit maklik om ander mense en ons omgewing te blameer. ‘Vroue trek deesdae te uitlokkend aan… Mans is te seksueel aggressief… Die media is te eksplisiet.’ Hierdie stellings mag dalk waar wees, maar help ons nie om die versoeker se werkswyse te oorkom nie. Satan, ons vyand, het nie sy werkswyse verander nie. Dit werk steeds omdat die menslike natuur nie verander het nie.
Dawid het op ‘n pynlike manier geleer dat dit nie Batseba se badroetine was wat sy ondergang veroorsaak het nie. Hy het verantwoordelikheid vir sy gedrag geneem en gebid: ‘Want ek ken my oortredings en my sonde is gedurig voor my. Teen U, U alleen het ek gesondig; ek het gedoen wat vir U verkeerd is…’ (Psalm 51:5-6 NLV).
Let twee belangrike lesse wat Dawid geleer het op: 1) Hy het ontdek dat mens vergifnis, herstel en vryheid ontvang deur jouself te bekeer en verantwoordelikheid vir jou dade te neem. 2) Hy het ook geleer dat die manier om beheer oor jou wellustige natuur te neem in gereelde tyd wat jy met God se Woord bestee, gevind word.
Jy kan dit nie op eie houtjie doen nie. ‘Hoe kan ‘n jongmens ‘n skoon lewe lei? Deur gehoorsaam te wees aan u woord.’ God se antwoord is nie geheimsinnig of moeilik om te verstaan nie. Sy universele oplossing is: ‘Deur gehoorsaam te wees aan u woord.’ Dawid se nuwe gesindheid en reinheid van hart het uit die beoefening van hierdie waarheid gespruit: ‘Ek het u woord in my hart gebêre sodat ek nie teen U sou sondig nie’ (Psalm 119:11 NLV). Dis ‘n formule vir oorwinning wat ook vir jou sal werk.
Sielskos: Hoogl 1-4; Matt 25:41-46; Ps 3; Spr 21:4-8
Psalm 119:9 NIV
When we give in to temptation, it’s easy to blame other people and our environment. “Women dress too provocatively today… Men are too sexually aggressive… The media is too explicit.” These statements may be true, but they don’t help us to overcome the tempter’s tactics. Humourist Will Rogers is attributed with saying, “Things aren’t what they used to be, and probably never were!” Rose-coloured glasses can be deceptive when it comes to looking back. Satan, our enemy, hasn’t altered his tactics. They still work because human nature hasn’t changed.
David learned painfully that Bathsheba’s bath routine didn’t cause his failure. Owning responsibility for his behaviour, he prayed, “I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against… You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight” (Psalm 51:3-4 NKJV).
Notice two important lessons David learned: (1) He discovered that forgiveness, restoration, and freedom begin by repenting and taking responsibility for your actions. (2) He also learned that the way to maintain power over your lustful nature lies in frequent time spent in God’s Word, not your own efforts.
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity?” God’s answer isn’t mystifying or hard to understand. His universal solution is, “By living according to your word.” David’s new attitude and purity of heart came from practicing this truth: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 NIV). And that’s a formula for victory that will work for you too.
Soul food: S of Sol 1-4; Matt 25:41-46; Ps 3; Pro 21:4-8
2025-09-14
Galasiërs 5:16 NLV
Wellus is vir ons so natuurlik soos asemhaal. Ons vleeslike aard wil altyd sy selfsugtige begeertes vervul. Dit kry nooit genoeg nie en wil altyd meer hê. Aan die ander kant, smag ons nuwe natuur na dit wat die Heilige Gees, wat in ons verloste gees leef, bevredig. Ons is meer vertroud met die aantrekkingskrag van die vlees omdat ons dit al ons hele lewe lank ondervind. Ons verstaan die dringendheid, die aantrekkingskrag en die beheer daarvan.
Wanneer ons egter tyd en energie in wat die Heilige Gees behaag belê, ervaar ons die vervulling en krag wat die Gees alleenlik kan meebring. Paulus sê vir ons: ‘…Laat julle leefstyl eerder deur die Gees bepaal word. Dan sal julle glad nie aan die begeertes van julle sondige geaardheid toegee nie,’ en ‘Ek is dankbaar teenoor God wat ons, omdat ons één is met Christus, altyd saamneem in sy triomftog. Deur ons versprei Hy die aangename geur van sy kennis op elke plek’ (2 Korintiërs 2:14 NLV).
Daar is ‘n manier om bo die swaartekrag van die vlees te leef, ‘n manier wat die konstante siklus van nederlaag/bekering/nederlaag verhoed. Ja, God is ‘n God van vergifnis en herstel wat die opregte belydenisse uit die harte van sy volk aanvaar en al ons oortredings vergewe (Sien 1 Johannes 1:9). ‘Oorvloedige lewe’ beteken egter om in vreugde en oorwinning te leef. Wanneer jy in die vlees lewe, leef jy in ooreenstemming met die bevele van jou menslike natuur. Wanneer jy egter in die Gees lewe, lewe jy in ooreenstemming met die leiding van die Heilige Gees, soos dit in God se Woord uiteengesit word. Gevolglik sal jy ‘…glad nie aan die begeertes van [jou] sondige geaardheid toegee nie.’
Sielskos: Gen 24:1-51; 2 Kor 6:14-7:1
Galatians 5:16 NKJV
Lust is as natural to us as breathing. Our flesh nature lives to fulfill its selfish desires. It never gets enough or stops wanting more. Alternatively, our new nature craves more of what satisfies the Holy Spirit who lives in our redeemed spirit. We’re more familiar with the appeal of the flesh because we have invested more time and energy in nurturing it. We understand its urgency, its appeal, its control, and its compelling tug.
But as we invest equal time and energy in what pleases the Holy Spirit, we experience the fulfillment and power the Spirit alone can bring. So what does “living in the Spirit” really mean? Paul tells us, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” and “Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV).
There is a way to live above the gravitational pull of the flesh, a way that beats living in a constant cycle of defeat/repentance/defeat. Granted, God is a God of forgiveness and restoration who accepts the genuine confessions from the hearts of His people, and forgives all our transgressions (See 1 John 1:9). But “abundant life” means living where most of your time is spent rejoicing in victory. Just as living in the flesh implies living in accordance with the edicts of your human nature, living in the Spirit implies living in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit as outlined in God’s Word. And the end result is that “you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Soul food: Gen 24:1-51; 2 Cor 6:14-7:1
2025-09-13
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
According to Jesus, lust is preceded by temptation and can lead to sin (See Matthew 5:27-28). But the good news about dealing with temptation is that you’re not alone. God’s Word tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (v. 13 NKJV).
In light of this Scripture, simply saying “I couldn’t help myself” is an excuse that doesn’t hold up before God. The Bible says no temptation is greater than God’s faithfulness. If you choose the way of escape which He offers, you won’t fall into the trap. And if you do fail, it will be because you didn’t draw on God’s faithfulness. The temptation may not disappear immediately, but you will be given a way to bear it, to hold out against it. The temptation remains an active possibility, but God gives us the option of trusting in His reliable, delivering power.
Bearing temptation implies an ongoing process. You can win the battle, but the war will never fully end until the last shot is fired at the coming of Jesus when every foe will become his footstool (See Acts 2:35). In the meantime, “be vigilant and cautious… for that enemy of yours… roams around like a lion… seeking someone to… devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith… knowing that the same… sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood… throughout the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9 AMPC).
Soul food: 2 Cor 11:16-13:14; Matt 25:31-40; Ps 19; Pro 21:3
