2023-12-22
John 13:35 NRSV
Have you seen the poster depicting three men, each representing a different version of Jesus? The first looks like an uncouth mountain man, the second is tanned and athletic, the third is a slight, meek-mannered character. The caption underneath says, “Will the real Jesus please stand up?”
In John 13, the real Jesus stands up. He tells us what He is all about and what He wants us to be all about – and it’s love! In the upper room, Jesus recognized that His time was short. The cross was looming, Judas was about to betray Him, and He had to prepare His disciples to continue without Him. It’s like asking a pastor, “If you had one last sermon, what would it be?” Or asking a teacher, “What great truth would you most like to convey to your students?” Or asking parents, “If you could tell your kids only one thing, what would it be?”
Jesus spells it out: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you… By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (vv. 34-35 NRSV). Like a last will and testament, Jesus’ final message is important not only because of its content but because of its tone and timing. It sums up His life and our responsibility to God and to others – to love them! Now, since love isn’t what you say but what you do – today go out and find practical ways to express God’s love to those you meet. They will feel good, and you will too.
Soul food: Micah 5-7; John 19:17-30; Ps 47; Prov 31:6-9
Johannes 13:35 NLV
Het jy die plakkaat gesien wat drie mans, wat elkeen ‘n ander weergawe van Jesus voorstel uitbeeld? Die eerste lyk soos ‘n onbeskofte man, die tweede is bruingebrand en atleties, die derde is ‘n klein, sagmoedige karakter. Die byskrif daaronder sê: ‘Sal die ware Jesus asseblief opstaan?’
Die ware Jesus staan in Johannes 13 op. Hy vertel vir ons wat vir Hom die belangrikste is en wat vir ons die belangrikste moet wees – en dit is liefde! In die bovertrek het Jesus besef dat sy tyd min was. Die kruis het gedreig, Judas was op die punt om Hom te verraai en Hy moes sy dissipels voorberei om sonder Hom voort te gaan. Dis soos om ‘n pastoor te vra: ‘As jy net een laaste preek oorgehad het, wat sou jy sê?’ Of soos om vir ‘n onderwyser te vra: ‘Watter een groot waarheid sal jy die graagste vir jou studente wou leer?’ Of om vir ouers te vra: ‘As jy vir jou kinders net een ding kon sê, wat sou dit wees?’
Jesus spel dit uit: ‘Ek gee julle ‘n nuwe opdrag: Julle moet mekaar liefhê; soos Ek julle liefhet, net só moet julle mekaar ook liefhê. As julle liefde teenoor mekaar beoefen, sal almal daaraan sien dat julle my dissipels is’ (verse 34-35 NLV).
Soos ‘n laaste testament, is Jesus se finale boodskap belangrik, nie net vanweë die inhoud daarvan nie, maar vanweë die toon en tydsberekening daarvan. Dit som sy lewe en ons verantwoordelikheid teenoor God en ander mense op – om hulle lief te hê! Aangesien liefde nie is wat jy sê nie, maar wat jy doen – gaan vandag uit en vind praktiese maniere om God se liefde aan diegene wat jy ontmoet uit te druk. Hulle sal goed voel, en jy sal ook.
Sielskos: Miga 5-7; Joh 19:17-30; Ps 47; Spr 31:6-9
2023-12-21
Proverbs 11:25 MSG
One of the best ways to keep your life in balance and stay on track spiritually is to pass on what you know to others. The Bible says, “Those who help others are helped.” As you pass along your insights, you will get more insights from God. Paul challenges Timothy, “Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others” (2 Timothy 2:2 CEV).
If you know people who haven’t discovered their God-given purpose in life yet, it’s your job to share with them what has been shared with you. For example, don’t just read this devotional and keep it to yourself, share it with your friends. The more you know, the more God expects you to use that knowledge to help others. That’s how things are supposed to work in His kingdom. James writes, “Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning” (James 4:17 NCV). In other words, increased knowledge brings increased responsibility.
Passing along the purpose of life to others is more than just an obligation; it’s one of our greatest privileges. Imagine how different the world would be if everyone knew their calling. That’s why Paul writes, “If you teach these things to other followers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 4:6 CEV). Not only does God want us to live out His purposes, He wants us to help others do the same.
That is what assignment-centered living is all about. Regardless of your age, the rest of your life can be the best of your life if you will do this one thing – start living on purpose!
Soul food: Micah 1-4; John 19:1-16; Ps 12; Prov 31:1-5
Spreuke 11:25 DB
Een van die beste maniere om jou lewe in balans te hou en geestelik op die regte pad te bly, is om dit wat jy weet aan ander oor te dra. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Wie die nood van die gemeenskap raak sien, word deur almal geëer.’ Soos jy jou insigte oordra, sal jy meer insigte van God kry. Paulus het Timoteus uitgedaag: ‘…Leer hierdie groot waarhede aan betroubare mense wat bekwaam is om dit aan ander deur te gee’ (2 Timoteus 2:2 NLV).
As jy mense ken wat nog nie hulle Godgegewe doel in die lewe ontdek het nie, is dit jou werk om met hulle te deel wat met jou gedeel is. Moet byvoorbeeld nie net hierdie dagstukkie lees en dit vir jouself hou nie, deel dit met jou vriende. Hoe meer jy weet, hoe meer verwag God van jou om daardie kennis te gebruik om ander te help. Dis hoe dinge veronderstel is om in sy koninkryk te werk. Jakobus skryf: ‘Hou in gedagte: As ‘n mens weet wat reg is en dit nie doen nie, is dit sonde’ (Jakobus 4:17 NLV).
Om die doel van die lewe oor te dra is meer as net ‘n verpligting; dis een van ons grootste voorregte. Dink jou in hoe anders die wêreld sou wees as almal hulle roeping geken het. Dis hoekom Paulus skryf: ‘As jy dit aan die broers en susters voorhou, sal jy jou plig doen as ‘n waardige dienaar van Christus Jesus…’ (1 Timoteus 4:6 NLV). Nie net wil God hê dat ons sy doelwitte moet uitleef nie, Hy wil hê dat ons ander moet help om dieselfde te doen. Ongeag jou ouderdom, kan die res van jou lewe die beste van jou lewe wees as jy hierdie een ding doen – doelbewus begin lewe!
Sielskos: Miga 1-4; Joh 19:1-16; Ps 12; Spr 31:1-5
2023-12-20
Proverbs 4:3 NLT
In order for your child to thrive physically and emotionally in later life, you must nurture them with love during their earliest and formative years. Indeed, health experts are now saying that it’s essential to their survival.
One Christian leader writes: “A study conducted at Harvard University shows unmistakably that the quality of the bonding between a boy and his mother is related to his physical health and well-being forty or fifty years later. Remarkably, 91 percent of college men who said they had not enjoyed a close relationship with their mothers developed coronary artery disease, hypertension, duodenal ulcers, or alcoholism by the midlife years. Only 45 percent of the men who recalled maternal warmth and closeness had similar illnesses. The same was true of men and relationships with their fathers. And consider this: 100 percent of the participants in this study whose mothers and fathers were cold and distant suffered numerous diagnosed diseases in midlife. In short, the quality of early relationships between boys and their parents is a powerful predictor of lifelong health. And you can be sure, the same is true of girls and women. It comes down to this: Where early needs are not met, trouble looms down the road.”
Solomon, one of the wisest men who ever lived, said, “For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.” David and Bathsheba were Solomon’s parents, and the story of what they did wrong is recorded for us all to read. But when it came to raising their son Solomon, they got it right. And by God’s grace you can too.
Soul food: Neh 11-13; John 18:25-40; Ps 4; Prov 30:29-33
