2023-11-03
1 Korintiërs 12:11 NLV
Die Skrif beskryf nooit die kerk as ‘n demokrasie nie. Sekerlik verdien elke persoon gelyke behandeling in terme van vriendelikheid, liefde en respek; maar soos ons Godgegewe opdragte verskil, so verskil ons gawes. ‘Dit is een en dieselfde Gees wat al hierdie gawes bewerk en wat aan elkeen uitdeel soos Hy dit goedvind.’
As ‘n ouer, wil jy graag sien dat jou kinders sukses in die lewe behaal. Jy herken egter dat net soos hulle individuele talente verskil, so verskil hulle unieke lotsbestemmings. Dis hoekom dit ‘n fout is om met iemand anders mee te ding of jouself met hulle te vergelyk. Die Bybel sê: ‘God het ook hierdie waarheid verder bevestig… deurdat Hy sy Gees aan mense toebedeel soos Hy dit goedvind’ (Hebreërs 2:4 NLV). Moenie God bevraagteken nie; Hy weet wat Hy doen en maak nooit foute nie.
Selfs tussen sy twaalf dissipels het Jesus ‘n binnekring gehad. Hy het Petrus, Jakobus en Johannes na ‘n hoë berg saamgeneem en die ander dorp toe gestuur om te gaan werk. Hy het nie verplig gevoel om almal teen die berg op te neem sodat niemand seergemaak sou voel nie. Beteken dit dat Hy liewer vir een persoon as ‘n ander was? Nee, die ervaring wat Petrus, Jakobus en Johannes daardie dag op die bergtop gehad het, was deel van hulle opleiding vir die opdrag waartoe Jesus hulle geroep het.
Daar is ‘n les hieruit te leer. Jy moet verby ander mense se opinies beweeg. God het jou vir ‘n spesiale doel gemaak; Hy het ‘n werk vir jou wat niemand anders so goed soos jy kan doen nie. Wanneer jy weet dat iets reg is vir jou, doen dit en vertrou dat God jou in ander mense se oë sal regverdig.
Sielskos: Esra 1-2; Joh 7:14-24; Ps 9; Spr 24:30-34
1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT
In Scripture, the church is never described as a democracy. Certainly every person deserves equal treatment in terms of kindness, love, and respect; but as our God-given assignments differ, so do our gifts. “It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have” (v. 11 NLT). Pay close attention to the words “He alone decides.”
As a parent, you want to see all your children succeed in life. But you recognize that just as their individual talents differ, so do their unique destinies. That’s why it’s a mistake to compete with or compare yourself to somebody else. The Bible says, “God was validating it [the message] with gifts… as he saw fit” (Hebrews 2:4 MSG). Don’t question and second-guess God; He knows what He is doing and never makes mistakes.
Even among His twelve disciples, Jesus had an inner circle. He took Peter, James, and John up the Mount of Transfiguration and sent the others into town to work. He didn’t feel obligated to take everybody up the mountain so nobody would feel slighted. Does that mean He loves one person more than another? No, the experience Peter, James, and John had on the mountaintop that day was part of their training for the assignment Jesus was calling them to.
There is a lesson here. You have to move beyond other people’s opinions. God made you for a special purpose; He has a job for you that nobody else can do as well as you. When you know that something is right for you, do it and trust God to vindicate you in the eyes of others.
Soul food: Ezra 1-2; John 7:14-24; Ps 9; Prov 24:30-34
2023-11-02
Markus 9:23 NLV
Een dag het ‘n radelose pa by Jesus gekom en gesê: ‘…Here, kry my seun jammer! Hy kry epileptiese aanvalle en hy ly verskriklik. Baie maal val hy in die vuur of in die water. Ek het hom na u dissipels toe gebring, maar hulle kon hom nie gesond maak nie’ (Matteus 17:15-16 NLV). Let op dat hy nie een keer gesê het: ‘Miskien het my seun hierdie probleem by my geërf,’ of ‘Miskien moes ek dinge anders gedoen het,’ nie. Nee, hy het die verantwoordelikheid vierkantig op die dissipels, wat self nog in opleiding was, geplaas.
Wanneer ons moeilikheid ervaar, hou ons daarvan om die pastoor, die kerk, ons vriend, ons baas, ons familie, ons voorkoms of ons sosiale status te blameer of ‘n ander verskoning te kry. Ons is nie in staat nie of onwillig om te erken dat ons ons eie hand in die vuur gedruk het of amper verdrink het deur kop eerste in te duik wanneer ons nie kan swem nie.
Nadat Jesus die seun gesondgemaak het, het sy dissipels Hom gevra: ‘Hoekom kan ons nie dieselfde dinge doen wat U doen nie?’ (sien Matteus 17:19). Dis soos om te vra: ‘Hoekom werk my huwelik nie,’ of ‘Hoekom het ek nog steeds skuld,’ of ‘Hoekom verloop my lewe nie soos beplan nie?’ Jesus het geantwoord: ‘Julle geloof was nie sterk genoeg nie…’ (Matteus 17:20 NLV).
Soms het jy die soort geloof nodig wat jou ‘n bietjie vreemd laat lyk; die soort wat nie ander mense se goedkeuring nodig het of omgee of jy inpas of nie. Paulus het geskryf: ‘…Dan… sal julle nog vas staan’ (Efesiërs 6:13 NLV). Vas staan op wat? Staan op dit wat God vir jou in sy Woord gesê het, want dit is uiteindelik dit wat sal werk.
Sielskos: Sef 1-3; Joh 7:1-13; Ps 104:24-35; Spr 24:28-29
Mark 9:23 NKJV
One day a distraught father came to Jesus and said, “My son… frequently… he falls into the fire and… the water… I brought him to Your disciples, and they were not able to cure him” (Matthew 17:15-16 AMPC). Notice, he never once said, “Maybe my son inherited this problem from me” or “Perhaps if I had raised him differently.” No, he dumped the responsibility onto the disciples, who were themselves in training.
Whenever we’re in trouble, we like to blame the pastor, the church, our mate, our boss, our family, our looks, our social status, or find some other excuse. We’re unable or unwilling to admit that we stuck our own hand in the fire or almost drowned by jumping in headfirst when we couldn’t swim.
After Jesus healed the boy, His disciples asked Him, “Why can’t we do the things you do?” (See Matthew 17:19). That’s like asking, “Why isn’t my marriage working?” or “How come I’m still in debt?” or “Why isn’t my life going as planned?” Jesus replied, “Because your faith is too small” (Matthew 17:20 NCV).
Sometimes you need the kind of faith that makes you seem a little weird; the kind that doesn’t need other people’s approval and doesn’t care whether or not you fit in. That’s the kind of faith that made Noah say, “Even though there has never been rain and nobody in my generation believes, I’m still going to do what God said.” As a result, he came out on top! Paul writes, “Having done all… stand” (Ephesians 6:13 NKJV). Stand on what? Stand on what God has told you in His Word, because ultimately, it’s the thing that will work.
Soul food: Zeph 1-3; John 7:1-13; Ps 104:24-35; Prov 24:28-29
2023-11-01
2 Kings 3:25 NKJV
In Old Testament times, “slingers” were people who enjoyed going around blocking other people’s wells by throwing mud and rocks into them – wells of water that were essential to their survival. Today, mudslingers are people who make malicious attacks against others.
Now, chances are that you may have encountered some “mudslingers” yourself, and even suffered at their hands. What should you do? Avoid them because they’re dangerous. You can’t mud wrestle with a pig without getting dirty. Not only will the pig win – he will enjoy the fight!
And if you yourself have become a slinger, here is a portion of Scripture you would do well to read and keep in mind: “If you stop making trouble for others,… then your light will shine in the darkness, [you will begin to get attention from and have influence with the right people]… The Lord will always lead you [you will begin to make the right moves]. He will satisfy your needs in dry lands [He will give you success in the most unlikely places, and in spite of adverse circumstances] and give strength to your bones [cause you to live a long and healthy life]” (Isaiah 58:9-11 NCV).
Now there is a benefit package worth working for! So, guard your thoughts because they become your words. Guard your words because they become your actions. Guard your actions because they become your character. And guard your character because it determines the level of God’s blessing in your life. So, here is the word for you today: Don’t be a mudslinger.
Soul food: 1 Chron 17:1-20; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Prov 4:18
