conflict Archives - The Word for Today
The cross was always part of God’s plan
The psalmist wrote: ‘My God, why have you forsaken me?…I am…scorned by everyone, despised by the people…All those who see me mock me…”He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “let the LORD rescue him”…I am poured out like water…my bones are out of joint…my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth…they pierce my hands and my feet…and cast lots for my garments’ (Psalm 22:1-18 NIV). It sounds like the psalmist was writing about the crucifixion from Jesus’ perspective. If you read Psalm 22 alongside the accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion in the New Testament, you’ll notice how they fit together perfectly. But when Psalm 22 was written, crucifixion hadn’t been introduced as a form of execution, and it wouldn’t be used for several centuries. Now take a look at Isaiah 53: ‘It was our pains he carried…He took the punishment, and that made us whole…He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word…Justice miscarried, and he was led off…Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true’ (vv. 4-9 MSG). This sounds like it could have been written by someone who witnessed the events of Good Friday, but the Book of Isaiah was written around 700 years before Jesus was born. So we can be sure the cross wasn’t a coincidence or random chance. Long before Jesus came on the scene, God had a plan to reconcile us to Himself through Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:18). We are so precious to Him and He wanted so badly to bring us back in harmony with Him, that even hundreds of years ago we were on His mind. ‘It’s what God had in mind all along…that he give himself as an offering for sin’ (Isaiah 53:10 MSG).
Is jy regtig so gebore?
Psalm 51:5 NLV
Of jou stryd nou met alkohol, dwelms, seks, woede, skinder, onvergifnis, steel, lieg of dobbel is, een ding is seker – ons word almal met ‘n geneigdheid tot sekere gedrag gebore. Dit is dus nie ‘n genetiese kwessie nie, maar ‘n geestelike kwessie. Dit gaan nie oor die wetenskap nie, maar oor sonde. Enigeen van ons kan vind dat ons met hierdie kwessies sukkel – nie omdat ons ‘n geen daarvoor geërf het nie, maar omdat ons Adam se sondige natuur geërf het die dag wat ons gebore is. Dawid sê, ‘Want ek is as sondaar gebore, en was dit voor my geboorte.’ Salomo sê dat daar geen uitsonderings is nie: ‘Want daar is niemand op aarde wat regverdig is nie, niemand wat net goeddoen en nooit sondig nie’ (Predikeer 7:20 NLV). So ja, ons is almal so gebore. Die rede dat hierdie tipe gedrag natuurlik is vir ons, is nie omdat ons nie kan help hoe ons is nie, maar omdat ons sondige natuur sterker is as ons begeerte om God te behaag. Selfs wanneer ons probeer, verloor ons soms die stryd. Paulus, die grootste van Christene, het erken dat hy misluk het toe hy die regte ding probeer doen het. ‘… Want die begeerte tot die goeie is daar, maar ek kry dit nie uitgevoer nie’ (Romeine 7:18 NLV). As ons dus so gebore is, wat is die goeie nuus dan? Paulus sê vir ons: ‘… Wie sal my uit hierdie doodstoestand red? Die antwoord hierop is: Jesus Christus en daarvoor dank ek God!..’ (Romeine 7:24-25). Toe jy gebore is, het jy Adam se korrupte natuur ontvang, maar deur die nuwe geboorte het jy Christus se natuur, wat sonde oorwin, lewensveranderend en geregtig is, ontvang!
David said, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity…there the Lord commanded the blessing” (vv. 1, 3 NKJV). When we strive to work together in spite of our differences, God “commands” His blessing to be upon our efforts. Satan knows this, so his chief strategy is to divide and conquer. He knows the power, synergy, and blessing that results from working in harmony; therefore he makes every effort to bring division. So when things begin to splinter and fall apart, look for “the Devil in the details.” The sixth chapter of Proverbs lists seven things the Lord detests; among them is “a man who stirs up dissention” (v. 19 NIV 1984 Edition). Paul says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3 NIV 2011 Edition). (He knew that sometimes it required tremendous effort). We can’t afford to be ignorant of Satan’s tactics designed to keep us at odds with one another. He’ll cause you to become offended over a harmless statement, or read more into a comment than the speaker intended, or ascribe impure motives to someone’s behavior, or believe a lie. But when you pray and seek God, He’ll reveal the truth of the situation. “He is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14 KJV), and when we embrace Him, He directs us into peaceful resolution of our issues. In fact, our conflicts can become stepping stones to stronger relationships when we make a commitment to understand each other and refrain from divisiveness. That’s why Paul writes, “I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10 TLB).
Soul food: <a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.bible.com/bible/114/JER.45.nkjv”>Jer 45-48</a>;
<a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.bible.com/bible/114/LUK.22.nkjv”>Luk 22:39-53</a>;
<a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.bible.com/bible/114/PSA.50.nkjv”>Ps 50:1-15</a>;
<a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.bible.com/bible/114/PRO.10.nkjv”>Prov 10:8-10</a>
Wees eensgesind, nie verdeeld nie
Psalm 133:1 NLV
Dawid het gesê, ‘Hoe goed, hoe mooi is dit as broers eensgesind saamwoon!.. Want daar gee die Here sy seën…’ (vers 1,3 NLV). Wanneer ons daarna streef om ten spyte van ons verskille, saam te werk, gee die Here sy seën. Satan weet dit, dus is sy hoofstrategie om te verdeel en te oorwin. Hy ken die krag, sinergie en seëninge wat uit eensgesindheid voortspruit, dus doen hy sy bes om verdeeldheid te saai. Die sesde hoofstuk van Spreuke lys sewe dinge wat die Here haat, onder andere ‘…iemand wat rusie veroorsaak tussen broers’ (Spreuke 6:19 NLV). Paulus sê, ‘Deur in vrede met mekaar te lewe, moet julle die eenheid wat die Gees bewerk het, bewaar’ (Efesiërs 4:3 NLV). Ons kan nie bekostig om oningelig oor Satan se taktiek om ons teen mekaar op te sweep, wees nie. Hy sal veroorsaak dat jy jouself oor ‘n onskuldige opmerking vererg, of meer in ‘n opmerking lees as wat die spreker daarmee bedoel het, of onrein bedoelings aan iemand anders se optrede toeskryf, of ‘n leuen glo. Wanneer jy egter bid en God soek, sal Hy die waarheid van die situasie aan jou openbaar. ‘Christus het inderdaad vrede tussen ons gebring…’ (Efesiërs 2:14 NLV) en wanneer ons Hom vertrou, lei Hy ons na ‘n vreedsame oplossing. Ons konflikte kan inderdaad tot hegter verhoudings lei, wanneer ons ons daartoe verbind om mekaar te verstaan en nie verdeeld te raak nie. Dit is hoekom Paulus skryf, ‘En nou… pleit ek by julle in die Naam van ons Here Jesus Christus om eendragtig saam te staan – één in julle oortuigings… Julle moet van harte saamstem in julle denke en in julle visie’ (1 Korintiërs 1:10 NLV).