Mei – Gemeente van die Wynstok
AL WAT SAAK MAAK IS DIE SEËN VAN DIE KONING – Albert Theron
“Geseënd is die God en Vader van onse Here Jesus Christus wat ons geseën het met alle geestelike seëninge in die hemele in Christus.” Efesiërs 1:3
Om te leef in die seën van die Koning los dosyne vraagstukke op oor sukses, voorspoed, gesondheid, lyding, die betekenis van die lewe, my doelwitte in hierdie lewe, ensovoorts, ensovoorts. In die hitte van die stryd op hierdie aarde vra ons dikwels die verkeerde vrae en raak ons soms ingetrek in komplekse teologiese debatte wat ons verward laat en niks prakties oplos in ons lewens nie. Dit is sekerlik reg om na te speur en te ondersoek wat die Bybel sê oor hierdie sake, maar daar is ‘n baie belangrike vraag wat ons eers moet vra: “Het ek die seën van die Koning?”
Paulus sê in Efesiërs 1 vers 3 álle dissipels van Jesus is rééds geseën omdat hulle een is met Hom. Natuurlik is dit moontlik vir ‘n dissipel om die Heilige Gees aanhoudend te bedroef en gevolglik deur die Vader gedissiplineer te word. Maar dit gebeur die meeste van die tyd in dissipels se lewe as gevolg van die frustrasie van futiele pogings om te soek of te probeer verdien, dit wat hulle reeds besit in Christus; die seën van die Koning! Erken en bely eerstens dat jy reeds geseën is met alle geestelike seëninge in Christus. Begin dan leef vanuit hierdie seëninge, nie ná die seëninge nie. Net dan sal dit vir jou moontlik wees om vrede en blydskap te beleef selfs al werk dinge nie altyd uit in die praktyk nie. Die seën van die Koning werk baie dieper en meer ingrypend in ons lewens as enige aardse en materiële voorspoed of sukses. Daar is niks wat daarmee kan vergelyk nie.
Daar gebeur iets wonderlik en dinamies in ‘n mens se hart wanneer jy werklik begin glo dat jy reeds geseën is in Christus en dit verander jou perspektief op alles in jou lewe. Dit is ‘n baie belangrike sleutel tot die soort oorwinning wat die Nuwe Testament van praat en dit ontsluit ‘n lewe van diensbaarheid aan ander vanuit die oorvloed in Christus wat reeds ons eiendom is.
SKAPE EN BOKKE – Albert Theron
“En voor Hom sal al die nasies versamel word, en Hy sal hulle van mekaar afskei soos die herder die skape van die bokke afskei; en Hy sal die skape aan sy regterhand en die bokke aan sy linkerhand sit.” Mattheüs 25:32-33
Skape soek geestelike voeding, maar bokke wil net weet wat op die spyskaart is vir hulleself. Dit is verstommend om te sien hoeveel mense vandag geen belangstelling toon in geestelike lering wat ons wil bring by heiligheid en ‘n dieper kennis van God nie. Maar dieselfde mense se ore spits onmiddellik vir enigiets wat klink of dit hulle eie leefwereld kan verbeter.
Dit is heeltemal verstaanbaar dat ‘n mens die troos van die Heilige Gees en die voorsiening van God sal soek wanneer jy deur moeilike omstandighede gaan, maar oor die algemeen soek skape voeding. Hulle stel belang in wie God is, om Hom te ken, die uitbreiding van Sy koninkryk, geestelike groei, heiligheid, verlore siele, kennis van genade in Christus, die heerlikheid van die nuwe hemel en aarde en ‘n dieper insig in die heerlike Woord van God. Bokke het nie werklik ‘n aptyt vir hierdie geestelike dinge nie. Hulle stel net belang in dit wat hulle hier-en-nou kan verander. Waarna honger en dors jy?
“Jesus antwoord hulle en sê: Voorwaar, voorwaar Ek sê vir julle, julle soek My nie omdat julle tekens gesien het nie, maar omdat julle van die brode geëet en versadig geword het. Moenie werk om die spys wat vergaan nie, maar om die spys wat bly tot in die ewige lewe, wat die Seun van die mens julle sal gee; want Hom het God, die Vader, verseël.” Johannes 6:26-27
RUS IN DIE WETE DAT GOD JÓÚ KEN – Albert Theron
Daar is tye in die lewe van ‘n dissipel van Jesus wat die gebed van Psalm 22 jou gebed word en die woorde eggo in jou hart asof jy dit self neergepen het.
“My God, my God, waarom het U my verlaat, ver van my hulp, van die woorde van my gebrul? My God, ek roep bedags, maar U antwoord nie; en snags, en ek kan nie swyg nie.” Psalms 22:2-3
Die eerste woorde van vers 2 is natuurlik die woorde wat Jesus uitroep aan die kruis in volle identifikasie met die mens in sy diepe verlorenheid en onuitspreeklike wanhoop (Matt. 27:46). Maar al voel dit soms in onverstaanbare omstandighede selfs vir die ware dissipel of God ver van hom is, kan hy rus in ‘n opstanding aan die ander kant van die kruis. Dit is juis hierdie kruis en opstanding wat ons die wete gee dat God wel teenwoordig is en dat Hy ons, en ons omstandighede, ten diepste ken. Die gebed in ‘n ander Psalm verwoord hierdie werklikheid met verstommende insig en helderheid.
“HERE, U deurgrond en ken my. U ken my sit en my opstaan; U verstaan van ver my gedagte. U deurvors my gaan en my lê, en U is met al my weë goed bekend.” Psalms 139:1-3
Gaan lees Psalm 22 en Psalm 139 na mekaar en weet dan dat jy kan rus in die vaste wete dat God jou ken in Christus selfs al voel dit soos ‘n stikdonker tyd in jou lewe. Dit is by uitstek hierdie geloofsvertroue wat weer die vrede van God in jou omstandighede bring.
DIE “EVANGELIE” WAT VAN DIE KRUIS ‘N VOETNOTA MAAK – Albert Theron
Ons generasie se verdraaide siening van God se liefde bring die ware evangelie ernstig in gedrang. Die manier wat mense vandag praat oor die evangelie en die liefde van God laat mens wonder of ons generasie regtig nog verstaan dat God sonde gestraf het in Christus. God verander nie. Hy het nie verander van hierdie Ou Testamentiese God wat net wou straf na die Nuwe Testamentiese God wat net wil liefhê nie. Die keuse is nie wraak óf liefde nie. God se wraak teen sonde het gekulmineer in die verbryseling van Sy eie Seun.
“Maar dit het die HERE behaag om Hom te verbrysel…” Jesaja 53:10
Dit is waar die liefde inkom en dit is baie groter as vandag se vals idee van God se liefde. God het nie en sal ook nooit Sy heiligheid opgee om ruimte te maak vir Sy liefde nie. Sy liefde en heiligheid staan nie teenoor mekaar nie. God het nie sonde oorgesien nie. Hy het dit gestraf in Christus. ‘n “Evangelie” wat mense onder die indruk bring dat God uit ‘n nuutgevonde liefde sonde oorgesien het en nou vir die hele wêreld vergifnis aanbied, maak van die kruis ‘n blote voetnota. Dit is ‘n “evangelie” wat nie kan red nie. Dit is ook die soort “evangelie” wat in ons tyd ruimte begin maak vir sonde en ‘n hele wêreld van grys skep wat hordes mense verwar omdat hulle nie meer weet wat dan nou reg of verkeerd is nie.
Die ware evangelie leer dat God die sonde gestraf het in Sy Seun en dat ons “saam met Christus” gesterf het vir die mag van sonde en nou kan leef in ‘n opstandingslewe “saam met Christus”. Op grond van hierdie evangelie kan ons dan duidelik onderskei tussen lig en duisternis en begin om lewens van ware heiligheid en geregtigheid te leef.
“En dit is die verkondiging wat ons van Hom gehoor het en aan julle verkondig: God is lig, en geen duisternis is in Hom nie.” 1 Johannes 1:5
“So moet julle ook reken dat julle wel vir die sonde dood is, maar lewend is vir God in Christus Jesus, onse Here.” Romeine 6:11
THE PURPOSE OF UNION WITH CHRIST IS DEVOTION TO CHRIST – David Mathis
A deepening relationship with Jesus is the heart of sanctification, and knowing Jesus is the great goal of our sanctifica­tion. Jesus is not only the preeminently sanctified one and the one who empowers our sanctification by his Spirit, but also he is the one whom the whole of our sanctification is shaping us to know forever. Knowing Jesus drives us onward in sanctification now (Phil. 3:8), and knowing Jesus is the eternal life that sanctification fits us for (John 17:3).
The greatest blessing of salvation is not mere forgiveness. It’s not just justification and being declared righteous. It’s not new birth. It’s not even sanctification. It’s not just the privilege of being united to him, but being united to him serves the greater goal of enjoying him. The greatest blessing of redemption is Jesus himself. All aspects of the Spirit’s subjective application to us and all of Jesus’s objective accomplishments for us conspire to this one great end: knowing Jesus, enjoy­ing Jesus, admiring Jesus, and treasuring Jesus for all eternity.
REALISTIES OPTIMISTIES – Albert Theron
Die wêreld se optimisme is uiterlik, kunsmatig en totaal uit voeling met die gevallenheid van die huidige skepping en die oordeel wat wag vir almal wat nie die knie wil buig vir Jesus Christus nie.
“Maar die dag van die Here sal kom soos ‘n dief in die nag, waarin die hemele met gedruis sal verbygaan en die elemente sal brand en vergaan, en die aarde en die werke wat daarop is, sal verbrand.” 2 Petrus 3:10
As dissipels van Jesus het ons nodig om vir ongelowiges ‘n realistiese prentjie te gee van die lewe op ‘n gevalle en gebroke planeet. Daar is byvoorbeeld geen verlossing en vreugde vir enigiemand voordat hulle nie eers treur oor hulle sonde en dan wegdraai daarvan nie.
“Salig is die wat treur, want hulle sal vertroos word.” Mattheüs 5:4
Konsekwent regdeur die Bybel word optimisme net ‘n moontlikheid wanneer ‘n mens eers God se diagnose van ons gevallenheid aangehoor en aanvaar het en dan Sý verlossingsplan omhels het. Daarom faal die wêreld se optimisme altyd tragies en bring uiteindelik totale wanhoop en verwoesting. Ons het ‘n verantwoordelikheid voor God om die valse en oppervlakkige optimisme van die wêreld te ontbloot en daarteenoor die egte en ewigdurende optimisme van die Bybel te verkondig.
God se plan en uitweg staan lynreg teenoor die van die wêreld. Ons kan nie en durf nie die twee probeer versoen nie. Ons durf nie die opstandingslewe aanbied sonder ‘n kruis nie. Selfs nadat ons wedergebore is, kom vreugde aan die ander kant van sterf aan myself, liefde eers wanneer ek my eie goedgunstigheid en welwillendheid opgegee het en Christus se liefde in my ontdek het, ware hoop eers wanneer ek geen meer hoop in die natuurlike en tydelike het nie, maar my oë gerig het op die geestelike en ewige werklikheid van die koninkryk wat kom.
Het ons generasie van gelowiges dalk begin om die wêreld se optimisme te koop en ons kosbare Bybelse optimisme te versaak? Is ons “positiwiteit” nie maar dikwels die van die wêreld nie? Is dit nie dalk hoekom ware, diepgaande vreugde en hoop wat die storms van die lewe in werklikheid kan trotseer so skaars is onder ons nie? Martyn Lloyd-Jones, ‘n groot prediker van die vorige eeu, het in sy tyd al gesê “we are far too bright and breezy today”.
THE ONE THING NEEDFUL – A.W. Pink
When poor Martha, weighed down by her “much serving” fretfully asked the Saviour to chide her sister, He answered “But one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:40-42). What was that “good part” which she had chosen? This, she “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word” (v. 39). Mary had a felt sense of her need: she knew where that need could be supplied: she came to receive out of Christ’s fullness. And He declared that that is “the one thing needful,” for it includes everything else. Put yourself in that posture of soul, that expectation of faith, whereby you can receive from Him. To be occupied with, Christ was “the good part” which would never be taken from her.
But in this restless age “sitting at the feet of Jesus” is a lost art. Instead of humbly recognizing their own deep need of being ministered to, puffed up with a sense of their importance and actuated by the energy of the flesh, they are “cumbered with much serving”—looking after the vineyards of others, but neglecting their own (Song of Sol. 1:6). If the Christian is to make real progress he must needs be more occupied with Christ. As He is the sum and substance of all evangelical truth then an increasing acquaintance with His person, offices, and work cannot but nourish the soul and promote spiritual growth. Yet there must be constantly renewed acts of faith on Him if we are to draw from His fullness and be more conformed to His image. The more our affections be set on Him, the lighter shall we hold the things of this world and the less will carnal pleasures appeal to us. The more we spiritually meditate upon His humiliations and sufferings, the more will the soul learn to loathe sin and the more shall we esteem our heaviest afflictions but “light.” Christ is exactly suited to our every case and Divinely qualified to supply our every need. Look less within and more to Him. He is the only One who can do you good. Abhor everything which competes with Him in your affections. Be not satisfied with any knowledge of Christ which does not make you more in love with Him and conforms you more to His holy image.
DAAGLIKSE AFHANKLIKHEID VAN DIE HEILIGE GEES – Albert Theron
“En die gemeentes deur die hele Judéa en Galiléa en Samaría het vrede gehad; en terwyl hulle opgebou is en gewandel het in die vrees van die Here en die vertroosting van die Heilige Gees, het hulle vermeerder.” Handelinge 9:31
‘n Mens kan nie met aandag deur die boek Handelinge lees sonder om diep beïndruk te word deur die antieke gemeentes se kinderlike afhanklikheid van die Heilige Gees nie. Vir hulle was die werklikheid van Jesus se teenwoordigheid by hulle en in hulle nie net ‘n teorie nie. Die uitstorting van die Heilige Gees was vir hulle die groot gebeurtenis wat alles op hierdie aarde verander het. Om te “wandel deur die Gees” was nie ‘n onderwerp vir die volgende Bybelstudie nie, maar hulle daaglikse belewenis. Dit was ondenkbaar om nie die Heilige Gees te vertrou vir elke behoefte aan wysheid, krag en oorwinning in die daaglikse lewe nie.
Is jý bewus van die onmiddellike teenwoordigheid en werking van die Gees in jou lewe? Dit begin alles met geloof. Ons moet onwrikbaar glo dat die Trooster en Helper gegee is vir ons om daagliks in die krag en karakter van Jesus te kan leef op hierdie aarde. Elke belofte wat vir ons gegee is in die Bybel kan net gerealiseer word deur die bediening van die Heilige Gees. Die Woord en die Gees werk saam om Jesus in die hier-en-nou van ons lewens ‘n werklikheid te maak.
DEAD TO SIN – Andrew Murray
“We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?” Romans 6:2.
After having, in the first section of the Epistle to the Romans (1:16 to 5:11), expounded the great doctrine of justification by faith, Paul proceeds, in the second section (5:12 to 8:39), to unfold the related doctrine of the new life by faith in Christ. Taking Adam as a figure of Christ, he teaches that just as we all really and actually died in Adam, so that his death reigns in our nature, even so, in Christ, those who believe in Him actually and effectually died to sin, were set free from it, and became partakers of the new holy life of Christ. He asks the question: “We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?” In these words we have the deep spiritual truth that our death to sin in Christ delivers us from its power, so that we no longer may or need to live in it. The secret of true and full holiness is by faith, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, to live in the consciousness: I am dead to sin. In expounding this truth he reminds them that they were baptized INTO THE DEATH OF CHRIST. We were buried with Him through baptism into death. We became UNITED WITH HIM by the likeness of His death. Our “old man” was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away — rendered void and powerless. Take time and quietly, asking for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, ponder these words until the truth masters you: I am indeed dead to sin in Christ Jesus. As we grow in the consciousness of our union with the crucified Christ, we shall experience that the power of His life in us has made us free from the power of sin.
ANNOUNCING THE PLAN – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. 1 Corinthians 2:7
Christian preaching announces a plan and a purpose. “Where do you find that?” asks someone. Well, look at Mark 1:14: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled.” The Bible says that God had made this plan even before the foundation of the world itself. The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:7, “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.” That is it. That is the essence of this proclamation that is being made, the essence of Christian preaching. It does not say to us, “There is truth in that uncharted ocean—get out onto it, take your soundings, try to get your bearings, try to find out. Yes, you have discovered a little bit! You may go for weeks and find nothing; months, years pass, then just another little glimmer. But at last . . . ah, it won’t happen in your time; it will happen perhaps in your grandchildren’s, or it may be even longer than that. But go on, it is marvelous, keep on.” No! Christian preaching is the exact opposite to that. The message of the Bible is not to urge us to try to find truth; it is to ask us to listen to the truth, to God’s truth. For its whole point is to say that God, knowing Himself, knowing man, knowing everything, has devised and schemed a plan whereby men and women can be delivered out of their failure and sin and can be made citizens and worthy citizens of God’s kingdom. This is God’s plan! We are also told that God made this plan known. “God . . . has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2).
GENEESDE VERHOUDINGS IN DIE AANGESIG VAN JESUS – Albert Theron
Ons verhoudingsprobleme ontstaan wanneer ons wegkyk van die “aangesig van Jesus” en op ‘n ander basis verhouding probeer bou. Maar daar is kosbare herstel van verhoudings en verstommende versoeningspotensiaal wanneer ons mekaar begin sien “in die aangesig van Jesus”.
Die woord “aangesig” kom net drie keer voor in die Nuwe Afrikaanse Vertaling, maar meer as 700 keer in die Ou Afrikaanse Vertaling. Alhoewel dit ‘n woord is wat ons nie vandag meer gebruik nie is daar tog vir my iets aan hierdie woord wat die idee van verhoudingsintimiteit pragtig uitdruk.
In die Ou Afrikaanse Vertaling word dit nie net gebruik om ons verhouding met God te beskryf nie, maar ook ons verhouding met mekaar. Dit spreek van versoening, van nabyheid, van harte wat kontak het met mekaar, van ‘n intieme kennis en ‘n begeerte om nog beter te ken. Die hele boodskap van die evangelie gaan daaroor dat ons God slegs kan ken “in die aangesig van Jesus Christus”. Die Heilige Gees openbaar die Persoon en Karakter van Jesus vir ons in die evangelie en dit bring oombliklik ‘n verhoudingskennis van God.
“Want God wat gesê het dat daar uit duisternis lig moet skyn—dit is Hy wat in ons harte geskyn het om die verligting te bring van die kennis van die heerlikheid van God in die aangesig van Jesus Christus.” 2 Korinthiërs 4:6
In die “aangesig van Jesus” leer ons nie net die Vader ken nie, maar word daar ook op ‘n wonderbaarlike wyse ‘n weg vir ons oopgemaak om mekaar “in Christus” te ken.
“Maar nadat ons, broeders, ‘n kort tydjie van julle geskeie was—in persoon, nie met die hart nie—het ons met groot verlange ons des te meer beywer om julle aangesig te sien.” 1 Thessalonicense 2:17
Ek nooi jou vandag uit om na die mense om jou te begin kyk in die lig van die Persoon en verlossingswerk van Jesus, m.a.w. in die lig van Sy aangesig.
THE ONE TEST OF A TEACHER SENT FROM GOD – Oswald Chambers
Jesus Christ never allows anywhere any room for the disciple to say, “Now, Lord, I am going to serve Thee.” It never once comes into His outlook on discipleship that the disciple works for Him. He said, “As the Father has sent Me, even so send I you” (rv). How did the Father send Jesus? To do His will. How does Jesus send His disciples? To do His will. “You shall be My witnesses” (rv)—a satisfaction to Me wherever you are placed. Our Lord’s conception of discipleship is not that we work for God, but that God works through us; He uses us as He likes; He allots our work where He chooses, and we learn obedience as our Master did (Hebrews 5:8).
The one test of a teacher sent from God is that those who listen see and know Jesus Christ better than ever they did. If you are a teacher sent from God your worth in God’s sight is estimated by the way you enable people to see Jesus. How are you going to tell whether I am a teacher sent from God or not? You can tell it in no other way than this—that you know Jesus Christ better than ever you did. If a teacher fascinates with his doctrine, his teaching never came from God. The teacher sent from God is the one who clears the way to Jesus and keeps it clear; souls forget altogether about him because the vision of Jesus is the only abiding result. When people are attracted to Jesus Christ through you, see always that you stay on God all the time, and their hearts and affections will never stop at you. The enervation that has crippled many a church, many a Sunday School class and Bible class, is that the pastor or teacher has won people to himself, and the result when they leave is enervating sentimentality. The true man or woman of God never leaves that behind, every remembrance of them makes you want to serve God all the more. So beware of stealing the hearts of the people of God in your mind. If once you get the thought, “It is my winsome way of putting it, my presentation of the truth that attracts”—the only name for that is the ugly name of thief, stealing the hearts of the sheep of God who do not know why they stop at you. Keep the mind stayed on God, and I defy anyone’s heart to stop at you, it will always go on to God.
GOD SE RADIKALE PLAN VIR GEMEENTELEWE – Albert Theron
Die briewe van die Nuwe Testament is hoofsaaklik geskryf aan gewone lidmate, nie leiers per se nie. Nuwe-Testamentiese leierskap is radikaal Christus-gesentreerd en ten volle lidmaat-gerig (Matt 23:8-12). Dit is daarop gerig om konstant en aanhoudend gelowiges vas te maak aan Christus as hul Hoofleier en om elkeen in die gemeente toe te rus om dissipelmakers te wees. Dit is tyd vir ons om op te hou om bloot te praat van die priesterskap van alle gelowiges en om dit werklik te begin toepas in ons gemeentelewe.
Dit verg natuurlik in baie gevalle’n groot paradigmaskuif in die konteks van ons huidige gemeentepraktyke, maar dit is van kardinale belang vir die uitvoering van God se plan vir Sy Gemeente. God se plan is eenvoudig en bedoel om deurdringend te wees: Élke lid van die liggaam toegerus, élke lid in die Woord, élke lid radikaal Christusgesentreerd en geaktiveer deur die evangelie en élke lid ’n dissipelmaker. Totdat ons hierdie spesifieke doelwit het, mis ons die merk heeltemal en mors kosbare tyd, selfs met al ons kerkprogramme, vergaderings, komitees, opleidingskursusse en dies meer.
PAUL’S ONE PASSION – Austin Sparks
Here we have this outstanding disciple, Paul. Was ever a man more closely yoked to his Lord? Hear him speaking as a disciple: “l count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord… That I may know Him”. That is discipleship. It is very impressive that when Paul wrote those words his public ministry in this world was at an end. He was in prison. It was “Paul the aged”, who will presently be penning in another letter, “I have finished my course… the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Tim. 4:6,7). And that man in prison, knowing the end is not far off, perhaps a few days or weeks, or a little more – it may be a year or two, but that is all – cried thus: “That I may know Him…”; “the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord”. Just for a moment try to grasp what that must imply. You are dealing with no ordinary man. He is the man who started his course with seeing Jesus glorified, and then on the way more than once he had a heavenly revelation, was once caught up into heaven and shown unspeakable things. The Lord had said to him at the beginning that He would appear unto him concerning things for his ministry. There had been a very large revelation of the Lord Jesus, probably such as no other man has ever had, and at the end his one passion is to know Him.
MOEG VIR DIE SPOOKASEM, HOE NOU GEMAAK? – Albert Theron
Ons sien vandag dat derduisende mense kerke regoor die spektrum van denominasies en diverse groepe verlaat het en nog steeds verlaat. In baie gevalle kan hierdie “groot uittog” geregverdig word en is dit heeltemal verstaanbaar, want die populêre kultuur het kerke oraloor binnegedring. Dit beteken kortliks dat gemeentelewe grotendeels nie meer gaan oor die ware aanbidding van God “in gees en waarheid” volgens die ewige en onfeilbare Woord nie, maar oor die vermaak van die massas. Ware dissipels van Jesus word nie gevoed deur hierdie “geestelike springmielies” en “spookasem” nie en dit raak net eenvoudig ondraaglik vir hulle. Dan is daar duisende wat sê hulle ken Christus, maar wat omtrent nooit die Bybel lees of regtig belang stel in die inhoud nie. Diesulkes raak ook nie opgewonde oor gesamentlike aanbidding van God en die intersessie van gelowiges of enigsins besorg oor verlore mense en die uitbreiding van God se koninkryk nie. Maar tog hou hulle vol dat hulle verloste mense is. Baie van hierdie mense is heel tevrede in hedendaagse gemeentes, want die dienste is juis gerat om húlle te vermaak in plaas van om die skape te voed! In hierdie tragiese milieu het iemand tereg opgemerk dat baie gelowiges gemeentes verlaat, nie omdat hulle hul geloof verloor het nie, maar omdat hulle hul geloof wil behou.
Maar die gevolg is ongelukkig dat derduisende by hulle huise sit en heel tevrede is met net die elektroniese kerk en bykans geen vorm van lewende gemeenskap met ander dissipels het nie. Ander sê weer “ek is lief vir Jesus, maar met die kerk wil ek niks te doen hê nie; ek en Jesus is nou genoeg”. ‘n Groot deel van die probleem is dat ons “kerk” begin sien het as ‘n gebou, ‘n prediker, musici en ‘n diens op ‘n bepaalde tyd volgens ‘n bepaalde liturgie. Daar is sekerlik plek vir daardie dinge, maar die wese van “kerk” (die woord “gemeente” is beter) is die gemeenskap van gelowiges in Christus d.m.v. die Woord, gebed en lofprysing. Ons het almal nodig om te bid vir die herstel van ware gemeentelewe in dorpe en stede regoor ons land, maar wat doen ons intussen? Sit ons net by ons huise en kla onder mekaar oor die tragiese situasie?
As jy ‘n nuwe hart het in Christus, ‘n Bybel, ‘n sangboek en een of twee mede-gelowiges of gesinne, waarvoor wag jy? Jy het sekerlik nog steeds jou verhouding met Jesus as jy Sy dissipel is? Maak ‘n tyd, kom bymekaar, slaan net daai Bybel oop, deel dit wat God vir jou gewys het, bid, sing, gebruik nagmaal..hoekom nie? Wat is die verskoning? Jy het nie ‘n gebou, ‘n prediker of ‘n “spesiale diens” en musici nodig om dit te doen nie. Wat gaan jy vir God sê wanneer jy voor Hom staan? “Daar was nie meer ‘n gemeente in my dorp wat getrou was aan U nie.” Maar as jy die Bybel het, die Gees binne-in jou en ander gelowiges rondom jou, het jy regtig ‘n verskoning om nie net iewers te begin om te lees, te bid en te sing saam met ander nie? Jesus is mos teenwoordig waar twee of drie in Sy naam vergader? Waarvoor wag jy? Gaan lees bietjie Lukas 24 en let op watter geseënde tyd net twee dissipels van Jesus saam met Hom gehad het!
N.S. Daar is ook meer aan gemeentelewe volgens die Nuwe Testament en daarvoor kan en moet ons intree. Die essensie van gemeentelewe is egter die gemeenskap van dissipels van Jesus en daarvoor het jy alles wat jy nodig het.
WILL WE BE UNIQUE IN HEAVEN? – Randy Alcorn
Just as our genetic code and fingerprints are unique now, we should expect the same of our new bodies. Individual identity is an essential aspect of personhood. God is the creator of individual identities and personalities. He makes no two snowflakes, much less two people, alike. Not even “identical twins” are identical. Individuality preceded sin and the Curse. Individuality was God’s plan from the beginning. Heaven’s inhabitants don’t simply rejoice over nameless multitudes coming to God. They rejoice over each and every person (Luke 15:4-7,10). That’s a powerful affirmation of Heaven’s view of each person as a separate individual whose life is observed and cared for one at a time. When Moses and Elijah appeared out of Heaven to stand with Christ at his transfiguration, the disciples with Christ recognized Moses and Elijah as the distinct individuals they were, the same men they were on Earth, infused with holiness. When we’re told we’ll sit at a banquet and eat with Abraham and Isaac and others, we will be sitting, eating beside, talking with, and laughing with not a general assembly, but particular individuals (Matthew 8:11).
DRIE KENMERKE VAN DIE WYSE MENS IN SPREUKE – Albert Theron
1. Hy is leerbaar en bereid om raad van ander te ontvang.
“Bestraf ‘n spotter nie, anders haat hy jou; bestraf ‘n wyse, en hy sal jou liefhê. Deel mee aan die wyse, en hy sal nog wyser word, leer die regverdige, en hy sal insig vermeerder.” Spreuke 9:8-9
“Die weg van ‘n dwaas is reg in sy eie oë, maar die wyse luister na raad.” Spreuke 12:15
2. Hy dink voor hy praat en sy woorde bring lewe.
“Daar is een wat onverskillig woorde uitspreek soos swaardsteke, maar die tong van die wyse is genesing.” Spreuke 12:18
“Die hart van die wyse maak sy mond verstandig en vermeerder die lering op sy lippe.” Spreuke 16:23
3. Hy het ‘n stewige greep op sy emosies en laat nie toe dat woede die oorhand kry in hom nie.
“‘n Dwaas laat al sy toorn uitvaar, maar ‘n wyse bring dit eindelik tot bedaring.” Spreuke 29:11
Jakobus vat al drie hierdie kenmerke van die wyse vas in een sin.
“So dan, my geliefde broeders, elke mens moet gou wees om te hoor, stadig om te praat, stadig om toornig te word.” Jakobus 1:19
Ongeag ons temperament en persoonlikheid kan ons almal wyse mense wees, of word, in Christus, want Hy het vir ons wysheid geword van God (1 Kor. 1:30).
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GOD OF MODERN MAN – Greg Gilbert
Let me introduce you to god. (Note the lowercase g.) You might want to lower your voice a little before we go in. He might be sleeping now. He’s old, you know, and doesn’t much understand or like this “newfangled” modern world. His golden days—the ones he talks about when you really get him going—were a long time ago, before most of us were even born. That was back when people cared what he thought about things, and considered him pretty important to their lives. Of course all that’s changed now, though, and god—poor fellow—just never adjusted very well. Life’s moved on and passed him by. Now, he spends most of his time just hanging in the garden out back. I go there sometimes to see him, and there we tarry, walking and talking softly and tenderly among the roses. . . .
Anyway, a lot of people still like him, it seems—or at least he manages to keep his poll numbers pretty high. And you’d be surprised how many people even drop by to visit and ask for things every once in a while. But of course that’s alright with him. He’s here to help. Thank goodness, all the crankiness you read about some times in his old books—you know, having the earth swallow people up, raining fire down on cities, that sort of thing—all that seems to have faded in his old age. Now he’s just a goodnatured, low-maintenance friend who’s really easy to talk to— especially since he almost never talks back, and when he does, it’s usually to tell me through some slightly weird “sign” that what I want to do regardless is alright by him. That really is the best kind of friend, isn’t it? You know the best thing about him, though? He doesn’t judge me. Ever, for anything. Oh sure, I know that deep down he wishes I’d be better—more loving, less selfish, and all that—but he’s realistic. He knows I’m human and nobody’s perfect. And I’m totally sure he’s fine with that. Besides, forgiving people is his job. It’s what he does. After all, he’s love, right? And I like to think of love as “never judging, only forgiving.” That’s the god I know. And I wouldn’t have him any other way. . . . Okay, we can go in now. And don’t worry, we don’t have to stay long. Really. He’s grateful for any time he can get.
DIE KONINKRYK VAN SELF – Albert Theron
“Waardeur Hy ons die grootste en kosbare beloftes geskenk het, sodat julle daardeur deelgenote kan word van die goddelike natuur, nadat julle die verdorwenheid ontvlug het wat deur begeerlikheid in die wêreld is.” 2 Petrus 1:4
Die verwoestende “begeerlikheid” wat Petrus hier van praat is die tirannie van die self. Ek wil mý sin hê, mý wil moet geskied, die “koninkryk van self” moet in al sy heerlikheid deurbreek in mý lewe. Dit is nie net “wêreldse mense” wat so dink nie. Die boodskap wat vandag op baie fronte deurgaan as “evangelie” leer subtiel dat dit die wese van verlossing is. God bestaan om my wil en wens te laat geskied en vir hierdie doel het Hy ook Sy Seun na die aarde gestuur.
Teenoor hierdie valse “evangelie” staan Jesus in lynregte opposisie en Hy verklaar in gebed; “nie my wil nie, maar u wil geskied!” (Lukas 22:42 ). Hy leer Sy dissipels om te bid; “laat u Naam geheilig word; laat u koninkryk kom; laat u wil geskied” (Matt. 6:9-10).
Ware verlossing dan bevry my van die “koninkryk van self”. Dit breek die tirannie van die “ek-lewe” en dit lei my na die plek waar dit alles gaan oor Gód se naam, koninkryk en wil. Dít is niks anders nie as die lewe van “Christus in my” (Gal. 2:20).
GOD’S GOOD NEWS CONCERNING HIS SON – Philip Mauro
At the very beginning of the letter to the Romans, Paul declares his own status, namely, that of a bondslave of Jesus Christ and a called Apostle, separated unto the “GOSPEL OF GOD.” Here we have the title of the Gospel, which title is made more specific in Acts 20:24, where it is called the “Gospel of the Grace of God.”
This Gospel is further identified by a statement of its great Subject. It is God’s good news “CONCERNING HIS SON.” God’s Gospel has to do with no other subject than His own and only-begotten Son. His three-fold title is also given—“Jesus Christ the Lord,” and His human lineage is stated, “Who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.” He is set forth as “Jesus,” that is, Saviour (Matt. 1:21); as “Christ,” the anointed One of God in Whom all prophecies are fulfilled, and all the purposes of God are accomplished; and as “Lord” of all, the One Who will one day (in “the day of the Lord”) be acknowledged as such by the whole universe. “Jesus” was the Name by which He was known in the days of His flesh; “Christ” He is acclaimed in resurrection (Acts 2:36); and “Lord” He will be confessed by every tongue in the coming age (Phil. 2:10, 11).
KERK-KENNIS OF BYBEL-KENNIS – Albert Theron
Alle wedergebore mense het die geestelike kapasiteit ontvang om die Bybel te ken en toenemend beter te verstaan (sien 1 Kor. 2:9-16). Alle wedergebore mense het ‘n inwonende Leraar ontvang, naamlik die Heilige Gees (1 Joh. 2:20, 27). Boonop het God in die gemeente menslike leraars gegee (Efes. 4:11) om dissipels van Jesus te help om geestelik volwasse te word. Hierdie leraars was egter nooit bedoel om die Heilige Gees te vervang of die dissipel se eie lees van die Bybel te vervang nie.
Net hier kry ons die gevaar van kerk-kennis wat Bybel-kennis vervang. Deur die eeue van die kerk se geskiedenis was daar baie briljante leraars wat die Bybel gelees en boodskappe gebring en boeke geskryf het wat vandag nog beskikbaar is. Hele denominasies het onstaan op die basis van hulle werke en baie hedendaagse leraars volg in hulle groepe of denominasies maar net in die voetspore van hierdie leraars. Dis dan ook heeltemal verstaanbaar dat die gewone kerkganger maar net sal volg in die voetspore van die lewende leraars wat die gestorwe leraars volg.
Sekerlik het ons nodig om hierdie menslike leraars deur die eeue en vandag te respekteer en ag te slaan op hulle liefdesarbeid. My vraag is egter of kerk-kennis Bybelkennis mag vervang? As my kennis van die Bybel beperk is tot die “templaat” van my groep wat ek altyd oor die Bybel plaas, gee ek werklik die Heilige Gees kans om my te leer uit die Skrif? Die vraag is natuurlik ook of ek enigsins die Bybel met erns lees en of ek maar net leef op die dieët wat menslike leraars verskaf. God het genadiglik vir ons menslike leraars gegee, maar hy wil my en jou ook eerstehands bedien uit die Bybel. Wanneer jy jou Bybel lees, verwag dat die Heilige Gees jou persoonlik sal leer en bedien, want Hy wil! Bly terselfdertyd ook nederig en leerbaar in jou omgang met ander dissipels en met leraars, want jy is nie die enigste een wat die Bybel hanteer nie.
CHRIST KNOWN ONLY BY THE FATHER’S REVELATION – Austin Sparks
Saul of Tarsus would have called himself a master in Israel, one well learned in the Scriptures, with a certain strength of self-assurance, self-confidence, and self-sufficiency in his apprehension and knowledge of the oracles of God. Even such a one as he will have to come to the recognition that none of that is of avail in the realm of Christ; where he realizes that he is utterly blind, utterly ignorant, utterly helpless, altogether ruled out, and needing the grace of God for the very first glimmer of light; to come down very low, and say: “…it was the good pleasure of God… to reveal His Son in me….” That is grace. That marked the beginning; and for this present meditation we are considering the unexplored fulness of what God has Himself placed within His Son, the Lord Jesus, actually and in purpose, as being the object of His grace toward us. His grace has led Him to seek to bring us by revelation into all that knowledge which He Himself possesses as His own secret knowledge of His fulness in His Son, the Lord Jesus.
THE WORD OF GOD IS OVERFLOWINGLY ALIVE – C.H. Spurgeon
You need not bring life to the Scripture; you shall draw life from the Scripture. Oftentimes a single verse has made us start up, as Lazarus came forth at the call of the Lord Jesus. When our soul has been faint, and ready to die, a single word, applied to the heart by the Spirit of God, has aroused us; for it is a quickening as well as a living Word. I am so glad of this, because at times I feel altogether dead; but the Word of God is not dead; and coming to it, we are like the dead man, who, when he was put into the grave of the prophet, rose again as soon as he touched his bones. Even these bones of the prophets, these words of theirs spoken and written thousands of years ago, will impart life to those who come into contact with them. The Word of God is thus overflowingly alive.
EEN FOKUS EN EEN DOEL – Albert Theron
Die Nuwe Testament het een enkele fokus en een enkele doel. As jy dit raaksien, sny jy letterlik deur honderde hedendaagse vewarrings en kry antwoorde vir honderde vrae oor kerk, leierskap, teologie, die regte benadering tot die Bybel, en noem maar op. Is dit ‘n oorvereenvoudiging? Oordeel self.
Die een fokus van die Nuwe Testament is Jesus. Hy is ons weg tot die Vader, die Doper met die Gees, die Hoof van die gemeente, ons Bruidegom, ons geregtigheid, ons lewe en ons heiligmaking. En dit is maar net enkele van die Bybelse beskrywings van hierdie wonderlike Persoon wat ons al-in-al geword het deur Sy dood en opstanding.
Die een doel van die Nuwe Testament is die vorming van ons karakter ín hierdie onvergelyklike Christus sodat ons verhouding met God en mekaar net dieper en meer kosbaar kan word. Die Nuwe Testament praat op dosyne verskillende maniere van die karaktervorming van ‘n dissipel van Jesus met die doel om gelykvormig te word aan Sy beeld (Rom. 8:29).
Wat dan van die gemeente wat so prominent is in die Nuwe Testament? Hier is die interessante; die gemeente word gevorm en gebou vanuit die een fokus met die een doel. Ons verhoudings met mekaar is volgens die N.T. in en vanuit Christus en die groei van die ligaam vind net in werklikheid plaas as die individue in die gemeente in hulle karakters meer word soos Jesus. Slegs dan is daar ‘n ware organiese en praktiese eenheid onder die gemeentelede. Die satan se strategie is om honderde ander fokusse en doelwitte in te voer en so verwarring te bring in gemeentes. Keer terug na die een fokus en een doel van die N.T. en die ander dinge sal sekerlik in plek begin val. God waarborg dit.
THE RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO STUDY THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
So when we talk about the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we mean this great, mighty event, this personal coming, this physical coming, this visible coming, this sudden coming, this glorious appearing. As the apostle Paul puts it in writing his epistle to Titus, ‘Looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ’ ( Titus 2:13 ). I do trust that, having emphasised those aspects of it, we shall proceed to consider it and to think of it in this devotional manner. We shall not approach this teaching theoretically or academically or as if we were trying to fit in the parts of a jigsaw puzzle and establish a theory. Let us rather approach it as we are exhorted to do by the Scriptures. It is something that should rejoice our hearts, should comfort us, should stimulate us to holy living. As John says, ‘Every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure’ ( 1 John 3:3).
There is a right way and a wrong way to study this great doctrine, and if you want to be sure that you are doing it in the right way, this is an infallible test: if your study of it humbles you, your study is in the right way. If it inflates you or inflames your mind and your passion, you are studying it in the wrong way. If the study of it leads you to go down on your knees in worship and adoration and praise, it is the right way; but if it gives you a sense of self–satisfaction that you have understood it and, as it were, have encompassed the thing with your own mind, then it is utterly and absolutely wrong. If your study of it makes you realise that the time is short and that you must be up and doing, that you must purify yourself and prepare yourself for it, then you are studying in the right way. But if it is something purely intellectual, and it does not affect your spirit and your way of living, then you can be certain that your whole approach is wrong. This is not a subject for the mind only, it is for the whole person. It is the ultimate end of salvation. It is the completion of all that we have hitherto been privileged to consider together. May God give us grace, therefore, to approach this glorious truth in that way.
JESUS AFGESNY VAN SY KRUIS EN SY GEESTELIKE LIGGAAM – Albert Theron
Jesus het nooit in Sy bediening op aarde toegelaat dat enigiemand op enige ander basis as die kruis (met die uiteindelike vorming van die “liggaam van Christus” ten doel) met Hom ‘n assosiasie vorm nie. Dit is die wese van Bybelse dissipelskap.
“Toe sê Jesus vir sy dissipels: As iemand agter My aan wil kom, moet hy homself verloën en sy kruis opneem en My volg.” Mattheüs 16:24
Dit is onmoontlik om Jesus se missie werklik te verstaan as ons nie insien dat Hy tydens Sy aardse bediening heeltyd Sy kruis en Sy liggaam (die “liggaam van Christus”) voor oë gehou het nie. Net daar aan die kruis kon die “ou mens” met al sy belange en belangstellings (ook godsdienstige belange en belangstellings) getermineer word. En slegs op daardie basis kon die “een nuwe mens” (Efes. 2:15) gevorm word op opstandingsgrond. Hierdie “een nuwe mens” is die liggaam van Christus wat in universele eenheid veronderstel is om die missie van Jesus op hierdie aarde voort te sit. Dit is wat Jesus ten doel gehad het in Sy hele bediening op aarde en dit is wat Hy steeds ten doel het met Sy intersessie aan die regterhand van die Vader.
As ons dus praat ván Jesus en Sy naam oor ons lippe neem sonder om te sien wat Hy verwag van ons in al ons gesprekke óór Hom, sny ons Hom as’t ware af van Sy kruis en Sy liggaam en skep ons ‘n karikatuur van Hom wat vreemd is aan die Skrif. Dit het ook baie spesifieke betrekking op evangelisasie.
Kom ek maak dit baie prakties om begrip van wat ek wil oordra te probeer verseker. Gebruik ons Jesus se naam om ons eie ding te doen en kerk-kerk te speel? Gebruik ons Sy naam om ons eie institusies, denominasies en mega-gemeentes te bou? Doen ons dit sonder begrip of in agname van Sy alles-insluitende en ou-mens-terminerende kruis en die gevolglike vorming en opbou van Sy universele liggaam? As ons dít doen is ons steeds besig met die godsdienstige belange en belangstellings van die “ou mens”. Dit sal nooit God se goedkeuring wegdra nie. Inteendeel…
THE MIND OF CHRIST FORMED IN US – Oswald Chambers
A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34
There is no subject more intimately interesting to modern people than man’s relationship to man; but men get impatient when they are told that the first requirement is that they should love God first and foremost. “The first of all the commandments is, . . . you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment.” In every crisis in our lives, is God first in our love? in every perplexity of conflicting duties, is He first in our leading? “And the second is like, namely, this, You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”
Remember the standard, “as I have loved you.” I wonder where the best of us are according to that standard? How many of us have turned away over and over again in disgust at men, and when we get alone with the Lord Jesus He speaks no word, but the memory of Him is quite sufficient to bring the rebuke—“as I have loved you.” It takes severe training to think habitually along the lines Jesus Christ has laid down, although we act on them impulsively at times. How many of us are letting Jesus Christ take us into His school of thinking? The saint who is thoughtful is like a man fasting in the midst of universal intoxication. Men of the world hate a thoughtful saint. They can ridicule a living saint who does not think, but a thinking saint—I mean of course, one who lives rightly as well—is the annoyance, because the thinking saint has formed the Mind of Christ and re-echoes it. Let us from this time forth determine to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
JESUS IS THE TRUE LEADER OF WORSHIP – James Fowler
“The main point,” states the writer to the Hebrews, is that “we have a High Priest” who is “a minister in the sanctuary, in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man” (Heb. 8:1,2). He identifies Jesus as the leitourgos, the “leader of worship,” in the Holy Place of God’s presence. The Christocentric reality of Christian worship could be expressed no clearer. True Christian worship is the consistent response and activity of Jesus Christ within us toward God the Father, in order to glorify God by the expression of the “worth-ship” of His character in the behavior of man. Jesus is, and has always been, the only expressor of God. He is the expressive “Word” which “became flesh” (John 1:1,14). He is the expressive “image of God” (Col. 1:15; II Cor. 4:4), whereby the invisible character of God is made visible in human behavior.
As with everything in the Christian life, worship is enacted only by the grace of God. “Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). The dynamic activity of God expressing the reality of God’s character is only realized as expressed by Jesus Christ. Christian worship is always activated by God’s grace. He is the dynamic of His own demands.
THE CHURCH IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE CHRIST – A.J. Gordon
“Do you not know not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ” asks the apostle. This he speaks to the church in its corporate capacity. “A holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit,” is the sublime description in the Epistle to the Ephesians. It is enough that we now emphasize the fact that the same language is here applied to the church which Christ applies to himself. As with the Head, so with the mystical body; each is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and thus is God in some sense incarnated in both; and for the same reason.
Christ was “the Image of the Invisible God”; and when he stood before men in the flesh he could say to them, “He that has seen me has seen the Father.” Not otherwise than through the incarnation, so far as we know, could the unknown God become known, and the unseen God become seen. So, after Christ had returned to the Father, and the world saw him no more, he sent the Paraclete to be incarnated in his mystical body, the church. As the Father revealed himself through the Son, so the Son by the Holy Spirit now reveals himself through the church; as Christ was the image of the invisible God, so the church is appointed to be the image of the invisible Christ; and his members, when they are glorified with him, shall be the express image of his person.
MAAK DISSIPELS OF MAAK ‘N NAAM – Albert Theron
Daar is eintlik net twee soorte gemeentes. Die wat ‘n naam probeer maak vir hulleself en die wat dissipels maak van mense.
Vir die eersgenoemde gemeente gaan dit oor getalle, geld en geboue en hulle meet suskes aan die hoeveelheid mense wat hulle in ‘n gebou kan bymekaar bring op ‘n Sondag.
“En hulle sê: Kom, laat ons vir ons ‘n stad bou en ‘n toring waarvan die spits tot aan die hemel reik; en laat ons vir ons ‘n naam maak…” Genesis 11:4
Vir die laasgenoemde gemeente gaan dit oor die geestelike groei van die individu, die opbou van die Liggaam van Christus en die gevolglike getuienis aan die wêreld wanneer Jesus sigbaar word deur volwasse dissipels in eenheid.
“Gaan dan heen, maak dissipels van al die nasies, en doop hulle in die Naam van die Vader en die Seun en die Heilige Gees; en leer hulle om alles te onderhou wat Ek julle beveel het.” Mattheüs 28:19
Dan is daar natuurlik die geestelike leiers wat glo dat dit nie nodig is om die een of die ander te kies nie. Hoekom kan ons nie dissipels maak én ‘n naam vir onsself nie? Die waarheid is dat dit sonder uitsondering eindig by dissipels maak sódat ons ‘n naam vir onsself kan maak. Daardie benadering sal nooit die goedkeuring van God wegdra nie. Inteendeel.
Ons moet kies. Maak ons dissipels of ‘n naam vir onsself? Is ek in ‘n gemeente waar ek ‘n kop is wat getel word om die sukses van die leier(s) of denominasie te bepaal of is ek in ‘n gemeente waar ek geestelik groei en begin om self dissipels te maak van ander?
LAAT JY GOD TOE OM TE SKRYF OP DIE TAFELS VAN JOU HART? – Albert Theron
Die wedergeboorte gee ons toegang tot die hart en gedagtes van God. Die Bybel is ‘n geslote boek vir mense wat nie wederbaar is deur die Gees van God nie. Vir wedergebore mense word die Bybel daarenteen lewend en so begin die onbeskryflike ontdekkingsreis wat stelselmatig vir ons “die dieptes van God” ontsluit.
“Maar God het dit aan ons deur sy Gees geopenbaar, want die Gees ondersoek alle dinge, ook die dieptes van God.” 1 Korinthiërs 2:10
Daar is egter ‘n voorwaarde en dit is dat ons, ons eie idees oor dinge moet laat vaar en ons eie voorkeure oor wat ons dink belangrik is in die Bybel. Dit is onmoontlik om ‘n sinvolle gesprek met mekaar te voer oor die inhoud van die Bybel as ons nie die Bybel toelaat om self te praat en die oortuigingswerk te doen in ons harte nie. Dit verg egter ‘n berekende en besliste onderwerping van ons denke aan wat die Bybel noem “die sin van Christus”.
“Want wie het die sin van die Here geken, dat hy Hom sou kan onderrig? Maar ons het die sin van Christus.” 1 Korinthiërs 2:16
“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 (ESV)
Party van ons het soos die Engelse uitdrukking sê “a padlocked mind”. Dit is bykans onmoontlik om in daai dig-gesluite kluis in te kom, want die persoon laat nie eers die Woord van God toe om verandering te bring daar binne nie. Intussen is ons dalk baie besig met die Bybel, maar die Bybel is nie besig met ons nie.