In watter deel van die Gallery is God?

Die meeste gallerye in die wêreld is by ander aanloklikhede. Gewoonlik is di took ‘n lokpunt vir die stad se bedelaars siende hulle besef dat die toeriste en geld daar beweeg. Baie sit ons, God in die ryk toeris afbeelding. Ons  vra net almoese van hom, Jakobus het daarvoor seker  dit die akuraatste beskryf, toe hy in syssendbrief skryf dat julle bid en ontvang nie, omdat julle uit julle eie welluste bid, (Jak 4:3). God is nie net daar vir ons plesier, hy is nie ons ekspiriment om te kyk wat HY vir ons kan doen nie. Trouens het hy vir ons reeds in volmaakheid sy gawe gee, deur vir ons te sterf aan die kruis.  Johannes verwoord dit soos volg, hieraan weet ons dat God ons liefhet, deurdat Christus op die kruis gesterf het.

As jy verder loop in die straat sou jy tien teen een verskillende namaaksel van dit op vertoon binne in die gallery kry. Voor die Louvre in Parys het die vorige Franse President ‘n glas Pirimide laat opsit, vanweë sy opsessie met Egiptiese  mitologie. Dit het die Fransebevolking die hoenders in gehad. Is my Godsdiens altyd so opreg. Die profeet Maleagi maan hy juis teen gebrekkige offers, en dat God dit haat. (Mal 1:13&14). Juis in die evangelie volgens Johannes ,sê Jesus vir die vrou, “daarkom ‘n tyd en dit is nou dat, God aanbidders soek in Gees en waarheid. God is nie ‘n voëlverskrikker wat in ‘n komkommer tuin staan nie, Hy is die ware God, Jer 10:10 lees soosvolg: “Maar die Here is waarlik God, Hy is die lewende God en ‘n ewige Koning; vir sy toorn beef die aard, en die nasie kan sy grimmigheid nie verdra nie – “

Voor jy by die ingang, ingaan is daar ‘n toegangs geld betaal. Is God dalk in die toegangshokkie van ons. Genade is ‘n vrygawe, gegee deur Christus. Martin Luther het gedink om in gietende reën te bid kan hy dalk die guns van god kry. Die mense in die Middeleeue het los koop briewe gekoop en so die geloof op dit geplaas om toegang tot die hemel. Abraham het die regte gesindheid gehad. Hy het besef dat daar niks is wat hy kan doen om God te behaag nie, Rom 4:9 – 13, en die Hebreers skrywer maak die volgende uitlating in Heb 11:6 “En sonder geloof is dit onmoontlik om God te behaag; want hy wat tot God gaan, moet glo dat HY is ‘n beloner is wat hom soek.”  God is nie ‘n aanemer van die persoon nie, maar van harte. Paulus sêdit is verniet, sodatniemankanroemnie, Ef 2:8 – 9. Toegang reeds betaal – gaan maar deur.

Siendebaiebekendegalleryevoortdurende kinder kompetiesieaan bid komonsnou in die voorportaal met al hierdie kinder kunstenaars. Dalk het ons God hiergekry en gelos. In Markus vermaanChristusonsdanomsoos kinder tebly en sodoende die Koninkryk te beerwe. Onsmoetglosooskinders, maar ons moet ui tdaardie stand kom. Paulus skryf in 1 Kor 13:11 hoe hygeredeneerhtsoos kind, maar noudathy ‘n man is so moetredeneer.Onsmoelankalvan diemelkosseafgewees het skryfeenbybelseouteur. God is nie net die kinder bybel god nie, nee hymoetsaam met ons dag na dag wandel.

Deur die gange van die gallery is daarbeslis ‘n kamer met lanskappe. Jysien die probleem met landskapskilderye is datdaarvastereëls is. Jykan net Tafelberg teken soosTafelberg is, anders is dit dood eenvoudig nie meerTafelberg nie. Pierneef het natuurlik die uniekstemetodesgehadomlandskappeteteken maar soosjykyk in syskilderye is ditnogsteedsbome en gras. Onswil so graag vas kykomtesê, goddiensmoet sis en so wees. Onsmoet so of so bid. Jesus kom en hyvermaan die Fariseersomnieonnodigewette op die mensete le wathulle self niekanonderhounie. God het nogsyeiewette en onsmoetdaarbyinval maar dit is deur God ingestel, ons het te veel menslike wette, wat ons onsself nie kan onder hou nie. onsgeregtigheid is in Christusskryf Paulus aan die gemeente in Romeine (Rom 5:17). Hy het ditonderhou en is geoffervirons, sodat hierdie las nie meer op ons hoef te wees nie.

Wanneer ons deur die gallery beweeg dan kom mens iewer by die grootmeesteruit. Dit waaroor die Louvre byvoorbeeld gaan is nie oor al die ander skilderye nie, dit is die Da Vinci’s, die Van Gogh’s, Rembrandts. Soek ons God nie net op om die groot en Magtige dade te doen nie. Hy laat immers die takbokke lam, en die woestynebewe. Hy het Perd en ruiter in die rooisee laat omkom.Sy some vul die tempel. God is soveelmeer as dit, hy is die prins van vrede, hy is ‘n verlosserwat in onsplekkomstaan het. Hy is die lelie van die dale, hy is die blink môrester, hy het die dood en die dode ryk oorwin, sodat ek kan lewe.

Daar is ook ‘n ander fasset aan die oumeesters, ons dink baie dat Godsdiens is maar net vir die oumense, God se wonders was beperk tot die Apostels of die profete van die Ou Testament, maar Hebreers se, God is gister, vandag en tot in alle ewigheid dieselfde, en dat Hy nou met ons praat deur sy Seun, (Heb1:1) ,wat ‘n voorreg. Die belofte van die outyd is uitgelê vir ons. Heb 11:39&40.

Picasso was die eerste erkende abstrakte kunstenaar, maar ek vermoed dat hy soms self nie geweet het wat hy skilder nie. My broer het ‘n skildery gekoop, en almal wat na hom kyk sien iets anders raak in hom. Plaas ons God nie daar waar ons Hom wil sien as dit wat ons hom wil voorsien nie.eenmaal ‘n maan met Nagmaal. Die Hebrueer skrywer sê God is ‘n verterendevuur. Hy is ook die begin en die Voleinder van ons geloof. Hy het die aarde en alles daarop gemaak, maar hy het met my ‘n passie. Ps 8 skryf die digter, wie is die mense kind dat God aanhomdit en wat is hydat HY hombesoek, Hy span die boogoor die chaos van die Noorde en hang die Aarde op aan ‘n Niks.

Ekworstel al ‘n tyd met hierdiegedagte, waar het ek God in my gallery gesit, By die oumeester, miskien by die beeldhouwerk. Dalk by die  gesethei van die fotografieafdeling, en ekbesefdalk het Johannes ditraakgeslaan toe hy in JOH 10:10 In die tweede gedeelte waar hy skryf“… Ek het gekom, dat hulle lewe en oorvloedkan he .”  In Romeine 11 skryf Paulus dat God alles vir HOM , Tot Hom en deur Homg emaak het. Dit is my harts begeerte om God in sy totaliteit te sien en te ken. Die hoof sanger van Hillsongskryf so mooi, “open eyes off my heart Lord, I want to see you…”

Dankie

edo ne

Jesus walks on water

Matt 14:22-36

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. doesn’t be afraid."  28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replie’d, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"  32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.

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As I page through this piece of marvellous writing, I realize that there were real people in this boat. Characters that God has placed in this boat for a reason. Most probably this was his twelve disciples, and I would like to share a few words, regarding each one of them.

The first character you will find in the boat will be Andrew, the brother of Peter. Just like his more famous brother Peter he was a fisherman. A person that is manly, a person trusting on himself to do his daily work. A characteristic that is good, in life, however serving the Lord, it might be your downfall. Paul writes to the Assembly of Corinthians in his second epistle “but He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more in gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ power may rest on me.”

Somewhere on this boat I might encounter the two sons of Zebedee, John and James, most commonly known as the sons of thunder. It is these two persons that requested that Jesus promised them that in heaven, one to be seated on his right hand and one on his left hand side. (Mat 20:21). They were boastful in them self and it is all about Jesus. In his epistle James says to us to stay away from pride, “... God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6b).  In second Chronicles 7:14 God Himself says to the earth that He will turn His face towards those who humble themselves in prayer. He will  lift you up when you humble yourself, befor Him, (James 4:10)

A close friend of Peter and Andrew, where Phillip. He put his trust in men, whereas God Himself proclaim the following in Jeremiah, “Beware of your friends; do not trust brothers, For every bother is a deceiver, and every friend is a slanderer” (Jer 9:4 ). We must put our trust in God; He is no man that he would lie. (Tit 1:2), trust in Him alone, and you will rejoice in him alone.

Bartholomew, you will find somewhere in a corner of this vessel, he is not particular famous, no one knew him except the twelve; he is the shy character of the disciples. He never realized, that he is more than a conqueror in Jesus, (Rom 8:37), nor did he gasp the idea of the victory that Christ has given to him, by proclaiming, “I can do all everything through Him who gives me strength” (Fhil 4:13).

Thomas, the man of little faith, in the gospel according to John, Thomas says to his fellow disciples, that only if he put his fingers in His wounds, would he believe that Jesus has risen, a few verses later He appears to Thomas, and he declare that Jesus is his Lord and his God, (John 21:24-28). God, reward those who diligently seeks Him, (Heb 11:6), and blessed are those who believes, yet they have not seen, (John 20:29). Thomas evangelized modern day India, and it is said the his knees knobs is engraved in his prayer place, he diligently seeked the lord.

The tax collector was also on this ship moving towards the opposite side of the Sea of Galilee. Mathew was sinful, deceitful and a cheat, he took his share of the profits. And yet Jesus put him on the ship destined for failure, even though his sin were as high as the mountain, God forgave him. He reminded him of scripture in Isaiah, “Come now let us reason together, says the Lord Though your sins is like scarlet they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Is 1:18).

James, the brother of Jesus, he never believed that Jesus was the son of God. He just came along for fame. Jesus says, to lift Him higher for the world to see, so that he can draw all men to Him. James goes fourth and write his epistle, and glorify Jesus, everything is about him.

Simon the Zealot, a member of a fanatical political party, the “defenders” of the Jewish custom.  Yet God, learns his followers it is “ not by might or power but by His Spirit” (Zec 4:10). Every time we want to defend Jesus, however is was soft spoken, soft hearted, he come a broke down yoke of the past traditions he gave us a better covenant, Heb 8:13 states, By calling this covenant “new” he has made the first one obsolete, and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.”

Judas, would be sailing on this boat as well. He is condemning himself, whilst Christ has not come to condemn us, nor Judas. John 3:17 “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him, furthermore “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ” (Rom  8:1).Judas the saving power of Jesus was available for him too.

The last person, I want to discuss on this boat is Peter. The most famous disciple of all, he is a rock and upon him is build the church. (Matt 16:17). He betrayed Jesus, he was the one who chopped off Malchas’s ear. When the power of God come upon him, He lifted Peter up, he evangelized the whole of the middle east.

Jesus left them in the windy sea; He wanted them all to walk on the water, and leave behind their characteristics of shame in the boat. He wanted to give the all the yoke of softness and his light burden.  Jesus prayed for them, alone, he mentioned their names, their characters, before his father.

In today’s life Jesus are aware of our problems, the winds that threatens our daily faith in him. But it is up to us to leave this boat of condemnation, this boat of unbelief. We need to trust him to fully believe in him, and become more than a conqueror. He will fight the fight for us. He will not allow us to be tested beyond our powers.

 

God is Liefde

Allah, die god van Islam, het 99 “wonderlike” name wat hom beskryf, maar daar is een oënskynlike beskrywing wat ontbreek aan hierdie klaarblyklike god. Johhannes skryf in sy sendbrief dat “GOD IS LIEFDE”, die naam wat ontbreek aan die god van Islam.  Daar is ‘n pinkster liedtjie wat so gaan “Liefde red my, toe alles wanhopig was red Liefde my.

Paulus skryf aan die Romeine dat niks ons kan skei van die Liefde nie, nie verdrukking, engele, duiwels, hoogte of diepe, ook nie daai geraamte in die kas nie want God weet reeds van hom en ook van die “Red Liefde”. Hy skryf verder dat God het ons nie geroep het tot slawerny van sonde nie, maar tot kindskap, waardeur ons kan roep “ABBA VADER”. Die Boodskap vertaal die gedeelte so “… waar deur ons kan roep, Vader, Liefdevolle Vader.

In 1 Korintiërs 12, beskryf Paulus die gawes van die Gees, en dat dit nuttig is vir die gemeente. Hy gaan voort en beskryf dat die Liggaam van Christus belangrik is en elkeen van ons ‘n intergrale deel van die liggaam is, maar… In 1 Korintiërs 13 skryf hy dat al die wonderlike geheimenis van die voorafgaande gedeelte tot nuut gaan maar die Liefde sal nooit vergaan al gebeur wat. Paulus skryf aan sy pupil Timmoteus dat God ons nie geroep het tot ‘n gees van vreesagtigheid nie maar een van Liefde en selfbeheersing. Die Liefde gee vir ons krag om selfbeheersing toe te pas, en dan kom die res van die Vrug van die Gees, uit hulle self.

Johannes 1:14 verduidelik vir my die mooiste wie hierdie Liefde is, en dat Hy soms deur ons wandel maar ek hom nie altyd herken nie. In sy sendbriewe skryf Johannes “Ons het Hom lief, omdat Hy ons eerste Lief gehad het.” As Hy ons nie getrek het nie sou ons hom nooit liefgehad het nie. Johannes 3:16 & 17 skry Johannes “Want so Lief het God die wêreld gehad, dat Hy sy enig gebore seun gegee het sodat ons nie verlore mag gaan nie, maar die Ewige lewe mag hê, want hy het nie gekom om te oordeel maar die verlore gaande wêreld te red.”

Ek weet een ding verseker dat ek meer as ‘n oorwinaar is deur Christus, wat my die Krag gee, ek wil graag die Woord Christus met liefde vervang, want Hy is die Personifikasie van liefde en in my opinie beskryf Paulus Christus in  1 Korintiërs 13, want uit sy liefde is hy nooi Opgeblase, Jaloers, Soek hy nie die kwaad, Hy hou geen boek van die kwaad nie. Paulus sluit hierdie Hoofstuk af met die  woorde “hiervan bly daar drie oor Geloof; Hoop en Liefde, waar van die grootste liefde is.”.

Op Christus plaas ek deur die geloof my Hoop, maar ek het geloof omdat Hy, my die grooste sondaar van almal, lief het, onverdiend en sonder om iets terug te verwag . “Liefde red my, waarlik Liefde red my.”