Andrea Sieberhagen
'Say to Daughter Zion, "See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." ' Matthew 21:5, NIV
'For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.' Luke 19:10, NIV
I am pondering on two stories: Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, and Jesus finding Zacchaeus up in a sycamore tree.
When I read these two stories, I am deeply impressed by the fact that while Jesus was on earth, he moved among real people. Here we see a continuation of the example of humility that began at the manger. He enters Jerusalem on an ordinary donkey and eats with Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus was a tax collector. When Jesus said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today,” (Luke 19:5) the people around them raised their eyebrows. They objected and said, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” (Luke 19:7) Yet Jesus did not pay attention to the opinions of those around him – and that very attitude brought change in Zacchaeus’ life.
None of us are too small or insignificant to share in his great love and grace. All who believe in him can claim the truth that we are children of the King, and therefore, we never, ever need to feel inferior. Status or income do not matter. The new hope he brings is meant for you too!
All you need to do is take hold of it, so that change may also take place in your life.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind me each day that in your eyes I am important and special, for I am your child!
Andrea Sieberhagen
"Sê vir Sion: Kyk jou Koning kom na jou toe; Hy is nederig en Hy ry op ’n donkie, op die vul van 'n pakdier." Matteus 21:5, 1983-vertaling
Die seun van die mens het immers gekom om te soek en te red wat verlore is. Lukas 19:10. 1983-vertaling
Ek dink hier aan twee verhale. Jesus wat op 'n esel Jerusalem binne ry en Jesus wat vir Saggeus bo in die wildevyeboom kry.
As ek hierdie twee verhale lees, kom ek diep onder die indruk van die feit dat Jesus terwyl Hy op aarde was tussen regte mense beweeg het. Hier sien ons steeds dat die voorbeeld van nederigheid, wat by die krip begin het, voortgesit word. Hy ry Jerusalem binne op 'n doodgewone donkie en gaan eet saam met Saggeus.
Saggeus was 'n tollenaar. Toe Jesus vir Saggeus sê, “Ek moet vandag in jou huis tuis gaan,” (Lukas 19:5) het die mense om hulle, se wenkbroue gelig. Hulle het beswaar aangeteken en gesê: “Hy gaan by 'n sondige man tuis!” (Lukas 19:7) Jesus steur hom egter nie aan die opinies van die mense rondom Hom nie en juis dit veroorsaak 'n verandering in Saggeus se lewe.
Niemand van ons is te gering of te onbelangrik om te deel in sy groot liefde en genade nie. Almal wat in Hom glo, kan aanspraak maak op die feit dat ons koningskinders is en daarom hoef ons nooit, nooit minderwaardig te voel nie. Status of inkomste is onbelangrik. Die nuwe hoop wat Hy bring is ook vir jou bedoel!
Al wat jy moet doen is om dit aan te gryp, sodat daar ook by jou 'n positiewe verandering in jou lewe kan plaasvind.
Gebed: Hemelse Vader, herinner my elke dag dat ek in u oë belangrik en spesiaal is want ek is u kind! Amen
Andrea Sieberhagen
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’). Matthew 1:23, NIV
December. There are Christmas decorations everywhere, fruitcakes on shop shelves and Christmas carols playing in shopping centres. All intended to remind us that Christmas is around the corner. Although the goal may be to convince people to spend more money on Christmas shopping than they planned, the festivity is still fitting. We should indeed celebrate the birth of Jesus with joy, as long as we remember what the joy is truly about.
When Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem, he became human in our world – in humility. There in the stable the wise men from the East found him. “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)
Thus, Jesus grew up and moved among all the other people as a human being.
God with us.
So, this is our reassurance, that God was among people then and is still with us today. He was truly human, and constantly treated the people around him with compassion. An example for all of us. An example of humility and of gentleness. We see this continually in the way that he interacts with people and the choices he makes.
Let us follow his example in this Christmas season. Let us live humbly and with empathy. Let us celebrate his birth with joy while we also worship him, as is fitting.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant us humility and empathy in this Christmas season and make us aware that you are always with us. Amen
Andrea Sieberhagen
"Die maagd sal swanger word en 'n seun in die wêreld bring, en hulle sal Hom Immanuel noem. Die naam beteken God by ons." Matteus 1:23, 1983-vertaling
Desembermaand. Kersversierings oral, vrugtekoeke op winkelrakke en Kersliedere in winkelsentrums. Alles bedoel om ons te herinner dat Kersfees om die draai is. Hoewel die doel is om mense te oortuig om dalk meer geld te spandeer op Kersinkopies as wat hulle wou, is die feestelikheid tog gepas. Ons mag maar die geboorte van Jesus met vreugde vier, so lank ons onthou waaroor die blydskap eintlik gaan.
Toe Jesus gebore is in 'n stal in Betlehem het hy mens geword in ons wêreld. In nederigheid. Daar in die stal het die sterrekykers uit die ooste Hom gevind: “Ons het sy ster sien opkom en ons het gekom om aan Hom hulde te bewys.” (Matteus 2:2)
So het Jesus grootgeword en as mens tussen al die ander mense beweeg.
God by ons.
En dis die gerusstellende wete, dat God toe tussen mense was en vandag nog by ons is. Hy was ware mens en het die mense om Hom konstant met deernis behandel.
'n Voorbeeld vir almal van ons. 'n Voorbeeld van nederigheid en 'n voorbeeld van sagmoedigheid. Dit sien ons telkens in die manier waarop Hy met die mense om Hom omgaan en die keuses wat Hy maak.
Kom ons volg sy voorbeeld na in hierdie Kersseisoen. Kom ons leef nederig en met empatie. Kom ons vier sy geboorte met vreugde terwyl ons ook aan Hom hulde bring soos wat dit hoort.
Gebed: Hemelse Vader, skenk aan ons nederigheid en empatie in hierdie Kersfeestyd en maak ons bewus daarvan dat U altyd by ons is. Amen