Andrea Sieberhagen
"You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead he puts it on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. Matthew 5:14-15, GNT
Negative people spread darkness. They cast shadows wherever they go because their spirits are heavy. It is because the light of God is not in them.
We who carry the light that Jesus brought into our lives have a responsibility to make it visible. It may not remain inside, it may not be hidden. In Matthew 5:16 we read: “In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven."
When people see God’s light in our words and actions, he is glorified. In an overwhelmingly dark world, someone who radiates light stands out as different.
We can bring a great deal of “light” into people’s lives through simple, practical gestures. A word of encouragement can lift away deep discouragement, a smile can ease heaviness, a plate of food can quiet hunger, your presence can chase away loneliness. And suddenly you will have made a difference in someone’s life! Suddenly you have meant something to someone. Suddenly you have brought light into darkness!
Be light. Make a difference.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, make me a light in and for this world, so that I may bring change in its darkness. Amen
Andrea Sieberhagen
"Julle is die lig vir die wêreld. 'n Stad wat op 'n berg lê kan nie weggesteek word nie; ook steek 'n mens nie 'n lamp op en sit dit onder 'n emmer nie maar op 'n lampstaander, en dit gee lig vir almal in die huis. Matteus 5:14-15, 1983-vertaling
Negatiewe mense veroorsaak donkerte. Hulle veroorsaak skaduwees oral waar hulle gaan, want hulle gemoed is donker. Dis omdat die lig van God nie in hulle is nie.
Ons wat die lig wat Jesus in ons lewens ingedra het binne ons het, het 'n verantwoordelikheid om dit verder uit te dra. Dit mag nie binne bly nie, dit mag nie weggesteek word nie! In Matteus 5:16 staan daar “Laat julle lig so voor die mense skyn, dat hulle julle goeie werke kan sien en julle Vader wat in die hemel is, kan verheerlik.”
As mense God se lig in ons woorde en dade sien, sal die gevolg wees dat Hy verheerlik word. In 'n oorheersende donker wêreld staan iemand wat lig uitstraal onmiddellik uit as “anders”.
Ons kan op eenvoudige praktiese maniere baie “lig” bring in mense se lewens. 'n Woord van bemoediging kan donker moedeloosheid wegneem, 'n glimlag kan verligting van bedruktheid bring, 'n bord kos kan honger stil, jou teenwoordigheid kan eensaamheid verdryf. En skielik het jy 'n verskil in iemand se lewe gemaak! Skielik het jy iets vir iemand beteken. Skielik het jy lig in donkerte gebring!
Wees lig! Maak 'n verskil!
Gebed: Hemelse Vader, maak my 'n lig vir hierdie wêreld, sodat ek 'n verskil in die donker wêreld kan maak. Amen
Andrea Sieberhagen
"You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it. Matthew 5:13, GNT
Without salt, food is bland, and no one wants to eat it. Add salt, and the tasteless dish becomes something edible, maybe even something enjoyable. Something changes. And this is what God asks of us in the world, to bring about change. We must be the “salt of the earth.”
We all know people who make a difference, but often in a negative way. They walk into a room and you sigh, because you know all you’re going to hear is complaining and criticism or stories of tragedy and conflict. You almost want to exclaim, “Unpalatable!”
Are they perhaps like salt that has lost its saltiness? Worthless, as the Bible phrases it??
We must be different. When people look at us, they must be able to see the difference. In the midst of a negative world, people must look at us and wonder, ‘what is different?’ When everyone around us becomes discouraged and complains, we must be able to stand up and say, “Yes, but …”
In our positive attitude toward life, people should be able to recognise our salvation. It should draw people closer, not push them away. If we can achieve that, we are living our Christianity well.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, make me the salt of the earth. Help me to value myself rightly. Amen
Andrea Sieberhagen
Julle is die sout van die aarde. Maar as sout verslaan het , hoe kry ‘n mens dit weer sout? Dit is niks meer werd nie. Dit word buitekant weggegooi, en die mense vertrap dit. Matteus 5:13, 1983-vertaling
Sonder sout is kos smaakloos. Sonder sout wil niemand dit eet nie. Voeg sout by en dit verander 'n smaaklose dis na iets wat eetbaar word, iets wat selfs lekker kan wees. Daar het iets verander. En dit is wat God van ons vra in die wêreld – dat ons 'n verandering te weeg sal bring Ons moet “sout van die aarde” wees.
Ons ken almal mense wat 'n verskil maak, maar heel dikwels in die negatiewe sin van die woord. Wanneer hulle 'n vertrek binnestap, sug jy, want jy weet al wat jy gaan hoor is klagtes en kritiek. Stories van tragedies en twis! Onsmaaklik wil jy uitroep
Is hulle nie dalk sout wat verslaan het nie? Niks werd nie.
Ons moet anders wees. Wanneer mense na ons kyk, moet hulle die verskil kan sien. Te midde van 'n negatiewe wêreld moet mense na ons kyk en wonder wat is anders? Wanneer almal om ons moedeloos kerm en kla moet ons kan opstaan en sê, “ja, maar …”
In ons positiewe lewensingesteldheid moet mense ons christenskap kan herken. Dit moet mense nader trek, nie wegstoot nie. As ons dit kan regkry, kry ons reg om ons christenskap te leef.
Gebed: Hemelse Vader, maak my die sout van hierdie aarde. Help my om myself na waarde te skat. Amen