I was thinking about the whole story though, and it made me realize that often, all I can think about are the tiny things that are causing me discomfort such as that speck. So often, I will focus on the small things that I do not like, and I forget to praise God for the many ways He has blessed me. We truly have to look harder to complain than to give thanks. God has blessed us with unfathomable riches in Christ (Eph. 3:8). We have been forgiven every debt we have ever owed! We have been given the right to be called children of God! Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! WHAT IS THERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT? When we remember what God has done for us, it puts our trials into perspective! Our sufferings are nothing compared to His! We no longer have to face the wrath of God because Christ bore all God's wrath for those who have faith in Him! Do you have a "speck" in your eye? What are you focusing on? Let us praise God for the unfathomable riches He has blessed us with in Christ!
Showing posts with label complaining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label complaining. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Unfathomable Riches
Our family bought some land in the country and we plan to build our house on it. We have been clearing the pasture, cleaning out the old barns, and preparing the house site. As I took a wheelbarrow of sticks to one of the enormous piles of trees that we cleared, the wind blew a small speck of something into my eye. I rubbed my eye and blinked, but it would not come out. I made my way to our van with one eye half open. My other eye was instinctively closing because of the speck, and I could not open it. We poured Visine in my eye, and the speck would not move. It was a tiny barb that was embedded on the inside of my top eyelid. My mom drove to a nearby friend's house, and she tried to use a Q-tip and even a baby spoon to remove it. It would not budge though, so she took me to the clinic where my grandmother works. All the way there, I kept my eyes shut and did not move them so that it would not hurt. I was very thankful when my grandmother successfully removed it!
Monday, December 10, 2012
The Power of Rejoicing
Imagine...
Imagine it's midnight, you have just been beaten unjustly for doing the Lord's work, and you're in prison with your feet bound. What would you be doing? This is exactly where Paul and Silas found themselves one midnight long ago.
Acts 16:22-34
"The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!' And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down beforePaul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'
"They said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.' And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household."
Staring Me in the Eyes
Honestly, if I were in this situation, I don't think I'd be rejoicing. I think I'd be crying out to God for relief, but as I read this passage I was amazed! Here were two men in a very trying circumstance, who were praising God! This passage was staring in my face. It made me ask myself, "Why do I ever complain if they rejoiced when their circumstances were much worse?"
Do Not Simply Cease! Rejoice!
The Israelites complained despite the many good gifts God had given them. God gave them manna, and they complained because they wanted meat. How often are we like them? God has given us so many gifts! Our goal should not be to simply cease from complaining. We should rejoice! Philippians 4:4 says "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Paul said it twice because rejoicing is so important!
What Would The World be Like?
When Paul and Silas were rejoicing, all the doors were opened and every one's chains fell off, not to mention the fact that an entire family was saved! Maybe we are missing out on miracles because we aren't rejoicing. I wonder what would be different in our lives if we rejoiced? What would the world be like if every Christian rejoiced?
The Charge:
No matter where you are in life, let's follow the example of Paul and Silas in rejoicing. Let's just watch to see what God does!
Imagine it's midnight, you have just been beaten unjustly for doing the Lord's work, and you're in prison with your feet bound. What would you be doing? This is exactly where Paul and Silas found themselves one midnight long ago.
Acts 16:22-34
"The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!' And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down beforePaul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'
"They said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.' And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household."
Staring Me in the Eyes
Honestly, if I were in this situation, I don't think I'd be rejoicing. I think I'd be crying out to God for relief, but as I read this passage I was amazed! Here were two men in a very trying circumstance, who were praising God! This passage was staring in my face. It made me ask myself, "Why do I ever complain if they rejoiced when their circumstances were much worse?"
Do Not Simply Cease! Rejoice!
The Israelites complained despite the many good gifts God had given them. God gave them manna, and they complained because they wanted meat. How often are we like them? God has given us so many gifts! Our goal should not be to simply cease from complaining. We should rejoice! Philippians 4:4 says "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Paul said it twice because rejoicing is so important!
What Would The World be Like?
When Paul and Silas were rejoicing, all the doors were opened and every one's chains fell off, not to mention the fact that an entire family was saved! Maybe we are missing out on miracles because we aren't rejoicing. I wonder what would be different in our lives if we rejoiced? What would the world be like if every Christian rejoiced?
The Charge:
No matter where you are in life, let's follow the example of Paul and Silas in rejoicing. Let's just watch to see what God does!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Who Do We Give Thanks to at Thanksgiving?
The Giver of all good gifts! God! God is the one we should acknowledge for everything we have. We should thank Him every day, not just on Thanksgiving!
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