Work-to-do-Wednesday-Handling the Bad Calls...

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No one likes to be overruled, especially in front of 60 thousand people. We play in rainy weather, cold weather, and hot weather. We play in imperfect conditions yet we want perfect officiating. Some bad calls are part of the game.

-Gene Stallings on why he refuses to use instant replay

            Although Coach Stallings was speaking of football, I believe this quote can be applied to our lives as Christians. We know that we live in an imperfect world. We know that we are imperfect people. We know that God never promised us an easy life, but rather an eternal home. We know all this, yet we often find ourselves in the same trap the Israelites fell into time and time again. We complain about the bad things or inconveniences in our lives.

            So why do we complain? As Christians should we not be the most joyful people on the face of the earth? How does God feel about our complaining?

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”

1 Corinthians 10:6-10

            Did you read that? Murmuring or complaining is listed with lust, idolatry, fornication and tempting Christ? If you think complaining isn’t serious, think again! God considers complaining to be a very serious thing. The Holy Spirit recorded that the Israelites were destroyed because of their complaining. The New Testament reinforces how God feels about our complaining.

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Philippians 2:14

            We all have our struggles and this is one of mine. After reading these verses, I realized that I have a tendency to complain often. I never thought about it all that much because like worry, we seem to brush it off by saying, “Oh well, everyone does it.” Does that make it okay? Does that make it any less serious in God’s eyes? Absolutely not!

           

            Remember, Jesus told us in Matt. 12:37 that our words will justify or condemn us in the last days. I, for one, need to be more aware of the words I choose, even the idle and fruitless ones-Matt. 12:36. But how can I accomplish this?

           

            First, I can ask God for help in keeping my tongue pure. James told us chapter 4 verse 2, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” So not only are we to pray but to vigilantly give thanks. If my heart is focused on constantly thanking God for all the blessing he has chosen to bestow upon me, I won’t be so quick to complain just because something fails to go my way. God has given me beyond what I deserve and even if something doesn’t work out that I feel should, I do not lose faith that the Creator of the Universe will fail to care for me.

            Let us all dedicate our hearts to thinking and speaking differently. Recognize the things in your life that cause you to complain and guard your heart against them. Replace them with thanksgiving today and everyday.

“Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.”

1 Chronicles 16:8

Tough Truth Tuesday-My Christianity, My Way!?

           There is a growing problem in our society among so-called Christians. Many individuals want to be called Christians but on their own terms. They want Christianity their way.

            Some want to have Christianity without commitment, however Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” They fail to realize that Christianity without commitment means nothing because the foundation of Christianity is the commitment of the Father and Son. Commitment is needed in order to live the Christian life, to grow spiritually, to be dedicated to the will of God and to continue forward in the spiritual life.

            Some want Christianity without doctrine, however the Bible says, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine…” in Acts 2:42. 2 Timothy 1:13 tells us to, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words.” Christianity means nothing without doctrine. The foundation of Christianity is the doctrine given by the Father and Son-2 Timothy 3:16-17. Sound doctrine is necessary in order to maintain the true faith and to go to heaven.

            Some want Christianity without having to do anything, but in Matthew 7:21 Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

            You may want Christianity your way, but as Bill Cosby said, “This is not Burger King. You cannot have it your way.”

Motivational Monday-Taking the Time

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         One of the hardest tasks many Christians face today is reading the Bible. We feel guilty that we don’t read it regularly, yet we can’t seem to find the time. And we’re not sure how to go about it-without getting bogged down in the “begats” in the Old Testament.

         The first step is to make spending time in God’s word a priority. This may mean getting up a little earlier or using some of those gaps in your schedule when you fritter the time away.

         There are a number of ways you can read the Bible. Cover the Old Testament in a year by reading three or four chapters a day or the New Testament by reading a chapter a day.

         The important thing is not to get stuck in the process of finding a program, but to get started reading the Bible. To get it in your heart and mind, even if that means just spending some moments each day reading a few verses.

         There’s no better investiment of your time than spending it in God’s word. After all, as Psalm 119:11 says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

         Consistent reading of Bible takes discipline. This discipline yields a potent and valuable fruit-the kind that lasts forever.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Joshua 1:8

Silent Sunday

taken in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains

“The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.”

Proverbs 18:4