Bible League: Living His Word But Jesus said, "Stop complaining to each other."When the gospel of Jesus Christ is presented to you, how do you respond? Do you respond to it with joy, or do you respond to it in some other way? The Jews of Jesus' day responded by complaining. Jesus came to them proclaiming "I am the bread that gives life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who believes in me will ever be thirsty" (John 6:35). The Jews complained because they did not believe he was the heavenly bread that gives life. They did not believe the gospel message he proclaimed. Jesus said the only reason they followed him was that he fed them earthly bread (John 6:1-15). To complain about the gospel of Jesus Christ is a sin. It arises from unbelief. It arises from the realization that the gospel requires a radical reorientation of life. It arises when a recalcitrant soul refuses to accept the reorientation that is required. When one is confronted by the gospel things cannot stay the same. Instead of following the dictates of the sinful self, one must accept Jesus and begin to follow him. Instead of living life on one's own terms, one must live life for Jesus. For some, this is too much to ask. For some, complaining is the only appropriate response. It's not just unbelievers who may complain. Believers may do it as well. Although we have received the gospel with joy, when confronted with some of its implications we may hesitate and complain. After all, to follow Jesus is to surrender to his will and ways. It means that we cannot have our own way. If Jesus asks us to go here or there, or do this or that, it may not be what we want. It may not jibe with our personal agenda. As a result, we may resist him, we may complain to him. The main problem with complaining is that it keeps us from moving forward in life. Instead of moving forward into the new thing Jesus has for us, we remain stuck where we are. Instead of following the fresh calling, we stagnate in the old calling. The ten spies complained about moving into the Promised Land and they ended up dying in the Wilderness. If you find yourself complaining about something, it might be profitable to ask yourself: am I refusing to follow Jesus? Am I resisting his direction for my life? Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 33, 34, 35 Jeremiah 33 -- God Promises to the Captive a Gracious Return and David's Branch NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 34 -- Jeremiah Prophesies the Captivity of Zedekiah; Freedom for Slaves NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 35 -- By the Obedience of the Recabites, Jeremiah Rebukes Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Titus 3 Titus 3 -- Godly Living; Final Remarks NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!Insight It seems strange that a man in prison would be telling a church to rejoice. But Paul's attitude teaches us an important lesson: our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances. Paul was full of joy because he knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with him. Several times in this letter, Paul urged the Philippians to be joyful, probably because they needed to hear this. Challenge It's easy to get discouraged about unpleasant circumstances or to take unimportant events too seriously. If you haven't been joyful lately, you may not be looking at life from the right perspective. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Malachi 3:6 I am the Lord, I change not.It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow mutability can make no furrows. All things else have changed--all things are changing. The sun itself grows dim with age; the world is waxing old; the folding up of the worn-out vesture has commenced; the heavens and earth must soon pass away; they shall perish, they shall wax old as doth a garment; but there is One who only hath immortality, of whose years there is no end, and in whose person there is no change. The delight which the mariner feels, when, after having been tossed about for many a day, he steps again upon the solid shore, is the satisfaction of a Christian when, amidst all the changes of this troublous life, he rests the foot of his faith upon this truth--"I am the Lord, I change not." The stability which the anchor gives the ship when it has at last obtained a hold-fast, is like that which the Christian's hope affords him when it fixes itself upon this glorious truth. With God "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Whatever his attributes were of old, they are now; his power, his wisdom, his justice, his truth, are alike unchanged. He has ever been the refuge of his people, their stronghold in the day of trouble, and he is their sure Helper still. He is unchanged in his love. He has loved his people with "an everlasting love;" he loves them now as much as ever he did, and when all earthly things shall have melted in the last conflagration, his love will still wear the dew of its youth. Precious is the assurance that he changes not! The wheel of providence revolves, but its axle is eternal love. "Death and change are busy ever, Man decays, and ages move; But his mercy waneth never; God is wisdom, God is love." Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.1 Peter 2:21-23 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, • WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; • and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1,2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, • fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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