Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
April 4, 1994
Good Morning!
WANT TO IMPACT THE LOST FOR CHRIST?
Than stop complaining about life.
Did you know that a prerequisite to reflecting Christ
and effectively sharing the word of God is to stop the griping?
Consider:
"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, (so)
that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent...above
reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among
whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word
of life..." (Philippians 2:14-16)
The fact that the people around you fornicate, steal your money
and ideas, ogle your wife, rip off the company, smoke pot, and
cheat on their income tax IS NOT UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR. That's how
people in a DYSFUNCTIONAL SOCIETY live. The technical
term used in the Bible for such demeanor is sin.
Why then are we so surprised? And so angry? The "Rose
Garden" ended the day the "First Couple" chose
to eat the wrong fruit. We need to settle the fact that tough
times for followers of Christ is now the norm -- A training ground
in preparing us for eternity:
"Through many tribulations we (believers) must enter
the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:21)
Israel failed in this regard. As they trekked across the desert
from Egypt to the Promised Land they bellyached about almost
everything. Of them Paul writes:
"...With most of them God was not well-pleased...for they...grumbled:
'...Why have you (Moses) brought us up out of Egypt to die in
the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we
loath this miserable food.'" (ICorin- thians 10:5,10; Numbers
21:5)
Once we accept the reason as to why we are here, we may find
it easier to respond to Paul's challenge in I Thessalonians 5:18:
"In everything give thanks; for this is God's
will concerning you..."
Hopefully folks outside of Christ will notice when a thankful
spirit prevails over an angry attitude,
thereby opening the door to minister the word of Christ to
them.
Have a great week!
Dwight Hill
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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