And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."
~ Numbers 21:5 (NKJV)
Aye yi yi can you believe those Israelites? How on earth could they "loathe" (detest, be disgusted with, be weary of) the manna called "grain of heaven … bread of angels"? How many times would their congregation turn a blind eye to God's goodness and grace and give in to complaining without hearing His not-so-subtle "You're provoking Me"?
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
~ Hebrews 10:24-25 (KJV)
Quick question: What bugs you most about your church congregation? Or, if you don't have one, then ask what single most aggravating factor about your last congregation, or the church at large, has provoked you to the point that you don't belong to a church?
Consider that the congregation of Israelites missed out on a tremendous number of blessings because of their complaining. We will likewise become blind to blessings if we allow those in our own congregation to provoke us to the point of unfruitful complaining.
If we find a situation truly grievous, then perhaps God is "provoking" us to get involved in His constructive approach to its resolution, lest we become as much of a provoker as a provokee—unless, King James style, we provoke others "unto love."
Lord, You are only good. Please forgive our complaining. I ask for every person who reads these words, as we seek Your face, that You'd open our eyes today to at least one blessing we've been missing and cause us to thank You for it.
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Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Complaining is the business of Satan and my kids have permission to call me on it if they hear me doing it. I still have to regularly pull the picture of the starving child off my fridge to remind my kids to quit complaining. It is the opposite of praising Our Lord for everything He gives us!
ReplyDeleteMy eyes are open to new blessings all the time as your prayer requests. I could never find all the blessings that God has bestowed on me!
You've got a starving child photo on the fridge, Mary? I laminated an article about people in India who live in a garbage dump as squatters, and every so often they have to rebuild the "homes" they've built from debris when the government buldozes their shacks. These are the people who pray for us in America, that we'll find freedom from materialism so that we'll have more of God. I don't even know how to respond to such prayers.
Deletethis provoked me a bit when i read this yesterday, Anne. having just landed stateside and without sleep it was impossible then to respond. you see while we were traveling my wife mentioned about my going to church. i'd been thinking that particular day about dropping out of it altogether. it didn't have anything to do with the congregation but moreso with me. felt like i was/am being consumed by it too quickly and maybe it was a bad thing. when i told her that night that i was thinking about quitting it altogether, her response set me back on my heels a bit. she said, "Have you asked God about this?" my initial in my mind was OUCH! but i got feeling a little indignant/angry towards her as well. then i come here and read this timely and provoking post....(a long sigh)
ReplyDelete\o/
Wonderful to have you back, Bud! I've genuinely missed you. Your comment makes me smile. :D
DeleteIt is nearly impossible to be thankful for blessings while complaining about circumstances, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteJoe, I try to think of complaining as the opposite of praise, and I also try not to negate my praise with complaining. I'll be glad when I get to Heaven and never fail those efforts.
DeleteI am provoked by God's word, spoken from the pulpit.
ReplyDeleteI am provoked by the music, which moves my Spirit.
Those are good things.
I am irratated by hats cleavage, and shorts in church . Just being honest and don't even know how to pray. I'm just glad they are there --
LOL, David. Would you believe that cleavage is actually distracting to me too? I wince at short shorts on women, but try to ignore the rest. If we can get stuff like love and unity nailed down, I may be ready to help tackle the other. Yes, I'm glad they're there too.
DeleteVery thought provoking sis, love you.
ReplyDeleteI love you too, Denise. I've been praying for you. I hope you are well.
DeleteYes Annie, our starving child picture is the one where the vulture is waiting in the background anticipating the death of the child. I am sure you have probably seen it before as it is quite famous. I like the idea of the one you laminated. And you are right, the thought of them praying for "us" is absolutely astounding!
ReplyDeleteMary, you wouldn't believe how the Lord is at work in this conversation. I knew I'd used that photo for a post and went back to look it up. I actually did two posts:
Delete1. Troubled
2. Finding Peace
I know how busy you are. (Me too!) But if you're able to read the posts, I pray the Lord might use them for you as powerfully as He's already using them for me.