The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"A Greater Danger"
"Complaining not only does not do any good. It also does great harm to our walk with God."
The Psalmist Asaph, greatly challenged by difficulty and confusion, confessed to an overwhelmed spirit that resulted from complaint. This led to a diatribe of unbelief against his Lord.
"I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed" (Psalm 77:11).
"Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Is His mercy clean gone for ever? Doth His promise fail forevermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies?" (Psalm 77:7-9).
Many of us have thought or said when faced with troubles, "I would complain. But it wouldn't do any good!" Certainly, this is true. However, a greater danger lies in succumbing to the temptation to murmur against God rather than confessing His faithfulness. A tongue allowed to complain leads to a spirit overwhelmed rather than a spirit overcoming through the Lord Jesus Christ. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4). Thus, complaining not only does not do any good. It also does great harm to our walk with God.
Thankfully, Asaph came to his senses. "This is my infirmity (weakness)" (Psalm 77:10). The problem was not with God and His working, but rather with Asaph and his failure to trust the Lord. In repentance, the Psalmist proceeded to confess God's faithfulness, doubtless resulting in a restored spirit able to overcome the challenges of life through God's grace received by faith.
"Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary. Who is so great a God as our God?" (Psalm 77:11-13).
Complaint makes necessary confession, confession of sin and a restored confession of the Lord's righteous faithfulness. It not only "doesn't do any good." It also does much harm, overwhelming our spirits and resulting in further expressions of unbelief. Little wonder another Psalmist, David, prayed, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3). Left to itself, our tongue possesses no control of itself. "The tongue can no man tame" (James 3:8). We all require the Holy Spirit's guidance and enabling to refrain from complaint, and to empower the affirmation of faith and praise. Thus, we do well to join David in seeking the power to overcome complaint by confession of our Lord's promises, and confession to Him if we murmur. Solomon stated the truth in the most stark terms: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). Yes, we know the living Christ as we affirm His involved presence and working in all things. Or we know death by the complaining that not only does no good, but also much harm.
"My tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and of Thy praise all the day long."
(Psalm 35:28)
Weekly Memory Verse
"This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
(I John 5:4)
7023
No comments:
Post a Comment