Proclaim vs. Complain (A paraphrase of a sermon I recently heard)
Raise your hand if you have ever complained about a rough situation you have been or are going through.
I could keep my hand raised for probably eternity. I’ve had my share of bad times where I questioned my Creator’s reason for allowing me to go through such painful times. It seems natural to us to complain to anyone who will listen; it is in fact, part of the grieving process. The Book of Psalms in part is all about venting to our Creator in times of trouble. But it also PROCLAIMS His goodness.
To a cynical world, this doesn’t make sense. How can we believe that our Creator would allow bad things to happen to “good” people? In the midst of a loss, it is ok to hate it. Well-meaning people of faith will say things like… “God will use this for good”. While true, this doesn’t make one feel any better, it still sucks going through tremendous pain. However, we should try to see these times as a platform to PROCLAIM our Creator’s goodness, rather than complain, i.e. see it from His perspective.
The Apostle Paul is a great example of this perspective. When he was falsely accused of starting a riot, he was imprisoned for two years while the Governor Felix listened to Paul explain his innocence. God had told Paul previously that he was to go to Rome to PROCLAIM the Gospel there and to have COURAGE. I can’t speak for the rest of you, but when I hear that I must have courage, it doesn’t sound like good things are coming my way.
The Governor wasn’t interested to learn about THE WAY, he wanted Paul to pay him a bribe. It was unjust to say the least, but Paul didn’t COMPLAIN, he PROCLAIMED the Gospel while in captivity and many accepted his testimony. It took great courage to endure unjust, what many would say, un-deserved suffering for the sake of PROCLAIMING the Gospel.
We too, can adopt the perspective of Paul. We can be encouraged by his examples that although we have the right to hate the suffering, we can take courage that we can someday PROCLAIM the good that will result from our suffering. It will stand out to those who may not have ever had the opportunity to hear our proclamation of why we trust Him above any situation we may endure.
Take courage my friends!
Psalm 3:1-8, Philippians 3:7-14, Acts 24:13-27
TSK
Raise your hand if you have ever complained about a rough situation you have been or are going through.
I could keep my hand raised for probably eternity. I’ve had my share of bad times where I questioned my Creator’s reason for allowing me to go through such painful times. It seems natural to us to complain to anyone who will listen; it is in fact, part of the grieving process. The Book of Psalms in part is all about venting to our Creator in times of trouble. But it also PROCLAIMS His goodness.
To a cynical world, this doesn’t make sense. How can we believe that our Creator would allow bad things to happen to “good” people? In the midst of a loss, it is ok to hate it. Well-meaning people of faith will say things like… “God will use this for good”. While true, this doesn’t make one feel any better, it still sucks going through tremendous pain. However, we should try to see these times as a platform to PROCLAIM our Creator’s goodness, rather than complain, i.e. see it from His perspective.
The Apostle Paul is a great example of this perspective. When he was falsely accused of starting a riot, he was imprisoned for two years while the Governor Felix listened to Paul explain his innocence. God had told Paul previously that he was to go to Rome to PROCLAIM the Gospel there and to have COURAGE. I can’t speak for the rest of you, but when I hear that I must have courage, it doesn’t sound like good things are coming my way.
The Governor wasn’t interested to learn about THE WAY, he wanted Paul to pay him a bribe. It was unjust to say the least, but Paul didn’t COMPLAIN, he PROCLAIMED the Gospel while in captivity and many accepted his testimony. It took great courage to endure unjust, what many would say, un-deserved suffering for the sake of PROCLAIMING the Gospel.
We too, can adopt the perspective of Paul. We can be encouraged by his examples that although we have the right to hate the suffering, we can take courage that we can someday PROCLAIM the good that will result from our suffering. It will stand out to those who may not have ever had the opportunity to hear our proclamation of why we trust Him above any situation we may endure.
Take courage my friends!
Psalm 3:1-8, Philippians 3:7-14, Acts 24:13-27
TSK
