Who Doesn't Love a Baby?

Luke 2:8-18
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

     What a night those shepherds had! It was certainly one they'd never forget. There they are, minding their sheep, when the sky breaks open with light, and a messenger of God appears with the message that the Saviour has been born, and then a multitude of angels fills the night sky singing praises to God! It's no wonder they immediately wanted to go see what all the fuss was about.
     What they found was just as fascinating. A virgin born child, lying in a feeding trough, in the midst of a stable. As we see in verse 17, they instantly run to share the news with anyone who will listen. In verse 18, we see that those who heard were amazed at the account of the shepherds.

     The Bible doesn't tell us much about what those amazed people did, but I don't think it's too far fetched to think that some would want to see for themselves. I also don't doubt that some people from that inn, too filled for Mary and Joseph to take shelter there, would have come to see a baby born in such conditions. After all, who doesn't love a baby? You can imagine the passers-by standing adoring the precious newborn child. Even those who knew nothing of the prophecy of the coming Messiah could appreciate the beauty of a tiny baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

     Again I ask, who doesn't love a baby? Who doesn't adore the baby Jesus? This time of year, you can't drive down the road in any populated area without seeing at least one or two Nativity scenes. Just as it was that first night, people adore “the Christ child.” Churches will be filled for Christmas services, with people who will smile and enjoy the message of the miracle birth. They'll enjoy the television specials that tell the story of that “Silent Night.” They'll sing with merry hearts, “Away in a Manger” and “The First Noel.” And then, come December 26^th, those same people will begin to put away the Nativity scenes and go back to life as usual. They'll physically pack up the baby Jesus, and not bring Him out again until next year. Spiritually they'll do the same thing.

     So why is it that almost everyone loves the baby Jesus but neglects the “grown up” Jesus? I believe it's because the baby Jesus doesn't require anything of them. He just lays there in the manger. He doesn't speak. He doesn't ask for too much. The baby Jesus is seen as a gift laid at their feet, while the adult Jesus is recognized as The Lord who says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) It's true that salvation is a gift to be received, but to serve the Lord is to be “... a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1b)

     I'm glad so many take a day, or maybe even a month of the year, and recognizes the value of Jesus, as a babe lying in a manger. But let's not leave Him there. He didn't come just to serve as a decoration, or as an excuse to buy gifts and spend time with family. I'm not against those things, but if you drag out a Nativity scene the day after Thanksgiving, but you haven't accepted God's gift of Salvation... or if you're a Christian who does so, but you don't attend church, read your Bible, pray, and share the gospel, you're really missing the point.

     There's a reason we're not even commanded in the Bible to celebrate the birth of Christ. I'm not against it, and certainly if we celebrate our own birthdays it only makes sense that we celebrate the most important birth that ever occurred. But the virgin birth was only the beginning of Christ's earthly ministry. He came to live a perfect life, that He might offer that innocent life as a sacrifice in our place, that we could be forgiven of our sins. He came to live as an example of how a child of God (what you become once you trust Christ as Saviour) should live during the short time we have on this earth. He came to give us the information we need on how we can live a life in God's will.

     I sometimes imagine what it must be like for Jesus to look down on everyone singing about Him as a baby, focusing solely on the nativity. I wonder if He doesn't think, “I'm still here! I did so much more! I want to help you! Look past the manger to the cross! Look from the stable to the empty tomb!” Don't just love the baby Jesus. Love the Jesus who did all the things we read about in God's word, and who sits at the right hand of God the Father today, making intercession for all those who trust in Him.

     You've taken time to recognize His birth. To those who have never accepted Christ, let me ask you, will you go on to recognize Him as your Saviour and Lord? To my Christian friend let me ask, will you “pack Him up” after Christmas? Or will you continue to love Him, serve Him, and learn more about Him, so you can better live like Him? He's just as easy to love now as He was as a baby, I assure you.  After all, He wasn't just born for you: He died for you!

Merry Christmas, and may Jesus remain the focus 

of all our lives as we begin a New Year.

Colossians 3:16, 17
16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

The Real Gift of Christmas

     This Christmas, as in Christmases past, we celebrate the birth of a Saviour, Christ the Lord. Deity, wrapped in flesh. Perfection wrapped in a robe of humanity. He was the original "Christmas gift."

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” - Isaiah 9:6

     This was a gift with a purpose. He was sent to be the only living man (while He never stopped truly being God) who could die, without having His own sins requiring payment.

"The wages of sin is death..." - Romans 6:23a

     Therefore, He could be that perfect, one-time sacrifice, whose death could be designated as payment for the sins of someone else, anyone else, everyone else, “whosoever” as we read in John 3:16. That is the true gift of Christmas. The gift of eternal salvation.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" - Ephesians 2:8

     However, as with any gift, it must be received. That is the only responsibility of the recipient of a gift, is that you "take" it. I can purchase a gift for you, wrap it perfectly, and place it at your feet, but it's not yours until you pick it up, unwrap it, and take it home.

     So how do we receive the gift God gave us in Jesus? You receive the "gift of God" by faith... by accepting it. You receive it by acknowledging to God that you indeed are a sinner.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" - Romans 3:23

     You receive it by acknowledging your sin before God, and actually saying (in prayer), "God, I want to take your gift of eternal salvation as my own. I want the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to count for ME! I'm turning from trusting in myself, and my deeds, and I'm trusting Christ and Him alone for my salvation."

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." - Romans 10:13

     Then, you have a real reason to celebrate this Christmas. You are missing out on the true joy of this holiday, if you're only celebrating the fact that A SAVIOUR was born, but you've never accepted Him as YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOUR. Jesus was not sent so that we could simply appreciate His existence, but that through Him each one of us might be saved!

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” - Mark 8:36

     Don't miss out on Heaven, and spend eternity in Hell, because you've left a gift sitting at your feet, unwrapped, unreceived. Salvation is such a simple thing to receive. It is done in just a moment of time, and yet changes your eternity!

     If you have any questions, I'd love to answer them for you. If there's anything holding you back from accepting Christ as your personal Saviour today, give me an opportunity to show you from the Bible the answer. I want that to be my gift to you this Christmas: a clear path to the Saviour.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” - John 3:17

Merry Christmas!

Consistent Christian Parenting

Read these words written by the apostle Paul to his "preacher boy" Timothy.

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.  (1 Timothy 4:13-16)

And later...

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

     Paul was very clear with Timothy, that if he was to profit from the word of God, he would have to devote himself to it. There would be effort required. He instructed Timothy, the one he considered to be a son to him, to “neglect not the gift” that was in him, but rather to read, meditate, and give himself wholly to study of the scriptures. He exhorted Timothy to study, so that he could rightly divide the word of truth, and that he might (spiritually) profit from it, so that not only would he have a proper relationship with God, but he might save those that would hear him in the future.

     In studying these passages and others like them, it brings to mind the inconsistency we often show as Christian parents.  Different parents want different things for their children. However, one thing is a shared desire of most parents in the world; that our children would grow up to be the best they can be at whatever it is they do.  Let me share a couple examples with you...

     When I was in the fourth grade, a local music store brought different concert band instruments to the elementary school for us to try. Obviously they wanted to get us hooked so our parents would spend money, and it worked. I became fascinated with music, and immediately wanted to get an instrument so I could join the band. My parents, probably partly not wanting to waste money, but ultimately to teach me a life lesson, made it clear that if I was going to join something, I was going to be committed to it. They would not be spending their hard earned money on something so that I could make noise a few times and then walk away from it. Over the years, I continued to play a horn, and they did everything they could to ensure I would (to quote a late 20^th century Army slogan) “be all that I could be.” They, using their God given authority, insisted that I practice a minimum of 30 minutes a day. I was not allowed to “skip” a group practice. There was no option of missing a rehearsal or performance. I had the option each year not to return to the band, but each year I would choose to take part, and each year they would make sure I was giving it my all. As I got older, and realized that I might want to have a career in music (If only I knew then what I know now!). They got me a private instructor. They would pay for the lessons, and I was to be at every one on time, and practice what I had learned on my own time between lessons. Their insistence that I work hard and be committed resulted in profit. Not only did I have a reputation locally as a competent musician, but I had two full scholarships offered to two state colleges by the time I graduated high school.

     Leaving that aside for a moment, consider all of our children: I don't doubt that we all encourage our kids to get the best education they can get. We make them do their homework, and go to school whether they want to or feel like it, unless they have a severe illness. We go to open houses and parent teacher conferences. We buy whatever school supplies they need. We keep up with their grades and test scores, and when we see them struggling, we step in to try and correct the problem. We decide early on that if they are going to fail, it's going to be in spite of us doing everything we can to help them succeed. We will impose our authority to be sure they are doing the things they need to do in order to achieve the goals we have for them.

     If you are a Christian parent, I would hope you have these goals for your child; to grow up to have a deeply rooted faith, and to become a productive Christian adult. If you're like me, you desire for your children not only to grow up to be faithful church attenders, but actual servants of God, ministering to those around them. My goal for my son to be the best Christian he can be, serving in whatever way God has in mind for him.

     Now, consider this: My parents knew I wouldn't automatically become a competent musician, simply because they wanted that for me. We all know our children won't become highly educated adults, just because we desire that for them. We recognize that the only way those things will happen is if they follow a strategy to reach those goals. It's going to require hard work. It's going to require our children doing things that sometimes they may not feel like or want to do. We, as their parents, were given by God the authority to demand these things of them, so that they will reap the benefits as adults.

     And yet, how do we as parents handle their children's spiritual lives? If we were consistent, we'd have to encourage them to take every opportunity to learn about Christ they can. We'd make sure they never missed a church service unless they had a really good reason. We'd make sure they were reading their Bible every day. We'd make sure they had their memory verses done. We'd make sure they always brought their Bibles to church. We'd keep in touch with their Sunday School teachers to see how they're doing. We'd sit down to read and study the Bible at home with them. If they were struggling spiritually we would find help for them if it fell outside the realm of our own knowledge.

     Just because a child has been saved does not mean they will automatically grow up to be God-fearing, Bible-believing, doctrinally sound, faithfully serving adults! We sit down with my son every night to go over his spelling words for his weekly test at school. I hate to admit it, but we don't always remember to go over his memory verses for Sunday School at church. And that is but one way in my own home I saw an inconsistency that needed fixed. If we understand that every other area of our children's lives require commitment, work, devotion in order to be profitable in the long run, we cannot pretend not to understand that their spiritual growth requires the same! We must commit to consistency!

     But wait... consistency would just mean equality, wouldn't it? It would just mean we were treating the things of God as equally important to the things of the world. Let's remember this passage in Colossians 1 that speaks of Christ...

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:16-18, emphasis added)

     Preeminence doesn't just denote that He chronologically came first, but that He is worthy of first place, above all things. Him having the preeminence means we don't just treat Him equally well, but rather that we put serving Him above everything else in our lives. 

     The most important thing your child (and yourself) has to do in this life, aside from accepting Christ as Saviour in the first place, is to be the best servant of God, the best minister of the gospel they can be. We don't just need to give God equal time and commitment, we need to give Him more than anything else. This is going to require some work on our part as parents. We're going to have to make the hard choices. We're going to have to make our children do the things that are required to become what we know they should grow up to be. We're going to have to demand that they are faithful to God's house, faithful to church functions, faithful to personal Bible reading and study. We must impose our authority when we have to: We do it in every other area, so we certainly must do it for what's really important.

     Of course, if we expect them to do these things, it is going to require that we do them as well. I've already had moments where my son asks a question about his homework, and I have to say, “Hold on a minute,” and study ahead of him so that I can help him. We need to be “studied ahead” of our children, so that we can help them with spiritual things as well. But that's another thought for another day.  Thanks for reading!

4 Eternally Secure Things

     I just wanted to share some quick thoughts from a recent sermon that I thought might be helpful. There are very few truly secure things in this world. Almost anything we have is fragile and could be taken away tomorrow. However, as a Christian, I can be thankful for a few things that, once received, are eternally secure because they are based in something unchangable: the actions of Christ.

Things that can't be taken away:

1. My Salvation.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9

     I'm thankful that I am not saved from an eternity in Hell by my good works. Good works should naturally follow if someone has accepted Christ as their Saviour, and salvation without good works will never be the sort of reproducing faith that leads others to Christ. However, I am saved because I have chosen to trust in Jesus Christ, and what He did on the cross as the payment for my sin debt.

     My salvation was never about MY actions, but about His. Since nobody could go back in time and undo what He did in being born to a virgin, living a perfect life, offering Himself a “spotless lamb” on the cross, being buried for three days and nights, and then coming out of that grave in victory over death, my salvation can never be in danger. My good works didn't get me saved, and my good works don't keep me saved.

     There's a reason Satan tried from the beginning of time to stop God's plan of Salvation. Once Christ died, was buried, and rose again, salvation was secured for all who would repent and place their trust in Him. It could NEVER be undone.

2. My Peace.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18

     Since the sacrifice of Jesus can never be undone, and my salvation cannot be taken away, I can have peace in my life. Peace with God, which is an abiding peace. Certainly I will have trials and tribulations in my life, but they are all temporary. At the deepest level, at my core, in my very soul I can have peace in knowing I am eternally secure in the hand of the Father.

I might, like everyone, be nervous sometimes about the unknown in my life, but my ultimate destination is known. My ultimate condition is known.

Jesus said it best in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

3. My Joy.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: - 1 Peter 1:3-8

     What a blessed reminder, “though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice.” This means my joy, my rejoicing is based in the fact I have believed on (and continue to trust in) Jesus Christ.

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. - Philippians 4:4

     It doesn't say “rejoice in your current situation.” Sometimes our current situation is no fun at all. You will go through some very hard times. You might be going through one right now. But I can smile in the midst of trouble because the source of my joy is a fact that can never be undone: “God loved me and rescued me from eternity in Hell and the bondage of sin on this earth!”

     Why do you think Paul and Silas were singing at midnight in the Philippian jail? Not because they were happy to be in jail. They were rejoicing in the Lord. The world has taken this idea and tried to adopt it: “When you're feeling stressed or sad, just close your eyes and go to your happy place.” There's only one eternal happy place, and I'm a resident there thanks to something that can never be undone, the finished work of the Saviour.

     Happiness is a surface emotion. Happiness can be taken away by circumstances. “Joy unspeakable and full of glory” is something placed deep in my heart by my Lord, and no one can touch it.

4. My Reason for Serving.

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. - Colossians 3:23,24

     Do you know the hardest thing about serving God by serving people? People aren't always kind, appreciative, or accepting of help. Sometimes they can be downright mean and hateful. You'll invest in them, devote yourself to helping them, leading them, teaching them, and they'll go out and do the things that hurt you the most. It's enough to make you want to quit.

     I read recently that 1500 pastors quit each month, and that only 10% of pastors will still be serving at retirement age. I understand that, but I could never quit. I know that, by comparison to many pastors I am fairly young, but from where I stand right now, the idea of quitting would mean I was serving for the wrong reason in the first place.

     Yes, the ministry can be a somewhat thankless job at times.... but I don't quit because the reason for serving is that Jesus died for me, and that never changes.     Never let people's reaction stop you from serving in the way you should. You serve because of what Christ did, not because of what others will do.

IN SUMMARY:

What is the basis of our salvation?  Jesus died for us.

Why do we have abiding peace?  Jesus died for us.

Why do we have joy?   Jesus died for us.

Why do we serve?  Jesus died for us.

     None of those things can ever change, because what Christ did can never be changed. Any time we feel weary, or begin to waiver on any one of those things, we need to look back to the cross.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. - Hebrews 12:3

Those Murmuring Israelites... Are We Any Better?

Exodus 15:1, 2, 22-24
1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
…
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

       Here is the multitude, fresh out of their bondage in Egypt, all singing a song to God, praising him in their gratefulness, but then, three days into the trip, at the first real sign of trouble, they begin murmuring.

       Now certainly, being thirsty is not a sin; neither is being unhappy that your hopes are dashed in some way.  The problem here is how they handled their need and disappointment.  They didn't unite in prayer. They didn't simply seek the guidance of the man of God who was leading them.  They murmured.  By definition, this means they "grumbled and complained."

        No, the Bible doesn't say they “murmured against God.”  It says they “murmured against Moses.” However, Moses is God's man.  He is God's choice of a leader.  They were indirectly grumbling and complaining against God.  No matter who they were murmuring against, they were handing the situation in the wrong way.

As Christians, living in the midst of a wicked world, we often fall into the same sin. 

Let's consider the instruction found in Paul's epistle to the Philippian church:

Philippians 2:14,15

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

       The Israelites were chronic complainers, and often we are too.  Seeing as that is a sin, let's examine the causes and seek the solution.  I think you'll recognize some startling similarities.

I. The Israelites complained because they forgot how bad they had it before....

Exodus 16:3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

       They apparently forgot the taskmasters whipping their flesh when they weren't building the Egyptian monuments as fast as the Egyptians wanted, or the wicked Pharoah who ordered the midwives to kill all their baby boys, or the religious persecution they faced because they were slaves who worshipped the one true God in the midst of a society that worshipped false gods in the form of idols.  They temporarily forgot that they had NO REAL FREEDOM AT ALL.

We grumble about the Christian life, when we forget how bad “the good old days” were.  

This might have been when we were lost, or even maybe after we were saved but then drifted, not really living for Jesus.

       People glorify their past, and say, “I remember when we'd all go out to the bar and have a drink and we didn't have a care in the world.”  But they forget that night with their head in the toilet and somebody else holding their hair.  They forget the regrets they had the next morning when they couldn't remember exactly what they said or did, or how they got home.  They don't think about the fact that had they not accepted Christ, and died on one of those “fun nights” they would have died and gone to Hell, not to mention doing nothing to stop the same from happening to all their friends and loved ones.

-----------------------

SIDE NOTE:

Part of their problem was that they were listening to the Egyptian hangers-on (listened to bad influences).

Numbers 11:4-6
4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

       Remember, some Egyptians went with them when everything was going south in Egypt and God was blessing the children of Israel.  We find ourselves surrounded in this world by lost individuals.  It's a great mission field.  However, our closest friends, allies, advisors, should be fellow Christians; not to isolate ourselves, but to insulate ourselves. We still want contact with the world.  We still want to reach them with the gospel, but if we're not careful, we'll allow lost people to have such influence in our lives (and of course they're going to paint their lives as better, more free, etc.) that we might be sold on their sales pitch. Next thing you know, you're out of the will of God and wondering what happened!  Don't be fooled by those still lost; a life far from God is not one you want to live.

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II. The Israelites complained because they lost sight of the promise of God.

Numbers 14:3,4
3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

But these people had a promise from God!  They weren't leaving for the unknown.  They were leaving for a specific destination....

Exodus 3:15-17 (when God is sending his message by Moses to His people)
15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your athers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

When we begin to get weary, frustrated, whiny, it's often for the very same reason.  We forget we have promises from God.  Peter made mention of these promises:

2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We get weary, and begin to grumble and complain when we forget His promises to us...

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9)

God promised the Israelites there was a land of milk and honey just down the road.

God has promised us :

a. He SHALL supply all our need.
b. His grace IS sufficient.
c. All things DO work together for good when we love and serve Him.
d. He WILL never cast us out once we're saved.
e. We SHALL reap if we faint not in well doing.

That's not even mentioning our own eternal “promised land” that awaits us at the end of our travels!

III. The Israelites complained because they failed to see what God was doing for them right then and there.

Let's, re-read Numbers 11:6 

 “But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.”

       To paraphrase, they basically said, "There's nothing for us to eat EXCEPT THIS MIRACLE that God performed for us."  And don't forget, God had already miraculously provided fresh water to drink.

And what about the quails? “And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.” (Exodus 16:13)

And what about their clothes? “And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.” (Deuteronomy 29:5)

       Here they are in the middle of the wilderness. There was no place to buy anything. There was no Sinai Super-Walmart. God miraculously provided for them day after day. He did not allow them to starve, or even to be without clothing, or even to have tattered clothing. And yet all they could see is what they did not have.

When we complain, it is because we fail to see what God is doing for us right this very minute.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” (Psalm 68:19)

       Do you know that one of the most encouraging passages of scripture comes from the book of Lamentations?  Lamentation means “mourning.”   It's a book written by the prophet Jeremiah lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem, the judgement of God on his people for their disobedience and rebellion.  And yet, in the midst of this mourning, when all seems lost, we read....

Lamentations 3:21-25
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Christian friend, whatever you're going through, IT IS GOOD TO BE SAVED. 

       I don't care what happens to me today, I sure am glad I'm God's child.  I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know I'll go into it with God holding my hand.  I may not have all the riches of this world, I may not be the most handsome, most fit, have the nicest home, the nicest car, the world may not envy me.... but I'm on God's mind right now.  He's given his angels charge over me, and over my family.   There is literally NOTHING that Satan can do to me without God's permission...NOTHING.  The lost person can't say that today.

The only way we can murmur is to overlook the same facts the Israelites forgot: 

1.  Our past was so much worse. 

2.  Our future is full of promise. 

3.  Our present is incredibly blessed!

Psalm 84:9-12
9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

To grumble and complain is to take for granted the blessings of God. Let's not do that.

Are you a murmurer? When you come up against disappointment or an unfulfilled need, do you first stop and complain? Or do you stop and pray?

Philippians 2:14,15
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Me and My House

Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

In Joshua's final address to God's people, he included something that ought to be the vow of every Christian to their Creator; “...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

This commitment included two parts:

1. “As for me” - Joshua was emphatic about his personal intent. No matter what happened, he vowed never to quit serving God. This is something we are all capable of doing. It does not mean we have not failed God in the past, or that we will never fail Him in the future. It simply means that to the best of our ability (with God's help), we will continue to actively serve God, offering our life as a living sacrifice (see Romans 12:1).
       We must always remember, this statement is not dependent on the obedience of others. “As for me,” I “will serve the Lord” is essentially saying, “If all others forsake thee, Lord, I will continue to serve you.” Our relationship with God should be our primary relationship, in that, even if those we love most, those we have respected and possibly learned from in the past turn their back on God, “we will serve the Lord.” Our love and desire to please God should trump our love and desire to please anyone else, even our closest family or friends. I pray it never happens, but even if my mother, wife, or son decide to quit serving God, I vow that I will not. “As for me,” I “will serve the Lord.” I've encouraged them to make that same vow, independent of anything I would ever do.

2. “As for...my house” - Joshua did not just vow that he would serve the Lord, but that all the members of his household would do so as well. Joshua was, as ALL men should strive to be, the spiritual leader of his household. A husband/father is the pastor of his house. Job was a great example (see Job 1:5) of a father who was vigilant about keeping his family in the will of God.
       Joshua knew that God had given him the responsibility to care for the spiritual welfare of his family. As parents, we are responsible for the spiritual welfare of our children. I'm often amazed to hear things said like, “Well, I don't want to influence my children in their faith. I'm going to let them grow up and make that decision for themselves.” Ironically, these same parents insist their children brush their teeth, bathe, go to the doctor, dentist, etc. Nobody would dare say, “I'm not going to insist on my child's health. I'm not going to force them to go to some doctor's office or hospital. I will remain neutral so they can decide as an adult if they want to care for themselves.” Parents that would do such a thing would be charged with negligence. Let us not be negligent about assuring our children know Jesus, and have had every opportunity to hear the gospel and be convinced to accept Christ as their Saviour. They have been entrusted to us by God, and their spiritual health is just as much our responsibility as their physical health.
       I am thankful that, as a young child, I wasn't asked, “Do you want to go to church today?” I was told, “Get dressed, it's almost time for church. Get in the car, we're going to church.” The commands were just as non-negotiable as, “Brush your teeth. Take a bath.” Yes, one day our children will be accountable for themselves, and can decide whether or not they want to serve the Lord, but until then, we must teach them what is best for them, and for the Christian, serving God is ALWAYS best.

Are you a Christian? If so, have you made a commitment to God? If not, why not do so today? If you have made a commitment and not lived up to it in the past, the answer is not to give up and continue in disobedience. Get back in God's will today.