Be Aware

Matthew 16:21-24  From then on Jesus began to tell His disciples plainly that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and that He would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law.  He would be killed, but on the third day He would be raised from the dead.  But Peter took Him aside and began to reprimand Him, for saying such things. "Heaven forbid, Lord," he said.  "This will never happen to you!"  Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan!  You are a dangerous trap to me.  You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's."  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me.  

Last week as I was driving around....don't even remember where I was headed, I caught a snippet of conversation on the radio previewing an up coming teaching by a Bible teacher (I didn't even hear his name or what program he was on).  I  heard the title and a small part of the description before I changed stations.  But the title was what hooked me, catching my attention.  It got me thinking.   The teaching was titled "An Ill-conceived Rebuke."  They referenced the above passage as the subject matter for the upcoming broadcast.  Hmmmmm.

Immediately I felt conviction come to my soul.  Don't I do this all the time?  Do I not rebuke the Lord's ways in my life on a regular basis?  Isn't some (or maybe all) complaining really a form of rebuke? Wow.  Didn't really like where this was headed.  I think we had one of those icky, make us uncomfortable and  soul-squirmy,  "God questions" here.

For example, yesterday was one of those days I seemed to continually be spilling water as I cared for the cats and kittens at the adoption center I volunteer at. I mean, it was a lot of times even for me! Ugh!! It was driving me crazy.  I can't tell you how many times I had to stop what I was doing to get a paper towel and wipe up yet another spill.  And if you been a reader for any length of time, you know how spilling and dropping are a problem for me!!  Well, I can clearly remember rebuking the Lord, saying something like: "You're not really helping here, can't You just make this easier?  Help me to stop spilling!"  

Oh my!  Aren't we the high and mighty (hahaha) human telling the all-powerful, all-consuming, all-knowing, all-everywhere, all-everything God what He should and shouldn't do!  Brought to my mind is the book of Job, where the Lord admonishes Job after Job had questioned and lamented God's care in His life.  Job 38:1-4  Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:  Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?  Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you and you must answer them.  Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?  Tell Me, if you know so much.....And so on it goes with Job being questioned by the Lord. (I don't really think I want to be in that position!)

I don't think it's wrong to bring our questions, our cares and our hurts to the Lord.  We all have hard things where we ask God what is going on.  We have times when we can't take another day of heartache.  But I think it's more the attitude, the complaining, the questioning  of His love, His care that I'm trying to bring to light here.  It''s an attitude of lacking trust in His judgment and love that is the deeper problem of my heart.  And that's where I am looking to grow.  Actually, how freeing it would be to just let go and trust!  The peace that is forfeited by a heart in rebellion against God' ways is just sad.  It's a bitter life to live in discontent and dissatisfaction.  And it is absolutely no what God wants for us!  It's not what Jesus died and rose to give us.  John 10:10  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Hebrews 3:19- 4:1-3  So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter His rest.

Hebrews 4:3 For only we who believe can enter his rest.  As for the others God said, "In my anger I took an oath:  They will never enter my place of rest."

Whatever inconveniences, problems, irritations, heartaches, difficulties....all of it is in God's design for our lives and therefore, it is meant for our good, our development, our growth.  To speak peace to all our circumstances, knowing God's love for us never fails and His good plans for us will prevail is the only way to be at rest in this life.  And it's the way I want to live each day.  Help me grow Lord!! It's hard to accept that the Lord uses the difficulties of life, both small and big to polish us, smoothing off the rough edges making us into a  beautiful reflection of Jesus.  But that is exactly what He is doing.  And sometimes it's inconvenient, annoying and it hurts!!  Oh Lord, help us to accept from Your hand what is best for our lives!!  And rejoice in the work You are doing.

1 Peter 6-7  So be truly glad.  there is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.  So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.  

What a incentive to embrace all that God allows in our lives!  Lord help us to believe, to trust and to be at peace with all the moments, all the elements, all the situations in our lives.  Help us to not rebuke Your care and Your ways, not to doubt Your love, but to humbly trust Your heart.  Lord, I ask for forgiveness for complaining, accusing, and any disapproval I've given for the way You involve Yourself in my life and the plan You have for it.  Please help me to do better.  In Jesus name.  Amen

What ways do you rebuke the Lord?