Equipping Christians to become disciples
You might convince yourself that you are a thankful person deep down, and that you feel thankful even if you don’t express it. But that won’t do. What really counts is what you say, not what you think, or believe you think. The way God has …
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God tells us repeatedly to be thankful. When we are it has the effect of opening our own eyes. It enables us to see the world more realistically. It puts our circumstances into perspective and corrects the way we see God and the people around …
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When we complain and grumble we can get to the point where we are actually blaming or accusing God for things. We might not say it out loud, but that could be what we are really thinking. Whenever we do that we are deluded. God …
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When niggling little problems get under our skin and cause us to complain, they demonstrate that our sinful flesh nature hasn’t been properly crucified yet. That’s not a good sign. But there is at least this one advantage in being exposed to aggravating little problems. …
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If you complain habitually and tend to resent people then your very nature will become sour over time. The effect is very marked. The person becomes like sour milk. It affects them to their core, and a sense of grievance overtakes them. For example, I …
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Ingratitude doesn’t stay silent for long. It inevitably turns into grumbling out loud, which is an even worse problem. It has a corrosive and poisonous effect on everybody. It harms the person complaining. Plus it undermines those who listen to it, and especially those who …
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We are selfish due to our sinful, flesh nature. Therefore the norm is for us to be ungrateful. Gratitude is exceptional. We have all experienced ingratitude from others and we don’t like it. Yet we also know we have all been guilty of it ourselves. …
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4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 (NASB) 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) And now we thank thee, our God, and praise thy glorious name. 1 …
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It is also possible that you have picked up the mistaken impression that because it can be difficult to be a disciple at times then it follows that Jesus must be a harsh taskmaster who is never satisfied with us. That is absolutely not the …
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I hope that what I have said in this chapter is balanced. I have attempted to emphasise the joys and benefits that come from being Jesus’ disciple, both in this life, and also in eternity. However I have also gone to great lengths to try …
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