whine not

Philippians 1:12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear.


Think about somethin' for a sec...

Most of what letters the apostle Paul wrote, he wrote while in prison.

These letters are a BIG chunk of what we call the New Testament.

And here, in Philippians, Paul plainly says that God has used his being in prison to spread the Gospel into places & among people that prolly wouldn't have come to know about Jesus otherwise.

Hmmmmm...


We're so success oriented.

We figure that the only way we can be effective is if we're a part of something BIG, be that a church, ministry, mission group, worship team, or hot-shot recording / video / dog & pony show event.

Maybe that's not the way things are supposed to be.

Maybe we're supposed to be salt & light wherever we are. Maybe the truth about being a Christ follower is being successful - it's about simply obeying God as He leads & not whining & complaining that it ain't what you thought it was gonna be.

Maybe we're really supposed to be servants - saying yes to whatever, whenever, whoever, wherever, & however God wants to use us.

Maybe we ARE supposed to trust Him, no matter what happens.

Maybe we should think more like Paul & realize that in EVERY situation, no matter how glittering & glamorous, or had troublesome, difficult, boring, or weird, that God will use us & work through us to get people to come to know who Jesus is & what His coming means to them.

And maybe we should cut out the whining, complaining, wishful thinking, disappointment in not being "used" of God as we thought we should be used, & just simply be who we are in Him & let HIM take care of how we're used.


Think about all of that today - I certainly am