Tag: Habit

Costs of Complaining

·

A.W. Tozerby A.W. Tozer

Korah son of Izhar, the sons of Kohath, . . . and certain Reubenites . . . became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. Numbers 16:1–2

The moral company in which he finds himself further embarrasses the complainer. His is a spiritual affinity with some pretty shady characters: Cain, Korah, the sulky elder brother, the petulant Jews of the Book of Malachi who answered every fatherly admonition of God with an ill-humored “Wherefore have we? Wherein have we?” These are but a few faces that stand out in the picture of the disgruntled followers of the religious way. And the complaining Christian, if he but looks closely, will see his own face peering out at him from the background. Lastly, the believer who complains against the difficulties of the way proves that he has never felt or known the sorrows which broke over the head of Christ when He was here among men. After one look at Gethsemane or Calvary, the Christian can never again believe that his own path is a hard one. We dare not compare our trifling pains with the sublime passion endured for our salvation. Any comparison would itself be the supreme argument against our complaints, for what sorrow is like unto His? After saying all this, we are yet sure that no one can be reasoned out of the habit of complaining. That habit is more than a habit—it is a disease of the soul, and as such, it will never yield to mere logic. The only cure is cleansing in the blood of the Lamb.

by A.W. Tozer

Nourishing The Miracle

·

Jonathan Cahnby Jonathan Cahn

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

Yosef and Miriam, Joseph and Mary, were given the greatest of miracles, the life of God in their midst, in the form of the child, the Messiah. But they had to take that miracle home and care for it, nourish it, feed it, protect it, watch over it, cherish it.

When you have a baby, that’s what you do. Anything that could harm the baby, you remove from your life and from being near your baby. You feed that baby, and watch to meet its needs, at all times.

So the new life God has given you, your salvation, is a miracle. But you have to care for that miracle, nourish it, feed it, protect it. Anything that would harm your new life, your salvation, any sin, habit, or thought, you have to remove from your life. And you need to daily feed and nourish that life with the Word and love of God. You have a miracle. Nurture it, protect it, guard it, bless it, and that miracle will grow and become all that it was born to be.

Today’s Mission – Treat your salvation, your new life, as a treasure from God. Especially guard it from any negative thing, any thought, any sight, any sin, any temptation, that would hurt it. Nourish it with the Word and love of God.

by Jonathan Cahn