Got up the other morning, unlocked the door and stuck my head outside… Heavy fog – and I mean HEAVY fog! Wanted to go run, but was hesitant… didn’t know if early morning drivers would be able see and avoid me – didn’t even know if I would be able to see things on the road that might trip me up. Did I say it was a heavy fog? Remember any mornings like that?
Now, I’m NOT targeting this reflection in “Coffee with the Lord” this morning to people who are not yet Christ followers. My objective is to challenge those of us who claim to be “Christians” and say that we are following Him.
I guess I wish I had a recording of what we sound like when we are “fretting, fussing, complaining or murmuring.” Those sounds – that atmosphere – can be like a huge, dense layer of fog that clouds the ability of those around us from being able to see and embrace the benefits of following Jesus. They can’t see Jesus for the “fog of discontent!”
It may be complaints about our circumstances, what seems to be unfair, how we feel physically or emotionally, the behavior of other people, or simply what runs counter to our personal preferences. It could be something as simple as the service we’re receiving at a restaurant, the style of music in church, or the behavior of our neighbor’s dog… should I go on? You’ve got the idea.
So two passages I read this morning during my devotions prompted this reflection. Here they are for your consideration today…
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.“ (Psalm 37:1–8 ESV)
There it is… “Fret not!” And another one…
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:14–15 ESV)
My prayer? Lord may I be an atmosphere changer that helps the fog of grumbling, complaint and “fuss’n” to lift so people can clearly see Jesus and the value of following Him!
