So called sinners were there to listen to Jesus, but the holier-than-thou Pharisees were there to grumble. I have checked out the word ‘grumble’, it can be traced all the way back to the exodus event, whereby the Israelites grumbled about God in the wilderness. And God caused them to wander around in the wilderness for forty years, so that they might learn to listen to God.
As a Singaporean, we like to complain. It is not much different from grumbling. We complain about almost everything. We complain about the ERP, we complain about the traffic jam, we complain about the church air condition too cold, we complain about the worship music too loud, we complain about no fellowship and we also complain about too much fellowship. Sometimes, I am also confused about what we really want. I think God is also confused! Or maybe He is concerned.
He is concerned about our grumbling, which is in the form of complain. He is concerned that we don’t know what we what. He is concerned that we do not take time to listen to Him to tell us what we really need. Maybe He has to bring us through a season of wilderness before we start to listen. I think this season of Lent can give us an opportunity to be in a wilderness, wandering towards the Cross and learn to listen.
Be a listener, not a grumbler.
Stop saying or making any comment which is negative. Instead, quiet down your heart and mind to listen to what God is say about those situations. It can be refrained from complaining to God about your spouse of his or her bad habits, listen to what God is saying about your love and patience. It can also be refraining from complaining to your colleague about your seemingly unreasonable boss who gives you extra work, listen to what God is saying about your self-control and graciousness.
Stop being a grumbler or complainer, be a listener.
HHS…
Abel…
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