Daily Encouragement Net (Print Version)

“Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13).

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

"Rejoice or Complain?"

"The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks" (Acts 16:22-24).

Let me ask you a candid question. Of course I don't expect or desire an answer but only for you to think about it. Have you complained about anything thus far today? I'm not only speaking of verbal murmurings expressed to others but also in your heart. I realize life is just full of opportunities to complain if we so choose and suspect this is true wherever we live and regardless of what situations we are going through or living under.

I have been pondering this message since last night when my pastor made an interesting observation, "Complaining is accusing God of not doing it right." Think about that statement in light of God's providential dealings in your life. Isn't the traffic jam ultimately under God's control? What about that annoying associate? If God is really in control (and I sure believe He is) complaining is essentially accusing God of not doing it right.

I encourage you to read the daily Scripture portion again, perhaps several times. Try to imagine what Paul and Silas were experiencing; physically, emotionally and even spiritually. Their exterior circumstances in this single experience were a greater trial then I have ever been through my entire 50 years of life. Look at the key words describing their situation. Attacked, stripped, beaten, severely flogged, thrown in prison, guarded carefully, inner cell, feet in stocks.

If anyone ever had conditions to complain about they sure did! But there's not one iota of evidence they did so. In fact the very next verse tells us what they did do. Do you know what that is before I tell you? (See below in footnotes for the answer.)

This happened in Philippi. Paul later wrote a letter to this church and gives a simple straightforward command. "Do everything without complaining" (Philippians 2:14). That's sure a great word for each of us today. Am I going to rejoice or complain? Early this morning as I took the trash out to the side of the road for pickup I proclaimed, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" And that is a proclamation every single one of us can make this day and every day!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen C. Weber

Here is the verse that immediately follows the daily Scripture portion. "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them" (Acts 16:25).

Finally, I must candidly admit that I write today's message as a challenge to myself as well. This is an issue I have not completely overcome and I am sure prone to complaining in one way or another if I lose my focus.

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: “I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God’s Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life’s goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity.”

"Living today anchored in God’s solid foundation"