When We Don't Get What We Want the Way We Want It

Scripture: Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” John 10:32-33

Observation: The Jews could not argue with Jesus’ miracles. The proof was in the pudding. The lame could walk, the blind could see. Things were happening, and yet they were not happening the way some people wanted them. The Messiah did not look, act, or speak like they wanted. Worse, this man who was clearly not the man they wanted, claimed to be God. They rejected the one sent from God because he did not come in the right package.
When God shows up in a different package, we can get angry. Why? We want what we want the way we want it. Now, we can dress that up in a whole lot of spiritual language, but at the end of the day, it is more about us getting God the way we want him, rather than accepting that he might want to come in a different and new way.

Application: This week, a person came up to one of our pastors asking about our Christmas Eve services. They were disappointed in last year’s service, as we did not do something they wanted us to do. As I reviewed last year’s services, I saw that we celebrated the birth of a God who came to be with us. We did welcome the arrival of Christ. And yet, because we did not welcome Christ in the way this person wanted, they felt like he had not come at all.
My downfall as a pastor is that I often let the gripes of a few outweigh God’s voice in my life. I believe the lies of the enemy speaks through a few. I need to remember that sometimes, when it comes to the things of God, we want what we want the way we want it.
This person’s problem was not with me. It was with God. God chose to reveal himself in a different way. With God, who does not always give us what we want the way we want it, but instead gives us what we need in ways we may not want.

Prayer: God, I have been allowing Satan to speak to me through the griping and gritching of a few people. While it is crucial for me to listen and learn, sometimes, these complainers are really angry with You, and the new ways You have chosen to reveal yourself. I need to step out of the line of fire and let them fire at you. I am a convenient target, but really, their beef is with you. Please help me listen to the truth of your word, and the good works you are doing in my life and the life of our church.