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.

Love Covers a Ton of Problems

Scripture: Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)

Observation: When there is a foundation of earnest love, then the winds of offence are unable to shake the building.

Application: I am in the middle of a season of dealing with complaints over very minor issues. I have been getting a little weary of them, and my natural response is to say, “Billions are dying and going to hell and you are concerned about X?” But I know how unproductive that would be. I have also been gearing up to say, “Let me show you volumes of theological commentary to show you why this is this way.” But again, I am not sure that this is the right response.

Peter is jacking with my attitude with this simple plea: Love covers over a ton of problems. Maybe what I really need to ratchet up is not a fight, but love. Maybe I need to shower love and care. Oh, I still don’t want to compromise on what God is calling. But I can definitely love people. And maybe true genuine, earnest love will give a little wiggle room and cover over some offences.

Prayer: God, help love and shepherding be foremost on my mind when I am disagreed with. Give me humility and patience. I pray that PRC becomes a place of grace, where we so love each other that we can overlook a multitude of minor offences.

When Their Issue Isn't Me

Scripture: Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord. Exodus 16:8

Observation: The people have been delivered from Egypt, only to wander in the desert, hungry. They grumble that they have been brought out from captivity only to die of hunger. In response, God speaks to Moses to inform him of a plan of provision-he will provide a daily portion of manna for the people to eat.

Application: As a leader, I can easily fall into the temptation to try to solve everyone’s problems. To think my job is to fix people’s expectations. To listen to every complaint and immediately hop to it, to fix their situation so they no longer have any issues. But the reality is, often their issue is not with me, but with God. Sure, there are often legitimate issues that I can and should be a part of resolving. But often, people are complaining because of unmet expectations, which have nothing to do with me or what we are doing, but with them and the Lord. Recently I had a situation where a person vented about something. But it became clear that this was not the issue. This person was unhappy about where they were in life and how they felt others (and ultimately God) had not kept their part of the deal.
If I try to swallow every complaint, I will die, for my stomach was not built to do so. I need the wisdom of God to deal with what I can do, but to also know when and how to turn their complaint in to a discipleship moment, to turn them back to God and help them engage one on one with Him. Because we often complain to others when the real discussion should be with God.

Prayer: God, as I take on this new role, help me filter complaints and “ought-tos” through your word and Spirit. Let me own what is mine, and also deflect what is not back to You. Show me how to use even complaints to disciple and redirect people towards a kingdom mindset.