Bowling Green Covenant Church

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”—Philippians 4.8, 9 (italics added) [NIV]

In his book, The Life God Blesses, Gordon MacDonald discusses what he calls disruptive moments and how they affect us. The first disruptive moment is crisis—the thing we cannot control. Next is the disruptive moment is that of wonderment—the thing we cannot explain. There is the disruptive moment of aging—the thing we cannot avoid. Lastly, he talks about the disruptive moment of spiritual discipline.

Spiritual discipline exercises the soul so as to “enlarge its capacity to hear God speak and, as a result, to generate spiritual energy that will guide and empower one’s mind and outer life.”[1] Given this definition it is no wonder that MacDonald describes spiritual discipline as something most of us would rather not do.

And yet, MacDonald is quick to point out that of the four disruptive moments we will face “spiritual discipline is the one we can bring under daily control…The choice lies in the decision to set aside the necessary time, embrace the habits of the masters, and engage with a waiting on God who seeks our communion.”[2]

MacDonald’s exhortation reminds me of something my preaching mentor, Haddon Robinson, once said, “Thinking is hard work,” he told us, “but thinking about thinking is even harder work. And good preaching requires thinking about thinking.” The same can be said for handling the disruptive moment of spiritual discipline.

With that in mind that we should pay close attention to Paul’s exhortation in Philippians 4.8 to think about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Thinking about these things will help to enlarge the soul’s “capacity to hear God speak and generate spiritual energy that will guide and empower one’s mind and outer life.”

To be a follower of Jesus means taking responsibility for what we think about as well as what we do. Right belief leads to right behavior. A good thought life is the result of doing the hard work of thinking about the virtues listed in Philippians 4.8. The more we carefully reflect on these virtues, the more they will be integrated into our faith-walk following Jesus.

The practice of hard thinking about these virtues requires that we linger over them the way we linger at the dinner table with a cup of coffee after a delicious meal. We should not be in a hurry when we choose to think hard about whatever is true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, is excellent or praiseworthy.[3]

A complaining mind does not think—it reacts. It is undisciplined. A disciplined mind thinks. It does the hard work required to enlarge the soul’s capacity to hear God speak and generate spiritual energy that will guide and empower one’s mind and outer life.

You think about that.

MM

[1] Gordon MacDonald, The Life God Blesses, (Thom. Nelson, Nashville, TN ©1994), page 41.

[2] Ibid. Page 42.

[3] True is that which is dependable or real. Noble is whatever is worthy of respect or honor. Right refers to whatever is just. Pure refers to whatever is holy. Lovely is that which calls forth love or is attractive. Admirable is that which is well spoken of. Excellent is whatever is morally excellent. Praiseworthy means whatever is worthy of giving God praise for.

Cheryl was a young Jewish woman who had come to faith in Jesus. Since coming to faith in Jesus life had been difficult for her. Her parents would not talk to her. Her old friends either ignored her or made fun of her for being on that “born again” kick. Even her boyfriend, whom she dated for over five years, dropped her without so much as a good-bye or an explanation. The final insult came when she was turned down for a job she had prayed for in faith believing it was God’s will for her to have it. One day she visited Maggie, the wife of the pastor of the church she attended and told her everything.

When Cheryl finished, Maggie invited her into the kitchen for a cup of tea. As she stood near the teakettle, Maggie asked Cheryl, “What am I holding in my hand?”

“A tea cup and a tea bag, “ answered Cheryl.

“That’s right, “ said Maggie, “What’s missing?”

“That’s easy,” replied Cheryl, “the hot water.”

“So what you’re saying is that without the hot water I can’t make tea, right?”

“Obviously,” said Cheryl, “but what’s that got to do with what I’m going through?”

“Cheryl,” Maggie smiled at her, “Don’t you see it? The teacup is the world. You are the teabag. Do you know what the hot water is?”

“Let me guess,” said Cheryl as she let the answer slowly escape from her mouth, “Trials?”

“Yes! Trials,” said Maggie. “Cheryl, everyone who follows Jesus will face trials. Trials are one of the undeniable truths of the Christian life. I have followed Jesus for 45 years, been married for 30 years, had four kids, two miscarriages, and one bout with breast cancer. And do you what to know what I’ve learned? I have learned that trials are the hot water God uses to brew our faith.”

Cheryl smiled politely. Maggie could tell she wasn’t convinced. “Cheryl, listen to me. I know what you are going through is difficult. You’re stuck in the middle and you can’t see the end. God knows that, dear. But it’s like I said, trials are the hot water God uses to brew our faith. God doesn’t put us in hot water to scald us. He puts us into hot water to release what He has already put into us by His Holy Spirit. He does not test our faith so we can fail. He tests our faith so we can work out what He has put in. Hand me that Bible near the telephone, will you? Thanks, dear. I want to read your something.”

And with that Maggie opened her Bible to the New Testament, the Letter of

James. She read:
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when you endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” —James 1.2, 3 [NLT]

“Now, let’s have some tea.”

“And the people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”—Numbers 21.5 (italics added) [ESV]

“Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.”

—1 Corinthians 10.6 [ESV]

A wise man once said, “Complain little and praise much and you will have friends in abundance. Complain much and praise little and you will die alone.” That may not be eloquent, but it captures the essence of what was at stake when the people of Israel complained against God and against Moses in the wilderness.

There are at least six occasions when the people of Israel complained to Moses asking why he brought them up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness.[1] What is especially striking about their complaint in Numbers is their moaning about the food, the manna, God provided for them while they wandered through the desert for forty years. In very plain language they said; “And we loathe (detest) this worthless (vile, miserable) food.”

Every time I read Numbers I marvel at the Israelites’ capacity to be shortsighted, ungrateful, and childish. Lately, however, I have marveled at my own capacity to be just like them. The comment by the apostle Paul from 1 Corinthians 10 reminds me it is not wise to spit at God or despise His gifts. Still, I have had my moments when I have been a champion complainer when I should have been a steadfast believer in God’s provision, faithfulness and mercy.

I know people who find it easier to complain about God than thank Him. I try, politely, to avoid such people. Even so, we all suffer from a version of spiritual Alzheimer’s disease when it comes to remembering the goodness and mercy of God: the same goodness and mercy that He promises will follow us all the days of our lives—even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death!

Over the years I have compiled a grocery list of reasons why I complain—uncomfortable circumstances, illness, fatigue, financial stress, lack of vision (a failure to see the big picture) and immaturity. And just as slowly I have compiled a grocery list of reasons why I should praise Him—God is gracious (Israel didn’t die in the wilderness through His neglect); God is faithful (every morning the manna was there with enough to carry them through the Sabbath when no manna fell from heaven); God provides (He gives me what I need as He defines my need, not what I want and I continue to learn the difference) and finally, God sees the end from the beginning (so I must trust that since He is leading me He will never lead me where the danger is so great I will be separated from Him.

Neither list is exhaustive, yet both remind me of the maxim: complain little and praise much. It is not eloquent, but it is effective.

You think about that.

MM