Stacy's page - Thankful Thursday and Blasphemy

Jul. 31, 2008 - Thankful Thursday and Blasphemy

One scripture the Lord has impressed on my heart this week is "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord." I knew He was telling me to rest in Him regarding the situation with dd's undiagnosed illness.

My thankful list:

1. I am thankful that dd only had a nasty bacterial infection. She is MUCH better now.

2. I am thankful for some very precious times I have had in the Word this week. God's presence has been so sweet this week.

3. I am thankful for the ability to really focus on organizing my home this week since we will be officially starting school on Monday.

4. I am so thankful for my mom's help this week. She has a carpet cleaner and was kind enough to bring it to my house and show me how to work it. I cleaned carpet in three rooms.

5. I am very thankful for the chance to visit with my brother and sis-in-law for a while on Wednesday.

Blasphemy

When we think of complaining, our minds automatically go to the Israelites in the wilderness. We can see where God sent judgment on them several times. At one point, fire came down and consumed part of the camp.

We may breathe a sigh of relief for not living under the Old Testament law. However, we make a grave mistake if we begin to think that God does not look upon complaining with such anger today. First Corinthians 10:1-12 addresses how the things the Israelites faced were written as examples and warnings to us. If they do not pertain to us, then why would we need the examples?

Our God does not change. (Hebrews 13:8) If He hated complaining in the Old Testament times, be assured that He still hates it, and that His anger is aroused by it. Psalm 7:11 tells us that He is a God who expresses wrath every day.

Since we do live in the age of grace, we do not experience His anger through a fire which we can see. Rather, we feel it. The result is that our spirit ends up becoming a dry, barren, scorched land.

I remember hearing someone say that complaining is one of the worst sins in the Bible. Immediately, I thought, “What about blasphemy?” Finally, it dawned on me that complaining is a form of blasphemy. For when we complain, we deny the sovereignty of God in our circumstances, and that is the root of blasphemy.

Jesus tells us that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. (Mark 3:29) This view of complaining is quite sobering to me, for I realize that I have complained more times than what I care to admit.

This solemn view on the seriousness of complaining has led me to ask the Lord to set a guard over my mouth, keeping watch over the door to my lips. (Psalm 141:3) I have also started praying that my words and my thoughts will be pleasing in God's sight. (Psalm 19:14)

Do you feel like you are spiritually dry? Could it be that complaining has led you to a place of spiritual wilderness?

© 2007, Stacy R. Miller

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Jul. 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

What a great list of thankfulness and a great explanation of how complaining is also a form of blasphemy. I must admit I am guilty of both, sometimes. Thanks for the reminder.

the cookntchermom