Ever heard of people or even ourselves complaining about life being miserable or that God is unfair?
Grandma called me just now to say that she is angry towards mum because of some unpleasant remarks made against her; that lately she is feeling lousy. I could also sense the tension on mum's side. The animosity between them has been going on since many years ago and it is still ongoing though they are now Christians.
Every now and then I will hear them complaining to me about their lives. Sometimes I am tired of telling them what they need to do.
Many times Christians have this notion that once they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour that life ahead will be smooth-sailing. I think we are kidding ourselves. This does not mean God is not there or real. It is just that Christians, being humans too, are not willing to let the Word of God transform their lives in the areas of their thoughts and actions.
Do not blame God for the miserable lives we have because it is not His doing but ours. Like for grandma and mum's case, their lives would be much happier and pleasant if they learn to forgive one another and not bear any grudge against one another. Yes, it is easy for me to say all these - probably there are deep hurts and scars inflicted but for how long must one bear all these?
To me, this has become a bondage and I believe in the lives of many in this world, there are bondages to be broken and it has to start now. If not, we will never ever be able to be released from the clutches of the evil one.
Grandma and mum need to see the good and positive sides of each other; they need to put the past behind and press on with the present and future; they need to let go of their grievances; they need to put pride aside and eat the humble pie; they need to seek God together in how He can work on their relationship from here onwards.
I also have to say that whatever is happening between them now is affecting another generation - that of mine and my brother's. Sometimes both of us are frustrated and saddened to hear and see them fight. When that happens, we begin to also bear grudges against them for making the family dysfunctional.
I cannot deny that just because of this, my brother once remarked that he will never be a Christian because he sees no difference between us and those who are from other faiths. What a stumbling block we have caused.
Is it God's fault after writing all of the above-mentioned? No! We know what we need to do but we are not! If that is the case, then life ahead will be remain dark and gloomy!
I have no qualms sharing about this because it is part and parcel of the experiences I have to go through on this pilgrim's journey. I decided to write this down because I am frustrated. I cried out to God when will this ever end?
In my heart, I know it will never so long as one is not willing to give in and forgive. Even if one dies and the matter is not resolved, this bondage will remain and carry on to the next generation. I am beginning to see it in my brother's life. Scary but true.
I will continue to pray for grandma and mum. I will continue to let God use me to help them. I am tired of doing this but I pray God will help me persevere.
So the next time we complain to God about our lives being miserable - be it whether we have a quarrelsome family or we hate the school we are in or life is unfair because others passed their exams and we did not, etc... asked ourselves where have we gone wrong and right them from there. If we do not deal with all these, then we will always remain bitter even till the day we breathe our last!
God wants to release us from the pains and sufferings! The question is whether we are willing to allow Him to.
Time for me to get back to my work.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:1-17
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14
Grandma called me just now to say that she is angry towards mum because of some unpleasant remarks made against her; that lately she is feeling lousy. I could also sense the tension on mum's side. The animosity between them has been going on since many years ago and it is still ongoing though they are now Christians.
Every now and then I will hear them complaining to me about their lives. Sometimes I am tired of telling them what they need to do.
Many times Christians have this notion that once they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour that life ahead will be smooth-sailing. I think we are kidding ourselves. This does not mean God is not there or real. It is just that Christians, being humans too, are not willing to let the Word of God transform their lives in the areas of their thoughts and actions.
Do not blame God for the miserable lives we have because it is not His doing but ours. Like for grandma and mum's case, their lives would be much happier and pleasant if they learn to forgive one another and not bear any grudge against one another. Yes, it is easy for me to say all these - probably there are deep hurts and scars inflicted but for how long must one bear all these?
To me, this has become a bondage and I believe in the lives of many in this world, there are bondages to be broken and it has to start now. If not, we will never ever be able to be released from the clutches of the evil one.
Grandma and mum need to see the good and positive sides of each other; they need to put the past behind and press on with the present and future; they need to let go of their grievances; they need to put pride aside and eat the humble pie; they need to seek God together in how He can work on their relationship from here onwards.
I also have to say that whatever is happening between them now is affecting another generation - that of mine and my brother's. Sometimes both of us are frustrated and saddened to hear and see them fight. When that happens, we begin to also bear grudges against them for making the family dysfunctional.
I cannot deny that just because of this, my brother once remarked that he will never be a Christian because he sees no difference between us and those who are from other faiths. What a stumbling block we have caused.
Is it God's fault after writing all of the above-mentioned? No! We know what we need to do but we are not! If that is the case, then life ahead will be remain dark and gloomy!
I have no qualms sharing about this because it is part and parcel of the experiences I have to go through on this pilgrim's journey. I decided to write this down because I am frustrated. I cried out to God when will this ever end?
In my heart, I know it will never so long as one is not willing to give in and forgive. Even if one dies and the matter is not resolved, this bondage will remain and carry on to the next generation. I am beginning to see it in my brother's life. Scary but true.
I will continue to pray for grandma and mum. I will continue to let God use me to help them. I am tired of doing this but I pray God will help me persevere.
So the next time we complain to God about our lives being miserable - be it whether we have a quarrelsome family or we hate the school we are in or life is unfair because others passed their exams and we did not, etc... asked ourselves where have we gone wrong and right them from there. If we do not deal with all these, then we will always remain bitter even till the day we breathe our last!
God wants to release us from the pains and sufferings! The question is whether we are willing to allow Him to.
Time for me to get back to my work.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:1-17
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14
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