Getting old and complaining?

 

It’s easy to find things to complain about. It’s too hot, or too cold. Why rain now? Look what that driver just did! That person never listens. The TV show is another re-run. My soup is too hot. On it goes… 

God is not pleased with grumbling. It dishonors Him, the one who promises all things work together for my good, and it flies in the face of my dear mother’s teaching that “we must need it or we wouldn’t be getting it.” And worse… 

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. (Philippians 2:14–15)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

I could say I’m just getting old and old people with all our aches and pains are just crotchety, but that is not what God intends. I’m supposed to be more like Jesus, not more like ‘old people’ and that means practicing spiritual disciplines with even greater zeal than ever before. My devotional reading lists several things for my attention. One group comes from the psalmist:

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! . . . .  For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you. . . .  But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. . . .  O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. . . .  I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt. (Psalm 71:1–24)

Piper adds his thoughts and resolutions, but for me, I need to first confess, and do it quickly each time I find myself even mildly irritated. Has God ever failed me? Do I have any reason or right to be critical of anything He allows in my life? Has not the attitude of trusting Him been a refuge from even the most minor annoyances of life?

Speaking with Him is sometimes difficult for me (just as is speaking with other people) yet He provides words I can repeat, not like a parrot but saying them from my heart, like the above psalm… it can easily be a prayer of praise. I cannot praise God and complain at the same time, which I’m certain this psalmist had already discovered.

Piper writes of growing old and the idea of being in a nursing home. We live close to one, still in our own home but here deliberately so if we need care, it is close. I’ve visited people in facilities like this nearby one, but most of them are not like this one. The care level is optimal and when we go to that big building for the occasional meal or some activity, I notice that there are few, if any, “grumpy old people” in this place. They feel loved and it makes a difference. This is what the psalmist is getting at. He declares the love of God and His praise has an effect on his emotions and sense of well-being. 

PRAY: Jesus, with that, I must praise You. You have taken care of me for over fifty years since that day You came into my life and even before, from when I was born. I cannot complain. You even used the worst things to change my hard heart and give me better attitudes and deeper peace. You are utterly amazing — and yes, if something happens that I don’t like, I must remember that I need it or You would not allow it to happen, and remember Your promise: “Even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” (Isaiah 46:4)

Ambassadors for Christ

The Oxford Dictionary defines an ambassador as “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.”

According to 2018 statistics, the United States has 188 ambassadorial positions around the world, with 169 of them designated to foreign countries and 19 representing the US in various international organizations.

The NT says:

In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us . . . . (2 Corinthians 5:19–20)

This means all Christians are ambassadors. We represent God in this world which is not our home and current statistics number us at 2.3 billion. As His ambassadors, we have great honor of telling the world about the power and capabilities of our Almighty God. Each genuine believer can declare, “I am chosen to announce the mighty deeds of the living God, who has called me into His service and to represent Him.”

This is not a new thing. Long before Christ came, telling others what God has done was an important part of OT worship. Notice the praise in this one psalm:

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Psalm 103:2–8)

After Christ came, the NT believers took this role very seriously. They knew that their citizenship is in heaven and the earth is not their home. Paul asked for prayer: “that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:19–20)

I’m leading a ladies’ prayer group. Some of the ladies struggle to pray with confident boldness. When I have that problem, I need to remember who I am. This verse sums it up:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

This verse does not endorse silent adoration. God wants me to proclaim or “announce boldly” that which otherwise may not be known. This includes “the mystery of the gospel” and the “excellencies” of God meaning His character and His powerful and virtuous deeds. I’ve learned that praising Him before I pray privately makes public proclamation easier.

PRAY: Jesus, because of faith in You, I am privileged to be Your ambassador. This includes union with You, and the Father, and the Holy Spirit. I have access to talk with You at any time, been given the meaningful duties of sacrificial service, assurance of eternal security, protection in this life, Your affection, being set apart for You, illumination, and the ability to love even my enemies, just to name a few things. There is no greater honor than to proclaim the wonder of who You are and what You do. Thank You for calling me to be Your ambassador. Give me courage and integrity to always represent You well.

PONDER: Read Psalm 147 aloud, proclaiming God’s excellency from this and other songs of praise.