MATTHEW 27:24-31 – So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.”
THEME OF THE DAY: DELIVERANCE FROM THE SIN OF COMPLAINING. Before we go any further, two things we must settle in our hearts and minds.
First, no sin is to have power over the Christian. None. The Apostle Paul wrote of this liberating truth in his letter to the Romans – For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14). I once knew a Christian who had an anger problem and showed it by impulsive and hurtful speech. In confronting the individual, I was told, “It is just who I am.” No, it wasn’t. It was sin this individual allowed. Whatever area it is – lust, speech, impatience . . . no Christian gets a pass for tolerated, practiced sin. And that includes the sin of complaining.
The other truth we must embrace is that complaining about anything or anyone is sin. Period. Again from the Apostle Paul’s pen, we read – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing (Philippians 2:12-14). Pay particular attention to the attitude we are to have in working out our salvation – without complaining. Charles Spurgeon once said, “God’s people may groan, but they may not grumble.” And if we are to obey the command “not to complain”, we have to see it as it is – rebellion against God’s sovereignty and will unfolding in our lives. Now let’s look at the way to be delivered from the sin of complaining. It is all about getting our eyes off ourselves and on to the Lord Jesus.
When the temptation to complain comes upon us, and come it will, immediately stop and ask the Spirit of God to take us to the places of our Lord’s suffering, and particularly today’s scripture. Observe each blow on the back of Jesus during the horrible scourging He endured. Then watch each act of humiliating suffering in word and deed from the soldiers upon Him, and finally, walk up the hill to Golgotha and watch our Lord die the most agonizing death possible.
As we do, remember that every lash upon His back, every word of mocking upon His Perfect Person, and every hammer of the nails putting Him on the cross were caused by each of us – our sin. With this scene and realization gripping us, who could possibly complain about anything or anyone in our lives? Such awareness should take the temptation to complain and make it an opportunity to praise the One who took all our sins and without one word of complaint.
PRAYER: “Father, forgive me when I easily complain in life and forget what Your Son suffered for me.”
QUOTE: “Complaining is an easy sin to allow and a serious one to commit. It is rebellion against God’s sovereignty.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim