Daily Devotion for August 3, 2006

The Whiners

 

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34

 

In the old days (before parenthood) when I stayed up late (actually I still stay up late but for different reasons), I enjoyed getting a good laugh from Saturday Night Live. Yes, the show was sometimes rude, irreverent and downright mean. But the skits I liked best were the ridiculous ones that focused on a behavior many of us share, blown out of proportion. One was The Whiners. It was a family who talked to one another in high, whiney voices and complained about everything.

 

 I have to admit that I often hear the Whiners when I talk now. So much of what I choose to share when talking with others is all the hardships in my life. The thing is, my hardships really aren’t so bad, particularly compared to those of so many others in the world.

 

 Being a Christian, I know that part of what is involved is to deny myself and take up Jesus’ cross. My whining denies Jesus’ power in my life. When I deny myself and refrain from whining, I set myself apart from the norm and let Christ shine through me.

 

Prayer
Lord, I don’t want to be a whiner. I want to focus on the blessings You’ve given me and the gift of Your Spirit, which sustains me each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

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