Chapter 11: Emptying “Grumbling” In the previous chapter, we looked at the life of emptying ourselves of sexual immorality and wrongful desires and turning our love back toward God. Now, in Chapter 11, we will look at another problem that easily settles into our hearts and onto our lips. It is a grumbling heart. As we go through life, there are many moments when we grumble. “Why did this happen to me?” “Why does that person treat me this way?” “Why is my family going through such a difficult time?” “Why is the church like this?” “Why did God allow this?” Even when we do not speak these words aloud, we may repeat them countless times in our hearts. But in the Bible, grumbling is not merely a matter of uttering a few complaints. Grumbling can change the direction of our gaze, cause us to forget God’s grace, and even change the way we look at people and circumstances. Therefore, ...
Day 3: Luke 14:29, 2 Corinthians 12:9 Pay the cost of discipleship! While salvation is received through God's grace, as recipients of salvation, in order to live the life of a disciple, we must pay the cost. However, many Christians are unwilling to pay the cost of discipleship. As a result, they only build the foundation of faith and easily succumb to various temptations of the devil, living a life that transgresses against God, or becoming Christians who are ridiculed by worldly people (Lk. 14:29). The reason why so many Christians inevitably become objects of ridicule and mockery by worldly people is because they have not paid the cost of discipleship. Therefore, as disciples of Jesus, we must pay the cost of discipleship. Each of us must take up our own cross and follow Jesus. Without the cross of the heart or the cross of life, we cannot simply carry an ornamental cross and expect to pay the cost of d...