Be Content to Submit

Jeremiah 19:15 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the doom that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear My words.’”

My daughter's attitude was awful as we sat in the waiting room of the doctors office. She was missing school for this follow up appointment so I asked her to do some of her school work while we waited. Big exaggerated sighs filled the air around her. Shoulder shrugs and head rolls became her posture.
"You're being ridiculous little girl!" "Drop the attitude and get your work done," I firmly explained. Her reply was ridiculous, she said, "Its hard I can't think of anything."
"Seriously?"
My patience was wearing thin. How can she be so unrealistic? How can she act like this is pure torture when there were people who have actually experienced torture? How can she be so ungrateful for the blessing of being taught when there are millions of children in different parts of the world who can't go to school and would do anything for a chance to learn and improve their lives?

Ungratefulness is a horrible disease that plagues all of us at least once a day. I would be remiss if I didn't acknowlege my own tendencies to feel sorry for myself. My children are little mirrors of my own ungrateful heart.

The bible says in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 5 through 6
Let your conduct be without covetousness; 
be content with such things as you have. 
For He Himself has said, 
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 
So we may boldly say:
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"

It is not easy to be content! Have you tried it? Only by the grace of God are we able to attaine such spiritual maturity. There is a delicate state our hearts must be attuned in order to receive this divine fruit of contentment. We must be willing and believing. We know we can do nothing in and of ourselves for it is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). But before that, we must be about working out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

A willing heart combined with faith in The all powerful God of the universe is the furtial soil we need to grow such divine spiritual fruit as contentment. Once contentment is established in the heart and feeding us we can toss out that old stinky leftover ungratefulness that's smelling up our fridge. Lay it down and be renewed and continue steadfastly in this loving kindness of our Father in heaven.

Holly sulked away her time in the doctors waiting room and didn't finished her school work. The school work must be done, unfortunately, now it might be at the cost of her play time. As with us, God will accomplish His work but we need to ask ourselves the question, "will I willing follow and be blessed or stiffen my neck and suffer the consequences?"

This seems like a silly comparison to use when a much greater cause is at hand. God has given us His word and so many souls stiffen their necks and harden their hearts from His Truth! It's a grave mistake that has eternal consequences! Hear His Words! John 14:6 says, Jesus is the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Him!

Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. 
(Hebrews 13:7-9)