Holy Grumblers Accept Instruction

Scripture

Is. 29:22        Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:
    No longer shall Jacob be ashamed,
        no longer shall his face grow pale.
23     For when he sees his children,
        the work of my hands, in his midst,
        they will sanctify my name;
    they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
        and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24     And those who err in spirit will come to understanding,
        and those who grumble will accept instruction.

Observation

The prophetic words of Isaiah speak to a future where God will be reflected in the children of Jacob. He will look on his children and he will see that they are the work of God, reflecting his image to the world. As a result God’s name will be sanctified and the world will stand in awe of Jacob’s God.

The life of the sanctified is one in which the Spirit will rule. When the Spirit leads, there is an understanding of correction. Those who need correction may grumble, but they will accept the instruction — for they are God’s holy children and their desire is to be a beautiful reflection of his glory.

Application

I’m guessing most of us have spent time grumbling. We grumble because we don’t like what someone else does. We grumble because things don’t seem to be going our way. We grumble because someone suggests that we haven’t done things quite the right way. We grumble because our spouse comments on something we have or haven’t done.

Let’s just be honest — there are times when we like to grumble.

But there’s supposed to be something different about the way in which God’s holy people respond. Let’s call them “Holy Grumblers.”

“Holy Grumblers” are those who are willing to accept instruction. The ones who, when discovering something has gone wrong are willing to hear the truth and change.

We really don’t do very well at being “Holy Grumblers.” To be a “Holy Grumbler” means that we have to confess that we’ve done something wrong. God’s holy people — those who are sanctified — and reflecting his glory — are willing to be instructed. No matter how difficult, embarrassing or painful — the ultimate goal of being formed into God's image takes precedent. God’s children resemble God, and the only way for that to happen is to be corrected along the way.

If we are simply grumblers, we will never change. Even people who call themselves “holy” can be regular grumblers. I think we’ve all experienced these who love to grumble, pointing out everything that they don’t like, but never wanting to be told that may be they are the ones who need to change. Admitting mistakes or asking forgiveness seems out of the question for regular grumblers. Instead they stand their ground, wanting to prove that they are right!

But “Holy Grumblers” when they make mistakes are willing to place themselves in a corrective stance before the Lord. It is the “Holy Grumblers” who sanctify the name of the Lord by accepting instruction. What will you be — a grumbler, or a “Holy Grumbler?”

Prayer

Lord, please shape and form me into your image. May I be willing to accept your instruction.  Amen.

Thank you to Nazarene Publishing House and Keri Mitchell for helping to create and publish Reflecting the Image. This is not a devotional book, but rather a collection of thoughts and stories which lead us in the direction of reflecting Christ. Click on the image to take you to the NPH bookstore.The book is also available in Kindle format on Amazon.com.