Grumblers are everywhere. The grumbler takes no time to count their blessings. They are too busy looking for things to complain about. They seem to be always looking for a listening ear, are inconsiderate of other people and indifferent to almost everything.

Grumbling has an ancient history. In the garden of Eden Satan needled Adam and Eve into doubting God and fostered grumbling in their hearts. Israel grumbled and forfeited the Promised Land. Only the two non-grumblers Joshua and Caleb, with their children entered Canaan.

Does this challenge us to renounce our complaining spirits? To refuse to be labelled a grumbler? There is elation in gratitude. There is satisfaction in contentment. There is fulfilment in God.

What The Bible Says

If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face. But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.” Luke 14:11

As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything’s going your way? 1 Corinthians 3:3

When Christ shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ. Colossians 3:4

Be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

God can remove sin from our lives. We don’t need to suffer the consequences of our past forever.

Seeing red can be worrying, dangerous. Failing to obey red traffic lights can be fatal. Proverbs 20:1  says “Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome— a staggering drunk is not much fun.” Red cars are not the most popular . There is something mystical attached to the color red. We have all seen red with an eye of fascination at some time.

God has directed our attention to the giving substance: blood:

Placed on Jewish doors at Passover Exodus 12:13  The blood will serve as a sign on the houses where you live. When I see the blood I will pass over you—no disaster will touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Atonement for sin Leviticus 17:11  I have provided the blood for you to make atonement for your lives on the Altar; it is the blood, the life, that makes atonement.

It is by looking to Jesus Christ in faith, and seeing His rich red blood for remission of our sins that we begin to live. 1 John 1:7  If we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin. Safety, certainty, security and eternity all wrapped up in this God that provided a red-blood stream. There is no alternative to this seeing red.

What The Bible Says

“I’ve wiped the slate of all your wrongdoings. There’s nothing left of your sins. Come back to me, come back. I’ve redeemed you.” Isaiah 44:22

Where is the god who can compare with you— wiping the slate clean of guilt, Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged and precious people? You don’t nurse your anger and don’t stay angry long, for mercy is your specialty. That’s what you love most. And compassion is on its way to us. You’ll stamp out our wrongdoing. You’ll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean. Micah 7:18-19

I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Psalms 51:5-7

• Being saved means your stain of guilt has been washed away – your gilt is gone – you have been given a clean slate,
  
• Being saved means you have received God’s mercy.
  
  Ephesians 2:8  Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish!

The proclamation of Isaiah, six hundred years before Jesus came on His mission and ministry. Those of us who have experienced rock bottom are able to clutch tightly to this message of redeeming power. Centuries before His arrival on earth Jesus was announced as our Deliverer. Able to reach down into the lowest parts of our lives and carry out a rescue mission on our lives. The problem is not enough people on this earth have relented from their self-imposed captivity and called upon Him to deliver them from sin and oppression.

How blessedly relevant is the ‘Good News’ Christ IS our One True Higher Power. He brings us release if we allow Him complete control of our lives. He imparts songs of joy which overthrow sorrow and remorse, grief and distress. He is a life promoter. He establishes righteousness. He plants us like trees in His Kingdom, transplants us from our old wilderness.

All of this placed alongside the promise made to those who have squandered much of life. It is time to about-turn , trust God, turn to Him and allow His wonders to come into uout hearts and lives.

What The Bible Says

There’s no such thing as self-rescue, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. The cost of rescue is beyond our means. Psa 49:7-8

Wait and watch for God— with God’s arrival comes love, with God’s arrival comes generous redemption.
Psa 130:7

God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. Rom 3:24

“These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues, they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well.” Mar 16:17-18