Issue 1718 – Water Rat – April 30, 2025
I stood on the lakeshore watching a muskrat contentedly swim along, either oblivious to or ignoring me. As he swam by, a nonsense children’s song from my childhood flashed through my mind. “Fat, fat, you water rat. Moby Dick your mother was a whale.”
It didn’t mean anything; it was simply fun to sing. Nonsense rhymes and songs often make me smile, perhaps it’s my inner child.
Curious about the origins of the song, I did some searching online, and it seems to have its roots in a street song from the early 1900s.
As the song echoed in my brain, I was reminded of an account from Scripture.
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear let him hear.“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds. Matthew 11:11-19
Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees for their hard hearts. They have made up their minds about John and Jesus, and no amount of proof will satisfy them. Like petulant children, they did not dance with joy or mourn.
Sometimes, as Christians, we can act that way about the church or our local assembly in particular. I’m sure we all know people who complain about everything on a Sunday morning.
For them, there is always something wrong with the preacher, the sermon, the music, the brand of coffee. No one greeted them at the door, or perhaps someone did. It’s the wrong Bible translation. The congregants are too formal or irreverent. The programs aren’t what they should be. I’m sure you have heard all these and more.
Now, to be sure, not everything is perfect in any local assembly. Everyone can have a grumpy, off day.
These constant complainers, who are never satisfied, have a heart problem. They can be frustrating and cause divisions in the church.
Such people need our prayers. We also need to pray for our own hearts, that we love these unhappy people and not let their lack of joy rob us of ours.
We have the ultimate reason for joy in Jesus. Let’s not squander it on petty inconveniences or with cold, hard hearts.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).