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Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
Don’t complain or argue! We don’t usually associate these things with purity and blamelessness, do we? Paul was extraordinarily close to these Philippians, and he knew them well. He knew their strengths and praised those strengths. He also knew their weaknesses and shortcomings. He knew the destructive power that complaining and arguing have on the life of an otherwise vibrant community of Christians. Let’s heed his warning today, in our day, as we see church after church taken under by the negative and cynical spirit that pervades modern culture. We are meant to shine in our dark world of unbelief and unholiness as stars in the night sky, reminding others of “the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:16).
My Prayer…
Forgive and cleanse me, O God, for my sometimes argumentive spirit. Please empower me with your Spirit to use my speech only to bless and to build up, never to tear down or discourage. I want to be one of Jesus’ lights in my world, leading people out of darkness. In Jesus’ name, I ask this. Amen.
Bible References
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Philippians 2:14-16
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life – in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
It is very easy for us to complain isn’t it? And we live in a world that tells us this is okay and even healthy for us to do! But we as children of God are to follow Him and His teachings, not the world’s teachings. It takes no effort at all to get caught up in meaningless arguments, but God says to refrain from doing so. This doesn’t mean we are never to take a stand, we are to take a stand for Christ when needed and for justice, but those petty arguments that spring up in life from time to time are to be avoided!
I love how we are told why we are to not complain and argue….because we are to shine like stars before this unsaved world in which we live. We are living examples to those around us everyday of our Lord Jesus Christ. The question is what are we representing to them? When we murmur and complain about life, we are in essence telling them that Christ has made no difference in our lives at all, we are still not satisfied. But we ARE satisfied with Christ and our lives and speech should show it! We are to be reflectors of the true Light (Jesus) in this dark world.
While our light is to shine by living a godly life, this does not excuse us from also using our words to actually tell people about God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. We are to ‘hold out the word of life’, as our verse says. There should be in our day to day life the two-fold testimony of life and lips. This world is desperately searching for the love, peace, and joy that only Christ can give, Lord help us to open our mouths and tell them what God’s Word says!
Paul feels a responsibility for those he has lead to Christ, and desires to present them to Christ when He returns one day (Colossians 1:28). While we cannot make people live for Christ, we can pray for them and encourage them to do so, just as Paul did in his many letters to the churches of the New Testament.
Thank You Father God for sending Jesus to die for my sins. Help me to live my life in a pleasing manner before You, and to open my mouth and tell those around me about the salvation You offer to them through Jesus’ bloodshed. I love You so Abba and give You all praise this day, Amen!