Skip to main content

Philippians 2:15

that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (Philippians 2:15, ESV)
Don't grumble or dispute was the command in the previous verse. If for no other reason, we ought not to do that, simply because God has commanded that we not do that. But here we can see one of the glorious benefits of avoiding the grumbling: when grumbling is absent, we get to shine!

Think about it this way: When we share the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, we are sharing something that ought to surpass any and every bad thing that we may encounter here. God has made a way for us to get to know him, and it is completely separate from our ability to accomplish this. He didn't just pave the way to salvation, He IS the salvation. ... God Saves People!  He saves them from their sin, he saves them from the power of sin, he saves them from the penalty of sin, and he grants them the good favor that his one and only Son deserves. He accomplished all of this good grace while continuing to be absolutely just and righteous. His son, Jesus Christ, bore all of the wrath of God on our behalf. What more could we ask for?!?

How can we show the glorious nature of what we are recipients of, if the little things of this life (or the big things of this life), bog us down in such a way that we walk around grumbling and disputing like the rest of the world?

Your glorious acceptance of the course of this life will speak to the glorious nature of the great gift you have received in salvation. This world is crooked and twisted, but if you can walk around blameless and innocent... Children of God... You will shine as lights in this dark world.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:2-3, ESV)

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Please add some additional commentary to this verse. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Popular posts from this blog

Ephesians 4:31

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (NIV) This verse might be best served with some definitions. Bitterness - Just what it says, bitterness. It is a bitter root that produces a bitter fruit. Rage - Usually translated as Wrath. It has to do with a passionate anger. This is the person who is fuming. They are bubbling over with anger. Anger - This word has also been translated as wrath. It is most definitely referring to the actions associated with anger. It doesn't have to mean this, but their can also be the association with violence. This is the person who is acting out on their anger, in a sinful way. Brawling - Ok, I just learned something new, this word has to do with making an outcry, or a crying. After I read the definitions, what immediately jumped into my mind was the person who yells when they are angry. He may not do something violent, but he is letting everyone know exactly how angry he is. He is a ye...
2 comments
Continue Reading »

Jonah 2:10

And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (NIV) Don't you just love fresh starts. They're not always fresh, but they are a start. The God that we serve is a God of fresh starts. My mind goes to the many times that Christ reached out his hand, pulling a lame man to his feet, and saying, "...now go and sin no more." Or the woman caught in adultery, "...neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more." Only a God of grace will allow a swallowed man to repent. Praise Him.
4 comments
Continue Reading »

Psalm 136:4

to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. (NIV) If this verse said, "to him who does great wonders..." it would still be a great verse. We could talk about all of the wonders that God does. Everything from the rings of Saturn and the Sombrero Galaxy to the forming of a child inside its mothers womb or even how electrons are spinning around the atoms and not flying off. We could talk about all of those things and marvel at His wonders. But get this, all of the great wonders are His! He doesn't just get credit for great wonders, He gets credit for all of them, because the verse says, "to him who alone does great wonders..." God has no counterpart. He has no arch-rival. There is none like Him, and He is the only one who is doing the wonderful stuff! He is the changer of hearts and lives. He is the redeemer. He is the savior. He is the God who hears and the God who sees. And the most wonderful of all, His love endures Forever!
3 comments
Continue Reading »