Philippians 2:14-16 "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; (16) Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."
"For to me to live is Christ... Let this mind be in you which was also in
Christ Jesus... God works in you to will and to do after His good
pleasure... Do all things without murmurings and disputings."
The children of Israel throughout their journey in the wilderness were
known for several things. They ate manna from heaven. They drank fresh
water that flowed out of a rock. They saw Moses go into the top of the mountain
where he communed with God for forty days. They made a calf from gold and said
it was their god. They murmured and they complained. All of the wonderful
things that they experienced were tainted because they too often spent time
complaining. "Were there not enough graves in Egypt? We are tired of this
'light bread'. We want melons and leeks like we had back there in Egypt. Why
can't we have meat to eat? We can't go against the nations in the promised
land?" And the list goes on and on... murmur and complain. There has
never been another nation that was blessed as Israel has been blessed; yet,
they complained constantly.
Are we any different than they were? Do we complain about too many things? We
live in an age of absolute modern conveniences; yet, we spend way too much time
complaining. Why did Paul tell us not to murmur and dispute about life? As
children of God, we have been blessed beyond measure. Think about it: God gave
us the absolute ultimate sacrifice. He gave His only begotten Son to die in our
place. He had no sin; yet, He was made sin for us that we would be
counted as the righteousness of God in and through Him. Yet, we complain about
anything and everything. "We have too much rain. There isn't enough rain.
It's too hot. It's too cold. What am I going to eat? Boy, I ate way too much."
And the list goes on and on.
We are not to complain because God has made a difference in us and we are to
shine out that difference by our words, actions, and even our attitudes toward
this wonderful world in which He has placed us. We are to live according to His
Holy Word which we are to hold forth as our standard. We are to shine!
The light which we hold forth is the very life of Jesus Christ which has been
placed within us. This morning, I ask myself: How am I doing with
this thing of shining as God's child? Am I blending in with the world? Or am I
making a difference?