Shine On!

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 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 2:14-15).

Wait! Another "all things" command!

(And there I go breaking it already)

Does it ever stick out to you how often people grumble? Complaining, murmuring, muttering under their breath...

Mom tells them to pick up their room.

Dad tells them not to come back too late.

The boss says, "We've got a new policy."

The teacher says, "Don't forget to study for the test on Friday."

It seems like grumbling is a natural, even expected, response.

And that's why Paul says that we can "shine as lights in the world" when we choose not to grumble or dispute.

In the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, that thinks it's perfectly normal to complain and argue, your choosing not to follow that pattern will make it clear to others that there is something different about you.

And really, that shouldn't be all that hard.

We just need to change our perspective.

It's not about me and what I want.

It's only temporary. Eternity is much longer than this short life with it's challenges.

It's an opportunity for me to grow in submission to authority.

Can you think of other perspectives that can be changed to help you shine in this dark world?

Kwitcherbellyachin

It's easy to complain.

Everyone else is doing it.

We can easily think of excuses not to do something.

And we love to hear our own voices. So it's easy to spit out those complaints.

There's always something to complain about.

Complain about the weather. Complain about the boss. Complain about work. Complain about the kids. Complain about the spouse.

And we usually think that our way is the best way to do things.

Arguing is so easy.

But Paul wrote:

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing 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" (Phil 2:14-15).

When we choose to "do all things without grumbling or disputing" we will "shine as lights in the world."

We'll be different.

Radically different from everyone around us.

So as you go through the day, choose not to complain.

Choose not to argue.

And you'll shine!

Fix your Focus

"They went three days into the wilderness and found no water...And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, 'What shall we drink?'" (Exodus 15:22-24)

These words are more intense in their context. Do you remember what is at the beginning of Exodus 15?

It's a praise service led by Moses. The people had just crossed the Red Sea on dry land. Then they turned around to see Pharaoh's army drown.

"I will sing to the LORD! The LORD is my strength and my song! Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. In the greatness of Your majesty You overthrow Your adversaries. Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?"

All of that and more came from Moses leading the congregation in praise. And I imagine that having seen what they had just seen, no one was watching the clock or planning for the committee meeting when it was over.

A great praise service attributing to God the glory and honor and power due His name.

Three days later, God isn't able to provide water and Moses is to blame.

They took their focus off the greatness of God and started looking at their circumstances. They were concerned about their temporal needs and didn't think God could provide for them. He could wipe out the entire Egyptian economy and army, but couldn't take care of their daily needs.

It looks like they had a lesson to learn. God knew that the waters of Mara were bitter. He knew that they would see all that sparkling water, but not be able to drink it. He could have led them somewhere else. He could have fixed the problem before they got there.

God led them right to the edge of the water. God put them right in the middle of a problem.

Because He had something for them to learn.

It's much easier to complain like the Israelites did when I have a problem. I need to learn that God is using the problem to teach me. I need to call out to Him for help. I need to search His Word for solutions.

There may be some bitter water ahead. God knows that and He's got a lesson for me to learn.