“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.” Philippians 2:14-16 (emphasis added)
One of the instructions received early in my Christian life was the guidance to keep God’s word in context. Another part of my training in my early days was to memorize God’s word. It was easier to memorize a sentence, especially a short sentence, when compared with several sentences. The shorter the verse, the easier the task! Philippians 2:14 was one of my early memory verses. Something good to know and something good to put into practice.
The conclusion was that the ante was raised dramatically.
Some time later, Philippians 2:15 and 16 were added to my memory program as a goal to work toward. Shining like a light in the world for Christ was inspirational as well as encouraging. But only recently did it occur to me that all three verses are connected. The “so that” was the connector implying that to be one of those lights in the world, I need to live out the conditions that will make me living proof. What are those conditions? To be a man who refrains from complaining and arguing with others.
The conclusion was that the ante was raised dramatically. My shining light in the world would be barely visible, if at all, if I am leading a life of grumbling and arguing. People are not attracted to this type of personality, they avoid them. Grumblers do not take responsibility, they avoid it.
A Christian home should be characterized by a dad who does not practice grumbling and arguing; nor tolerate their habitual practice by his children. It will be a home where he is preparing his children to be arrows. Arrows who will appear as lights in the world as they hold fast to the word of God. The world will take note.
May your home be blessed with many light bearers for Christ.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
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KIRK THOMSEN
"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19
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That’s a good verse to memorize.
Good post, Brother Kirk.