SHINING AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD

PHILIPPIANS 2: 14-16

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

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;

Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.”

Paul puts forth three things which are to be done by Christians in order to be lights in this world of darkness. The first of these three is submission to God; the evidence of this submission is to “do all things without murmurings and disputings.” Murmurings, which are done outwardly are evidences of inward disputings in one’s heart with God. To murmur is very repugnant to God, but some seem to murmur about everything, as Israel did in the wilderness. They murmured about being in Egypt and they murmured about being out of Egypt; they murmured because they were hungry and they murmured when God sent manna from Heaven to eat, they wanted something different. Inward disputings mean a dialogue is taking place, this may be good in dealing with men, but it is not good to have an inward questioning session with God. We are to submit to Him, He is our God.

Secondly, we are to be “blameless and harmless in the midst a wicked and perverse nation.” A harmlessness inwardly brings about a blamelessness outwardly. Harmless means pure, like gold or silver without mixture of impurities, innocent, without need of rebuke for harmful attitudes. Our outward conduct is to be blameless, we must carefully display before men our pure desire to be harmless to them in every way. “Without rebuke” does not mean to be free from sin entirely, but it means to put up no barriers between oneself and God, to be open before Him without hypocrisy.

Thirdly, we are to “shine as lights” in this world of darkness, lights which show the way to the Savior. The source of our light is the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are reflectors of His light as it shines in us and through us.

In His marvelous grace,

Pastor Ed Bowen

July 5, 2009