Remember Who it is at work

Good Morning,

Philippians 2:13-16 (NIV)
For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

There are a couple of things we should look at in these verses that we read today. First and foremost...and definitely the most important...is the fact that "...it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Now, I know, and I'm sure you are aware also, that the world is out there doing it's work on us simultaneously with what God is doing in us. So, we have conflict, we Christians, in our lives...pretty much all the time. We have conflict because the work that God is doing in us...His will and His purpose...just goes against what the world is saying to us and trying to have us do. If we look just a bit further we read the words..."in a crooked and depraved generation"...which tells us quite a lot about the world in which we live. Here's the deal: We've got to recognize this conflict between God's will and purpose and the world's wills and purposes in our lives. We have to have a mind that can see and understand what it is that God would have us to do. Sometimes that just isn't very easy, because, well, sometimes what the world has in front of us just looks too good and it's so very tempting. So, when we see something that seems a bit too good to be true, then, more than likely it IS too good to be true...it's a lie and a deception being given to us by the enemy. What God has for us usually requires that we actually have to do something and put some effort out to get accomplished. Remember what Jesus taught us, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Mat. 7:13-14) It's that wide, easy gate and broad road that the world puts in front of us. You see, that road and gate is, simply put, too good to be true.

The other thing that we should get from these verses today is what Paul says about our attitude and the way we carry out God's will and purpose. "Do everything without complaining or arguing..." That's a rather tough one, isn't it? After all, most of us have been brought up seeing almost nothing BUT arguing and complaining! Even in our various congregations and in those who are trying to do God's will and carry out His purpose. We hear about the sermon that was too long or the fact that the air conditioner wasn't set cold enough...or too cold. We look and see people who can't agree on where to put the tables for that afternoon's picnic or which tree to hang the new swing. Our ears are inundated, almost at every turn, with words that are anything but conciliatory, peaceful, or comforting, but are filled with complaints and arguments...usually about nothing at all of any consequence. You see, my friends, complaints and arguments are the work of the enemy. If we're always having words with one another about inconsequential things, then we can't "shine like the stars in the universe" when observed by "a crooked and depraved" world. When we're against one another about silly things, then we look no different that what the world sees all the time.

Once we fully understand that it is God who is working in each of us to accomplish His will so that we act according to His good purposes in our lives, and if we will keep away from arguments and complaints that seem to come at every turn, then we can truly and effectively "hold out the word of life"...present the Gospel of the Lord in a way that will be listened to and heeded. This because we will NOT be like the rest of the world around us. But, we will be different and people will want to know the Why of our differences from them. That difference, of course, is Jesus Christ.

So, we need to remember Who it is at work in us...God Almighty. Then, let us turn away from complaints and arguments. Finally, we must present ourselves in such a way that we DO, truly, shine like the stars in the universe. Let each of us allow our lives to be lived in such a way that those who have taught us and guided us in our walk with Christ can boast and see that their efforts were not in vain.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David