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.
Don't complain or argue! We don't usually associate these things with purity and blamelessness, do we? Paul was extraordinarily close to these Philippians, and he knew them well. He knew their strengths and praised those strengths. He also knew their weaknesses and shortcomings. He knew the destructive power that complaining and arguing have on the life of an otherwise vibrant community of Christians. Let's heed his warning today, in our day, as we see church after church taken under by the negative and cynical spirit that pervades modern culture. We are meant to shine in our dark world of unbelief and unholiness as stars in the night sky, reminding others of
"the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (
James 1:16).
Forgive and cleanse me, O God, for my sometimes argumentive spirit. Please empower me with your Spirit to use my speech only to bless and to build up, never to tear down or discourage. I want to be one of Jesus' lights in my world, leading people out of darkness. In Jesus' name, I ask this. Amen.
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