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Like Stars (Philippians 2:14-18)
Someone once described Christians as "animated
question marks". This means that people should look at us and ask what
it is that makes a difference in our lives. Unfortunately, some Christians
live lives such that people ask, "Is he a Christian? I didn't know that."
(this coding added after every paragraph) Here Paul is using a ready and
vivid illustration. Christians should be so different as to stand out
like bright stars in dark sky. We know Christians like that. Good people
whose lives reflect the fruits of the Spirit:
"Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal.5:22)
We think of such people at the end of a difficult day when the fruit of
our lives has been anything but love, joy, peace, etc. We envy them and
wonder what the secret is.
Paul has just told the Philippians that, "God
works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."
This does not, however, mean that we have no responsibility in our Christian
walk because Paul also urges us to, "work
out your salvation with fear and trembling."
How are we to do this?
"Do everything without complaining or arguing"
I am reminded of what James writes about fights and quarrels:
"What causes fights and quarrels among
you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want
something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what
you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask
God." (James 4:1-2)
The truth is its hard work sometimes being a Christian and we make it
so much harder for ourselves when we begin with ourselves. No one finds
it easy all the time and the ones who seem to have the gift have begun
by seeking God and asking.
If we seek God's will we will be patient, doing everything without complaining,
as we wait for his perfect will to prevail. It seems that this is the
key to becoming "blameless and pure, children
of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation."
The world is a crooked and depraved place Paul tells us. It is our responsibility
to "hold out the word of life" and what better way than to show it by
our very lives. To be "animated question marks". To "shine like stars
in he universe"?
What will people ask themselves when they see you this week? Will they
wonder what it is that makes you stand out in what even the wicked can
see is a depraved generation? I became a Christian because of a man who
made me ask that very question.