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SO
THAT YOU WILL PROVE
YOURSELVES TO BE BLAMELESS (unable to be
censured) AND INNOCENT: hina genesthe (2SAMS) amemptoi kai
kai akeraioi: (Lk
1:6; 1Co 1:8; Eph 5:27; 1Th 5:23; 1Ti 3:2,10; 5:7; Titus 1:6; 2Pet
3:14) (Mt 10:16; Ro 16:19; Heb 7:26)
So that (2443)
(hina) signifies the conclusion of the previous is being
stated. By avoiding complaining and arguing within their own
body, the Philippian saints may become or show themselves as
blameless (outward conduct) and innocent (inward character) which
speaks of the testimony of the church in the darkness of this age.
A complaining Christian is a poor witness. A disputing church is a
poor witness. Rejoicing Christians and joyful churches are powerful
witnesses.
Another way this "conclusion" might be
understood is that "you should refrain from complaining and
arguing so that you may be innocent and pure."
Prove (1096)
(ginomai) come to acquire or experience a state.
“Blameless” and “innocent” concern the intrinsic character of a person
himself.
Continually holding fast (Php 2:16)
to pure milk of the Word of Life (by believing and obeying the Word
learned) will help ensure that we remain blameless and above reproach.
We have to work out what God has "worked" within us!
Blameless ( 273)
(amemptos from a = negates following word
+ mémphomai = find fault) means irreproachable,
faultless, without defect or blemish and thus describes not being able to find fault in
someone or some thing (cf use in Heb 8:7 regarding the Old Covenant).
The idea is that the person is such that he or she is without the
possibility of rightful charge being brought against them. Paul's
desire for the Philippian saints is that there be no legitimate ground
for accusation when the Lord returns to judge (see discussion of the
bema or Judgment Seat of Christ for believers)
(see below, 1Th 3:13, for Paul's similar desire and prayer for the
saints at Thessalonica).
This adjective was often used
to characterize someone who is flawless in the sight of other people.
The related adverb
amémptōs (differs by mark over the "o") is the very word
archeologists have found on Christian tombs from ancient Thessalonica.
When people wanted to identify a deceased friend or loved one as a
Christian, they inscribed "amémptōs" or "blameless" on
his or her grave, such behavioral blamelessness (not just the imputed
and forensic) is the Lord’s desire for His church.
Barclay adds that
amemptos...
expresses what the Christian is to
the world. His life is of such purity that none can find anything in
it with which to find fault. It is often said in courts of law that
the proceedings must not only be just but must be seen to be just. The
Christian must not only be pure, but the purity of his life must be
seen by all. (Barclay,
W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The
Westminster Press)
Amemptos - 5x in 5v.
And they (Zacharias the priest and
his wife Elizabeth, John the Baptist's parents) were both righteous in
the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and
requirements of the Lord. (Luke
1:5)
Comment: In a
Jewish society that was largely godless this couple lived lives that
were fully pleasing to God, yet they were without the much-cherished
blessing of children. Note their good lives did not make them
righteous, but they were righteous by believing in the coming Messiah,
just as was Abraham. They were observing the commandments and
requirements of the Lord in such a way that they were blameless and
they were quick to deal with the sin in their lives - note this is not
synonymous with sinless for that is only seen in Christ.
(Paul describing his days as a
religious man wrote) "as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to
the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless." (Php
3:6-note)
Comment: Paul claims that
there was no demand of the Law which he did not fulfill) Wiersbe quips that "Like most ‘religious’ people
today, Paul had enough morality to keep him out of trouble, but not
enough righteousness to get him into heaven! It was not bad things
that kept Paul away from Jesus—it was good things! He had to lose his
‘religion’ to find salvation.” ( from
Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor)
(Paul is praying that the Lord) may
establish your hearts (believers in Thessalonica) without
blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our
Lord Jesus with all His saints. (1Thes 3:13-note)
Comment: Paul's desire was
to see them stand blameless in holiness when the Lord, the Judge of
all mankind, returns to search not just their external acts but their
internal attitudes and motives, testing their hearts - a good prayer
for all of us to pray for each other!
For if that first covenant had been
faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. (Hebrews
8:7-note)
Comment: The prediction and
promise of the New Covenant in Jer 31:31, 32, 33, 34 demonstrated the
inadequacy and the temporary nature of the Old Covenant of Law
There are 11 uses of amemptos
in the
Septuagint (LXX) (Ge
17:1, Esther 8:12, Job 1:1, Job 1:8, Job 2:3, Job 4:17, Job 9:20, Job
11:4, Job 12:4, Job 15:14, Job 22:3, Job 22:19, Job 33:9)
The
Septuagint (LXX) uses
show that amemptos describes some very godly men. Moses for
example records ...
Now when Abram was ninety-nine
years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God
Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. (amemptos) (Ge
17:1)
In Job we read that
There was a man in the land of Uz,
whose name was Job, and that man was blameless (amemptos),
upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil....8 And the LORD
said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no
one like him on the earth, a blameless (amemptos) and upright
man, fearing God and turning away from evil." (Job 1:1,8, cf Job 2:3)
Regarding the distinction from the
closely related word amomos used in the next verse, Trench
writes that...
If amomos is the
'unblemished,' amemptos is the 'unblamed.'... Christ was
amomos in that there was in Him no spot or blemish, and He could
say, 'Which of you convinceth Me of sin?' but in strictness of speech
He was not amemptos (unblamed), nor is this epithet ever given
to Him in the NT, seeing that He endured the contradiction of sinners
against Himself, who slandered His footsteps and laid to His charge
'things that He knew not' (i.e., of which He was guiltless).
Believers are to walk (live) in
such a manner worthy of our calling to which we were called (Ep 4:1-note) that we will not elicit the reproach of
others. If Christ lives through us we will experience they will hate
us for they did not know Him (1Jn 3:1-note)
and so they hated Him. Reproach for godless conduct is not what Paul
is referring to here. What he is saying is that we should discipline
ourselves for godliness (1Ti 4:7-note;)
to such a degree that even if a charge were made against us, it would
not "stick". Amemptos
signifies that charges without grounds cannot be substantiated or maintained.
Innocent
(185)
(akeraios from a = without + keránnumi = mix, mingle, such as wine with water or spices)
(Click
in depth discussion of
akeraios)
means that which is without mixture, unmixed and then figuratively
pictures one who
is innocent, guileless, sincere.
Paul wants the Philippian saints to
be "blameless in the sight of others; guileless in
your own hearts" (Vincent). He is saying that they are not to
have one thing "mixed" in their heart or their motives that should not
be there as ambassadors of reconciliation of the Most High God.
Akeraio is used in only 2
other verses in the NT. In the first use Jesus instructed His
disciples..
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in
the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent
(akeraios) as doves. (Mt 10:16) (Vincent comments that akeraio
means: unmixed, unadulterated. Used of wine without water, and of
metal without alloy. Hence guileless. So Luther, without
falsity...They were to imitate the serpent’s wariness, but not his
wiliness. “The presence of the wolves demands that ye be wary; the
fact that ye are my apostles (compare “I send you”) demands that ye be
guileless” (Dr. Morison on Matthew)
In the second use of akeraios,
Paul exhorted the saints at Rome writing that...
the report of your obedience has
reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to
be wise in what is good, and innocent (akeraios) in what is
evil. (see note
Romans 16:19)
(Comment: “Uncontaminated” seems to be the idea. Paul would
have the saints at Rome to be “wise as regards good” and not
ignorant as regards evil for that would be impossible while they were
still in the world. His point was that they should be without that
kind of knowledge of evil that comes from engaging in it, or as one
might say, mixing themselves up with it and thus "unalloyed" with
evil.)
They are to prove themselves to be saints without
mixture of deceit or anything defiling. The word referred to that
which was pure as of metals or wines, of the mind
without a mixture of evil and free from guile. The Greeks used this
word to refer to wine unmixed with water and of unalloyed metal.
Barclay adds that akeraios...
expresses what the Christian is in
himself. Akeraios literally means unmixed, unadulterated. It is
used, for instance, of wine or milk which is not mixed with water and
of metal which has no alloy in it. When used of people, it implies
motives which are unmixed. Christian purity must issue in a complete
sincerity of thought and character. (Barclay,
W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The
Westminster Press)
CHILDREN OF GOD ABOVE
REPROACH: tekna
theou amoma: (Mt 5:44, 45,48; Luke 6:35; 2Co 6:16, 17, 18;
Eph 5:1,2,7; 1Pet 1:14, 15, 16, 17; 2:9; 1Jn 3:1, 2, 3-see notes
1Jn 3:1,
3:2,
3:3)
(Children above reproach = 1Ti 5:14,20; Titus 2:10,15; Rev 3:9)
Here Paul gives as another reason
for not complaining or disputing the fact that such behavior will have
a negative impact on the unsaved, corrupt world which we are called to
witness to.
Dwight Pentecost puts it
this way...
We must be conscious of the fact
that when we try to live for Jesus Christ in the midst of a crooked
and perverted generation, our life so convicts those before whom we
live Christ, they look for excuses to reject what we say and the
testimony of our lives for Christ. When we loosen our tongue and fall
into the sin of murmuring and complaining, we give them the excuse
they are looking for. By the misuse of our tongue, we can send a man
to hell.
(Pentecost,
J. D. The Joy of Living: A study of Philippians. Kregel Publications)
Children of God - I confess that I read this phrase much too
quickly and glibly so that many times it hardly enters my mind and
affects my heart. I think if saints (I'm looking in the mirror on this
one for sure!) would
meditate
more deeply on the incredible privilege and position we have to be
God's children now and forever, it would (should) radically
impact our conduct (as we strive to obey out of love and a holy fear
of doing anything that would impugn the great Name of our very own
Father!) (See similar thought in 1Pe 1:17-note,
cp 1Jn 2:28)
Children (5043)
(teknon from tikto = bring forth, bear
children, be born) is thus a child produced. Teknon is a child as
viewed in relation to his parents or family. This word takes on
special theological significance when the Bible calls believers the
children of God. NT pupils or disciples are called children of their
teachers, because the latter by their instruction nourish the minds of
their pupils and mould their characters (thus Paul refers to Timothy
as his "son"). "Like Father like son" and if not,
then it might be that perhaps they are not in
the "family"! Children of God are expected to resemble their
Father.
Above reproach (299)
(amomos
[word study]) one who is without blemish like
the OT
sacrificial animal (think of Ro 12:1 -
see note) and is free of defect
and thus irreproachable. Saints are to be those "without blemish". By
living lives "without blemish", God’s children will stand out
all the more clearly against the dark background of this world.
Amomos
is used to describe a sacrificial animal for only a “spotless” and
thus “perfect” sacrifice was fit to be offered to God. In the New
Testament, the adjective is usually employed to portray what a
Christian is and should be in the sight of God (Eph 1.4; Col 1.22;
Jude 1.24; Rev 14.4-5). Of the 72 uses of amomos in
the Greek OT, the
Septuagint (LXX), a majority describe
unblemished animals to be used for sacrifice. Under Jewish law before an animal could be
offered as a sacrifice it must be inspected and if any blemish was
found it must be rejected as unfit for an offering to God. Only the
best was fit to offer to God. In the
Septuagint
we see amomos used three
times noting that the Nazirite
shall present his offering to the
LORD: one male lamb a year old without defect (amomos) for a
burnt offering
and one ewe-lamb a year old without defect (amomos) for a sin
offering and one ram without defect (amomos) for a peace
offering (Nu 6:14)
Paul is saying that the character
of the child of God should be above any legitimate blame, criticism,
or censure. (These are convicting verses aren't they!)
W E Vine contrasts amemptos
(used above) with amomos noting that amemptos means....
blameless on account of absence of
inconsistency or ground of reproof, whereas amōmos indicates
absence of stain or blemish. We may have blemish, with freedom from
blame. (Vine,
W E: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament
Words. 1996. Nelson)
Barclay adds that amomos...
describes what the Christian is in
the sight of God. This word is specially used in connection with
sacrifices that are fit to be offered on the altar of God. The
Christian life must be such that it can be offered like an unblemished
sacrifice to God. (Barclay,
W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The
Westminster Press)
IN THE MIDST OF A CROOKED
AND PERVERSE GENERATION: meson geneas skolias kai
diestrammenes (RPPFSF): (Dt 32:5; Ps 122:5; Mt 17:17; Acts
20:30; 1Pet 2:12)
Paul is saying that the children of
God are to be free from defilement and so not chargeable with
justifiable criticism even though we live in the midst of a twisted
and perverted generation.
It is sad that in "Moses' song" we
read that the children of Israel in spite of being abundantly
blessed...
"have acted corruptly toward Him.
They are not His children, because of their defect; but are a
perverse (LXX
= skolios) and crooked generation." (Deut 32:5)
Here in Philippians Paul applies
this same description to the world system and its inhabitants which
are opposed to and hostile toward the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul is
saying he doesn’t want the Philippians to be like the Israelites and
fall into murmuring and gossiping, backbiting and complaining. If they
do, they, like Israel, will lose their separate identity. He does not
want them to lose the identifying mark that they are God’s children.
Midst (3319) (mesos)
means in the middle, in the midst or among. God has placed each
citizen of the Kingdom of heaven so that they might impact those
around them who are dead in their trespasses and sins and living in
the Kingdom of darkness subject to the dominion of Prince of Darkness,
Satan! Is your light shining in the midst of the darkness? We have the
assurance of the Word of God that...
The light shines through the
darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:5, NLT)
Dr. Timothy Beougher writes
that...
Over the centuries, Christians have
related to the world in 4 ways:
A. Total separation. Monastery; no
contact.
B. Total immersion. Lots of contact, but no impact.
C. Split adaptation. Sunday-only Christian; “hypocrite.”
D. Transformation. “in but not of the world.”
With God’s help (Phil 2:13), it is
possible to conquer complaining and avoid arguing, that we prove
blameless and innocent, above reproach, in a fallen world. (Morgan,
R. J. Nelson's Annual Preacher's Sourcebook : 2002 edition. Nashville:
Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Crooked (4646) (skolios, English = scoliosis = an abnormal curvature and
misalignment of the spine) describes something as literally crooked, bent,
deformed or warped (as a piece of wood becomes from dryness). It
stands opposed to that which is straight.
Figuratively skolios refers to anything that deviates from a
standard or norm, and in Scripture, it is often used of things that
are morally or spiritually corrupt. Thus skolios refers to
being morally bent or twisted, crooked, unscrupulous (without moral
scruples), dishonest. We speak of someone's behavior as "crooked" or
dishonest. Here Paul describes the outward perverted conduct of every
unregenerate generation, crooked in mind, heart, and action, bent in
all directions.
Peter uses skolios to mean hard to deal with, describing a
harsh taskmaster in 1Pet 2:18 (see
note), one who is cruel,
wicked, unreasonable, or unjust.
TDNT adds that skolios
is...
1. Used literally of rivers and
roads, this term, meaning “winding,” “twisted,” relates also to the
movements of snakes, and may refer, too, to a labyrinth or to ringlets
or matted hair. 2. In a transferred sense the term denotes what is
“crooked.” Deceit spoils things, bondage leads to crooked action, and
an ambiguous oracle is skoliós...
In the main (skolios) in the Greek
OT (LXX)
expresses the nature of those who do not walk in the straightness and
uprightness that God commands but walk in a cramped and crooked way
that merits punishment. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W.
Theological Dictionary of the New
Testament.
Eerdmans)
Skolios is curved as opposed to orthos, straight. The
unsaved world is crooked in the sense of turning away from the
straight path of the truth.
Skolios - 4x in 4v. NAS =
crooked, 2; perverse, 1; unreasonable, 1.
'EVERY RAVINE SHALL BE FILLED UP,
AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE BROUGHT LOW; AND THE CROOKED
(skolios) SHALL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; (Luke 3:5
quoting Isaiah 40:4 where the
LXX uses skolios)
(Peter preaching to Jews from every
nation on Pentecost) "And with many other words he solemnly testified
and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse
(skolios) generation!" (Acts 2:40)
(Peter instructing born again
servants) "Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect,
not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are
unreasonable (skolios)." (see note
1Peter 2:18)
Skolios is used 18 times in
the
LXX (Deut. 32:5; Job
4:18; 9:20; Ps. 78:8; Pr 2:15; 4:24; 8:8; 16:26, 28; 21:8; 22:5, 14;
23:33; 28:18; Isa. 27:1; 40:4; 42:16; Hos. 9:8). Solomon records for
example that...
The way of a guilty man is
crooked (LXX
= skolios), but as for the pure, his conduct is upright. (Pr 21:8)
He who walks blamelessly will be
delivered, but he who is crooked (LXX
= skolios) will fall all at once. (Pr 28:18)
Perverse (1294) (diastrepho
from dia =
separation, in two, throughout + strépho = turn, English =
diastrophism = the process of deformation that produces in the earth’s
crust its continents and ocean basins) is literally to twist
throughout or to distort. To turn different ways. To twist about.
Diastrepho is used metaphorically in the NT meaning to pervert
or to distort. The idea is to cause one to depart from an accepted
standard of oral or spiritual values. In the
perfect tense
it describes a permanently distorted condition (literally the perfect
tense pictures permanently "turned aside" and thus depraved) (see Mt
17:17; Lk 9:41; Acts 20:30; Php 2:15).
In some of the NT uses diastrepho means to to turn aside
from the right path and so to mislead as in Lk 23:2 where Jesus is
falsely accused before Pilate of misleading the people, Luke recording
And they began to accuse Him,
saying, "We found this man misleading (diastrepho) our nation
and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is
Christ, a King." (Luke 23:2)
Diastrepho conveys the basic
idea of twisting or bending out of shape and was used in Paul's day in
this literal sense to describe a piece of pottery that a careless
craftsman had misshaped or that had somehow become distorted before
being fired in the oven.
Diastrepho is in the
perfect tense
which describes the permanence of the distorted moral condition of the
unregenerate world (unless of course rectified by the gospel!) They
were turned out of the way when they were born into the sin of Adam
and they remain turned out of the way of truth unless the light in the
life of a saint illumines their heart with the truth of the gospel.
TDNT notes that
diastrepho
means in Gk. “to twist,” “to
dislocate,” “to confuse.” In Hellenistic and especially Stoic
ethics diastrophe (= twisting of a fractured limb, distortion)
is a technical term for the moral corruption of the empirical man. The
nature of man, which is originally good and oriented to the good, is
“twisted” (diastrephetai) by bad teaching (Ed note: Genesis 3
teaches it was twisted by the entry of sin!) and example and by
environmental influences of all kinds... (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., &
Bromiley, G. W.
Theological Dictionary of the New
Testament.
Eerdmans)
Diastrepho -7 times 7v - Matt 17:17; Luke 9:41; 23:2; Acts
13:8, 10; 20:30; Phil 2:15 NAS = make crooked, 1; misleading,
1; perverse, 1; perverse things, 1; perverted, 2; turn...away, 1.
Jesus used diastrepho to
describe His disciples who were unable to cure a man's demon possessed
son declaring...
"O unbelieving and perverted
(diastrepho =
perfect tense)
generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with
you? Bring him here to Me." (Mt 17:17)
Paul on the island of
Paphos used diastrepho twice in his encounter with Elymas,
Luke recording that...
Elymas the magician (for thus his
name is translated) was opposing them (Paul and his associates),
seeking to turn the proconsul away (diastrepho)
from the faith. But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the
Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him, and said, "You who are full of
all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all
righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked (diastrepho)
the straight ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13:8-10)
Paul used diastrepho again
his meeting with the elders at Ephesus warning them that...
from among your own selves men will
arise, speaking perverse (diastrepho =
perfect tense)
things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20:30)
Diastrepho is found 25 times
in the
LXX (Exod. 5:4; 23:6;
Num. 15:39; 32:7; Deut. 32:5; Jdg. 5:6; 1 Ki. 18:17f; Job 37:12; Ps.
18:26; Pr. 4:27; 6:14; 8:13; 10:9; 11:20; 16:30; Eccl. 1:15; 7:13;
12:3; Isa. 59:8; Ezek. 13:18, 22; 16:34; Mic. 3:9; Hab. 1:40) For
example...
(The prophet Micah declares to
faithless Israel) Now hear this, heads of the house of Jacob and
rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and twist (LXX
= diastrepho =
present tense
= continually) everything that is straight, (Micah 3:9)
(Habakkuk records) Therefore, the
law is ignored (paralyzed, stunned, incapable of functioning in its
normal way) and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the
righteous; Therefore, justice comes out perverted (LXX
= diastrepho in the
perfect tense)
(Hab 1:4)
Generation (1074)
(genea from gínomai = to become) originally meant a
generation, i.e., a multitude of contemporaries and in this verse
describes a descent or genealogical line of ancestors or descendants.
In the present context genea refers to the populace in broad terms.
AMONG WHOM YOU APPEAR AS
LIGHTS IN THE WORLD: en ois phainesthe (2PPMI) os phosteres en kosmo:
(Isa 60:1; Mt 5:14, 15, 16; Jn 5:35; Eph 5:8)
Paul is saying the saints at
Philippi and by way of application believers of all ages are to shine
out in stark contrast to the darkness of this this godless society
shining forth as "heavenly bodies of light" (lights powered from
heaven) stationed upon the earth enshrouded in the darkness of sin. We
are now "light in the Lord" and are to reflect the glory of the Lord
in the middle of this present darkness. The darker the night, the
brighter the light appears. Christians are lights or light-bearers.
They cannot create any light, but they can reflect the glory of the
Lord so that others may see Jesus in them.
Appear (5316)
(phaino from phos = light) means to give
light, illuminate, or shine forth as a luminous body. This refers not
to the act of shining, but to the fact of appearing, being recognized
as God’s children. The saints were
to continually (present
tense) be conspicuous, visible and "shining
examples" of the transforming power of the gospel of God's grace. As
someone has said we are
not searchlights or spotlights but lights in the fog. Fog lights prevent tragic shipwreck
and eternal loss! Searchlights blind our eyes.
How's you're light
shining? Saints are not here to adapt to or
accommodate to the darkness but to shine as
lights.
Vine has an even more direct
comment writing that...
No true believer can fail to give a
witness as to the difference between his manner of life and that of
the world. If there is no difference it is questionable whether he has
ever come out of darkness into light. (Vine,
W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
)
Lights (5458)
(phoster from phos = light) is a "light giver" and in classical Greek was the
word for "window" which is fascinating for here Paul uses it
figuratively to describe a person who lives in such a way that they
give light to those about them!
The KJV Bible Commentary
writes that Paul is painting the picture of...
The picture is that of a procession
at night, in a crooked and distorted age, in which torchbearers are
going and holding high the blazing torches, so that those following
can see how to walk in this sin-darkened world.
(Dobson,
E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV
Bible Commentary: Nelson)
The only other NT use of phoster
is in Revelation where John describes the New Jerusalem writing that
it had...
the glory of God. Her (the city)
brilliance (phoster) was like a very costly stone, as a stone of
crystal-clear jasper. (Rev 21:11)
Phoster is used 5 times in 3
verses in the
Septuagint (LXX) (Ge
1:14, 1:16, Da 12:3), Moses for example describing the heavenly
bodies, recording that
God made the two great lights
(LXX
= phoster), the greater light (phoster) to govern the day, and
the lesser light (phoster) to govern the night; He made the
stars also. (Genesis 1:16)
How apropos to speak of saints as
luminaries, since as Paul states later, we are heavenly people
and our "citizenship is in heaven" (see note
Philippians 3:20)
Believers as spiritual light
bearers are appointed to reflect the character and ways of our
Lord Who is Himself the Light...
"I am the light of the world; he
who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the
light of life." (John 8:12)
Writing to the saints at Ephesus
Paul reminded them that...
you were formerly darkness, but now
you are light in the Lord;
walk
( command to behave continually =
present imperative)
as children of light (see Wayne Barber's sermon on
Ephesians 5:8 entitled "The Power
of the New Garment")
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus
explained that those who are
"poor in spirit" (etc) are also called to be...
the light of the world. A city set
on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under
the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who
are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in
heaven. (see notes
Matthew 5:14-16)
Jesus said that His church is to be
like a city on a hill which cannot be hidden but which can be seen
from great distances. His church should stand out in the community as
a beacon of light, warning the lost and beckoning the elect.
Letting the light of God shine
through - One Sunday on their way home from church, a little girl
turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, the preacher's sermon this
morning confused me." The mother said, "Oh? Why is that?" The little
girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that
true?" The mother replied, "Yes, that's true honey." "And he also said
that God lives in us? Is that true, Mommy?" Again the mother replied,
"Yes." "Well," said the little girl, "if God is bigger than us and He
lives in us, wouldn't He show through?" (Amen! or Oh my!)
Dr Paul Chappell reminds us
of two important principles in regard to a believer letting God's
light shining through, first reminding us that...
God should show through our life,
but sadly sometimes our life's bulbs can be dirty, dimming His light.
Think about these two factors that can dim God's light:
Unconfessed Sin. Just as dirt accumulates on a light bulb, so
the dirtiness of sin can accumulate in your life. If you are not
careful to keep your heart clean through daily confession and
repentance, unconfessed sin can keep your life from shining God's
light.
Have you ever known a Christian who you wondered about their heart's
condition? They showed no signs of spiritual fruit and lived in open
sin. While we cannot know a person's heart, we can see his light.
Allowing sin to go unconfessed can dim God's light and hinder the
effectiveness of a life's testimony.
Fear of Men. How often have Christians hidden their lights
because of a fear of the opinions of others? We all want to be
accepted and appreciated by our peers, yet our world tells us that
talking about Christ and faith is taboo. We are told that religion is
for Sunday, and Monday through Saturday is a different life. But God
desires that you would allow His light to shine through you every day
of the week. As the children's song goes,
"Hide it under a bushel?
No! I'm going to let it shine."
(Listen
to the Kingston Trio's "This little light of mine")
How clean is your life's bulb
today?
Has unconfessed sin dimmed the light of Christ?
Or are you purposefully hiding your light for fear of what others
think?
Christian, would you fear man's opinion so much that you would allow
someone to die not ever knowing Christ?
Take time today to inspect your
life. Ask God to reveal any dimming sin or actions that are keeping
your life from brightly showing God's light. Also ask God to give you
strength to shine for Him even when others would hide their lights out
of fear. (Daily
in the Word the daily devotion and radio ministry of Dr. Paul Chappell)
Dr. Timothy Beougher writes
that...
There are two kinds of Christians:
those who “whine” and those who “shine.” Are you seeking to let your
light shine to others around you? Then conquer complaining. Avoid
arguing. Regain rejoicing. (Morgan,
R. J. Nelson's Annual Preacher's Sourcebook : 2002 edition. Nashville:
Thomas Nelson Publishers)
J Vernon McGee sums up this
section exhorting us to...
Be like a light. When we go out at
night we see the stars up there. When God looks down on this dark
world, He sees those who are His own as little lights down here. The
children sing “This Little Light of Mine.” Well, my friend, that’s
exactly what it is. Paul says, “Among whom ye shine as lights in the
world.” As the stars are up there, we are down here.
(McGee,
J V: Thru
the Bible Commentary: Nashville: Thomas Nelson)
World (2889)
(kosmos) refers to the
"order," "arrangement," and in here refers to the
present evil world-system under which Satan has organized the world of
unbelieving mankind upon his cosmic principles of force, greed,
selfishness, ambition, and pleasure. It is diametrically opposed to
the righteous and holy ways of God.
Thomas Watson asks...
How shall we know our souls are
pure? (Ed note: And our "lights" bright and clear for a
dark world to see?)
(1) If our souls are pure, we flee from the appearance of evil.
1Th 5:22-note.
We shall not do that which looks like sin. When Joseph's mistress
courted and tempted him, he "left his garment in her hand, and fled."
Ge 39:12 He was suspicious to be near her.
(2) If our souls are pure, the light of purity will shine forth.
Aaron had "Holiness to the Lord" written upon his golden
plate. Where there is sanctity in the soul, there "Holiness to the
Lord" is engraved upon the life (Ex 28:36, 30:10, 39:30 - all 22 uses
of phrase "holy to the LORD" = Ex 28:36; 30:10; 31:15; 39:30; Lev
23:20; 27:14, 21, 23, 28, 30, 32; Nu 6:8; Josh 6:19; 2Chr 35:3; Ezra
8:28; Neh 8:9; Je 2:3; 31:40; Ezek 48:14; Zech 14:20, 21; Lk 2:23). We
are adorned with patience, humility, good works, and shine as "Lights
in the world." Phil 2:15. Carry Christ's picture in your life! 1Jn
2:6. O let us labor for this soul purity! Without it there is no
seeing God. Heb 12:14-note.
"What communion has light with darkness?" 2Co 6:14. To keep the soul
pure—have recourse to the blood of Christ, which is the "fountain
open, to cleanse from sin and impurity." Zech 13:1. A soul steeped in
the briny tears of repentance, and bathed in the blood of Christ, is
made pure. Pray much for a pureness of soul. "Create in me a clean
heart, O God." Ps 51:10-note.
Some pray for children, others for riches; but you are to pray for
soul purity. Say, "Lord, though my body is kept pure—yet my soul is
defiled, I pollute all I touch. O purge me with hyssop, let Christ's
blood sprinkle me, let the Holy Spirit come upon me and anoint me. O
make me evangelically pure, that I may be translated to heaven, and
placed among the cherubim, where I shall be as holy as you would have
me to be, and as happy as I can desire to be." (The
Ten Commandments)
><> ><> ><>
In Morning and Evening C H Spurgeon has the following
devotional...
We use lights to make manifest. A
Christian man should so shine in his life, that a person could not
live with him a week without knowing the gospel. His conversation
should be such that all who are about him should clearly perceive
whose he is, and whom he serves; and should see the image of Jesus
reflected in his daily actions. Lights are intended for guidance. We
are to help those around us who are in the dark. We are to hold forth
to them the Word of life. We are to point sinners to the Saviour, and
the weary to a divine resting-place. Men sometimes read their Bibles,
and fail to understand them; we should be ready, like Philip, to
instruct the inquirer in the meaning of God’s Word, the way of
salvation, and the life of godliness. Lights are also used for
warning. On our rocks and shoals a light-house is sure to be erected.
Christian men should know that there are many false lights shown
everywhere in the world, and therefore the right light is needed. The
wreckers of Satan are always abroad, tempting the ungodly to sin under
the name of pleasure; they hoist the wrong light, be it ours to put up
the true light upon every dangerous rock, to point out every sin, and
tell what it leads to, that so we may be clear of the blood of all
men, shining as lights in the world. Lights also have a very cheering
influence, and so have Christians. A Christian ought to be a
comforter, with kind words on his lips, and sympathy in his heart; he
should carry sunshine wherever he goes, and diffuse happiness around
him.
Gracious Spirit
dwell with me;
I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal
Would thy life in mine reveal,
And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Saviour speak.
><> ><> ><>
During the years I was a medical
doctor, I had a number of patients who seemed to enjoy complaining
about their physical ills. I would examine them and not find a single
thing wrong, yet all they did was whine and complain. Pains here,
aches there, and as one expressed it, "I just feel no good all over."
In my opinion, it was all imaginary. It seemed to me that if they
would only start to count their blessings they would soon forget their
troubles.
How different the case of the very old woman, penniless and weak, who
was asked, "Auntie, how is your health?" "Oh, I have so much to be
thankful for," she replied. "I have only two teeth left, but thank
God, they are opposite each other!"
Before you begin another day, stop to count your blessings instead of
dwelling on your troubles. —M R De Haan (Our
Daily Bread (Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Instead of
complaining, count your blessings.
><> ><> ><>
A Crooked Generation - You
could call today's generation "crooked and perverse," just as Paul
described his own generation in Philippians 2:15. Even Moses would
have understood what Paul was talking about, for he said of Israel,
"They have corrupted themselves; they are not His children, because of
their blemish: a perverse and crooked generation" (Deuteronomy 32:5).
Crookedness refers to the means by which people accomplish their
objectives—doing whatever it takes to get what they want. Shortcuts to
success are applauded. Some even boast about how they circumvent the
law.
Perversion refers to the way people distort the truth. For example, I
heard about three teenagers who wanted to end their stay in a youth
hostel long before their expected departure. They angrily insisted
that the manager return their nonrefundable deposit. When he finally
gave in and the three teens were on their way out, they exclaimed to
the hostel's other guests that they had been forced to leave.
We may sometimes get hurt by the crooked behavior and distorted
thinking of people. But we are called to be "blameless and harmless"
and to "shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15). Let's show
the world a different way of living. —Albert Lee (Our
Daily Bread (Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
We are called
with a holy calling
The light of the world to be,
To lift up the lamp of the Savior
That others His light may see. —Anon.
The straight and narrow way is God's way for a crooked generation.
><> ><> ><>
When Benjamin Franklin decided to
interest the people of Philadelphia in street lighting, he hung a
beautiful lantern on the end of a long bracket attached to the front
of his house," wrote Cole D. Robinson in World Horizons.
"He kept the glass brightly polished and carefully lit the wick each
evening at the approach of dusk. Anyone walking on the dark street
could see this light from a long way off and came under its warm
glow."
What was the result?
"It wasn't long before Franklin's neighbors began placing lamps
outside their homes," Cole continued. "Soon the entire city realized
the value of street lighting and followed his example with
enthusiasm."
If we live according to the clear light of God's Word, God will dispel
the darkness and others will be attracted to the Light. —H. G. Bosch (Our
Daily Bread (Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Lets not only
follow good examples, let's be good examples.
Some of us are
the only Christian in the place where we work. Others stand alone as
believers in our homes or classrooms. If we live according to the
clear light of God's Word, God will dispel the darkness, the Savior
will be pleased, and others will be attracted to the light.—H G Bosch
><> ><> ><>
Most people have a bad habit or
two. Some habits are just irritating, such as talking too much or too
fast. Others are much more serious.
Consider, for
example, the bad habit developed by the people of ancient Israel. They
had just been delivered from slavery (Ex
14:30), and they ought to have been thankful. Instead, they
started to complain to Moses and Aaron, "Oh, that we had died by the
hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt!" (Ex 16:3).
We read in
Ex 17:1, 2, 3 that their complaining
escalated into a quarrel. In reality, their complaint was with God,
but they picked a fight with Moses because he was the leader. They
said, "Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and
our children and our livestock with thirst?" (Ex 17:3). The people even
began questioning if God was really with them (Ex 17:7). Yet He always met
their needs. If we're honest, we would have to admit that we sometimes
complain when God isn't coming through for us the way we want. We
accuse Him of being absent or disinterested. But when our heart is
concerned with God's purposes rather than our own, we will be patient
and trust Him to provide all that we need. Then we won't develop the
bad habit of complaining. —Albert Lee (Our
Daily Bread (Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Those Christians
who with thankful hearts
Praise God throughout the day
Won't tend to grumble and complain
When things don't go their way. —Branon
To conquer the
habit of complaining, count your blessings.
><> ><> ><>
China's Wall - Righteousness
exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. --Proverbs 14:34
The words of Proverbs 14:34 could be chiseled on the tombstone of many
civilizations: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach
to any people." We think we can build a nation on the gross national
product or defend it with armaments, but God says that countries are
built on the character of their people.
The people of ancient China sought security from the barbaric hordes
that swept down from the north, so they erected the Great Wall of
China. The massive wall stretched for 1,500 miles. It was 12 to 40
feet wide and 20 to 50 feet high. The wall was too high for the enemy
to scale, too thick to tear down, and too long to go around.
Yet during the first 100 years of the wall's existence, China was
invaded three times. How was the security breached? The enemies simply
bribed a gatekeeper and then marched easily through a gate. The fatal
flaw in China's defense lay in spending its wealth to build a wall but
paying much less to build the character of the gatekeepers.
A bigger defense system won't ultimately protect our nation. But we
can contribute to her security by being "blameless and harmless, . . .
without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation"
(Phil. 2:15). --H W Robinson (Our
Daily Bread (Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Protection of a
nation's land
Does not come from its mighty hand;
Security is just a fraud
Unless the people trust in God. --Sper
A nation is only as strong as the character of its citizens.
F B Meyer...
STARS TO SHINE: VOICES TO SPEAK
Phil. 2:14, 15, 16
Retrospect. Whenever we review the past, our souls are filled with
gratitude to God for all the wonderful way that He has led us; but, as
we thank Him, we are filled with a sorrowful and infinite regret, and
we cannot forget, amid the many mercies we recall, the story of our
repeated failure and shortcoming. Yet, mingling with gratitude and
sorrow are hope, resolve, and the decision that the past shall be
buried by the past, and that we will step forward to an entirely new
life of prayer, consecration, and devotion. These three
words--thankfulness, confession, and resolve--surely characterise the
feelings of all intelligent and thoughtful persons, who by
regeneration, through the Holy Spirit applying the Word of Truth, and
by adoption into the family of God, have been dissociated from this
sinful and adulterous generation, and are reckoned among the children
of the resurrection, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
In this paragraph we are brought face to face with the Divine
ideal--an ideal which, alas! we have too little realised, but which
henceforth shall be realised with new hope. We discover, also, the
infinite sources of power which we have not always realised--that God
works in us. We are also taught to set ourselves, with new
persistency, to the working out of that which God is working in.
Our Ideal as the Children of God. The Negative Side. If you
will follow out the paragraph step by step, link by link, you will see
that there is the negative and the positive side. There is, first, the
NEGATIVE SIDE. "Do all things without murmurings and disputings, that
ye may be the sons of God, without rebuke," or, as the R.V. puts it,
more accurately, without blemish. To be without blemish is perpetually
held up as the supreme ideal of the Christian life. "He chose us in
Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blemish before Him in love." "That it (the Church) should be
holy and without blemish." "To present you holy and without blemish."
The Lamb of God was without blemish, and we are called to be the same.
There is the more necessity that we should rise to the level of our
high calling, because our lives are cast into the midst of a community
of distorted vision and oblique ways--"a crooked and perverse
generation." This description of society is as true to-day as it ever
was. Whether we look at political or social life, the newspapers or
the streets, the tone of conversation in the drawing-rooms or on ocean
steamers, everything vindicates the adjectives of the Apostle.
The prime method of being without blemish is to do all things "without
murmurings and disputings." Do not allow yourselves to fall into
discontented moods, and do not indulge in bitter conflict with others.
Murmurings stand for all sorts of ill-concealed, half-checked, and
half-uttered complaints. They are the low grumblings of a man who is
swayed inwardly by impatient thoughts and hard feelings. Disputings
are murmurings come to the surface, and breaking out into captious and
angry discussions. Keep the heart and the tongue right by the grace of
God, and you will be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
blemish.
Blamelessness is faultlessness, stainlessness--correctness in all the
externals of life, as Zacharias and Elisabeth were, who walked in all
the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Harmlessness
refers to the essential purity, simplicity, and sincerity, which
should characterise all followers of Christ, because there is no
admixture of evil thoughts or desires in their aims or conduct.
Our Ideal: The Positive Side. Secondly, there is the Phillips
Brooks says: "It is the sincere and deep conviction of my soul, that
if the Christian faith does not culminate and complete itself in the
effort to make itself known to all the world, that faith appears to me
to be a thoroughly unreal and insignificant thing, destitute of power
for a single life, and incapable of being convincingly proved to be
true." He says also: "Always the enlargement of the faith brings the
endearment of the faith; and to give the Saviour to others makes Him
more thoroughly our own."
Shine as Stars. Such thoughts were in the Apostle's heart when
he urged his converts to shine and hold forth the word of Life.
IF THEY WERE CHRISTIANS AT ALL
(1) If they were Christians at all, they must be stars shining amid
the darkness of the world. The image before his mind was that of a
new star floating into sight, taking its place among the
constellations of the skies, and shedding forth its beams, so as to
reproduce its own luminosity as widely as possible, though with the
stillness which has no audible voice or language. Here is the
consistency and beauty of a holy soul, endeavouring to pass on its
nature to other souls, that they too may be light in the Lord.
As we look out on nature, we find that the object for which every
flower spreads its colour and perfume is to attract the bee, so that
it may propagate its kind. The flower must reproduce itself, or show
itself unworthy of the Gardener who produced it not for itself alone.
Every living thing exists to pass on its nature; and surely the
Christian soul cannot be content unless it has sent itself forward
into other lives and coming generations.
One of the most interesting studies is that of inductive electricity.
When two wires lie side by side, and a stream of electricity is sent
through the one, a faint vibration and reproduction of it will be
perceived in the other. It is in this way that, on the long lines of
American travel, you are able to telegraph from your moving train to
the city you are nearing. The wires along the track are sympathetic
with the transmitter on the train. For the same reason, when speaking
through the telephone, one can hear the murmur of other wires. It is
not that they really touch, but they are deeply sympathetic.
Our Influence on other Souls. There is something like this in
our influence upon other souls. There are induced currents for good or
bad. You, as a child of God, cannot come in contact with other men who
belong to this crooked and perverse generation, without starting
within them the vibrations of your own holiness, the yearning for
something better than they are, the appetite, the hunger and thirst,
after the unseen and the eternal, the condemnation of their sin, and
the creation within them of the vibrations and waves of desire to be
other than they are. It is also true that you cannot come in contact
with a bad man, whose mind is steeped in vice, and whose life is full
of base and disgraceful actions, without a corresponding current being
induced in yourself. We are always, for good or bad, affecting those
who are in close contact with us, and this altogether apart from our
volition, and simply by the strength of our character.
Hence it is that Richter, the great German thinker, says: "If thou
Knowest how every black thought of thine, and every jealous thought,
takes root outside of thee, and goes on for half a century pushing and
boring its healing or poisonous roots through the earth, ah, how
carefully wouldst thou grow, how carefully wouldst thou choose and
think!" And Bishop Huntingdon is on the same line when he says: "There
is some nameless influence going out from the very least conscious
thing in God's creation, which alters and shapes in its measure every
man, woman, and child within its influence."
A Great Responsibility. It is almost terrible to live with
these thoughts pressing on one's heart--that one can never speak a
word, never transact a piece of business, that one's face is never
seen lighted up with the radiance of God, or clouded and despondent,
without it being made harder or easier for other men to live a good
life. Every one of us, every day, resembles Jeroboam, the son of Nebat,
who made other men sin; or we are lifting other men into the light,
and peace, and joy of God. No man liveth to himself, and no man dieth
to himself; but the life of every one is telling upon an increasing
number of mankind. What a solemn responsibility it is to live! What
infinite regret should oppress our souls at the thought that we have
flung shadows over so many lives which God meant to be happy; that we
have put so many stumbling-blocks in people's ways to whom God meant
that we should offer stepping-stones; that our life has been for the
shame and sorrow rather than for the uplifting and comfort of those
around us!
Ours can never be sunshine, the intrinsic light of the sun. At the
most we shall never be able to diffuse more than the borrowed light of
the star; but this is something, and we may shine amid the dark night
which has rested on mankind ever since the sun went down on Calvary in
blood-red skies. Ere long the dawn will break on the sky, and we shall
become invisible amid the radiance of the coming Lord.
VOICES TO SPEAK FOR GOD.
(2) Besides being a star, we must be a voice; we are to hold forth the
word of Life. We cannot hold forth the word without words. It is
our duty to speak to those in our immediate circle, that there may be
no regret at the end of life. This wonderful gift of human speech, the
most marvellous faculty with which any one of us is endowed, must be
used to pass on the word of the Kingdom. Lay yourself before God, and
your mouth in the very dust, and ask that the Holy Spirit may take
your lips, and set them on fire for Himself, that you may be able not
only to shine with the mild radiance of a stainless and beautiful
character, but that you may utter the word of Life to those who have
never given heed to it. Surely the contemplation of such an ideal must
fill us with infinite regret. As we go over item after item, we see
that there is not one trait to which we can lay claim without
considerable misgiving. We are not without blemish! We have not
refrained from murmurings and disputings! We have not been blameless
and harmless! As we catch sight of God's ideal, we abhor ourselves. As
we hear the perfect music, we lament our own discordant notes. As we
see the solemn troops and sweet societies of Heaven, we realise how
coarse and unrefined our manners are. There cannot be an evening in
our life in which, as we review the day, we do not require the
precious Blood of Christ.
The Power by which Ideal is Rendered Possible. The past is gone, never
to be recalled; and if we are to trust our resolutions, we must
certainly and inevitably fall again. But our text says that God is in
us; that God, who makes the universe His home, has come to dwell in
our hearts, not as a stranger who tarries for a night, but as an
abiding, indwelling guest; and that our God is in us to will and to
work of His own good pleasure. We have often been conscious of it.
Have there not often been within us induced currents of Divine
electricity, promptings and inspirations to unselfishness, purity, and
devotion, which, alas! we have too often resisted? Ponder again the
wondrous message!
God works in us to will. He does not overpower our will, or
treat us as automata which He can move at His choice. He approaches us
as intelligent beings, who may refuse, as they may accept and yield.
At the most He can only suggest certain lines of conduct, but it is
left to us to say whether we will make them our own or not. Do you not
sometimes feel rising up within you a great desire, a yearning, a
drawing, a purpose to be other than you are? Ah! this is God working
in you to wish and will. Be very thankful, because you know that God
is taking pains with your character, only be sure to let Him have your
eager and complete response.
God works in us to work. God never works in us to will without
empowering us to perform that to which He prompts. He has with Him a
sufficiency of power equivalent to our necessity, and if we will turn
to Him for it, He will enable us to carry out every prompting of His
will. We may not remember the moment when He entered; we may not have
heard the sound of His feet along the passage-way of our heart; He may
have stolen in on the morning light, in the waft of the wind, or on
the fragrance of flowers--but He is in thy soul and mine. He is come
to take our side against sin. The Father waits to make the child like
Himself, first by prompting him to will good things, and then by
energising him to do the things He wills. That is our hope; and our
only hope for the coming days, that they may be better than the past,
is the recognition that our ideal is God's for us, and He waits to
make it a living fact.
Our Duty to Work Out what He Works In. Is there anything in
life or heart which has of late caused you solicitude? Have you been
doubtful about a certain line of conduct? Has something which you did
in the past arisen and made you feel that you ought to make
restitution and reparation? Is there some one habit, a method of life,
an inner idol, an unopened cupboard, which has not been consecrated
absolutely to Him? Do you realise that there is the constant pressure
by Another than yourself dealing with it? Do you hear the thud of the
engine deep down in your soul; the movement of the piston that sends
the quiver of the vibration through the whole of your being? Be very
thankful, for God is come to fight the evil of your nature, as a
mother sets herself beside her child to fight the disease which is
sapping his life.
But God's efforts on our behalf will be abortive unless we work out
what He works in. If He wills in us to break with some evil habit, we
must will the same. Our will must yield to His, as the skiff to the
stream that bears it on its current. If He bids us take up our bed and
walk, we must dare to believe that we can do it, and availing
ourselves of His might, we must spring to our feet. If He sends us on
His divine errands, we must not be rebellious nor hold ourselves back.
Our salvation lies in achieving deliverance from every form of sin,
and it is only by degrees that we learn all that sin is, and become
emancipated from its dominion and love.
With Fear and Trembling. Let us do this "with fear and
trembling." If an illustrious artist spends a morning with one of his
students, helping him to finish some picture at which he has been
working hard but unsuccessfully, the young man does not fear the
artist, but trembles lest he may not make the best possible use of his
kindness. So, my soul, when the great God comes to thee, and says, "I
am going to save thee from thy sins," thou must take good heed to
garner up all His gracious help with miserly care, full of anxiety
lest thou shouldest fail to avail thyself of the least trust, the
smallest prompting. He will do His work effectually and thoroughly;
let Him have full scope, and thou shalt be more than satisfied.
Oh, Thou who workest through the universe, who fulfillest Thine own
high purpose, so that seraphs, angels, and all holy beings are
infilled by Thee, come to-day and fill us, infill our whole nature,
then spirit, soul, and body shall be impenetrated by Thine energy, and
shall realise Thine ideal! (F. B. Meyer. The Epistle to the
Philippians)
The Power Of Light - Some of
us may not especially enjoy poetry. But often a few lines of verse
will grip our imagination, as do the following by Francis Thompson:
“The innocent moon, which nothing does but shine, moves all the
laboring surges of the world.”
The moon is nearly 240,000 miles from Earth and is only 1/400th the
size of the sun. With no light or heat of its own, it reflects the
radiance of that greater heavenly body. It appears to be relatively
insignificant. Yet, the moon quietly and almost imperceptibly moves
the oceans of the world by its gravitational pull.
Most of us may not seem all that influential or well-known. We don’t
have the giftedness, the wealth, or the position to make much of an
impact on our society. Our names don’t appear in the newspaper, nor
are they mentioned on television. We may think that all we can do is
practice our faith in the humdrum routines of everyday life. But
perhaps, unnoticed by us, we are having an influence on the people
around us by our Christlike attitudes and actions.
Let’s not be concerned, then, about our seeming lack of influence.
Instead, do what Jesus commanded: “Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”
(Matthew 5:16). --Vernon C. Grounds
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Jesus bids us shine with a clear,
pure light
Like a little candle burning in the night;
In this world of darkness we must shine—
You in your small corner, and I in mine. —Excell
Even the smallest light
can make a difference in the darkest night.
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Pilot Lights - In 1982, a
London pastor watched as a man stood on the church steps and witnessed
to passersby about Jesus. The pastor had never seen anything like it.
He admitted that before that day he had considered himself an
evangelist because he preached evangelistic sermons. But that night a
fire was kindled in his heart. He promised God he would begin talking
to people outside his church as well as inside.
The pastor invited members of the church to join him, and the weekly
venture became known as Pilot Lights. Just as a pilot light stays lit
and ready to be used, members of the Pilot Lights commit themselves to
be faithful to God and available for Him to use to tell others about
Christ. After a time of training and prayer, they walk the sidewalks
near the church every Saturday morning, talking with people about
Jesus.
Our churches are to be places of wonderful friendship and support. But
perhaps, like the pastor in London, we need to raise our eyes to see
people just beyond the walls of our traditional practice. It’s
important to share the glow of worship together, but the sidewalks of
life are filled with people who need to see the light of Christ
shining through us (Phil 2:15).
Let’s step outside and be “pilot lights” burning with God’s love
today. --David C. McCasland
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is the love of God flowing through you?
Are you telling the lost of the Savior?
Are you ready His service to do? —Smyth
A world in darkness
needs the light of the gospel.
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Shine! - Author Anne Lamott
once wrote that the people she admires have “purpose, heart, balance,
gratitude, joy. . . . They follow a brighter light than the glimmer of
their own candle; they are part of something beautiful.”
In my experience, such people are not simply religious. They are
committed disciples of Christ. Jesus explained why His followers have
a sort of luminous quality. “I am the light of the world. He who
follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life”
(John 8:12). Believing in Jesus as our Savior, we now can light up the
world. We are told, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
This doesn’t mean we must always display an artificial cheerfulness.
Many of us don’t possess a sunny disposition. We may struggle with
moods of depression. We may have to battle melancholy. But in the Holy
Spirit’s power, we can be like the Christians to whom Paul wrote, “You
shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). As Francis of Assisi
put it: “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace! Where there is
hatred, let me sow love; . . . where there is darkness, light.”
Just as the moon reflects the radiance of the sun, so we who believe
and follow the Savior can reflect Him who is the light of the world.
-- Vernon Grounds
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
There is sunshine in my soul today,
More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky,
For Jesus is my light. —Hewitt
A world in darkness needs the light of the gospel.
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Finding Our Way Home -
Author Anne Lamott tells about a 7-year-old girl who got lost in a big
city. The girl frantically ran up and down several streets, looking
for a familiar landmark. A policeman saw the girl, realized something
was wrong, and offered to help. So she got in the car and he slowly
drove through nearby neighborhoods. Suddenly the girl pointed to a
church and asked the policeman to let her out. She assured him, “This
is my church, and I can always find my way home from here.”
Many people think the church is an archaic institution, no longer
relevant in our modern world. Yet I am convinced that a church that
faithfully teaches the Bible and proclaims the good news of salvation
through Christ provides exactly what we all need to “find our way
home.”
When our churches are fulfilling their God-given function, believers
humbly serve and care for one another, encouraging each other to
follow Christ’s example (Philippians 2:1-11). Those groups of
believers, by their words and lives, also point a lost world to Jesus.
They serve “as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life”
(Php 2:15, 16).
A church that teaches the truth about Christ is not only relevant but
desperately needed in our world. It can help people of all ages to
find their way home. Vernon Grounds
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Christ builds His church and makes
it strong
By using you and me;
And if we all will do our part,
The world His love will see. —Sper
A church helps the lost to find their way home
when its light shines brightly.
><>><>><>
Shine Where You Are - The
name of Peter Carter is probably unknown to most people today. He was
a 19th-century American Presbyterian pastor. He wasn’t as famous a
pulpiteer as Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He didn’t write great works of
theology like his contemporary Charles Hodge. He never achieved the
international recognition of Henry Ward Beecher of the Brooklyn
Tabernacle. But he lived his faith in such a way that he encouraged
hundreds of people to trust and serve Jesus Christ. Carter radiated
the Savior’s love to children as well as to adults.
For example, a visitor asked some of the children in Carter’s Sunday
school if they knew the Good Shepherd. “Oh, yes,” they answered. “He’s
Pastor Peter Carter.” Missionary-statesman Robert E. Speer said, “If
all the reasoned arguments in support of Christianity were destroyed,
Peter Carter and the two or three men like him I have known would
remain for me as its impregnable basis and defense.”
Even if we think of ourselves as rather ordinary believers, all of us
can by God’s grace be shining lights that “glorify [our] Father in
heaven” and point people to the Savior (Matthew 5:16; Philippians
2:14, 15, 16). We too can be flesh-and-blood evidence that the gospel
is true. --Vernon Grounds
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
I want my life to shine for Jesus
So that everywhere I go
The watching world will see He loves them
And His saving grace will know. —Hess
God put us on earth to shine as lights,
not to get used to the dark.
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Lights In The Darkness - I
once read about a woman who felt very much alone at her workplace
because she was the only Christian. She was often ridiculed for her
faith and accused of being narrow-minded. Finally she became so
discouraged that she considered quitting her job. Before doing that,
however, she talked with her pastor. After listening to her
complaints, the minister asked, “Where do people usually put lights?”
“In dark places,” she replied.
She quickly recognized that her place of work was indeed a “dark
place” where “light” was vitally needed. So she decided to stay where
she was and become a stronger influence for Christ. It wasn’t long
before a number of her fellow employees—13 of them, in fact—came to
know Christ as their Savior.
As “lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15), we who are believers in
Christ have the privilege of illuminating its dark places. Although we
are not of the world, we are in the world. We must not allow ourselves
to be shaped by its pressures; instead, we are to exert our influence
on it.
If you are in an unusually difficult and ungodly atmosphere, call to
mind Christ’s words, “Let your light so shine before men” (Matthew
5:16). Remember, it’s the dark places that need the light. —R W De
Haan
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
If you were in the dark,
You'd surely welcome light;
That's why we share God's Word
With souls in darkest night. —Hess
To lead others out of the darkness of sin,
let them see your light.
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Lights in the World - It’s
easy to see that we live “in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation” (Phil. 2:15). We are continually reminded that we live in
a fallen world by our own sinful tendencies, by newspaper headlines
that report horrifying crimes, and by a society that is growing
accustomed to gross immorality.
Against this backdrop of darkness, followers of Jesus are told to be
“lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15). Yet our conduct often reflects a
dim and distorted image of Him. That’s why Paul warned us against
“complaining and disputing” (Php 2:14) and urged us to put our
salvation to work with reverence for God (Php 2:12, 13).
We may wonder why the apostle didn’t mention something more scandalous
than complaining. But relatively few of us are guilty of “headline”
sins, while all of us have been guilty of the smugness, pride, and
self-centeredness that erupts in murmuring and quarreling. And these
“lesser” sins can be just as destructive.
Paul knew that we need to be spiritually alert to evil and nip it in
the bud. By heeding these exhortations we will “become blameless and
harmless, children of God without fault” (v.15). Then we will be sure
to shine as lights in this dark world. --Herbert Vander Lugt
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Darkness seems so overpowering
In our world today;
Help us, Lord, to keep on shining
Till the break of day. —Hess
It's the life behind our words
that makes our testimony ring true. |
