Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labour for nothing. But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:14-16
It can be easy to read some parts of the bible and think “well, I don’t do anything that bad so this applies to other people”. Not really so with this part of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, a church family he knew and loved.
I don’t know many families or teams where there is never any grumbling or arguing, sadly many relationships are affected by how we respond to each other when we have a difference of opinion. It can be very uncomfortable to hear or see people disagreeing with each other but at the same time very tempting to join in any moaning!
Paul’s comments get right to the heart of living a new life in Christ: as children of God in the middle of a generation that often acts in their own best interests, we can shine out of the darkness by how we love and serve each other.
We’re not expected to manage this by ourselves- holding on firmly to the word of life is what enables us to shine like stars (or lights in the world depending on your translation) rather than the other way round.
Paul is reaching the end of his time in prison and verse 16 shows some of his urgency and self-questioning- can we hold on to Jesus, the Word of Life and not labour in vain?
Further reading: Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 32:5, part of a song recited by Moses to the Israelites at the end of his life. If you have time or want to look deeper why not read the rest of the song?
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