Verse of the Day 6/14

 

Verse of the Day 6/14

 

Philippians 2:14-15   Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

For years Nike has coined the phrase "Just Do It" and it has been at the center of their advertising and message.  It involves participation and "getting in the game".  All to often in today's society, rather than doing something, people tend to grumble and get into arguments over just about anything, from politics to matters of faith and the church.  Second guessing, being the back seat driver or Monday morning quarterback fit in well with the attitude.

 

We, as Christians are to be different.  We are to be "doers" of the word (James 1:22) not just "hearers" and in doing so we are to "shine" as lights to the world, the world of grumblers and complainers.  We all have things to do, it involves "working out our salvation" verse 12, because God is working in us and will work  through us.  We all have  a job to do, we've all been given gifts and participate in some kind  of ministry.

 

Pastor John Piper writes, "Each day there is a work to be done in our special ministry. Paul commands us to work at doing it. But he tells us how to do it in the power of future grace: believe the promise that in this day God will be at work in you to will and work for his good pleasure.  It is God himself, graciously arriving each moment, that brings the future into the present. It is not the gratitude for past grace that Paul focuses on when explaining how he "worked harder than any of them." It is fresh grace for every new conquest in his missionary labor. "

 

May we not be among the grumblers and complainers, but call on the Lord to give us "fresh grace" today in our particular ministry wherever it  may be and wherever it may lead us, "shining" for God's glory.

 

Philippians 2:16  holding out and offering to everyone the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to rejoice greatly because I did not run [my race] in vain nor labor without result.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Spirit of God
Take me to a deeper place
Take me out of what is safe
And I will not be afraid
Spirit of God
Fill me with joy again
Springing up from within
It cannot be contained

 

'Cause You called me out from the grave
So I can live like I've been changed
There is a new song in my soul
And it begins when I breathe in
Your word of life    (Word of Life – Jeremy Camp)

 

 

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Philippians 2:12-16 The Message (MSG)

Rejoicing Together

^12-13 What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

^14-16 Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing.

 

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