Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. (Philippians 2:14-15)
When you hear the word “star” what comes to mind? For most people, it would be the name of someone who is famous in the world of entertainment or sports. Perhaps even in the world of politics or business. Well, I have a word of unimaginable encouragement for you today and that is – you are a STAR – one of the SAVIOR’S STARS!
You don’t need to be a biblical scholar to know the world we live in is both dark and depraved. When Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, they brought all of creation down into the depths of darkness and destruction. But in their fall into sin and rebellion, a promise was given to them that God would send a Savior who would bring light into this world and make of His people, stars that would shine His light everywhere they went. So, is this the confession of your life today? Are you shining your light in a dark world and pointing the way to the Savior?
Notice, Paul is telling the Philippians that grumbling and arguing shrouds the light God has given to His people. Grumbling and arguing are not the marks of a transformed life. It is a reminder of the old nature that still lives deep within every child of God. These are the marks of the heart that beats for the self, not the Savior. But this is not for you!
You see, the same grace that saved you is the same grace that is currently sanctifying you. God did not save you to leave you where you are. He saved you to form in you Christ-likeness, which over time would remove the old nature of grumbling and arguing, replacing it with patience and trust in the providence of God. To be sure, some providence is painful. But God is with us in that pain and we ought not wine, grumble, or complain when it comes our way. We are to receive all providence from the loving, nail-scarred hands of our Lord Jesus Christ with the confident assurance, that we are getting exactly what we need to be all God is calling us to be.
So, are you shining brightly as one of the SAVIOR’S STARS? What one thing would you need to change today to shine a bit more brightly? Prayerfully consider your answers to those questions because at the end of the day, you never want to be the kind of person that lights up the room when he leaves, rather than when he walked in! Remember, the stars in this life are temporal. But the SAVIOR’S STARS are eternal and their light will never go out. May this truth encourage and comfort you today.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 