After about 5 hours of sleep and a shower, I headed out to the
local Starbucks to start prepping for two bible studies I will be leading in
the next two days. So after I got my cup of coffee, I opened up my bible to
Philippians 2.
Verse 14, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning,”
It was like a slap to my face, like a bucket of ice cold
water being dumped on my head. I have constantly been tempted the last few
months to grumble/complain about or question my circumstances. And not only have I been tempted, but I have been complaining and questioning my circumstances. Then last night happened, and I got minimal sleep
and spent hours making making sure two basements didn’t flood. I complained this morning in my heart and started complaining even more this afternoon as I sat down in Starbucks trying to work and study without my eyes shutting. But then I read this verse and took a punch to the gut. I have no place to complain or grumble at all. Ever.
I have every reason to be happy, content and satisfied in my
dear Lord this morning. And even though there are some inconveniences here and there.
I’d still have every reason to be happy, content and satisfied in the Lord this
morning. There is a single truth
that cannot change about me: I am a Son of God and this does not change based
on how I feel or change because of circumstances. I am a Son of God because my
faith is in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
Philippians 2:5-8, “Have this mind among yourselves, which
is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count
equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the
form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
This is the reason we are to do everything without grumbling
or complaining. . If Jesus didn’t grumble and complain about becoming a man and
dying a death he didn’t deserve. Then I have no right to question or complain about
anything.
Although this is the primary reason, Paul also gives us another
reason to do everything without grumbling or questioning. Verses 14-15 together
say, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 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.”
We live in a crooked and twisted generation. And when we
grumble or complain, we are just going with the flow of this world. Let us
shine as lights in the world.
So, today, tomorrow and the every day to follow let us remember these two truths no matter your circumstance and no matter
how you feel:
Remember the truth of the gospel.
Remember we are
representing Jesus Christ.
Let us fight to live in a way that we can say what Paul did in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."
