Shine as Lights

Dearly Beloved. I trust this finds you well and bubbling in the Lord. As believers, we are expected to live clean lives, lives that look much different from the world around us. Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT) says “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” The Classic Amplified Bible puts it this way “Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,”

We live in a world here described as crooked and spiritually perverted; and in the world, we are to shine as light. Yet, though we are in the world, we are not of the world. In John 17v6 (KJV), Jesus said “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” Matthew 5v13-16 (NLT) also says “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Child of God, you are indeed a child of God and our lives should reflect that. We thank God because He continually gives you the enablement and empowerment to live a life that is pleasing to Him. Hallelujah.

 

Prayer

Father, we glorify Your name. We thank You for we are lights in the world. We pray that we would live lives of thanksgiving, without grumbling and complaining, and that these lives will bring glory to Your name, in Jesus name, amen.