Daily Devotional

-January 17, 2021-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-How To Live As Lights In This World-

“Do all things without complaining or disputing, that you become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”

(Philippians 2:14-16).

Being a Christian in a non-Christian world is not easy. Paul described the conditions in his day as crooked and perverse. The world today is this way also. It is so wicked, evil, and sinful. We as believers almost feel like fish out of water. Our home and citizenship is in heaven. We live in the world but we are not of this world.

Paul tells how we should speak and live as children of God. He shares what not to do: complaining and disputing; and what to do: Be harmless children of God, without fault, shining as lights in this dark world.

• Do all things without complaining or disputing – It seems nearly everyone today complains and disputes. These two words can be translated as “grumbling and arguing.” We need to be different than the world. It is easy to complain or grumble, but instead we should give thanks; it is also easy to dispute or argue, but we must be cooperative and treat others with respect.

• That you become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault…shining as lights in the world – Being blameless and harmless does not mean being perfect. Job was not perfect, but it says of him, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1).

Christians are not perfect but forgiven. God wants us to be a good testimony before both the saved and unsaved, and always point people to Jesus, giving Him all the glory for saving us and changing our lives. By living as lights in the world, we will stand out in the darkness. It is said that the darker the night, the brighter the stars shine.

Where there is crookedness – we should be straight; where there is perverseness, we should blameless, harmless, and without fault. In terms of our conversation, character, and conduct, we must be like Jesus. We will have times when we stumble and sin. Then we must confess our sins and be forgiven and restored.

May the Lord help us to live heavenly lives on earth. Let us challenge one another and hold each other accountable. Our Savior is with us and we can do it with His help.

Have a blessed day living as lights, being blameless and harmless children of God, and shining brightly for Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean