Devotions
Rev Gav
Dull
Philippians 2.14–end
Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labour in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you— and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me.
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But Timothy’s worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me; and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.
Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus — my brother and co-worker and fellow-soldier, your messenger and minister to my need; for he has been longing for all of you, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honour such people, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me.
Reflect
“Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.”
The Apostle Paul was concerned for the welfare of those first Christians in the city of Philippi — this was the ‘work of the gospel’ for which he described himself being ‘poured out as a libation’ (a ritual pouring of a liquid as an offering to God). Paul describes God’s purpose is for us to ‘shine like stars in the world’. In other words, the Christlikeness of those Christians mattered, and it was not only for their own sake but for the sake of the world.
If we are to win people over to the way of Christ, then we need to remember that we are Christ’s ambassadors or representatives. We walk around wearing T-shirts that say, “I am an agent for Christ!” To this end, we need to speak and behave in ways that are honouring to both God and others. I’m not suggesting that we be perfect (goodness knows we can’t do that), but we need to continually do our best to speak and act with honesty, integrity, and respect, and to this end, like knives that go blunt with use, we need to be continually sharpened.
Paul encouraged his readers to ‘do all things without murmuring and arguing’. In other words, we are to stop gossiping, putting others down, and speaking behind others’ backs. We are also not to bitch, argue, make backhanded comments, sigh, tut, or even roll our eyes in the presence of others! Are you guilty of doing any of these things? Me too!
When I reflect on how I sometimes speak about other people, I feel dirty and ashamed. At the time I feel justified, however, just because someone else has put me down, done something of which I don’t approve, or acted like a complete asshole, doesn’t mean I get to treat them with any less respect — either in person or behind their back. I am an agent of Christ and I am being held to a higher standard than that found in the world — not for my sake, but for the sake of the gospel — to win as many for Christ as possible.
So, back to the sharpening thing. We can’t stay sharp or bright on our own! In the same way that a knife does not self-sharpen, so we need to sharpen one another. And in the same way that the glass on a lamp needs cleaning, so we need to remind each other of our mandate, calling, and the importance of our mission. We all get ‘dull’ from time to time, but with a bit of polishing from others, we can be encouraged to ‘shine like stars in the world.’
(Photo by Bekky Bekks on Unsplash)
Pray
Holy God
Forgive me when I have put others down
with my words or my actions.
I confess that, in those times,
I have tarnished your image within me
and failed to represent Christ.
Bring me the encouragement I need
that I may, once again,
shine like a star for you in the world.
This day and forever.
and then