9/23 Philippians 2:14-15

¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵ 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,

How the flesh loves to complain! If someone begins griping about almost any issue, we can chime right in with our own complaints. If someone cuts us off in traffic, there we go again. And when it comes to politics, we can never complain enough. This verse is telling us this type of behavior should not characterize followers of Jesus. Whatever we do, we should do it without complaint. Then we shine like lights in the world.

Do we believe that God is sovereign over all things? Will the work before us be for our good, to build our character or to teach us endurance? Are we redeemed children of God laying up treasure in heaven where we will be eternally with our loving Lord? Then why should we grumble or argue?

Every generation is crooked and twisted. We should expect the world to be selfish and dissatisfied. That is man's fallen nature. But it should not be the nature of the new creation in Christ. Our nature should be like that of Jesus. We never read of Him grumbling or disputing what the Father set before Him, even though it was the most difficult of tasks. He looked to the joy that was set before Him and endured (Hebrews 12:2).

Consider: Ask the Lord to help you ruthlessly deal with your own whining. Next time you are tempted to whine, praise the Lord instead. Ask yourself how Jesus would respond to the same situation.