I've been attending a bible study the last month or so and I have to say it has been a tremendous blessing. It's been three or four years since I've been involved in any kind of prayer group or bible study, or even regular church attendance. A friend of mine here in Pensacola introduced my husband and I to this bible study that's part of a national organization called Officer's Christian Fellowship, so it's specifically for officers in all branches of the military. It's helped immensely to meet others going through the same things that I am, and that my husband is and to know that even if I don't know these people very well, I can talk to them because of the common bonds of Christianity and military life. Anyway.
The last month or so we've been studying Philippians, a letter of joy written to the Philippians from Paul while he was imprisoned. Tonight we studied chapter 2:12-18 - "12Therefore, my dear friend, as you have always obeyed -- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence -- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the world of life -- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18So you too should be glad and rejoiced with me." - NIV
The fact the Paul could even consider writing a letter of joy while in prison is just absolutely amazing and foreign to me. But that's obvious. I'm nearly positive I've read this section of scripture before, but it has never struck me as being as powerful as it did tonight. I suppose my thoughts on this passage are nothing incredibly insightful or profound, but I feel it necessary to write about it anyway. First, I absolutely love the analogy of God's children shining like stars. As someone pointed out tonight, stars are surrounded by darkness and yet shine through it, just as we are living in a world of pain and darkness, yet we are to live in it and shine, not become immersed in it as well. That alone is a huge challenge.
But really what I'm dwelling on is verse 14 through verse 16 (14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the world of life -- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.). First and foremost, it comes right out and instructs us, as Christians to do every single task with complete obedience, without grumbling and complaining. Confession: I am a gold medal complainer. I complain constantly. Up until studying this passage, I kind of passed it off as just an annoying habit. But to see that the word of God actually addresses it, basically as a sin, something that we must not do if we are to be seen as blameless and pure, was eye opening. The leader of the Bible study then challenged us to choose just one specific thing to commit to going just one day without doing, something we're convicted about. And after reading this I am really committing to not complaining tomorrow. It's going to be difficult, sometimes I complain without even realizing it. But that's my goal for tomorrow.
Even more than that though is verse 16, a continuation of 14 and 15, saying that we are to do everything without complaining and arguing so that you can shine like a star while you hold out the word of life. Other translations say 'as you hold on to the word of life'. Personally, this distinction changes the implications of this verse. To say 'to hold on to' implies that you are keeping God's works to yourself. As we were asked our interpretations of this every one that spoke replied that it seemed to be saying that we need to hold tightly to the word and promises of God in order to do these things, to make it through the struggle of living Christ-like, or something of that nature. However, as my translation says 'as you hold out the word of life' I understood it to mean something very different from my peers. (But being shy and awkward I didn't say anything then.)
I considered the verses together, that we are to do everything without complaining or arguing and shining as a star in the darkness and to hold out the word. In my interpretation, this passage is that we are to show others the work God is doing in us and the character of Jesus through our actions, through holding out the word. I thought of every day tasks, a situation in which we must work amongst other people and accomplish a goal. Imagine you have to work with a group of people. If there is one person in that group who is grumbling about the task at hand, complaining that they have to do it, it creates a negative spirit in everyone there. Likewise, if there is one person in the group who is being positive and joyful, it encourages the whole group. After considering this, I just was really reminded of the power we have as one individual, to affect people around us, especially with the right motive and heart. The way we act in such situations says an incredible amount about our character and our faith. What an awesome testimony I could be to others if I just encouraged rather than complained. I mean really, I would notice that in someone. We can say so much more about the love and character of Jesus through our actions than we could ever say with our mouth. And though it's nothing incredibly profound, I just feel this poking feeling at my heart. I feel intensely convicted. I need to stop complaining all the time. I need to be joyful and encouraging. I need to more seriously strive to allow Jesus to make me a bright shining star in the darkness of my world. And I very earnestly feel that this is one area that God is telling me I need to improve in order for others to see him in me.
So anyway, as I said, nothing particularly profound or theological and not at all eloquently stated (I said it much better talking to myself on my drive home...), but I found it incredibly convicting and perhaps someone else needed to hear it too.
