On Avoiding Murmuring

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On Avoiding Murmuring

Philippians 2:14

January 27, 2024

“Do all things without murmuring and disputing…”

— Philippians 2:14

When Paul tells the Philippian Christians to do all things without murmuring, we should remember that just a moment before that he told them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Not work for your salvation—to work it out, for it is God who is working in our hearts.

How are we to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling? Well, he says that we are to do all things without murmuring and disputing. The word murmuring sounds like what it describes. The Scripture in a number of times tells us to avoid murmuring and grumbling.

In John 6:41, we read “The Jews then murmured about Him, because He said, ‘I am the bread which came down from heaven.’” You can almost hear the muttering, the grumbling, the low tones, the complaining, and the discontent of them. In verse 43, just two verses further, “Jesus therefore answered them, ‘Do not murmur among yourselves.’”

In I Corinthians 10:10, Paul cautions, “Neither murmur, as some of them also murmured and were destroyed by the destroyer.” Twice in that same verse—“neither murmur, as some of those,”—those were the Israelites in the Old Testament wanderings, and they murmured against the Lord, and they were destroyed. They murmured against Moses as well, and they were destroyed. If you know the joy of Christ in your heart, it follows that you will avoid a complaining spirit.

Jesus, Bread of Life, thank You for feeding us and caring for us. Forgive us that we so often complain and murmur. Give us the strength to replace murmuring with thanksgiving…

IN GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN AVOID GROUSING.

You May Be the Only Bible Many Will Read

January 31, 2024

“…let your conduct be worthy of the Gospel of Christ…” — Philippians 1:27 You and I are the clothes that the Gospel wears in this world. How well are we adorning the Gospel in our lives? We are the only Christ that many will see. Are we attracting people to the Savior or are we repelling them from Him? Paul makes it very clear that it is vital that we do the former and not the latter. Here there is a shift in that first chapter of Philippians—from “I” to “you,” from personal testimony to spiritual exhortation. If you go back up the previous verses of the first chapter you will see that Paul has been giving for almost the entirety of this his own personal testimony. You see that he says, “but if I live,” and “for me to live,” and “I shall not be ashamed,” and “I know this,” and “I am set for the defense of the Gospel.” He has been giving his own personal testimony. He knows that the Philippians needed to be encouraged by hearing what was happening with him and his resoluteness in the face of his suffering, his rejoicing in Christ even in prison, but they also needed to be exhorted unto godly living. Since we may well be the only Bible many people ever “read,” it is sobering to consider that some of us may need revision. Someone once said, “Don’t be so worried about what other people think of you. Be concerned about what they think of Christ because of you.” Lord, give me the strength to live such a righteous life that people will want to know You and walk with You. My Master and Lord, help me to live a life honoring You in all ways. Help me today to do something kind for someone who does not know You… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE WILL SHOW CHRIST TO OTHERS.

Is Your Life An Offering to the Lord?

January 30, 2024

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.” — 2 Timothy 4:6 God only calls a small percentage of those who follow Christ to be martyrs for Him. Certainly, Paul was one of those. Paul’s last epistle was 2 Timothy, and in the poignant 4th chapter he writes, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.” He is ready to be offered, the sacrifice is ready to be poured out. This is now his second imprisonment. He was released after the imprisonment during which he wrote Philippians, then he continued his missionary journeys, probably traveling all the way to Spain. But now he has returned, has once more been captured, taken prisoner and thrown into a dungeon, and this time there is to be no release in this world. Paul is not afraid of death because Christ has conquered the grave. When he was drawn up out of that prison, led out of the city of Rome down the Appian Way, and the headsman’s ax flashed in the Roman sun, the Apostle Paul experienced immortality, and he received the crown of righteousness. We can indeed rejoice that in Christ death has lost its sting. Whether martyred or not, we should live for Christ in such a way that we, too, can look forward to receiving a crown of righteousness. Lord, give me strength to make my life an offering to You. Help me to avoid carrying a burden You have not given me, but also help me be ready to follow You even unto death… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE ARE A LIVING SACRIFICE.

Holding Forth the Word of Life

January 29, 2024

“…sons of God, without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world. Hold forth the word of life…” — Philippians 2:15-16a Paul tells us that we should bear witness to the world, both by the lives we live and by the word which is the Gospel. This is a twofold duty and responsibility, which is laid upon every Christian, that we are to be witnesses to Him both by our lives and by our lips, that we are to shine and we are to hold forth the word of life. And so, dear friend, I would ask you, are you doing that? Did you hold forth the word of life to anyone recently? We should ask God to place opportunities in our path in which we might share the good news that has changed our lives. May God grant you the determination to say, “I will indeed determine to be a light in a dark world and hold forth the word of life to a dying world that they may hear the Gospel and be saved.” Paul says, “…that I may rejoice on the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2:16). This is an amazing openness on the part of the apostle. He calls upon them to show a godly life and to hold forth the word of life that he may rejoice in the day of Christ. May God give us the grace that we be faithful followers of Christ, shining as lights and holding forth the word of life, bringing many to the knowledge of the Savior. Jesus Christ, Light of the world, thank You for being my light and my salvation. May I hold out Your light today, both in my words and by holy living… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN BE LIGHT IN A DARK WORLD.