Being Obedient to God Wholeheartedly
14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. (Philippians 2:14-16) In verses 14 to 16, Paul challenges the believers to be obedient to God wholeheartedly, having the proper attitude. Looking at verse 14 first, “Do everything without grumbling and arguing.” It is easy to do something that someone requests of you if it is something that you like, but we find it much harder to obey a command when it is something you dislike. Yet, as believers, God has transformed you and given you a new heart. In the past, before becoming a believer, you may have complained or argued against God’s commands; but if you are a child of God, we are called to be obedient, meaning wholeheartedly, without rebellion. The outcome of such obedience leads to us to be “blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.” As Anders summarizes, “Our life resembles our divine Father rather than our pagan neighbors. People recognize us as God’s children.” So that when the world looks at you and your life, they notice a change, a bright light in the darkness like a star. Christ wants us to be that light, as seen in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Verse 16 tells us how we are to accomplish this obedience, “holding firm to the Word of Life.” By being and grasping onto God’s Word every day as our source of life are we able to then be obedient to His commands and be this light in the world, doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. The last part of verse 16, Paul gives a goal and a hopeful look forward, believing that the church in Phillippi will be that light that grasps onto God’s Word and will be found wholeheartedly obedient to God’s commands, “Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.” He will have completed his life’s occupation successfully. May we have that same mentality, knowing that there is a cloud of witnesses, believers who are now in heaven cheering us on to be faithful to God, to be that light. May we cling onto God’s Word daily as our source of light and truth, as we go into the world and share the gospel. Blessings, Isaac De Guzman www.my-wbc.com https://www.facebook.com/WestsideBaptistChurchSBC
