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Tag: Feb 15

  • Living A Life That Shines Light In Darkness

    Philippians 2:15 “That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”

    Believers at Philippi were instructed to live lives that shined as a light to the world of darkness around them.  Now for the Philippian’s light to SHINE brightly Paul taught them to stop complaining (or murmuring or grumbling) and arguing with one another.  (Phil. 2:14) To shine and shine brightly meant they needed to be BLAMELESS.  To be blameless is not perfect but it does mean having a good testimony before those who were not saved. It has the idea that the door for attacking one’s character is closed.  As one looks into the believer’s life one will not find anything that would discredit the believer’s testimony.  Daniel and Job are examples of living blameless lives.  

    He not only wanted them to be blameless but also HARMLESS.  The believer’s beliefs and behavior match.  They are not a stumbling block to the lost.  Much damage has been done to a believer’s evangelistic outreach by those who profess to believe but then do not live what they believe.  

    What Paul is ultimately after is that the Philippian believers would be without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse world.  To be without fault is to be without blemish. Not perfect, but living in such a way there is nothing for the lost to say bad about them.  In other words, they have a good testimony.  

    With the good testimony, they can now SHINE in the DARKNESS!  And the place for LIGHT to SHINE is in the DARKNESS.  Believers are to be AMONG those in darkness. Let that sink in. A light shining where there are many lights is not really noticed but a light shining where there are few lights, if any, will shine out brighter.  Christians need to be shining in the areas where the perverse and the crooked live. 

    While we must not be like the lost, we must be with the lost so we can witness to the lost.

    When we ISOLATE ourselves from the lost, we are hiding our light under a bushel basket! 
    We are still in the world to be a witness to this world.  

    What changes do you need to make to shine your light brightly to the lost world?  

    Now sing This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel – NO! I am going to let it shine until Jesus comes!

    In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus instructs His disciples (this includes you) to be lights in the dark world.  Recall His words from Matthew 5:14-16.  It states, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” The Apostle Paul here in Philippians 2:15 makes the same appeal to “SHINE as lights in the world.”  

    Continue Strong SHINING BRIGHT for JESUS
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Protect at All Costs What is Most Valuable

    Song of Solomon 2:15 says, “Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.”

    As Solomon in Song of Solomon 2 tells how a relationship between a couple is growing, he knows that temptations are natural.  To help the couple protect their relationship, he illustrates how foxes – little foxes – can destroy a vineyard’s most valuable product by destroying the tender grapes.  His illustration is how sin destroys a person’s future fruitfulness.  To protect the relationship from sinful actions he uses the word catch, catch the foxes, even the little foxes.  Thus, the main teaching is for you to be proactive and prevent this from happening.  We are not to let the devil, or any temptation have even the smallest footholds in our lives.  Ephesians 4:27 says to not give place or opportunity to the devil.  

    We are to guard or protect our testimony by guarding our hearts! Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “Keep our heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”  

    In catching the little foxes we are catching quickly any temptation so that it does not have any chance to succeed.  I believe it was Charles Spurgeon who said a temptation can be likened to a bird that is seeking to build a nest.  Just because a bird (temptation) is flying around your head does not mean you have to let it build a nest in your head.   To catch the little foxes then is to catch the thoughts as Paul taught in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.  Paul says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

    We refer again to the simple children’s song for some of the best instructions on how to protect what is most valuable.  Recall the song Oh, be careful.

    Oh, be careful, little eyes what you see.  
    Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear.  
    Oh, be careful, little tongue what you say.  
    Oh, be careful, little mind what you think.  
    Oh, be careful, little hand, what you do.  
    Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go.  

    Heed the admonition today and be proactive to catch the little foxes before they have a chance to destroy what is most valuable.  

    Continue strong being alert to sneak attacks
    And remember to DATE the Word