Lights in the World
The culture of Paul's day must have been very similar to our culture today. We see fewer and fewer people who believe in God and the Bible. Now, according to a George Barna survey, only 31% of the people in America say they are born again by grace through faith in Christ. The world is getting darker and darker, so we need lights to show forth the truth of God. (Philippians 2:14,15) What kind of things would set Christians apart today, so we could be lights in the world? I think Paul's list is right on.
We don't meet very many people today who aren't grumbling or disputing about something. The Lord commands believers to do all things without grumbling or disputing. We are called on to be blameless and innocent. That simply means we are to live such a righteous life that people can't even blame us of doing wrong because we are truly innocent of it. Finally, we are to be above reproach. No one is perfect, but we can live in such a way that when we sin, we confess it and take personal responsibility for it, so that we do the right thing to seek forgiveness or reconciliation. Then, no one can accuse us of being hypocrites. I would say that if believers would live like that today, we would definitely be lights in this crooked and perverse generation. Everyone would see the difference, and they would be shown the truth of God by our words and actions. Let's do it!
Tomorrow, I intend to read Philippians 3-4 and Colossians 1.
We don't meet very many people today who aren't grumbling or disputing about something. The Lord commands believers to do all things without grumbling or disputing. We are called on to be blameless and innocent. That simply means we are to live such a righteous life that people can't even blame us of doing wrong because we are truly innocent of it. Finally, we are to be above reproach. No one is perfect, but we can live in such a way that when we sin, we confess it and take personal responsibility for it, so that we do the right thing to seek forgiveness or reconciliation. Then, no one can accuse us of being hypocrites. I would say that if believers would live like that today, we would definitely be lights in this crooked and perverse generation. Everyone would see the difference, and they would be shown the truth of God by our words and actions. Let's do it!
Tomorrow, I intend to read Philippians 3-4 and Colossians 1.