Being blameless and Innocent

 Many believers have the attitude that none of us can be perfect, so they don't try to become as much like Christ as possible. They think this is basically impossible for any of us, as believers. The problem with this mindset is that we have many commands and admonitions in the Bible for us to do just that. We are told that God's goal for us is to be conformed to the image of Christ.

So, how do we do this? There are several factors we have to consider, but Paul gives us a good snapshot in his letter to the Philippian believers. (Philippians 2:14-15) Here we are commanded to do all things without complaining and arguments, so that we will prove ourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we are to shine as lights in this world. Sounds pretty clear to me.

The command is to do everything without complaining and arguments. It is easy to complain when things don't go our way. We can complain in private or in public; either way is wrong. We need to do God's will with a positive spirit and not argue to get our way. When we do that, we will be like Jesus, who is our example of how to live a blameless and innocent life.

We are blameless when people can't even accuse us of sinning, because we do things Jesus' way, and when we fail, we confess it and make it right. We are above reproach when people do not have anything to hold against us. When we live that kind of Christian life, we will be like lights in this dark evil world. Yes, this is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit and our total dependence on our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Philippians 3-4 and Colossians 1.