The lines that stand out to me are the ones where Paul says when God healed Epaphroditus, He showed mercy to Paul as well. We are encouraged as much by knowing we are not struggling on our own as we are by miraculous answers to our prayers. Indeed, God knows how much we can handle in every trial, and be strengthened like tempered steel—just the right amount of pressure. God gives us EXACTLY what we need.
Verse 14: “Do all things without complaining and disputing.”
This verse is one of the most convicting in Scripture. Complaining comes naturally, and arguments are easy to find—but Paul says to do all things without them. That’s a broad command that leaves no room for exceptions.
Verse 15 gives the reason: “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.”
So what happens if I do make a habit of complaining and disputing? Based on this passage, I cannot be described as blameless and harmless, nor as a true child of God shining in a dark world. Instead, I find myself standing among the crooked and perverse, my light dimmed by negativity and strife.
This is a sobering reminder of my responsibility to reject a complaining spirit and avoid unnecessary disputes—because the way I speak and act directly affects the light I am called to shine.
I also feel a grave responsibility regarding…
Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 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,
We are in our training ground now where we need to become like-minded with God & Jesus Christ because God needs to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we can get along now in this life or He will not risk giving us eternal life because eternity is a long time to not succumb to complaining and negativity. The battle is now and we must overcome our carnal nature which is only possible by constantly making use of God’s power within us – a monumental task.
I love verses 6 and 7, but I don’t think the NKJV does them justice:
“Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (ESV).
He was God, but didn’t feel the need to cling to all the advantages of being God. He was willing to be emptied of those privileges to become like us, to die for us even though we didn’t deserve it.
The lines that stand out to me are the ones where Paul says when God healed Epaphroditus, He showed mercy to Paul as well. We are encouraged as much by knowing we are not struggling on our own as we are by miraculous answers to our prayers. Indeed, God knows how much we can handle in every trial, and be strengthened like tempered steel—just the right amount of pressure. God gives us EXACTLY what we need.
Verse 14: “Do all things without complaining and disputing.”
This verse is one of the most convicting in Scripture. Complaining comes naturally, and arguments are easy to find—but Paul says to do all things without them. That’s a broad command that leaves no room for exceptions.
Verse 15 gives the reason: “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.”
So what happens if I do make a habit of complaining and disputing? Based on this passage, I cannot be described as blameless and harmless, nor as a true child of God shining in a dark world. Instead, I find myself standing among the crooked and perverse, my light dimmed by negativity and strife.
This is a sobering reminder of my responsibility to reject a complaining spirit and avoid unnecessary disputes—because the way I speak and act directly affects the light I am called to shine.
I also feel a grave responsibility regarding…
Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 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,
We are in our training ground now where we need to become like-minded with God & Jesus Christ because God needs to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we can get along now in this life or He will not risk giving us eternal life because eternity is a long time to not succumb to complaining and negativity. The battle is now and we must overcome our carnal nature which is only possible by constantly making use of God’s power within us – a monumental task.
I love verses 6 and 7, but I don’t think the NKJV does them justice:
“Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (ESV).
He was God, but didn’t feel the need to cling to all the advantages of being God. He was willing to be emptied of those privileges to become like us, to die for us even though we didn’t deserve it.
That’s the mind we’re supposed to emulate.
What a calling.