Philippians 2:15

Hi Everyone! Since we are talking about being "lights" this week, here are two cartoons I found...hehehe...
					This week we are going to look at Philippians 2:15 and finish our theme from the last post ~ "Whine or Shine"... Are you a Whiner or a Shiner? "...so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe..." (New International Version) Or, you can pull it up the verse yourself and have it handy-dandy to look at by clicking on one of my Bible links on the left sidebar. :O) "Pure and blameless..." ~ seems impossible, doesn't it? In the commentary at http://www.preceptaustin.org (See the link I have for commentary on the left sidebar) they say that "blameless and innocent" concerns the intrinsic character of a person. I like saying that word..."intrinsic" ~ kinda rolls off of your tongue... The first time I ever really was aware of this word was when I starting teaching a parenting class. They talked a lot about intrinsic vs extrinsic. Intrinsic means "inwardly" and extrinsic... you got it...means "outwardly"... Paul's desire for the Philippians is that there be no intrinsic characteristics found in them that would find them guilty on Judgment Day. (See the next verse, 16.) This is a good explanation ~ He wants them to observe the Commandments and requirements of the Lord in such a way that they were blameless...AND THAT THEY were quick to deal with the sin in their lives. This is not synonymous with sinless, for that is only seen in Christ! I think that this reminds me of King David. I think that this is why God called him a man after His own heart ~ David was quick to deal with the sin in his life. Sometimes, it had to be pointed out to him that God saw what he did and he was not hiding anything... "in a crooked and depraved generation..." Oh.my.goodness..... What would Paul think if he could come back to earth and witness first-hand our generation's moral (cough cough) "fiber" today? Oh.my.goodness..... Crooked = "skolios" I don't know about you, but when I first read that word, I immediately thought of "scoliosis" or curvature of the spine.... very painful.... very unnatural.... very not-in-the-original-plans for our bodies. "Skolios" in the Greek means the nature of those who do not walk in the straightness and uprightness that God commands but walk in a cramped and crooked way that merits punishment. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans) very painful... very unnatural... very not-in-the-plans for our life... ...in which you shine like stars in the universe... Zowee...where do we start with this beautiful part of the 15th verse? "As someone has said we are not searchlights or spotlights but lights in the fog. Fog lights prevent tragic shipwreck and eternal loss! Searchlights blind our eyes." I remember when I was in Junior High...my brother Don was my Principal...yep..that's right!! But he took good care of me! Anyway...I was staying with Don and Rowena, my sister-in-law, the last few months of my 8th grade. My mom and dad had moved to another city and I needed to finish out my schooling in the 8th grade. Anyway...my brother would wake me up in the morning by pulling me out of bed, making me walk into the bathroom with ALL of the lights on... talk about a spotlight, I felt as though I was looking straight in to one of those store spotlights that shine in the sky to announce a grand opening... That hurts!!...but did I mention that they did take good care of me... I like this word picture the best: "The picture is that of a procession at night, in a crooked and distorted age, in which torchbearers are going and holding high the blazing torches, so that those following can see how to walk in this sin-darkened world." (Dobson,E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV Bible Commentary: Nelson) We are to be lights powered by heaven, or the Holy Spirit... not spotlights that hurt people's feelings and turn them off. "The darker the night, the brighter the light appears. Christians are lights or light-bearers. They cannot create any light, but they can reflect the glory of the Lord so that others may see Jesus in them." I also think of the candlestick glowing in the fragrant darkness of the Holy of Holy in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. You came in from the bright light of the desert sun, into this area that had to be dark with all of the coverings making up the "tent". But...there in the midst of the darkness was this beautiful pure (pure and blameless) gold candlestick or lampstand, (Exodus 25:31-40) filled with oil which represents the Holy Spirit... comforting, guiding, making clear the way to walk. Oh how we need to always make sure our candlesticks are full of the oil of the Holy Spirit, lighting the area around us as we sit in His Presence and "soak up" His radiance. Amen. Until next week, may God keep you in the hollow of His hands, Debbie G.