Light Bearers in the Dark (Part 2 of 3)

Christians are shining as lights, testimonies for the Lord.

March 8, 2020

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain."

Philippians 2:14-16

Part 2

Yesterday:
“Do all things without murmurings and disputings.”
How I talk matters, and I have a testimony to maintain before a lost world.

Today:
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke.”
Believers, we are to be blameless!  “Without blame,” or the idea that if blamed for some wrongdoing, the charge would be proved unfounded and incorrect.  We believers deal with our wrongs in a godly way.

Harmless is a word that means guileless.  There is no lie or deception in us.  We are openly honest with ourselves and before all others.  This quality must start in our hearts with no deceit.

These first two qualities make this third one possible.  Without rebuke means we are “without blemish.”  Vincent says that with the first two words, this means “unblemished in reputation and in reality.”[1]

These descriptions of the believer do not mean the believer is perfect, and totally without sin.  But, when the believer sins, he/she handles his/her sin according to the Word of God.  For a believer to act like he/she is without sin is to play the hypocrite.

We are the “children of God,” therefore, how we live concerning sin and the lost matters.

“In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.”
Believers, we must always remember where we live.  We are not in heaven yet, and we live in the presence of lost sinners.  Note, it is “a crooked and perverse generation” in which we live.

The lost are “crooked.”  This particular Greek word is where we get our English word scoliosis, that disease that warps and twists the spines of its victims.  It means “not straight, curved, or crooked.” Metaphorically it means “perverse, wicked, unfair, surly, froward” [2] (Thayer).

“Perverse,” as it is used in this verse means literally, “to turn aside from the right path, to pervert, corrupt” [3] (Thayer).

A simple thought from all this is that we ought to expect lost sinners to act like sinners.  Sinners do evil, wrong, and hateful things.  Their actions can never permanently change until God changes their hearts.  God has called us to live in front of these lost people so that we can draw their hearts to our Savior.

“Among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”
Our job as believers is to “shine as lights.”  The ancient word for lights here is a word that means “that which gives light, an illuminator,” it refers to “stars, sun and moon”[4] (Thayer).  We, believers, are to be light-bearers or luminaries in this dark world.

“Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Our job is important.  We are to be shining, pointing people to God.  How can we do this?  Come back tomorrow and let’s see.

 

 

 

[1] M.R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] Thayer, ibid.
[4] Ibid.