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Philippians 2:14-15 - Do All Things Without Complaining Or Arguing,

Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT) Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

INTRODUCTION

Why are complaining and arguing so harmful? If all that people know about a church is that its members constantly argue, complain, and gossip, they get a false impression of Christ and the gospel. Belief in Christ should unite those who trust him. If your church is always complaining and arguing, it lacks the unifying power of Jesus Christ. Stop arguing with other Christians or complaining about people and conditions within the church and let the world see Christ. Our lives should be characterized by moral purity, patience, and peacefulness, so that we will "shine like stars" in a dark and depraved world. A transformed life is an effective witness to the power of God's Word. Are you shining brightly, or are you clouded by complaining and arguing? Shine out for God. [Life Application SB]

COMMENTARY PEARL

   Each New Year, I spend time reflecting on the past year. One question I ask is, "What is something I'm doing that I don't want to do?" The first thought that came to me this year was, I don't like going to the grocery store. I procrastinated and complained every time I went. As a mom of three boys, I've spent countless hours perusing the grocery store aisles and filling up a shopping cart to keep my always-hungry boys healthy, happy, and full. Now, with the boys gone from our home, I still needed to keep our pantry and fridge supplied, although with much less food. So I decided to try Instacart and have our groceries delivered to our home. It's fantastic! I'm not very techy, but this service provided a simple solution to help me change my attitude and actions.
   As a Jesus follower, I hope to be more like Him, and I don't think Jesus ever complained. Yet to continue doing something I didn't like to do didn't seem right either. I knew bitterness would grow. So using Instacart actually helped me to do the task and not complain.
   If I can approach disliked tasks differently, strive to do all things without complaining, and find creative solutions to help stop my grumbling, then I know I will be a brighter light in the world, giving hope to all those around me. Jeannie Blackmer
   Faith Step: Write down one thing you complain about. Brainstorm how you can stop grumbling by changing your attitude and actions and following Jesus's example of being a light in this world. [Mornings With Jesus 2025 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]

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