June's Passage: Philippians 2:12-18
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the Word of Life, so that in the Day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (ESV)
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Throughout each month, we will post short articles to give some depth of understanding regarding our text (see the archive links on the lower right of this page for review). Today we will discuss...
Obey Without Grumbling
We’ve all been there. We know what we should do. We should do our chores. We should write that report. We should redo that project. We should drive the speed limit. We should love our enemies.
We have decided that we are going to do it, we are going to obey.
Our parent, boss, teacher, the Scriptures - they have a position of authority over us. We will submit, It’s the right thing to do, it is our duty.
But.
We don’t like it.
And we are going to let others know whey we shouldn’t have to obey.
We are going to huff and puff and pout like a two year old, or growl like a bear.
People are going to know that we are being wronged and put out by having to obey.
It is with an understanding of this common condition that The Apostle Paul instructs us to “Do all things without grumbling or disputing…”
You know we are in a bad state as sinners when we have to be given an instruction that is usually only reserved for toddlers. But that is Paul’s basic instruction here, “Do what you are told, Don’t whine about it. Don’t sass…”
But how many times have we needed to be told this? Even pastors need this instruction. We may not pout, but we “dispute” when we try to jump through theological hoops to avoid something we don’t want to obey. Paul would lovingly tell us, “Knock it off.”
So how do we - as former rebels with hearts that are still at times rebellious - how do we obey and “do ALL THINGS” without grumbling or disputing?
Well, whether you are obeying a parent, a boss, a teacher, a highway speed limit, or the Bible, you can do so because in all of it you are ultimately obeying God himself (Romans 13).
Obey God without grumbling or disputing because He is so Great and beyond your scope of understanding that He can see past this moment in time and knows how your obedience NOW is for your FUTURE betterment.
Obey God without grumbling or disputing because He is Good enough to be trusted. Trust Him when and where He directs you because He always does what is good and right and perfect and He loves you more than you love you. Don’t kick against Him while HE works for your good.
Obey God without grumbling or disputing because He is Glorious enough to outweigh all of the other voices from our culture and society and our own rebellious heart. If EVERYTHING else and EVERYONE else is on a scale on one side, and God is on the other side of the scale, God is still bigger, weightier and worthy of your joyful obedience.
Obey God without grumbling or disputing because He is Gracious enough to let you be a part of His winning team - a part of His loving and eternally satisfying family. While your were still raising your fist in defiance, He was pursuing you and making a way for you to be reconciled.
Obey God without grumbling or disputing because He loves you, even when you are unlovable.
Obey God without grumbling or disputing because He has brought you into a relationship.
Obey God without grumbling or disputing because you are part of the bride of Christ (The Church) and Jesus is your husband.
Obey God without grumbling or disputing because He loves you self-sacrificially and deserves joyful obedience.
Those are all reasons to obey and to do all things without grumbling or disputing because of who God is, what He has done and what He has promised us as believers.
In the next article, we will also see how our joyful obedience helps not-yet-believers as well. Until then Obey God without grumbling or disputing because He said so.
