- Today's verse starts out with "so that".
- When something starts with "so that", you have to go back and see what it is referring to.
- The verse before this says, "Do everything without complaining and arguing"
- "Everything"
- That already seems difficult because most people are used to arguing and complaining, but this verse tells to eliminate it completely from our life.
- So, the question is "why?"
- Why should we not complain?
- When we complain it opens the door for criticism and it closes the door of faith.
- We are saying "God can't", and if God can't then I have a reason to complain and be depressed.
- But when we choose to have Faith and rejoice, we are saying, "God Can!"
- We are saying "All things are possible!"
- We begin to hope.
- We close the door on criticism.
- Our life begins to look different than everyone else.
- God begin to stand out in our life.
- Then we begin to shine like bright lights!
- Phil. 2:15 in the amplified version says this, "among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world."
- You become a beacon of hope for those who are hopeless.
- A beacon is a device designed to attract attention to a specific location.
- Your life has been designed to attract attention to God.
- You have been created to point people to Him!
- When you choose to rejoice instead of complain, it is the opposite of what people expect.
- When you choose to praise instead of criticize, it shouts out, Something is different!"
- It is like shining a bright light in the middle of the darkest room.
- It attracts!
- It leads people to ask "why are you rejoicing?"
- That question points them toward God.
- Let's face it, anyone can complain when things get difficult.
- But only those who have True Hope, can rejoice through difficulty.
- It's simply a choice.
- One choice that can change everything.
- Make the choice today to shine like a bright light.
- Be different.
- Stand out.
- Be a beacon of Hope!
- Point others to God!
- Have a great Weekend!