Daily Digest: Capstone Capsule

“...children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you SHINE as LIGHTS in the WORLD” – Philippians 2:15b

It is the desire of our Heavenly Father that His children have Purifying and Radiant IMPACT as LIGHT in the world: “That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you SHINE as LIGHTS in the WORLD (Phi.2:15). Here, Paul the apostle was challenging the brethren of Philippi to be proper examples in the way they treated each other and as they lived in a world that was hostile to their faith. We are living in spiritually dark times, days of spiritual and moral decay. Paul in Romans 1:18-32 and 2 Timothy 3: 1-5 seems to describe our contemporary times, as much as he did the then Rome.

2 Timothy 3:13 says, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” The Christian’s faith has been under attack on multiple fronts, both without and within. Without, it is becoming increasingly unpopular to take an uncompromising moral or doctrinal stand based on God’s Word. To question ungodly tendencies is to be labeled intolerant, hateful, and out of touch. Doers of the Word are villainized for simply standing for what the Bible says, while the Holy Book itself is attacked as being irrelevant for today’s society. Within Christendom, the truth is being diluted and standards of authority and morality are being lowered or ignored (1Cor.5:1-7).

As Lights in the world, we’re called to live as Christians in the midst of an “unchristian” society; as believers amidst rampant unbelief! We’re redeemed to live in a way explicitly different from the warped world we find ourselves in; living without complaining, grumbling or disputing, thereby being “blameless and innocent” (vv.14-15). To live without fault in this fallen world requires diligent effort and leaning on God’s Grace (Jh.1: 12-14). We are in the world, but not of it (Jh.17:14-15). We are called to stand out as exemplary “Lights in the world,” shining as Bright Lights in a dark world. In Christ, we can exercise dominion over the pervading atmosphere of ungodliness around us.

Paul's words echo the Lord’s: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Mt.5:16). We are members of the human race but have become citizens of heaven: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phi.3:20). We were born dead in sins but have been made alive in Christ and become children of God and joint heirs (Rom.8:17; Eph.2:1). As we trust Him in every circumstance and hold fast to the Word of Truth, we would manifest as blameless and harmless children, above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation – demonstrating shining, sanctifying, purifying, and radiant Impact, all to His Praise and Glory.