There are letters that we get in all shapes and colours. They may be good or bad. Letter writing is a dead art. Most letters today are business letters. In the New Testament they all wrote letters. Paul wrote nine letters in total. These letters dealt with various issues. They had to be delivered. It was exciting to receive a letter from their leader. They would read over again and again and pass it around. One such place was Philippi.

The Apostle Paul tells us that as “sons of God” we are to “shine like stars” in a dark world. The stars shine in the heavens and likewise heavenly people are to shine for the Lord. See Numbers 6:24-26 and Proverbs 4:18. We are to shine as Moses did (Exodus 34:29); as the Lord Jesus did (Matthew 17:2); as John the Baptist did (John 5:35); as Stephen did (Acts 6:15). See also Matthew 5:16. To shine for the Lord is the very essence of Christian service, and all can do it!

1. Where are we to shine?

1. “In the universe” (verse 15). This refers to the inhabited world in which we live, but also to the world system – all that is opposed to Christ and that excludes Him and which we are forbidden to love (1 John 2:15-17). As Christians we are in the world, but we are not to be of it, as John 17:11 and 15 make clear.
2. “In a crooked and depraved generation” – compare Proverbs 2:13-15 and Isaiah 53:6.

What a dreadful spiritual and moral darkness engulfs this generation! On every hand there is an appalling ignorance of God and of spiritual things, and God’s indictment against the human race, as recorded in Romans 1:21-32, is still up-to-date. Gross moral darkness covers the earth and sin abounds everywhere, as is indicated by the increase in divorce, drink and drug addiction, gambling, crime, sexual offences and corruption generally. Genesis 6:5 is true of this generation and should be read in conjunction with Matthew 24:37. It is in this crooked and depraved generation that we are to shine for the Lord – in public (Matthew 5:14) and in private (Matthew 5:15) – socially and domestically.

2. How are we to shine?

There’s the illustration of the light in a lamp which is ineffective because the wick needs attention, or it is obscured because the glass is smoky. In verse 14 we read of two things that smoke up the glass, and in verses 15 and 16 of five characteristics of the life that is shining for the Lord. How should we shine?

1. By not complaining, or muttering (verse 14). See Numbers 20:2 and 21:5, and compare Acts 6:1 and 1 Corinthians 10:10. How easy it is to murmur!
2. By not arguing (verse 14). The thought here is of creating disaffection by unwise gossip.
3. By being “blameless” (verse 15) – completely trustworthy (Daniel 6:4).
4. By being pure (verse 15) – completely wholesome and sincere (John 1:47; 1 Peter 2:1). The special reference is to our motives.
5. By being “without fault” (verse 15) – living in such a way that we do not have to be corrected or chastened by the Lord because of carelessness and because of failure to judge ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:30-32).
6. By “holding out the word of life” (verse 16). This refers to our active witness in preaching the gospel and making known God’s salvation through faith in Christ. We do this by preaching, personal witness, informal meetings, letter-writing, and by many other ways. Above all, such “holding forth” must be accompanied by a consistent life as indicated in points 1 to 5 above.
7. By living in the light of “the day of Christ” (verse 16). The apostle refers to the Judgment Seat of Christ and reminds us that we are to live and labour day by day in the light of this solemn time of reward or loss – look up Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 and 2 Corinthians 5:9-10.

3. Why are we to shine?

1. That God the Father may be glorified. Notice the last six words in Matthew 5:16. There is only one life that will glorify Him, and that is the Christ-filled, Spirit-controlled life that shines before men and commends Him to them.
2. That the Lord Jesus may be magnified. To magnify a thing is to make it appear bigger, and Christians by their shining witness are to make the Lord Jesus appear “big” before the world. Just as lamps magnify the light, so we are to magnify Him (Philippians 1:20).
3. That we may be lost sight of. A lamp does not attract to itself; it is the light that attracts – look up John 3:30 and see how John the Baptist is described in John 5:35. There can be no shining without burning, and burning means sacrifice. It is when we are willing to let self go that Christ becomes all and in all – look up Matthew 16:24-25.
4. That sinners may be saved. We are to shine before men with the red light of warning (Ezekiel 33:8-9); and we are constantly to show the green light, or the “all clear”, of a consistent and brightly burning life. By doing this we shall point sinners to the Saviour and will hear His “Well done!”, and we shall be rewarded “on the day of Christ” – see verse 16, and compare Matthew 25:21 and 2 Corinthians 5:10.

Paul wants to be able to boast about the work they are doing for the Lord. Paul wants us to see our star quality. This is the way God sees us. You are a winner. God wants the world to see it – even if they don’t like it! They won’t see it if you keep making excuses and not stepping up to the mark.

S – Stop making excuses
T – Training…start
A – Awe
R – Responsibility. Take it yourself.

Categories: Philippians