June 28 – If Commanded, It’s Possible

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.” – Philippians 2:14–16 (NASB)

Please allowed a moment of disclaimer; succeeding with today’s command from Philippians 2 is rare on our part. Apostle Paul writes a great deal in these two verses. Our focus today is on the short imperative in the first verse. “Do all things;”  not do “most things,” or  do “some things,” or “as many as are possible” things. It is “do all things’ without grumbling or disputing.  Friends, this is a challenge and when we try in ourselves, failure often knocks us back to giving up. It’s so much easier to “gripe it out” when we have an unpleasant task or result. We are wired and programmed to complain and grumble, are we not? The Greek. word for “grumbling” is a term that actually sounds like what it means. Its pronunciation is much like muttering or grumbling in a low tone of voice. The word for “disputing” is more intellectual and here means “questionings,” or “criticisms” directed negatively toward God. But if we submit to the Spirit of God we will be prooven as blameless and innocent Children of God.  Not because of what we managed on our own but because of what God does through us. 

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