October 20, 2024
Daily Devotion:
"Shining Like Bright Lights"
Philippians 2:14-18
New Living Translation
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full
of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life,
pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
Our words reflect our hearts. The first step in combatting a complaining attitude is to control what we allow our minds to focus on. This means taking every thought captive. The world is watching to see if what we say we believe is reflected in how we live our lives. Our purpose in the here and now is to reflect Christ to a world that is
desperately searching for a Savior. As we run this amazing race of life for God’s glory, we have an opportunity to show the world the difference Christ makes in us through our love, actions, choices, and speech. This world will
disappoint us, try to defeat us, and discourage us to no end. But we are not made for this world, and so our source of joy is not found here either. When we view our earthy home as what it is – temporary – we are free to hold this world loosely, knowing heaven is coming. Instead of allowing complaints and arguments to waste our time, may we choose to focus our minds on ways to be a light in
this world to a generation who desperately needs Jesus.
