REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on June 15, 2014.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Life that Shines”

Philippians 2:14-16

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, [15] that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, [16] holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Light is an important metaphor in Scripture, one that is applied both to God and His people. For instance, shining light is often used to describe God’s glory and purity, His majesty and goodness (Num. 6:25; Isa. 2:5). Also, it is remarkable that God’s original intent in calling a people for Himself was to make them His lights to the world.

Paul is addressing the Christians in Philippi, telling them the importance of being blameless and innocent. The word “blameless,” meaning, pure or without mixture, was used in the vocabulary of primitive metallurgy to talk about pure gold, pure copper, or any metal that did not have impurities.  So it means that we should strive not to live a life of hypocrisy, but rather we should conduct ourselves worthy of Christ in all that we do.  Because we live in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, the light of the gospel will shine into the darkness of where we live: This is what Jesus means when he says, “Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works” (Mt. 5:16).

The only way this is possible is if we are submitted to the Holy Spirit and rooted in the Word of God.  Take some time to pray and ask the Lord to search your heart and to remove any areas that might not be considered “blameless” in the eyes of the Lord.  Do not lose heart; God desires to change us and make us more like him.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to do more than merely talk about living a life worthy of your name.  Help me to live it out right, now, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.   

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 12