Therefore, my loved ones, just as you always obey me, not just when I am present but now even more while I am away, carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling. God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes. Do everything without grumbling and arguing so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world because you hold on to the word of life. This will allow me to say on the day of Christ that I haven’t run for nothing or worked for nothing. But even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith, I am glad. I’m glad with all of you. You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me! (Philippians 2:12-18, CEB)
Do everything without grumbling and arguing so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt.
Do not grumble or argue. Treat people as God treats you, with love even when you don’t deserve it. The day I wrote this devotion, I also shared a image on Facebook and this passage and verse reminded me of that picture.
If you ever get the chance to treat them the way they treated you, I hope you choose to walk away and do better. Walk away and do not return evil for evil.
The other day at a local congregation I was at someone commented on my beard and the color it was and the comment was Southern nice. The person said it in a way that was a jab at me, I simply replied thank you and walked away. I could have said, “I didn’t color it for you.” But I didn’t. I don’t say this to make me look good. trust me when I say I do enough to not look good every day. But at that moment I was the bigger person. May we all have those moments, and make the world a little bit better place.
Love like Jesus. Which sometimes means, we just walk away.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 