"Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing." -Philippians 2:14-16
Go out and do everything cheerfully and be a breath of fresh air to the world. These things are not suggestions; they are what we are called to do all the time. It's a big job, giving people a glimpse of the living God. But I believe with everything I am that it is entirely possible and that we are supposed to be doing it daily. By following exactly what these verses state:
• Doing everything not only without complaining but, cheerfully, without any hesitation or delay. Volunteer for things, do things with a smile, ask if someone needs help with groceries, or carrying books, shock someone and do the laundry or dishes before they ask you to.
• Going out into the world uncorrupted: pure, free of immorality, setting a good example. Don’t cuss, or listen to music that isn’t good or watch bad movies. I don’t need to explain that further, you know what isn’t good for you. And if you have a hard time deciphering, pray about it! It might seem ridiculous but the bible specifically tells us in proverbs 3:6 “Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.” If you have to ask yourself: WWJD? What Would Jesus Do? Or even wear the bracelets (corny as they are), if it keeps you on track, and then by all means, use it!
• Being a breath of fresh air: inspiring, giving life and energy to everyone around us. Have you ever met someone who just drains you? You know those people who just suck all of the life out of you? Like you leave a conversation with them and you need a nap.
Ok, how about someone who you leave talking to them, inspired to change the world. Those people who just light up a room and make you in a better mood just by saying hello in the hallway? That’s what we’re supposed to be! We are supposed to leave every conversation we have, every activity we do, having encouraged and given energy to every person we came into contact with.
• Carrying the light-giving message into the night: Now keep in mind this is the message version: other versions have this verse translated as: “holding firmly to the message of light.” Basically what it’s trying to get across is don’t give the message of Jesus up, don’t let the world tear down your beliefs or put what God has called you to do in the back burner because it doesn’t go along with your plan or what the people around you think your life should look like. The gospel is not just a ‘sometimes’ thing. Jesus shouldn’t control what your Sunday or Wednesday looks like, He should control what your WHOLE LIFE looks like.
