SCRIPTURE:
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life— in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.” (Philippians 2:14-16, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself WHAT commands are given here?
1. Do everything without complaining.
2. Do everything without arguing

I asked myself WHY were those commands given?
1. So that you may become blameless children of God without fault.
2. So that you may become pure children of God without fault

I asked myself WHERE are we asked to become 'blameless and pure, children of God without fault'?
1. In a crooked generation.
2. In a depraved generation.

I asked myself what is the 'CAUSE-EFFECT' relationship here?
1. Philippians who obey the commands will shine like stars in the universe!
2. Philippians who obey the commands will hold out the word of life.
3. Because of the Philippians actions, Paul would be able to boast on the day of Christ that  he did not run or labor for nothing.

Interpretations:
I asked myself what is the significance of Paul's request?
It is very interesting that Paul writes about complaining and arguing while he is still a prisoner in chains. He lets them know how he has lived even in chains according to chapter 1. The emphasis is placed on not complaining and arguing so that they can live out being blameless and pure children of God in a crooked and depraved generation.

I asked myself what does 'crooked and depraved' mean?
According to Microsoft Works Word Processor dictionary 'crooked' is defined as 'illegal or dishonest' and 'depraved' is defined as 'showing great moral corruption or wickedness'.

I asked myself, why does Paul want the Philippians to be counter-cultural?
So they can be the hope for that generation by setting an example of blamelessness and purity!
So that they can shine like stars in the universe holding out the word of life  instead of joining the crowd of complainers and arguers!

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my own life. Our generation is not any different but maybe worse in terms of being crooked and depraved. All we have to do is watch the news regarding scandals such as Enron, promotion of homosexuality, pornography, strip clubs, etc using the internet, TV, movies, and clubs! It is just disgraceful and sad.  It is in this crooked and depraved generation, as children of God we should act in a positive way so that the effect maybe us shining like stars in the universe, holding out the word of life.

I asked myself what is the significance of shining like stars in the universe?
What came to my mind is that stars are really bright emitting a lot of light as you draw close to them. The closer you draw near to them, they shine more. Yet, far away too you can see their radiance.

In the same way, as people inspect our lives closely, they need to see that we do shine brightly as a light because we live for the Light of the World. And that our light comes from the Light of the World. Even from a distance if people hear about you, they can still know that you shine brightly because of your behavior being an imitation of Christ.  Light covers over the darkness and helps people find the right pathway.
 
The Bible says those who want to do right come into the light but those who want to do evil hide from the light because they are afraid their deeds will be revealed. (John 3)

As I thought about that it occurred to me that this is so true so many times when it comes to aspects of pornography. So many people are involved with it in the dark where they cannot be found out yet the Lord sees it in His Light for nothing can be hidden from the Lord. We may hide secret sins from people but the Lord is watching everywhere and holds us accountable for our actions. This does not mean that He is unwilling to forgive us and help us as we turn to Him.

It is interesting that shining out like stars in the universe is mentioned first before mentioning about holding out the Word of life.

I asked myself why is 'shining out like stars in the universe' mentioned first?
It occurred to me unless our lives reflect the light of Christ for other people in our crooked and depraved generation, we will just be seen as hypocritical and they won’t pay attention to the word of life even when we hold it. Instead, we will be part of the statistic about being crooked and depraved. On the other hand, if our lives reflect the light of Christ, then when we hold out the word of life, others will be more attracted to it because they know it is the word of life that has brought the light in our lives.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING B.E.H.A.V.I.O.R:
Few years ago when I was doing another job, a co-worker kept cursing but knew that I could not stand hearing curse words because I was a Christian. As a friend, she decided to do something. She told me that every time she cursed, she would give me a dime and asked me to hold her accountable when I heard her curse. There were times she did really well in an 8 hour day but a life habit can rarely be overturned in one day or few days. She almost owed  $10.00 from that. She then took that money and took it to a church. What came of that is that she stopped cursing. Another friend of mine decided to do that too after seeing her.

You know because of my actions, I earned the right to be able to speak to her from the Bible and she listened. One time while we were working, we were also able to talk simultaneously as long as we got our stats in a high range. I took her through the entire Book of Genesis in a story format. The next time she was waiting for me to do that for the Book of Deuteronomy. I share that with you because with the Lord’s help I was able to stand out as a light for the Lord at that moment. You know people would say to me, “Ramesh, I would give anything to hear you curse or do this and that.”

You know there was a time that I could not even stand hearing a curse word. I know we live in a world that it is hard to avoid hearing cursing words around us whether it be people around us or what we watch. By God’s grace I have never cursed in my life and curse words were vocabulary I did not even want to hear. My friends knew that too so when they would talk near me and curse, they would automatically come and say ‘sorry oops, didn’t know you were here’. It was really nice how they respected that! They still do that.

But, I stood on the promises of the Lord for the Lord to help me not to curse, etc. When I do that, I do not have to curse, etc.   I wish it were always like that in other areas of my life but it was not as I gave into the flesh as years went by but I am so thankful the Lord has brought me back to His ways!

I am not saying as Christians we need to shield ourselves from everything we see wrong around ourselves.  If we do that to the extreme we will be so heavenly minded that we become of no earthly good! The Lord wants us to be in the world but not of the world.

Now I do watch ‘R’ movies to review them for a paper from a biblical perspective but turn my head away when I suspect sexual scenes. I came to realize there are R movies that can be really good too without the perversion, etc. I watch in the hopes of preventing others from watching it if the movie has no redeeming qualities from a biblical perspective!

"We can justify all our deeds but the Lord looks at our motives!" (Prov 22)

Whatever movie I watch, I involve the Lord so He can lead me and guide me to review it, etc!

I ASK YOU NOW:
I ask you now dear friends how is your behavior in life?
Dear friends, our behavior dictates to others who we are following whether we are following the Light of the World or the prince of darkness. There is no middle ground. For we cannot follow both at the same time! When we engage in things like occultism,  pornography, etc we have given ourselves to the devil for the time being. When we are in his control he uses us as a pawn, as he wishes, because we let down our Spiritual defenses and allowed ourselves to dabble in those areas. Those are not the only areas but examples I wanted to focus on because in another version the word perverse is used. Perverse brings to mind perversion and that is what engaging in pornography and occultism eventually leads to.

Sadly most violent crimes are attributed to pornography and occultism whether it be killings or violent sexual assaults. I am not saying that if you are involved in those things you will become a serial killer or rapist but statistics show the possibility of those actions. All these things make our generation crooked and perverse. In all of this, we are called to stand out as lights!

For the Word of the Lord says, "Be ye perfect, as my Heavenly Father is perfect" and "Be Holy, for I am Holy." 

Apart from the Redeemer we cannot live in holiness but valiantly seeking after the Redeemer can change our behavior!

Friend, won’t you stand with me on this?
Each of us can make a difference in this world as we have the Light of the World to direct our behavior. We can start with simple things such as taking a stand against watching ‘R’,  'NR', 'Unrated', movies that have nudity in them even though they are not necessarily dubbed adult movies.

We can take a stand against reading horoscopes, tarot cards, etc! Nothing is fun about any of that. If you are a movie reviewer, you can review ‘R’, 'NR', and 'Unrated' movies from a biblical perspective and at the same time avoid scenes that show pornography by turning your head away until the scenes change, etc. You can usually know when those scenes change based on the music, etc. There are movies that have no redeeming value from the beginning and it makes no sense to watch them.

Friend, I don’t know if these two areas are the ones you struggle with or if there are other crooked or depraved things that have a hold on you. But this I do know, that whatever your struggle, Jesus loves you so much and wants to help you. He sees you as His child and wants you to be blameless and pure and He is there to pick you up each time you fall when you turn to Him. I know and believe, deliverance is on the way. Keep holding on to Jesus and you will hold on to hope. He wants to be your All in All!

You know when I used to watch ‘R’ rated movies using the ‘good plot’ as an excuse I would feel so horrible later. I was watching it for pleasure and not for the purposes of reviewing, etc at the time. I would feel so yucky afterwards that I would go and read Psalm 51 telling the Lord how sorry I was. My conscience was so strong and I was so happy about that. It was the Lord working in me and pointing me in the right direction. No matter how many times I messed up, the Lord forgave and delivered me.

What we need to be aware of is the desensitization aspect because it will happen even in a life of a follower of Christ when they subject themselves to things that are contrary to the Word, whether it be occultism, pornography, homosexuality, promiscuity, etc. When I now review certain 'R' rated movies, I need to be very careful and alert to avoid scenes that involve pornography. If a movies' plot is pornography based, I do not usually even review those movies. 

In terms of behavior, I also know that I need not be perfect before sharing the Gospel with others. For in our weakness, the Lord is strong and can work in us and through us even forgiving us as we repent of our sins.

In conclusion, the purpose of today's devotional is to understand that we live in a crooked and depraved generation where we are asked to become shining stars, holding out the word of life as we do everything without complaining and arguing but being blameless and pure.

May you be able to come to that point so you can shine out as stars in the universe and hold out the Word of life being guided by the Light of the World as you do everything without complaining and arguing but being blameless and pure.

"Be Everyday Holy After Victoriously Involving Our Redeemer! (B.E.H.A.V.I.O.R)/”How is your B.E.H.A.V.I.O.R in life?” 

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, we are in this world and you placed us here. Yet, you want us to be in the world but not of it. Jesus, when people around us are involved in things and they are our friends, it can be hard not to go along because of peer pressure, etc, yet, you want our allegiance to be to you foremost as your child Oh God. Father God, we cannot live as shining lights and hold out your Word without your direct intervention in our lives. So, please Father God help us to live for you and serve you. We are so sorry for the wrongs we have done and for not loving you with our whole heart. Deliver us Oh Lord and help us to be blameless and pure as you want us to. Jesus, help us also not to isolate ourselves from the world and our friends just because they do not live the way you want us to live. On the contrary, help us to be examples in their lives and show your love to them. Lead me on Oh Lord. I want to be blameless and pure to hold out the Word of Life. Thanks so much Jesus!

You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Part of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!