Shine like stars…
Take a look at the sky on a clear day, there are no stars. Where have they gone? Why are
they not there any more? Look up at a patch of sky on a clear night (especially away from
the city) and see the stars, see how brightly they shine! What changed? Lets take a look at
you and your life, please read Philippians 2v12→18.
You are a Christian, you have been saved by Jesus, you have repented and have faith, but
now what is there to do. People say that Christianity isn’t a religion, it’s a way of life,
but what exactly are they talking about. Here in this section of scripture Paul is writing
to his friends in a place called Philippi, while he is in prison, and what he tells them
will help us.
Work it out…
Paul tells the Philippians Christians to work out their salvation (remember that Paul is
speaking to Christians here) that is to say, that since God has saved you, go and figure
out what He (God) wants you to do for Him. And the same is true for you today, if God has
saved you He won’t leave you, He’s going to put you to work. God has saved you to do great
things for Him (using His power working in you!).
…and see what will happen…
Once you’ve figured what God has wired you to do for Him, and you set that as the greatest
desire of your life, do it without grumbling or complaining! This is a very rare thing in
this world, a person living their life doing what God has built them to do, and loving it.
These people are like the stars, God wants you to be like the stars; while the rest of the
world fade back into the black background, you will shine out like the stars.
… you will overflow with joy!
Remember Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter, that’s why he says what he says
here. Yet all the external circumstances were on little significance to him, he was doing
what God had built him to do, and his joy was untouchable! This is what God has for you,
this is what you should be seeking. But how often do we trade the untouchable joy that God
has for us, for a fleeting moment of happiness, that’s what we do when we sin…
So where do the stars go in the day time, well the foreground becomes to bright, when the
sun comes up, the sky gets bright and the stars fade out. But when the sky goes dark, the
stars shine out bright! We so often see the sin that our culture offers us as something
good, we want it, and when we do choose sin we don’t stand out as Christians, we’re like
the stars during the day. But when we choose to reject sin, and follow Jesus with our
lives, all of a sudden we will stand out from our culture, we will be like the stars on a
dark clear night!
