14 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. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me” (2:17-18). 14 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. We are to be better than that, since we know that God is the perfect Father. We often forget it was Israel’s murmuring that caused God to say, Paul exposed the primary issue of complaining: we are to be without blemish and shine as lights in the midst of a “crooked and twisted generation.” Complaining is following the tortured way of the world-culture around us, a world that lives as if there is no Father in heaven. Do all things without murmurings; the apostle here subjoins to his exhortation to condescension and humility, a dissuasive from the opposite vices, moving them to do all that was incumbent on them as Christians without private mutterings, secret whisperings, and complainings, which might argue their impatience under the yoke of Christ, while put upon doing or suffering such things; either reflecting on … While most of us have not been infected with the COVID-19 virus, that does not mean we haven’t been affected by it.
Of course the wisdom of heaven is always going to stretch the natural mind and kill the flesh.
14 Do all things (A)without grumbling or (B)disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, (C)children of God (D)without blemish (E)in the midst of (F)a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine (G)as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to (H)the word of life, so that in (I)the day of Christ (J)I may be proud that (K)I did not run in vain or labor in vain. If you are a complainer, you lack joy.
Berry Kercheville is presently working with the Woodland Hills Church of Christ in Nashville, TN. The only one that listens when we complain is GOD! Philippians 2:14-16 King James Version (KJV) 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;