Philippians 2:14-16 NIV
[14] “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, [15] so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky [16] as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”

Just as true partnership with one another in the body of Christ in all its facets is a partnership with God, so partnership with His Word is the foundation of our lives in Christ.

Paul paints a word picture of our lives as God’s people. First, cut out arguing and complaining. Arguing is a sign of self-will, the urge to be right. Why do people argue? They want their opinion…knowledge…experience to be more important than those of others. Arguing creates barriers and interferes with unity. Better to be humble than to be right.

Why do people complain? We complain because we are dissatisfied. Although we complain about other people or about our circumstances, complaining is really about dissatisfaction with God. When we complain about our lot, we call God’s goodness into question because the Word teaches us that He is in charge of everything about us and everything that happens to us. If we don’t believe this, then we become the victims of chance.

How can we avoid complaining? Paul has the answer. If anyone has reason to complain, Paul did. His life was topsy turvey every day but…

Philippians 4:11-13 NIV
[11] “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. [12] I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. [13] I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Contentment…the hallmark of the person who trusts God implicitly in every circumstance and situation.

When we choose to live humbly and contentedly every day, trusting in the Father’s goodness no matter what, Paul said that our lives stand out in the darkness of the sin and unbelief around us like stars shining in the night sky.

How can we be so steadfast in our faith? By partnering with God’s Word! The ancient rabbis said that God’s Word is a manifestation of Himself in another form. How true this is even if they didn’t know that Jesus is God’s Word who came to us in human form.

John 1:14 NIV
[14] “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The way to be like stars shining in the universe is to hold fast to God’s Word, Jesus, and what He taught us about the Father, Himself, and the Holy Spirit, and the way we must live in union with Him.

Notice that Paul didn’t say we must read the Word. He said we must hold fast to the Word. Only when we embrace God’s Word as the pattern and guiding light of our lives will we stand out as different from the world.

To change the metaphor, when Jesus returns, He will separate the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the weeds. Those who embraced His Word and faithfully applied to it in their lives, will show the world who God’s children really
Even the universe itself is eagerly awaiting the day when God’s true children are revealed.

Romans 8:19 NLT
[19] “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.”

The only way to tell the difference between spiritual “orphans” and God’s true sons and daughters is by their behaviour. God’s children and the Word of God are inseparable.

1 John 3:7-10 NLT
[7] “Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. [8] But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. [9] Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life (seed) is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. [10] So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.”

So, you see, belief and behaviour go together. If we are living in partnership with God’s Word, our behaviour will show it. If not, no matter how hard we try to be righteous, it will be like hanging plastic fruit on a tree.

John, again, shows us the reason for the difference…

1 John 3:7-8 NIV
[7] “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. [8] The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

How can we be sure that we won’t keep falling into sin?

1 John 3:9 NIV
[9]”No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.”

Did you get that!?

First, we were born again through God’s Word…

1 Peter 1:23 NIV
[23] “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”

…and, second, God’s Word is in us.

Jeremiah 31:33 NIV
[33] “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Wow! What a promise! What a guarantee! So powerful is God’s Word in us that, when we partner with Him through His Word, He guarantees that we belong to Him and we are safe for all eternity.