“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We must remember that Paul’s counsel to this church was not based on criticism or correction but on his desire to fine-tune their lives in their faith and obedience to Jesus as Lord. As we have already noted, it’s all about attitude.  

“In the Bible, attitude means the inner mindset, spirit, and disposition of the heart that guides a person’s actions and words. Key biblical attitudes include humility, love, and a Christ-like mindset.” Google AI. 

Complaining…murmuring…the subtle undercurrent of discontent. Not loud, or insistent, or vocal…just a quiet disturbance of harmonious, peaceful fellowship. Debate…introducing another subtle opportunity to question…and even to argue about doctrine, about the things they did or did not do or the way they did them. The subtle disagreements could  be as much about doctrine as about the peripheral things that caused them to rub against each other. 

Paul was not accusing these believers. He was cautioning them against allowing these subtly divisive attitudes to creep into their fellowship. They were to shine like pinpricks of light in very dark world full of rot and corruption. Their individual light might be minuscule but very noticeable in a dark environment. 

Any small attitude of darkness, any tiny deviation from the truth in their faith or behaviour would dim or extinguish the light that keeps them on track and points others towards Jesus. 

Once again, Paul makes clear that they are not the source of light but the bearers of the light that is in them. Practical and do-able…

“Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The light within them would expose and reveal…expose the deeds done in darkness and reveal the truth that would shine out of their words and behaviour. 

“Hold firmly to the word of life…”

“The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭130‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, Paul encouraged his beloved Philippian believers to cling to God’s word, the source of the light that was in them…to live by it themselves and to share it with others…because this was the only light that would guide them and others to Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life. 

The obedience and faithfulness of these Christians in Philippi to Jesus and His word was Paul’s only guarantee that his labour was not in vain. Their increasing likeness to Jesus showed him that they were firmly grafted into the true vine and bearing the fruit of that union. 

Attitude itself is not seen but revealed through the words and deeds of those who follow Jesus as much as through those who don’t. Attitude influences and drives the way we function and relate to others.

Attitude could be another way of understanding “spirit”…not a supernatural being in them, controlling them…but a mindset that underlies who they are and the way they live. 

And so with every believer who follows them…

To be continued