that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Philippians 2:15-16 (NKJV)
The world and the people whose mindset and way of doing things is contrary and not submitted to God’s will and Word are called a crooked and perverse generation.
As God’s children we are light see-Ephesians 5:8 even as He is light-see 1John1:5.
We are in the light even as He is in the light. 1John1:7.
We have Jesus the light of life. We ought to shine this light in the midst of the darkness which our theme Scripture has called a crooked and perverse generation.
We are to shine the light of life, love, faith, and hope.
So many around us do not know the unconditional love of God, they are faithless and without hope. Paul describes their state and condition here: Ephesians 4:17-18 (NLT)With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
To shine is to reveal, make manifest or make fully known. We have been called and empowered to reveal, make fully known the light of life, love, peace, faith, joy and hope.
Our theme Scripture has shown us how to do it -…you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life… Philippians 2:15, 16 (NKJV)
We shine or make fully known the light of life by holding fast the Word of life.
Speaking, acting on, and living according to God’s Word is how we shine, reveal and make fully known the light of life, love, faith and hope in the world around us.