Don't

Don't complain.

Don't argue.

Or, as Paul puts it,"Do everything without grumbling or arguing..." 

Charlie preached today on Philippians 2:12-15, and he was spot on. He reminded us that we are 100% responsible for working out our salvation (NOT to be confused with justification, saved by grace in Christ alone) and we are 100% dependent on God. Paul holds these two declarations side by side without hesitation: 

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 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... (emphasis mine)

Charlie began by reminding us that the King of the universe has adopted us as his children. Most of the time, when I hear about my adoption as God's daughter, having been made a sister of Christ and an heir with him, I feel good and happy and think,"Wow! How much does God love me, disaster that I am?!" Today, though, Charlie pointed something out that I don't readily think of, and which is the other part of the truth of such an adoption. When one is taken into the royal family, then one must start to learn the ways of and live following the example of those who bear such a lofty and worthy name. The responsibility to learn, to grow, to obey, to seek, to work on, and make the great effort to affect such change lies with the one who is now a part of the family. The beautiful twist to this fairy-tale adoption story, though, is that the Father not only tenderly shows his children what way to follow, but works in them himself "to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." 

Charlie brought up the tagline "Let go, and let God." He challenged us to put that phrase aside and instead to "Cling to Christ and get going!" I love that. That's what I need to do!!

And now I think that I should not have titled this post "Don't" because truthfully, and if we're paying attention we'll see this, God does not just give us a list of don'ts that we need to remember not to do. The "do nots" are certainly there, but the overwhelming final word from God is,"I love you." His victorious, powerful, wonderful Word, 

Who, being in very nature God,
  did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
  by taking the very nature of a servant,
  being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
  he humbled himself
  by becoming obedient to death—
  even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
  and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
  to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:6-11)

His Word has made us his children. 

Don't forget.