Are You Shinning?

Scripture:

Philippians 2:14-18 (ESV)

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 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, 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. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Devotional:

I remember growing up my parents owned and operated a motorcycle shop.  I remember being there and having the task of washing, waxing, and polishing the motorcycles.  After all, they had to be clean and shiny.  I never cared for the chore.  Sometimes, truth be told more often than not, I grumbled and or whined about having to clean the motorcycles.  You could say my heart was not in it.  I was not blameless, nor innocent.  I grumbled and wished I could do something else.  However, in the end I did what I was told.  I washed, waxed, and polished motorcycles.

Throughout my life as I walk with Christ how many times was my attitude the same as it was when I was a kid?  How often do I complain and grumble when He asks me to do something?  Somewhere along the way something inside changed.  I guess you could say I have been maturing as a Christian.  My faith is not what it was.  While I may not like or want to do a task my complaints are way down.  I try to put my best foot forward.  If I am not cheerful about a task, I at least try not to complain or grumble.

Where are you in your faith walk?  Are you still an infant, grumbling and complaining?  Have you matured?  What has Christ asked you to do?  Is what you do for Christ done in such a way to shine for Christ? On the other hand, are you just a dim little flicker barely seen?  What we do does not have to be big.  It does not have to be grand and spectacular for us to shine brightly for Jesus.  It is our attitude that matters.  It is how we carry ourselves in our work and daily lives. 

We can shine brightly for Jesus.  All we have to do is start.  Take one-step at a time to change our attitudes and way of thinking.  Eventually we will mature and grow.  Eventually we will shine brightly and our attitudes will change.  We can even find joy in our tasks.  It is not what we do but whom we are doing it for.  How do you want the world to see Christ?