From the Reaches of Science Boredom

Currently reading: Philippians 2:12-18

I have had Philipians 2:14 stuck in my head for a couple of years now. 'Y know, something to remind myself when asked to do something I didn't necessarily want to do. But I neve really looked at the section as a whole... when I came across it I would be like "Whoa! Already know it," and move on. But today I stopped and took a good read. And it really got me thinking, in particular the beginning. The words Paul wrote over a thousand years ago are still totally true today. I mean, look around. We live in a world filled with murder, hate, war, all forms of abuse, witchcraft... and in a culture that glorifies substance abuse, premarital sex, adultery, rebellion... and the list goes on. Ours is a chaotic world and it just gets worse. I mean, take porn. Soon almost anyone will be able to access porn on their iPods and cell phones. (Check out www.battlecry.com and www.xxxchurch.com for more info.) And all the while the people of our generation are being told that it's ok and that the world is getting better for us.... almost unbelieveable.

This is where we come in. As Christians we are called to be different (Romans 12:2) to be "children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,in which you shine like stars in the universe, "(Philippians 2:15). But none of us are good enough to do anything on our own. It would be like trying to get a mud stain out with oil. But with God's help... its a different story. If we fully rely on God, we can make a change and bring light into this dark world. It's tought to do sometimes. "'They will fight against you,'" says the first part of Jeremiah 1:19. But as the second part shows that "'[they] will not over come you, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the Lord." The enemies we face today are no different from the ones Paul and the early church faced, they just come in different packaging and use different methods. And as we plant the seeds in our peers and watch God work, we can rejoice with Paul as we watch the world change.

Michael