Written by Mrs. Rebekah E.

 

 

Do you know what verses come after the verse "Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart"  ( II Timothy 2:22)?  The very next verse commands us to "refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels."  Isn't that one reason why we complain?  We may not have all the right information and are reflecting on "foolish and ignorant speculations."  Then the passage goes on to say in verses 24-26 "The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome."  

 

In contrast we are to

 

To quarrel is to have a war with words, to be controversial or argumentative, to have strife or contention.  Wow, that not only affects us but all those around us.  It sours the whole atmosphere and spirals the spirit of people downward.  It is not of God and we need to obey His command and not quarrel and complain.

 

Philippians 2:13 commands us to "Do all things without grumbling or disputing."  Why?  The next two verses tell us the reasons.  "So that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain."  When we don't complain or argue, by God's grace 1) we maintain a good testimony above reproach, 2) Christ is seen in us, 3) in the day of Christ we will have reason to glory, and 4) as we see in II Timothy, perhaps others will repent of their sins and be saved. 

 

May our Lord help us to strive to have a sprit that is completely content in Him, kind to all, patient when wronged, and gentle in correcting others when needed.

 

 

 

 

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