We are warned in Scripture that…
Shaking is bound to happen…
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
(Heb 12:26-27)
Shaking is often a form of judgment. Anyone who promises that things are just going to get better and better is a deceiver. Around the world people are experiencing shaking locally, nationally and internationally.
At the moment all eyes and ears are on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Could this be the start of a Third World War? How are true Christians to react when there’s ‘a whole lotta shakin’ going on’?
Php 2:14-16 gives us some clear behavioral guidelines:
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 as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Let’s chew on this Scripture for a bit. These verses say to me that we must…
Be Unhindered in Our Shining
v14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing…
We must do everything, even the unpleasant things, without grumbling or arguing. Grumbling and arguing will dim our light immediately. God hates grumbling! We know what He did to the grumblers in the wilderness – they died in the desert. Also, we can’t be selective in our shining like some people who only shine when the world is going their way. I exhort you: “Don’t ride around with your lights on dim - it’s time to put on the brights!” When things get darker and darker our light must shine brighter and brighter.
Be Secure in Our Identity
v15 Speaks of us as: "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation."
It’s not what we know that is important, but who we are. We are not theologians or professors of God, but children of God. When it’s shaking, we should not become all intellectual and analytical – it’s time to cling to God with childlike faith! We might be burdened and inhibited by guilt, but the atoning blood of Jesus has made us “without fault” in God’s sight. Let's rejoice that we are holy in God's eyes.
Shine Where Light is Most Needed
v15 Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
It’s easy to be a holy hermit on a hill, but we are called to shine “among them”. That’s where the ‘going gets tough’! That’s where ‘the rubber bites the tar’! We are supposed to put our lamp on a lampstand for all the world to see. Too often Christians only mix with Christians. Too often the light only fellowships with the light and leaves the dark in the dark. Be like Jesus who was ‘the friend of sinners’ and who ate with tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners. It’s the sick who need a doctor not those who are well.
Increase your capacity for influence by shining among them – it’s your time!
Be Careful How You Shine
v15 ..shine.. like stars in the sky v16 ..as you hold firmly to the word of life.
If you were helping someone walk in the dark you wouldn’t shine your torch in their eye but upon their path. Our light is not like a hunting lamp which we use in order to shoot at our prey. Our light should not startle the lost. Rather it should be a love-light that draws them.
Stars and beauty are associated. We are to “shine like stars in the sky”.
In the shaking, we ourselves hold onto the Word, but we also hold out to others the “Word of life” – not a word of judgment. If we live lives that are Christ-centred, Word based and Spirit led our light will be beautiful and attractive.
Let’s think about a couple of other things…
Firstly, The Place to Look When It’s Shaking
When the world is shaking – don’t you try and stabilize it like Uzzah did with the Ark of the Covenant. He was struck dead for his irreverence. (See 2Sam 6:6-7)
We must not take our eyes off God. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2)
In Scripture, shaking is often the result of God’s judgment. For example, Isaiah 32:9 – 33:24 speaks of such a time, but it also speaks of a time of peace and security thereafter. In the midst of shaking we have this promise.
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. (Isa 33:6)
Isa 33:17 also promises this: Your eyes will see the king in his beauty…
Let us look at the one who is unshakeable. Let us realize that our beauty is dependent on seeing His beauty: “we.. all reflect the Lord’s glory”(2Co 3:18).
When your gaze is set on Him you receive sight – “In Your light we see light”. (Ps 36:9)
Secondly, What to Do in Times of Shaking
We must stir up our faith. Fear is the opposite of faith. Keep fear out and faith in. Jesus' words to Jairus on receiving the bad news of his little daughter’s death was,“Don’t be afraid; just believe...” (Luke 8:50)
We must draw on the joy of the Holy Spirit in us:
Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. In times of trouble the joy of the Lord is our strength. Paul and Silas did not start a pity party when they were thrown into the Philippian jail – instead they sang songs of praise to God which resulted in their deliverance. Praise is an expression of faith and where there is faith God moves.
Some shakings are devil originated, others are God originated. We need the discernment of the Holy Spirit to distinguish the two. If Satan is orchestrating the shaking, we can crush his plans underfoot. If God is behind the shaking we will do well to learn the lessons therein.
Celebrate the unshakeable God, His unshakeable Kingdom, His unshakeable love.
We are Commissioned
We must realize that every shaking gives an opportunity for shining.
We are commissioned to, “Shine while the world is shaking!”
Let’s shine with love, with hope, with wisdom.
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