February 28, 2025 -- Philippians 2:14 -- Hey, what's going on in that head of yours?

Do all things without grumbling or disputing…
Philippians 2:14 ESV
 
The word grumbling is rarely used in the New Testament. Its meaning is made clear from its use and its context in the Old Testament. The LORD of Glory had rescued His people from Egypt. He had displayed His power over Pharaoh. He then led His people through the Red Sea on dry land. Now the people murmured or grumbled against God their Savior, thinking He’d let them starve in the desert (Exodus 16). Then the people, at the edge of the Promised Land, afraid of the inhabitants living in the Promised Land, murmured against God. Under their breath they muttered insults and questioned among themselves the ability of God to do as He promised (Numbers 14). Finally, the people murmured against the leadership God has raised up in Moses and Aaron. Their murmurings were a direct attack against the leadership of God and those He chose to perform His will (Numbers 17).
 
Grumbling is something that happens among people; disputing begins as an internal thought. One questions the ability of God to do exactly as He covenanted to do. Disputing begins when a believer, having seen the goodness and the power of God, begins to entertain doubts if this God can finish what He started. Sure, He did that, but can He do this? As the doubts begin to take hold of the mind, they begin to cloud judgment and spill over into conversation so that people begin disputing what is Truth and substitute their fears in its place. I Timothy 6:5 translates the word as “constant friction”. Those in the grip of internal disputing begin grumbling, tearing at the unity of the church. Their fractious words wear down others who listen so that they are either drawn into the complaint themselves or being to internally doubt the work of God.
 
Context is critical. Paul had just reminded his readers of the work of Jesus Christ, Who left the splendours of heaven. He became incarnate. Having taken on human flesh, He lived in perfect obedience to His Father, from conception to His death on a cross. He never once murmured against the will or the work of God. He never caused others to question whether the Father in heaven could do as He promised. In the direst circumstances of His life and cruel betrayals, He was obedient, even to the point of death, yes, death on the cross. That is why He is the One sacrifice Who takes away the sin of the world. That explains why His Name is utterly glorious. When one uses Jesus, or Christ, as a swear word, he is murmuring against the One Who alone can save him. When one, by word or deed, disputes the perfections of Jesus or leads others to do so, he is straining against the world’s only hope of salvation.
 
How can one combat grumbling and disputing?
 
Know the word of God. Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Know the works of God.
 
Know history. See how God has acted faithfully in the past and continues to work in and through your own life daily. Consider the fact that all human history has a purpose and an endpoint: the day of Christ. When Jesus returns all will be revealed. The truth of Who He Is and how powerfully He displayed the glory of God will be so obvious that unbelievers and God-haters will fall in awe and wonder before the glory of Jesus. The Father’s love and purposes in history will be confirmed as every knee bows and every tongue confesses Jesus Christ as Lord.
Know the power of teaching. As you teach your children, or tell your co-workers, or witness to family members and neighbours of the power of God, your own heart will be reaffirmed in the truth of the word of life. You will contradict your own sinful inclinations to murmur against God and dispute His claims. It is a real battle. The enemy seeks to undercut all true believing. If you are not constantly vigilant, you will be murmuring and disputing. If you are preaching to your own soul through daily devotions, you will find the power of God and His promises break through all such murmuring and disputing in your own soul. As you tell others about Jesus He will be even more dearly loved in your heart and mind as the Captain of Salvation.
 
Father in heaven, You do all things well. You are perfect in all Your attributes: love, justice, patience, faithfulness, holiness and wisdom. Just reading the start of the great list of Your attributes is enough to dispel our open grumbling and the seedlings of internal disputing which affect our minds. By Your Holy Spirit, dear Father, lift our eyes toward Jesus so that in Him we see the depths of Your love, the faithfulness of Your saving purposes, the justice that is real and satisfied, and the patience You have for weak and wayward people such as we are. Thank You for warning us by Your word and showing us our daily, desperate need for Jesus. Aware of our sinful inclinations and conscious of our own internal conflicts we pray, let Jesus be held up before our mind’s eye so that His accomplished salvation is our contemplation and all our grumbling is broken and any murmuring against Him proves ridiculous. Let our minds bless You and our actions demonstrate our growing confidence in the salvation of Jesus which Your Spirit is massaging into every part of our existence. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/L2QvFKKCzzs?si=VQeI-42L1FjxTMbC Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
 

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