Shine Like Stars

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi.

Tonight is the annual MPact Sleepover. The theme, sent from the national office, is 'Shine Like Stars'. So, we planned a sleepover themed around stars, galaxies, the vastness of space, the awesomeness of God...then got the planning packet, which focuses on American Idol. 'Disappointed' is a huge understatement. We ditched the recommended materials, and are sticking with our theme. I've got the devotional and decided to share it here...because I don't *think* any of our girls will check here! ;) Of course, I had something entirely different planned in my head, but when I looked up the theme verse for the event, Phil. 2:15, I found the devotional going in another direction entirely...


Where are the stars in the daytime? Do they clock out and go home when the sun comes up?

No, the stars are still where they always are. We can’t see them because the light of the sun is brighter than the stars.

Are the stars upset about that?

If you were a star, would you be upset because the sun was brighter than you?

You shouldn’t be…because the sun is *supposed* to be brighter than the stars.

What makes it possible for us to see the stars?

We only see the stars when the sky is dark; we see them in contrast to the sky around them.

In Philippians chapter 2, the apostle Paul compares Christians living in a world that doesn’t honor God to stars in the night sky…showing for miles and miles and miles because of the contrast.

But, in order to see what makes Christians shine like stars, we have to look at the whole paragraph.

‘Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life’ - Phil 2:14 – 16a

What is the first instruction Paul gives us? (do everything w/o complaining or arguing).

How many of you have complained about something you had to do today? Maybe it was getting out of bed on time! Did you complain about doing your chores, or an assignment a teacher gave you in class? Did you argue with you mom about whether or not you should do something she asked…maybe even saying you didn’t have time to do it because you had to get ready for tonight?

Or maybe there are circumstances that make you unhappy…maybe you didn’t get the teacher you wanted for one of your classes at school, or maybe you don’t have a cell phone yet and all your friends do…do you complain about those things?

But look at what Paul says about complaining and arguing…it’s when you do the things you must do withOUT complaining or arguing that you will be blameless and pure, shining like stars.

In our children’s ministry, kids are taught that they should do what they’re asked to do ‘Right away, all the way, in a cheerful way’…that would be immediately and completely, with a good attitude.

Think about kids you know. How many of them ‘do everything without arguing or complaining?’ Do you think someone who did everything without complaining or arguing about it would stand out in the crowd? Maybe…shine like a star?

And you know why it’s important to shine like a star? Look at the last part of that passage…”As you hold out the word of life”

If you are shining like a star in a dark sky, the message you hold out will be noticed. People will hear the good news about Jesus.

And sharing the good news about Jesus is what we are here for.

So…if we want people to listen to that message, how should we react when someone asks us to do something, or we find ourselves in circumstances that don’t please us?

Do everything without complaining or arguing…so that you may shine like stars.