I am staggered when I really catch a glimpse of just what it is that God is doing in and through and for people. That God is even interested in “messing with” our lives is amazing; but that he does such good and gracious and kind and wise things . . . it can take my breath away.

It seems to me that such thoughts often must have gone through Paul’s mind. He finds such outrageous and deep and carry-me-away kind of joy in Jesus because of what God is doing in and through him. Just contemplating the grace of God that reaches him–reaches us–in and through Jesus seems to stir waves of joy in Paul.

That’s a bit of what I taste when I read Philippians. I hear and see and savor Paul’s joy in Jesus . . . and I long to experience if for myself all the more. And, because of God’s work in us, we can.

Paul says that God, having begun this amazing transformative work in us, will bring it to completion (Phil. 1:6). And he explained that as we give ourselves to a Jesus-kind of life, the transformation does not come because of our effort or competency or spiritual acumen; we are transformed because God, himself, is working in us to produce both the longing and the outcome (Phil. 2:12-13).

We are undergoing grace-based, Jesus-produced, Spirit-empowered, Gospel-centered, God-glorifying transformation. All who have come to Jesus to find life are undergoing a life transformation by his doing. Amazing. And in the process, how do we live?

Well, for me, at times it is clear that I really don’t “get it.” I lose sight of what God is doing. And you know how I know (and how others who know me know)? It becomes evident in my grumbling.

Having recounted the life-saving journey and sacrifice of Jesus to rescue us (Phil. 2:1-11) and having invited us into a participation in that life and having affirmed to us that our being transformed into partners in that life is God’s gracious doing, Paul then writes:

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 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 . . . (Philippians 2:14-15)

Paul calls us to live like Jesus. He tells us God is working to reproduce Jesus’ own servant-character in us. He cheers us on to give into that process because God is working it in and through us. And then he says . . . “So, stop griping!”

Such a needed word! In my heart of hearts, I really do want to grow up to look like Jesus. I can think of no more glorious or wonderful ”destination” than to share in the life and ministry and character of the Beloved of God. But just as God begins to shape and mold, nudge and press, trim and change what doesn’t quite look like Jesus in me, I wince and complain, I whine and grumble.

But Paul says that if I would only get on with living this life “without grumbling” I would “prove” to be a child of God. So does that mean that we, somehow, “earn” our standing as children of God by maintaining a good attitude? Of course not. Adoption into God’s family comes by grace through Jesus alone. We are his children by his doing, not our own.

The idea behind the word “prove” is not “make to be” but closer to “show to be.” We don’t make ourselves to become the beloved children of God by refraining from grumbling as God is transforming us, but we do make it evident that we are, in fact, his children when we graciously embrace and welcome his re-creating us in Jesus’ image without all the griping.

If we really believe that we are his, if we really embrace his love for us, if we really understand that Jesus has made us accepted and acceptable before God, if we really grasped that what he is doing is making us “better” by reproducing the character of the Son in us, than no matter what comes into our lives, whatever comes our way, we would “do all things without grumbling.” We wouldn’t complain about how poorly we are being treated but would like for the opportunity, in every moment, to yield to life-changing grace. 

We are his children by Jesus’ doing. And the proof? What “testifies” to our status as children? When we embrace the life he is working in us without grumbling.