Who’s at the Center of Everything?

Each week, our school ministry has a Bible verse for the week which Mrs. Wolff reads during morning announcements. The verse for September 25-28 will be included as a part of one of our readings during this weekend’s worship services. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” (Philippians 2:14) I wish I could say I was perfect in that regard. Unfortunately, I am not. Things do not always go as I want or are done up to my standards. Things don’t always seem fair to me. Sometimes I think I have a better way of doing things.

Did you notice a common theme? My grumbling and complaining is often the result of me having to be the center of my world. As a result, I find it easy to find fault with what others are doing and justify my grumbling and arguing. But as you have heard me say so many times, “sin” is a small “s” and a small “n” with a big fat capital “I” in the middle. And when I’m at the center of things instead of Jesus, I reflect my own faults rather than His perfect love.

So how does one correct that, since grumbling, arguing, complaining, and gossiping about others seem to be such common activities among us? We begin by acknowledging that those things are not of God and so should not be of us. In true repentance, we pray not only for forgiveness, but that the Holy Spirit would change us so, as Paul continues in Philippians 2:15-16, “[we] may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then [we] will shine among them like stars in the sky as [we] hold firmly to the word of life.” And, indeed, the Holy Spirit does bring change.

So who’s at the center of things? Is it you or Jesus? Are you self-centered or Christ-centered?

Lord, prepare me To be a sanctuary, Pure and holy, Tried and true;

With thanksgiving, I'll be a living Sanctuary for You.