“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, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.” Philippians 2:14-16 NASB

I don’t know about you, but for me there are few things more testing and trying to my patience than a child who gripes, complains, and argues with every call to duty. I want them to obey willingly and with a right and good attitude that does right and good as unto the Lord. Our passage today tells me that God desires that in our relationship with Him as our Father as well.

There’s a parenting warning tag that goes something like this: Rules without relationship breeds rebellion. I believe that goes both ways. A bad relationship between child and parent makes both rebellious. The child’s rebellion comes out in the ways of disobedience, bad attitude, and more. The parent rebels through impatience – sometimes explosive, crankiness, indifference, and more. A loving relationship is vital for a life that behaves in blameless innocence toward God and man.

Throughout scripture we see relationship with God is mirrored in our relationships with each other. Scripture relates our relationship with God in likeness to a good marriage; the love and care of parent and child; sovereign with servant; and His being the best friend we can ever know. Relationship is important to our God and He wants us to do that well at every level, especially with Him.

For a healthy relationship with God, we are called of God to obey with a willing spirit. Submitting ourselves to God as a living and holy sacrifice that is acceptable to Him as our “spiritual service of worship”, as inspired by Romans 12:1. Our willing obedience, according to Christ, is equivalent to actions of an abiding love relationship with God in Christ (John 15:9-10). Willing service is done out of love for Him who loves us; a love that desires to remain with Him forever, a love that honors Him through blameless innocence toward Him, proving our loving relationship with Him.

So, Beloved, as a child of God that desires a good relationship with Him we must do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that we will prove ourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God.