Shine Like Stars

Stars and the night sky have always been one of my favorite parts of creation. I can’t help but look at them and wonder how anyone could think it was accidental. I love being in a dark space and the longer you look into the darkness the more stars start to stand out. No matter how far away or how small, that small pinprick of light stands out more and more. No matter how much darkness there is, you still see these little lights.

I think this love of the night sky is also why I’m drawn to the imagery in Philippians 2:14-15. Paul uses this imagry to describe how Christians are called to live. By choosing humility, unity, joy, and obedience to Christ, believers become lights that shine brightly in a world that desperately needs hope.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.

What Makes Christians Shine Like Stars?

Growing up, I always knew this verse talked about shining like stars, but it wasn’t until I was grown that I started to ask what actually makes us shine like stars. As typical, the verses we use had me looking too narrowly at just one verse. Paul is explaining, leading up to this moment, what lets us shine like stars.

conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ
being like-minded
same love
one in spirit and one mind
do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit
in humility value others above yourself
look to the interests of others, not yourself
work out your salvation with fear and trembling
no grumbling
no complaining
same mindset as Jesus

Being called to shine like stars is much of the same thing Paul says in all of his letters, same things, different focus. We see Paul call us to unity, to be like Christ, to work on our salvation, not be selfish, be humble, and think about others.

Paul even clearly outlines what it means to be like Jesus in Philippians 2:6-8:

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself,
taking the form of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself
and became obedient to death —
even death on a cross.

We’re called to serve, to be obedient to God, and to give up our wants and desires for God.

I think as individuals we would say, yes, we agree to this. We should constantly be trying to be like Jesus, but I think it’s interesting Paul says right before calling us to shine like stars for us not to grumble or complain. These seem like such simple things compared to some of the other things. But as the saying goes, the devil is in the details. And keeping ourselves from grumbling or complaining seems simple, but it is one of the key steps to all the other things we’ve been called to.

Why Grumbling Matters More than We Think

Grumbling and complaining is a heart issue. We can do a lot of the things above, but if we’re grumbling and complaining about them, are we really doing the right thing the right way? Is our heart really in the right place? If I’m serving someone or helping them, but grumbling about doing it the whole time, how long before they say they don’t want your help anymore? Begrudgingly doing what God tells us to do means our actions are more transactional than transformational. If God has transformed our hearts and we are doing what He asks because we see it as an act of service to Him, then our joy and peace from the action should naturally overflow of our heart, not grumbling and complaining.

Likewise, if we do simple things with joy and keep from grumbling about how hard cleaning dishes or taking out the trash is, it makes it easier to find joy and peace in bigger things. But if you carve out a small spot for joy and peace, and help it grow through simple tasks, it will overflow in the larger places in life. As I tell my kids, the habits we build in the small tasks that don’t matter make it easier when it does matter in the bigger tasks. I don’t actually care if my kids keep their room perfectly clean, but them learning how to keep their space organized will help them take care of and manage other spaces as they grow, like the things they need for school or work.

I think there is a simple power in understanding that we stand out by not grumbling or complaining, and why Paul made sure to call this mindset out specifically. It’s the Pollyanna effect. It is so clear when someone doesn’t let the world drag them down and stays positive in the face of less than preferred circumstances or even terrible moments.

And one of two things happens to the people around us when we refuse to grumble or complain. It either feels like sandpaper, because misery loves company, or someone decides to follow your lead.

But eventually, if someone doesn’t know the source of your joy is Jesus, they’ll ask. Everyone wants to know how someone can stay positive. And maybe they are ready for a change, or maybe they run from it, but you have done your part shining in the darkness. We aren’t called to extinguish the darkness, just to stand out as a shining star.

One thing for the month

So our one for this month: don’t grumble and complain. Even if your heart isn’t always there, keep your words from it. In a way it’s fake it till you make it. Not that you want to pretend to be something you’re not, but choosing to say joyful and peace focused words about what you’re doing can lead your heart to follow, and eventually your habit of saying words of joy and peace will come from a heart that was trained to focus on the goodness of God and shine like a star. After all, stars don’t argue with the darkness, they just shine.

Stay Weird,