without complaining or arguing

do everything without complaining or arguing. // philippians 2:14

God has really been working on my heart in the area of complaining. i was meditating on this verse a few weeks ago, and i broke it down piece by piece

i noticed that do is an action oriented verb, it isn't passive or lazy.

everything is all encompassing, from the little, mundane things in life (ie. washing dishes) to the big things in life. since God has said everything, it must mean all instances in life are important to Him.

without is completely free from, not even allowing a hint of anything.

i realized that complaining encompasses my words AND my actions. i normally think of complaining just by my words but after meditating, i feel like i need to be careful in my actions as well. for example, not doing something that needs to be done is another way to complain. ie. not cleaning my home when i need to and instead doing something fun or relaxing. i am in a sense complaining (even though it isn't verbally) about how i don't want to clean my home by showing it through my actions or idleness and not being diligent to complete my tasks.

arguing means not fighting with or tearing others' down with my words.

i am so grateful to God for how He is changing me, i am absolutely unable to do it on my own!

Christ's precious blood // c. spurgeon

“The precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1.19

Standing at the foot of the cross, we see hands, and feet, and side, all distilling crimson streams of precious blood. It is “precious” because of its redeeming and atoning efficacy. By it the sins of Christ’s people are atoned for; they are redeemed from under the law; they are reconciled to God, made one with him. Christ’s blood is also “precious” in its cleansing power; it “cleanseth from all sin.” “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Through Jesus’ blood there is not a spot left upon any believer, no wrinkle nor any such thing remains. O precious blood, which makes us clean, removing the stains of abundant iniquity, and permitting us to stand accepted in the Beloved, notwithstanding the many ways in which we have rebelled against our God. The blood of Christ is likewise “precious” in its preserving power. We are safe from the destroying angel under the sprinkled blood. Remember it is God’s seeing the blood which is the true reason for our being spared. Here is comfort for us when the eye of faith is dim, for God’s eye is still the same. The blood of Christ is “precious” also in its sanctifying influence. The same blood which justifies by taking away sin, does in its after-action, quicken the new nature and lead it onward to subdue sin and to follow out the commands of God. There is no motive for holiness so great as that which streams from the veins of Jesus. And “precious,” unspeakably precious, is this blood, because it has an overcoming power. It is written, “They overcame through the blood of the Lamb.” How could they do otherwise?

He who fights with the precious blood of Jesus, fights with a weapon which cannot know defeat. The blood of Jesus! sin dies at its presence, death ceases to be death: heaven’s gates are opened. The blood of Jesus! we shall march on, conquering and to conquer, so long as we can trust its power!