As a parent and now a grandparent, when I watch my grandchildren do what they know is right, and especially when they don’t think that I am watching them, it makes me SO proud! I realize, “they are getting it, they are catching on!” A specific thing they are working on now is potty training! I’ve been helping them for a few months and when they know what to do and do it, without me telling them or even seeing them, it is amazing. Sometimes, we feel like our kids(or grandchildren) are not learning and some days are discouraging. But those days when we really see progress, just are really encouraging.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
In different situations though, Paul seemed to experience this as well. Paul knew that the Philippians had obeyed when he was right with them, but also when he was not around watching. Next he says though, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” What does this mean? I thought that we didn’t work for our salvation? And with fear and trembling? At first, this doesn’t make sense to me, but until I study more what Paul means and put what he says into context with the rest of what he writes, specifically in this passage. Because why? It is God who is working in us! His purpose working in our life is what He wants for us and for everyone else in the world.
Think about this- is everything that we do, demonstrating how God wants us to act? Sometimes we do, but many times we don’t. When we do live our life to please Him, we are acting in the way that fulfills His good purpose. If we don’t reflect the behavior that honors Him, then we won’t show His good purpose.
Because of Him and Only Him!
He works in Us
To Will and Act, so that we
Fulfill His Good Purpose
I will go back to the illustration of young kids. They are grouchy, throw fits and are unthankful, yet most of us tend to grumble don’t we? We most certainly argue with people when we don’t see eye to eye.
Why do these verses say not to grumble and argue? It is “so we may become blameless and pure.” Are we pure and blameless already? No, becoming means that there is a process that we go through in order to be blameless and pure. We live our life by process. Never have we already achieved health, wealth, wisdom, knowledge, or spirituality. Even for those of us who have a spiritual relationship and walk with Him, we continue growing more towards being blameless and pure.
Now, Children
We are called “children” in verse 15! Are we children? Yes, we are children of God, growing and developing each day. What is interesting next is that Paul says that we are “without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Even over 2,ooo years ago, the generation then was considered “warped and crooked.”
The world has only become much more “warped and crooked.” Since we are considered His children, those of us who have a real relationship with Him, He considers us without fault. How can we be without fault when we are still sinners, we wonder?
I think of Romans 8:1 where we are told by Paul again, that “therefore there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” God does not hold blame over us, even when we feel a lot of self-condemnation. Even when people like family, friends, churches, community find fault with us, God does not! We can rest easy that we are in the Lord’s hands, safe and secure.
Shine For Jesus
Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky (16) as you hold firmly to the word of life.
I chose the name of this post based on this verse specifically! After we are found without fault in such a crooked generation and we are not condemned by God as His children, we will shine among others in the world as the stars in the sky stand out. We are bright and we look different and bold in the middle of darkness. The world is a dark place, especially as we approach the day of Christ’s return. 2 Timothy chapter 3 speaks of what to expect in the end times.
Our world looks more and more like this with each day that passes. The “sky”(world) looks so dark right now. How will you stand out among the wickedness? The second part of this verse describes how we will look different, to be bold and bright in the world. The verse says “ as you hold firmly to the word of life.” The only way we will stand out as we should is to hold firmly to God’s Word. If we don’t hold firmly to Him and His Word, we will not look bold and stand out as different in the world. We will look like the rest of the world, dark. A star can’t stand out in darkness if it isn’t different.
It Isn’t In Vain That We Represent Christ
Then I will be able to boast (on the day of Christ) because I did not run or labor in vain. I don’t see this boasting as a type of prideful boast, but I will know and be confident that what I did with my life, I represented Christ in being different, it wasn’t in vain. Souls came to know Christ, people’s lives were impacted and my own life was impacted by my relationship with the Lord in reading His Word and communicating with Him through prayer. `
Even If I Die Quickly
Now observe what verse 17 says! It starts with the word “but.” So in the previous verses, we see Paul writing positively about the church here in Philippi and of course an example to the world. Now Paul describes something different. Life could turn in a different direction for Paul. He says, “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.” The drink offering happened in the Old Testament.
“Then the drink offering with it shall be a fourth of a hin for each lamb, in the holy place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the Lord. The other lamb you shall offer at twilight; as the grain offering of the morning and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the Lord.” Numbers 28:7-8
Then, in Hebrews, in the New Testament, the author of Hebrews says,
“Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”Hebrews 10:5-7
When a sacrifice was made, it completed the meal. This drink offering is a type used to describe the sacrifice, the blood offering of Christ. This offering Paul uses to describe the sacrifice of his life for the cause of Christ.
He could have been beaten and killed for his faith but Paul is still thankful because of the ministry that he has in the life of these people.
We also are thankful when we see the impact that we make in the lives of people who believe in and live for Christ. My husband is experiencing this now with a friend that he is helping grow in his walk with Christ.
I’m Still Glad
Remember the “living sacrifice” in Romans 12:1-2? We each have a responsibility to give Him our lives daily as a sacrifice. Give to Him daily, that which costs us something. This is what He desires for each of us. Paul will still rejoice because of the life that he lived, giving it for Christ and His church, specifically in Phillipi in this post.
“So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” This indicates that Paul told this church to not be sad and grieve but rejoice with him. Be glad for the time spent with them for what they learned and how they grew. Whether we live or die, we still can rejoice because of our relationship with the Lord. We will miss those that we love, but death is not something to fear, but to look forward to because we will be with God for the rest of eternity.
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
Jim Elliot
Remember, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” in Philippians 1:21? The passage today in Philippians 2:12-18 really relates in this same context to Philippians 1:21. We can boast as well when we live for Christ, then when we die, it really is gain!