Verse of the Day 1/3

Verse of the Day 1/3

Philippians 2:14-15  Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,  English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday we considered how we are called to "work out" our salvation and that this working out is done in the strength and grace to do it that God himself provides.  A point that we did not touch on was the "fear and trembling" at the end of verse 12.  At first thought what could come to mind is the "shaking in your boots" trembling, but that kind of trembling is debilitating and not enabling.

John Piper writes, "There is a real trembling for the saints. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). But it is the trembling one feels in the arms of a Father who has just plucked his child from the undertow of the ocean."  Have you ever been saved from something, or had a near miss accident that left you shaking?  That is the image here.  It is a trembling that appreciates that you are alive and have been safely delivered from danger, disaster or even death.  It enables you to move forward but with a different outlook and attitude.  As a Christian, when we see what God has done for us and what He has delivered us from we should live in gratitude.

Today's verses tell us that we shouldn't be grumbling and arguing about everything but be "a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society" (The Message).  By doing so we may shine as lights in this world, not light that comes from us, but reflected light of the Savior.

Paul encourages us to " Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing."  (v. 16 The Message).  Many of us reading these posts are middle age or older and in some respects, may feel that our best is behind us.  But no matter where we are in life, if we carry this with us, we will continue to shine to be a reflection while we have life and wait for His coming.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Philippians 2:12-16The Message (MSG)

Rejoicing Together

^12-13 What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

^14-16 Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing.