Philippians 2:12-18

September 3, 2006

Lights in the World

2:12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, 2:13 for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort–for the sake of his good pleasure–is God. 2:14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world 2:16 by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain. 2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink-offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I have joy and rejoice together with all of you. 2:18 And in the same way, you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.

Somehow ‘fear and trembling’ sounds so much better than ‘awe and reverence,’ although the meaning is the same. Many of us memorized from the KJV, and the phrases tend to stick, even if the context fades. For any serious Christian, the hope of being transparent ‘children of God without blemish’ in a ‘crooked and perverse world,’ is extremely motivating. Paul holds this ideal up to them, even though he is ‘pouring his life out’ for their faith, in the hope that they can rejoice together. -sdg-

Posted by Dave | Filed Under Bible