Shining Like Stars (Philippians 2:12-18)

(going against the current/flow)

Here is another passage from Philippians which basically talks about what we should do as Christians and rejoicing in the Lord. I think its a brief, but a good reminder for us.

12Therefore, 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, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17But 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. 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

philippians2:12-18

This time, I will try a new format... or possibly, I have used this already, but I just want to try new ways of interpretation.

verse12

12Therefore, 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, ...

This is the first verse from the passage and it is written, well this whole book is written by Paul and Timothy.

"Therefore, my dear friends," ~ Paul and Timothy talking to his congregation or audience or in our perspective, us.

"as you have always obeyed" ~ saying that we SHOULD have always obeyed God, as long as we are Christians.

"not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence" ~ obeying God not ONLY in his presence (can be meaning, in the house of God, church) but moreover in his ABSENCE (at school, work, outside of church).

"continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling," ~ do what? to work out your salvation with fear. Working towards salvation, and fearing God.

verse13

13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

"for it is God who works in you" ~ you cannot work without God, when you influence others, it isn't really YOU influencing them, it is GOD influencing THEM.

"to will and to act according to his good purpose." ~ God works in you so you can act accordingly to why he made you. God helps you fulfill your purpose in life.

verse14/15

14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe...

"Do everything without complaining or arguing," ~ do not talk back when you are asked to do something. No complaints. Do everything in obedience and be humble while doing it.

"so that you may become blameless and pure," ~ why? to become pure and righteous in God's eyes.

"children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation," ~ we are known as Children of God, or Christians, and we should stand out of the crowd (the world). Our world is turning into a "crooked and depraved generation" so we mustn't follow it, but move AGAINST it.

"in which you shine like stars in the universe" ~ to stand out in the world. To illuminate God like how stars illuminate the universe.

verse16

16as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

"as you hold out the word of life" ~ standing out in the word, how? through the word of life (the gospel, God's word).

"in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." ~ so that on judgment day/day of Christ, you can proclaim that you worked for something. You stood out of the crowd, went against the current, for a reason. For salvation.

verse17

17But 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.

"But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service" ~ it is possible that it seems like all this work may be worth nothing, all the sacrifices and things I have done.

"coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you." ~ but because of your faith in the Lord, we (brothers and sisters) are all glad and will celebrate with you.

verse18

18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

"So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." ~ and because I rejoice with you, you should rejoice with me as well.

Throughout this passage we need to learn to....

1. live by God's Word whether if it flows with the world, or not.
2. when you obey and follow God, you will gain in the end.
3. as we live by God's word and go against the current together, we will rejoice together.
   

SUB it,
Smij Nahc † [Follow God's Word. It is hard, but possible. Philippians 4:13]
God Bless You ♥