Subscription Lists

We have been reading in Philippians Chapter 2 of how Jesus Christ, the Son of God, laid aside all his glory and came to earth to save us – to rescue us – to heal us – to give us light – to love us with a love we could never have experienced anywhere else. He descended not only to where we were but even lower. He chose the role of the lowest servant – and held on to nothing. He grasped at nothing. He humbled himself. Oh, never ask to be made humble.

See the choice we have before us. and make this decision to humble yourself.

Jesus became obedient, and after all that, and after that death on the Cross where he shed His Blood to wash us and forgive us and reconcile us with the Father – God exalted him.

So, dear Paul goes on to say – ‘work it all out’. God works in you, and He has a desire to accomplish something worthwhile through your life – and with no complaining or arguing and no saying – “O Lord Jesus, why is all this happening to poor old me?”

His goal for us is that we might become blameless and pure – without a fault – like ‘see through saints’. He is repeating himself – Chapter 1verse 10 – pure – you see a garment in a shop and you ask it you can take it outside to see its real colours. Show me your real colours! Blameless – that we have not fallen morally or stumbled, and that we have caused someone else to fall or stumble.

I wonder why he repeats himself?

And, we are to shine by holding out the word of life. There is such an emphasis to these believers upon attitude and outlook and having the mind of Christ. The way we look at things is important – but see what Paul is getting at – see his aim and goal and purpose – that we may be blameless and pure and shining more and more like Jesus.

We hear a lot about four letter words these days – well, there are three important ones in these verses – obey and work and fear.

The word ‘complaining’ is the same word which the children of Israel used as they murmured against Moses’ leadership and thereby against the living God. That cost that generation the Promised Land, and they had to wander around for forty years.

Numbers 14verses 36 to 38 . I don’t think people really know the cost to themselves of murmuring and complaining.

Verse 13 – there are so many thoughts in these verses. God wants to work in us and through us. God wants to co-operate with us and to accomplish good works through us as we reach out to the needy and the lost and those living in darkness.

Remember their address – “a crooked and depraved generation”. That is where we are to shine. What a thought – to be called to co-operate with God – or to be called and to discover that He is willing to co-operate with us.

Verse 15 – Pure and blameless – this word pure also means unmixed – innocent – unalloyed – not an alloy. One could almost use the word sincere which means without wax – a very significant word – no wax in the cracks in the marble pillar – you could not tell until there was real pressure on the pillar.

When you try to build on a life where there in insincerity, the life and what you try to build collapses. Jesus speaks about this – build on the rock – be founded on rock and not on sand.

There is where we can be healed and repaired and strengthened from these defects – and made new creations. God continues to create and in Christ we are made new creations – 2Corinthians 5 verse 17 .

These were, and are, high standards – we so need the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul is sharing deep truths with the disciples of Jesus Christ in Philippi. He has been giving some very practical advice, and he wants to encourage them further.

“Loving heavenly Father – our holy God – Your Word presents us with such high standards – but You provide us with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and the sustaining love of the risen and living Jesus. We thank you for forgiving our sins and wiping out our sinful past – enabling us to concentrate on the work and ministry to which You have called us and for which we have been chosen – through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.” Amen

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

Origin Of Nations