Shine

After eight long days at furniture market, I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. Hope a little time off from our study in Philippians encouraged you to dive in elsewhere in the Word. I was reminded how important the Word of God is in my life. It is food for the soul - food that I desperately need.

Before our break, we looked at Philippians 2:12-18. It would probably be beneficial to spend a few minutes looking back over the text. Paul begins this section with the word "therefore." He is pointing us back to his description of Christ's supreme example in the previous verses. Because of who Christ is and what He has done, Paul lays out what I'll call the three p's. First is the principle: obey God with a deep reverence and fear. This is, in essence, working out one's salvation (NOT to be confused with working for one's salvation - salvation cannot be earned by our works). Verse 13 reminds us that it is God who works within us to enable us to do obey Him. This is the second p - the promise that we can cling to. Paul shares later on in his epistle that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (4:13). It is in and through Christ that we can and will obey God. I love the New Living Translation of 1:13: "For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him." What a great prayer with which to petition our Heavenly Father daily. The promise of verse 13 should give hope to every believer.

Finally, Paul offers the third p - the practice. These are signs of obedience and indications that we belong to God. Again Paul reminds the Philippians of the importance of abstaining from arguing and complaining so that they would be blameless. The world is watching us and so are other believers. We are to live differently than unbelievers - those who are of this dark world, crooked and perverse. We are to stand out and shine among them and as we hold firmly to th word of life that we have been given.

Paul closes out this section reminding the Philippians that his labor in advancing the gospel is worth every sacrifice that he has made, even if it costs his own life. He takes great joy for the sake of Christ and asks them to rejoice with him as well.

Most days I spend in the comfort of my own home caring for my children. I get out here and there for various reasons, but I'm mostly at home. Last week I was at furniture market, and it is the perfect representation of this crooked and perverse world. I spent eight hours a day with these people and I wonder if my light for Christ shone brightly or if it barely shone. I will say that it can be challenging to live for Christ when it seems like you're the only one. I hope that somehow God was gracious so that these people, in even some remote way, saw Jesus through me.

How 'bout you? Are you allowing Christ to shine in and through you in your home, your work, your goings and comings? Pray that He would. He is able.

Blessings to you.