God at Work // Philippians 2:13

Today’s message is a great follow-up to yesterday’s where we considered always keeping Jesus #1 in our life, having a story to share our hope in Christ, as well as interacting with everyone gently and respectfully. Our verse of the day is sandwiched between a couple other powerful ones in a beautiful section of Paul’s letter to the Philippians; check it out: “Therefore, 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, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Philippians 2:12-16a, NIV).

Here are the main to points to consider:

• We are to work out salvation with fear and trembling, meaning we must remember it is God who saves…we cannot save ourselves.
• Knowing it is God who saves, He is the One who is constantly at work in our lives when we can sense it and when we cannot.
• We must work to preserve our witness so people can know there is joy in the world, even when things don’t feel so joyful.

So, how do you do with these important aspects? Are you constantly struggling with your own inner wrestling match between your sin nature and saved nature? Are you trusting God to work in you according to His will and way? How is your testimony; especially when things don’t go your way?