Philippians 2:12-17 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 according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so 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 as 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. But 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.
In these verses, we see Paul developing the theme of being like-minded with Christ. Even though Jesus Christ was equal to God in his position and authority, He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (vs 7) Jesus took on the body and nature of man to serve man. He did this in complete humbleness, considering others better than himself, even though He was God. We are human, equal to each other in our humanness. To follow Jesus' example, we are to take our role of equality with others and consider it nothing. As Christ did, we are to humble ourselves to serve others in love even though we have equality with them. This is the message Paul asks us to work out with fear and trembling. John wrote: God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. (1 John 4 16-17) God loves without reciprocation or acceptance from others. As Paul wrote to the church at Rome, But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Jesus said that we should love our enemies or place ourselves below them to reveal the love of God to them. This is difficult for us to understand because this love has little to do with the love we define here on earth. We expect acknowledgement, reciprocation, and respect from those we love. We lose interest in love that is not returned. We have many reasons to love, but loving our enemies is not counted among those reasons. Instead we justify despising, hurting, and in extreme cases even killing them. We do not easily internalize the idea of loving our enemies. Yet God says, if we love them as He loves them we will fulfill his will; and just as He has done with Jesus, someday He will lift us up into heavenly places and put the crown of righteousness on our heads. He has made us sons and daughters in his family, and He has called us to a higher calling than the Earthly realm, a position that no person in his earthly state can understand or appreciate.
We are blessed because we have the Holy Spirit to teach us to act according to his good purpose. Paul tells us to do everything without complaining or arguing. Stop complaining to others about serving people you do not like. Stop arguing about why you are justified in treating them as enemies rather than people to love. Stop complaining and arguing to God about this role of a loving servant of all. Instead, be obedient to the words and nature of God. If we put aside this obstinate nature, this nature of disobedience to God, and take on the nature of Christ, we will become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation. We will shine like stars in the universe. We will generate light rather than darkness to people who need to see light. The world will see our good works and marvel at the quality of the works. As they look upon our lives, they will know that something in our lives is substantially different from the way they live their lives. Jesus said, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 ) Of course, this is the treasure of living that has escaped the world's awareness and that is the word of life. Jesus Christ is the Word; Jesus Christ is the life; He alone brings eternal life to every person who will put their trust in him and believe in him for eternal life. Christ alone can give eternal life with God; He alone can change this humanness to God's nature, projecting us into the future as sons and daughters of the Most High, co-heirs with Jesus to the blessings of God forever. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1) Paul was poured out as a drink offering. He was consumed by the will of God, living a difficult life, full of pain and rejection, so others would know Christ. He ran the race, seeing the joy set before him, knowing if he labored diligently that eternal transformation would come to those who heard and heeded his words. He knew they would become his brothers and sisters IN CHRIST. Along the way, he found many enemies to the cross, who wanted to discourage him from finishing the course, but he ran strong regardless of the pain.
We, too, should run the race with endurance, passion, and power. We should become faithful servants, loving the world as God loves the world. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) We are to work out God's plan of salvation by serving others. When we find ourselves in difficult situations as we serve, we must bring God's light to that arena. If we rebel toward living as a servant: not loving our neighbors, not serving others, not caring for our enemies, we are living contrary to God's will for our lives. When we bemoan our present situation or our difficulties, we minimize God's will in us and what He is doing in the world through us. We are called just as the disciples were called to bring others to the cross of Christ. Paul wrote, For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) Christ died on the cross that we might find salvation and share the Good News. We must die to ourselves so others might be saved, might see the love of God. When we struggle in our homes, in our workplace, in our community, we must remember the joy that God has prepared for believers who remain faithful to his will and his love. His love manifested on Earth will save your children, your mates, your friends, your co-workers, your acquaintances. We must run the race of life with perseverance and patience. Much prayer, much faith is needed. Every time you go to church you express faith; every time you humble yourself before the Lord, saying, not my will but yours, you express faith. Pray and expect an answer, live for others, and shine for Jesus. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
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