Philippians 2:12-18--Lights in the World

Lights in the World​
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

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Paul reminds the Philippian church to not obey only when someone like Paul is watching over them, but to do it because God is always watching over them and is working out His will and His works in and through them.  For this reason, they should be encouraged by the words, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." because right after this they are told that they are actually not doing the work, but allowing God the Holy Spirit to do the work in and through them for God's glory and His good pleasure.

With this in mind, we should be doing all the things that God has called us to do and be all the things that God has called us to be without any grumbling, complaining or disputing.  Do not be like the children of Israel during their wanderings in the wilderness that had God living amongst them and miracles shown to them every day and yet it seemed like at ever turn they grumbled, complained, and desired to go back to Egypt (back to their life of slavery to sin) instead of living the challenging life in the wilderness where God provided for all their needs in miraculous ways so that He would get the glory.  Their response should have been worship, but it was not.

Instead we are called to be blameless and innocent (holy and righteous) children of God who like the Son of God were without blemish.  This is in stark contrast to the world who are children of their father, the devil, and who are described here as "a crooked and twisted generation."  We are told to let our light shine in the darkness among these men and to hold fast to the word of life (the Scriptures).  Remember Jesus gave a similar command to us to tell us to let our light shine so that they may see the light and glorify your Father in heaven.

Paul says that if we do this then we will be workman that need not be ashamed and Paul would be proud that he too did not run his race in vain.  For what if he spent his whole life after conversion taking the gospel to the Gentiles and all of them fell away and none truly repented and believed?

Paul returns to the idea that he may die soon and be "poured out as a drink offering."  Remember that he thought that God would spare him so that he could continue to work with the churches that needed him, but Paul is still not convinced that this isn't the end.  So he prepared the hearts of the Philippians to say that even if this is the end for him he will rejoice and be glad and wants them to do the same, because God is faithful and will continue to do His work in and through them whether or not Paul is there.

We may start our Christian walk by someone saying "follow me as I follow Christ" as Paul did for these people, but eventually we must be willing to follow Christ on our own and fix our eyes on Him and Him alone, because every man we follow will fail us at some point.  Those who are depending on any other man for their salvation other than the God-Man Christ Jesus are building their life upon shifting sand instead of on the Solid Rock.  Otherwise, what happens when that person is no longer there and you don't have someone to follow or tell you what to do?  God will never leave you or forsake you!  Learn to speak to Him directly as He wants to work out His will in and through you.