Today I'm going through Philippians 2:12-18, and am reminded of a situation Annette (my beautiful bride of nearly 15 years) ran into a few days ago. It really took me back, too, to the "good ole days" of being in school. Annette, as many of you may know, is a substitute teacher here in our area. She enjoys doing this, especially, since she can pretty much pick what days she wants to or can work. Scheduling wise, it works out great, and she also doesn't have the everyday stresses such as Lesson Planning to worry about. The downside, as any of us who remember having subs in school can attest to, is that some days, the kids see a substitute and it's like a switch is flicked and all mayhem ensues.
You can observe a child on a regular day with their regular teacher and think that they are an absolute angel, but when the sub is in the house...you get the point. Paul, here in verse 12, offers some encouragement to the Philippian church, reminding them that while he was with them they "have always obeyed." But he goes on to instruct them that they need to step up and live their obedience to Christ "now much more in my absence." I remember on some occasions as the teacher would let us know ahead of time that they would be gone the following day, and that they expected us to behave very well for the substitute. Paul is trying to get the church to continue to spread their wings and fly, even (or especially) in his absence. Obeying is easy in the presence of those we respect (or at least have a healthy fear of), but it's a challenge to maintain that obedience when left to ourselves many times.
Paul next shares that believers need to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" NASB...a statement that has been many times since its writing. Paul is not telling us to work for our salvation, but rather, to work it out for the church and the world to see. By so doing this, we will be the light he speaks of in verse 15.
Verse 14 offers us one of those key verses that we love to throw around (especially if you have children or work with youth as I do), as he says to "do all things without grumbling or disputing (complaining)." NASB I just read a little story yesterday where a dad offered to help his son with his paper route, as long as the son didn't complain. But if the son complained, he was on his own. Over time, the little boy came to appreciate and even thank the Lord for his bundle of papers that he would find in the driveway each afternoon. How often do I complain about something in my life, only to find that God teaches me an incredible lesson through the trial soon thereafter?
Paul ends this passage by encouraging the Believers to hold tight to the word of life, to realize that if we are running in Christ, we are surely not running in vain. He continues that we need to rejoice even as we may be being used as a sacrifice, our sacrifice and service may be used to benefit the Body.
I take from this today that I need to remember that my salvation story is a process, that it is God who is at work in me, that I need not complain or grumble, and that my sacrifice or pain may very well be a thing that carries another believer along in their journey.
Please be praying for our family as we complete our Adoption Training tomorrow and will soon be actively searching for the child/children that God wants to be part of our family.
Have a blessed weekend!
PJ
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