Philippians 2:12-18

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

“It is God…. who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (v13).

It is Paul’s remedy to disunity as a result of grumbling, disputing, grace not be shown to others by us, selfishness toward others, notwithstanding, the effect that has as our witness to unbelievers. It is a deeply humbling truth that we must allow the Holy Spirit to embed into our hearts, one that should make us pause when we are bent on having our own way. A person who has died to self to live for Christ does not live for themselves any longer. A person who lives for Christ imitates Christ in their conduct, attitudes and actions. When we grasp this truth then we see how serious it is to break fellowship with others for selfish
reasons. What we are in fact doing is refusing the grace shown to us in Christ, toward others, dismissing the power of his grace to us, for others.

What then, does that say of grace? God in his grace has drawn us to himself by his Holy Spirit, in his grace has forgiven us and by that same Spirit works within us to accomplish his good purpose/s.

Our response because of Christ, is for Christ.

Response of Gratitude, Response of Obedience, Response of Growth, Response of Reverence, Response of will and work (together) for his Good Purpose.

Why is ‘work’ effort required on our part, when Jesus has paid the price already? Why isn’t this a cruise to the finish line? Paul says “I press on” – I make a hard effort in this Christian walk’, for what? The prize of being eternally in the presence of God… not because we can affect our own eternal salvation but because we do not want to allow any complacency or apathy in, we do not want to treat with contempt what Christ has done for us… Salvation is a past event, a decision, but also a present and continuous, work, that God is doing in us for our future (see 1 Corinthians 1:18), when we are committed and submitted to him and his purposes.

Our Witness for Christ

Love hard to love people without ‘grumbling’, Serve without ‘grumbling’, Learn the ‘secret of being content’ as opposed to disputing, Be others oriented – Christ honouring people, holding firmly to the Word of God – the key to conquering grumbling.

Grumbling is like the loose tongue that speaks and complains and criticizes and tears down so easily, and has a constant bad attitude toward others and God …. Perhaps it is one of the most difficult things to get under control, and why Paul mentions it specifically.

Our Service for Christ in Light of ‘The Day’

Paul was ‘glad’ to give his life in service, giving his life for the gospel was Paul’s goal (Philippians 1:23). Let’s give our lives to serve and to die for Christ in light of ‘The Day’.
For love awakens love in return…and the revealed will of God is that those who have received grace should henceforth give themselves to good works (Ephesians 2: 10; Titus 2:11). And gratitude will move any man (or woman) who has truly received grace to do as God requires.