(Php 2:14) “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (15)  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”  When God’s people allow Christ to live through them, they stand out from the world as truly different, as different as light from darkness. Sad that we seem to desire to be “like” the world rather than different from it! We even desire our church’s services to be “like the world”. Yes, we may attract the lost, but in doing so have we said to them they don’t have to be “light” – different? Really, the question in this case becomes, why are we having the service? If it is to truly worship the Lord, then we must be different from the world. If it is to entertain the lost and our flesh, then we will be like the world. No, we cannot have both: (1Jn_2:15)  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

(Php 2:13)“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (14)  Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (15)  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,…”  Oh the glory of being – get this – a son of God! That’s my true position now that I am saved! So, I am to conduct myself as such. As my Father is holy, I am to seek to be holy. As my Jesus lived, I am to seek to live, “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Heb 7:26). So often we get among God’s people and “we”, our will and desires, and put before anyone and everything.

(Php 2:13)  “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (14) Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (15)  That ye may be blameless and harmless….”   Blameless towards God; harmless toward mankind. Sure, as a saved man, I am “in” Christ Jesus and thus accepted in the beloved, thus eternally saved. Yet, that does not mean I am blameless in action and will not be judged for what I have done “in Christ”. Our old nature whispers, “Don’t worry about such things. At least you are going to heaven.” But there, you will no longer have that old nature, so you will “very much” care what the Lord thinks! Heed the warning! Listen to the Spirit of God speaking to your spirit and do right before Him! 

(Php 2:13) “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (14)  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:”   Most disputes are caused when we think we should have our way about something. It comes from the focus being on self instead of He Who saved us. Instead of putting the other person first – we focus on ourselves – what we want or what we think should happen. Murmurings and disputings NEVER come as the result of “His good pleasure”.

(Php 2:13) “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (14)  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:”  If we desire (worketh, motivated by the Lord in us) to do His work, then why would we murmur while doing it! Strange. We always seem to think everyone should do what we do! Example: if we diet, we think everyone should be dieting. The same comes in serving. We wouldn’t murmur if we practiced Rom 14:3&4 “Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not;…..for God hath received him. (4)  Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant (God’s servant)? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”  Don’t murmur – thank the Lord for what YOU get to do for Him. Let the Lord take care of His other servants. Maybe He has them doing what you cannot see!  

 (Php 2:13)  “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”  Remember, this verse follows the statement “….work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”   The Lord does not use, for the most part, prideful people (not all we see “accomplished” for God are actually spiritual accomplishments. We judge by the flesh, what we see; His works are things we do not always see or recognize.). He works through those who will yield unto, humble themselves, before Him! Then He works in them to will (desire) and then do (accomplish that desire). All the glory goes to God!

(Php 2:12)  “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”   For most people, reconciling the words, “fear and trembling” with being a “child of God” poses problems. The key is not to forget that He is God, our God, no matter the relationship. As God He is to be revered; as God He is to be obeyed; as God He holds our next breath in His hands; as God He is still the Judge of the Universe; as God He is the Judge to Whom we will someday give an account unto. To those who would handle His Word loosely or in any way deceitfully- be warned – He is still God!

(Php 2:12)  “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”   The idea of “working out your own salvation” here is not “to earn”, but living what has been wrought inside the born again. Proof would be Eph 2:8 – 10:  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (given and received): (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  In other words, live this salvation in your heart in obedience to that which you have received (the Word of God) and quit seeking to add to it, for nothing could possibly be added to the perfection of the offering – Jesus Christ!

(Php 2:12)  “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”  “My beloved” – the New Testament epistles speaks again and again about loving the brethren. This love is not the natural love one feels for those one is especially drawn unto, but the supernatural love of God through the Holy Spirit. If we allow Him to do so, the Lord loves through us! This love is pure in motive, not looking for gain for self, but the good of the other. May God help us to love in this way! 

(Php 2:9)  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”   Every Sunday is a Sunday in which we rejoice and glory in the resurrection of He Who suffered Calvary’s Cross for (take this to heart) “my” individual sins! My actions or lack of them this day and every Sunday is a reflection of the heart that is either bowed before Him or not! Today either it will be His will or my will!