Lord's Day - Today's Scripture / Insight - ODB

Today's Scripture

Philippians 2:12–18(NIV)

Insight 

Today’s passage begins with “therefore” (Philippians 2:12), building on the teaching in Philippians 2:1–11 to follow Jesus’ humility and selfless and sacrificial example as we live out this Christlike life. In instructing us to “continue to work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), Paul isn’t saying that we’re to work for our salvation, for our salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8–9). Rather, Paul reminds us of our responsibility as believers in Jesus. Now that we’re saved, we’re to “work hard to show the results of [our] salvation” (Philippians 2:12 NLT). By the empowerment of the Spirit, we’re to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8), to show to the world that we’re “blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation,’ ” and to shine “like stars in the sky” in a world darkened by sin (Philippians 2:15).